Kids and their manners during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, etc.

[greensinestro]

Why does it always seem like whenever the kiddies are out of school for longer than a day or two, their manners are always God-awful, let alone rude?

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I worked only on the Friday and Saturday afterward. The number of kids calling in for internet assistance was enormous, and many of them turned out to be kids trying to hook up internet service on their new computers, which Mom and Dad bought at Circuit City or Best Buy on Black Friday. Most of them, whenever I told them I could not assist them because they were not listed as an authorized user, some got upset, ugly, rude, cursing me out, you name it.

I also noticed this quite a bit in stores. Parents taking their kids to Target would let them around rampant, bumping into people and not saying "excuse me" at least. Or, you get a group of teens that have to use the "F" word quite a bit just to have a conversation with each other. This happens quite a bit at fast food restaurants like McDonald's.

I'm glad I was born and raised in the 20th century and not this one. I have kids but will make sure they know this is not how to speak to elders.

[SuperB]

The other day I had a few little wannabeagrownup's smoke in the bathroom, leave it a mess and then insult a customer on their way out.

The more I deal with these rude little burdens on society the more I appreciate my kids. Children all have their moments but by the time they're old enough to drive without an adult in the car they're old enough to know how to behave.

[Trayol]

Stupid kids and teens. It makes those of us who actually use are intelligence look bad.

I remember people at my high school would complain because they couldn't leave school during their lunch or couldn't stay in the hallways during class time.
A pandemic of stupidity is sweeping the nation. Hopefully, they will die out or be eaten.

[marty]

My manager made the mistake of hiring two high school kids, one of which weighs about 3 pounds. Yeah, he started talking trash to my fiance, who, if this is any indication of his strength, moves furniture, refridgerators, lumber, etc as a job, and often moves this stuff by himself.

Not only are the little shits getting meaner and more annoying, they're getting, my god, oh-so-much dumber too. It's like they don't think that one day their trash talking will get the crap beat out of them...

[napoleana]

I admit to having been one of those teens who dropped the f-bomb way too much in regular conversation. But I didn't do it loudly enough that it couldn't be ignored, I didn't do it to my elders or authority figures, and I tried my best not to do it in front of children. To me, as long as it's done with respect to the above limitations, just let kids explore their language, and they'll eventually grow out of excessive use. It's always seemed better to me to teach the point of not being rude and crude (except among the comfort of one's friends ) than to give kids a list of words they can't say.

Note: I am assuming, however, that these teens, since you were annoyed by it, were not being respectful in their cursing, but instead loud and obnoxious.

That said, I've always seen the other behaviors among my peers, and increasing number among younger children. Part of me suspects that it has something to do with the idea of discipline being equal to abuse, which proper discipline is not, but people just avoid it altogether in order to be "kind" to their kids. When I see horrid behavior in peers (especially now that we are legally adults), it's down-right embarrassing. I would cry with shame if I realized I had behaved in such a manner. Ugh.

For me, apologizing is such an automatic response that I have found myself apologizing to walls and chairs. *^.^*

[Forensic Waitress]

I completely understand where you are coming from there have been times where I have wanted to just slap them across the head and tell them to grow up. (Although then they would cry and sue me for assualt).

There was one time that I was driving in my car and was behind red P plater (provisional drivers who have had their licence for less than a year) and they ended up behing a learner. What did the jerks do they beeped their horn and yelled obsenities at this poor learner because they did not go through the round about fast enough. That made my blood boil.

The worst part is that I am getting to watch my brother's daughter become a demanding s**t and she is only 18 months. What is she going to be like in a few years time. They also have another one on the way, makes you wonder what the future holds.

[auntiem]

My SO had to mediate a fight on a bus a few weeks ago. Some skinny teenage brat decided to mouth off to the two drunk very large men across the aisle. He said that if it had happened off the bus he would have let the kid get pummled - Darwinism in action.

[lovemyjob]

Oh my gosh. I'm 18 myself and I can't even stand to be around people of my generation. I admit to having quite a mouth on me, but I do know when it is and is not appropriate. And "respect your elders" is something I practically live by. So much that I'm starting to expect it from people who are younger than I am *blush*.

Guh. I apologize for my generation. It's so embarrassing

[Jester]

Every generation is embarrassing when they're teens. Yours is neither different nor unique in that respect.