[Diana]

I always wonder why a lot of these kids are going the wrong way and don't have respect for their folks. When I was growing up, I wouldn't have even thought about cursing my family, etc. Where are parents going wrong? One thing I learned when I was young was respect, and honoring my family.

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Name : Diana, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Italian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 53, City : Richmond, State : VA Country : United States, Occupation : nurse, Education level : Technical School, 

[Nina]

I don't think kids are going 'the wrong way' by not honoring their parents all the time. Why should we 'have' to have respect for these people, who are just like anyone else, except they brought us life and raised us? Of course we should be thankful to them, but if we don't agree with our parents' descisions, we should be allowed to voice our opinion. And a lot of the time (I am not being biased here) parents are certain that their descision is right and their kid's is wrong, so the kid gets angry. I know there are some kids who don't consider their parents at all, though, and are unnecessarily insolent.

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Name : Nina, Gender : F, Religion : Atheist, Age : 15, City : auckland, State : NA Country : New Zealand, 

[Alex J.]

The problem goes beyond kids not respecting parents. It is parents not deserving respect. Or rather, not parents, but elder generations in general. How can parents be role models for us if they are never there? And worse is when they ARE there. If you want to see the 'role models' parents provide, go to an elementary school during drop-off hours in the morning. Watch parents cursing each other, cursing other parents' children, having accidents and leaving without accepting responsibility. Or, watch a little league game or any other competition for children where parents are present. My parents have always behaved in a respectable manner, and so I accord them a great deal of respect, more so than they deserve, perhaps, simply because they are so far above other adults.

There are two ways kids, especially suburban kids, are raised today: One is where the parents more or less leave the kid to fend for himself while they work 12 hours a day. In this instance the child has no reason to develop respect for the parent. In the other, the parents are involved in the child's life, and the child is taught to respect people based on merit, not trivial matters (i.e. age), in which case while the parents most likely will be respected, few other adults will. Rather than ask why so many kids do not respect their elders, ask why so few elders deserve their respect.

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Name : Alex J., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Jewish, Age : 17, City : Elkins Park, State : PA Country : United States, Occupation : High School student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Kat26800]

Nowadays, Mom and Dad don't require everyone come to dinner at 6 p.m., say grace and ask to be excused. Instead, everybody cooks a TV dinner or goes to the mall, therapy or soccer. Or Mom and Dad file for bankruptcy because they can't bear to lose their overpriced house and not bid at Ebay for a Playstation 2 for little Timmy.

Too many parents seem to think it's the role of the schools to raise their children and entertain them with a never-ending litany of programs, organized sports and clubs. Whatever became of parents who RAISED their children, commanded respect from them, and loved, honored and protected them? They've been replaced by the moron screaming at the Little League coach or beating up another parent over a parking space at Chuckee Cheese. These idiot 'parents' deserve every second of hell their lovely offspring can dish out. Maybe the next generation will go back to basics - love them, protect them, nurture them, but by God, first and foremost PARENT them.

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Name : Kat26800, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Methodist, Age : 30, City : Montevallo, State : AL Country : United States, Occupation : Distance Learning Specialist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Marc22359]

I think that saying, 'Those kids don't respect their elders like they used to' is putting everyone less than 18 years of age under one big blanket and judging them. I'm sure there were disrespectful children you can remember as a child, and there are very respectful children you have come across now. We tend to remember the more pleasant parts of our past as opposed to negative ones, so you may have selectively forgotten some annoying youths from your childhood. I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'respect' as well. If it means kids should 'shut up and do what they're told' without question, that is fear and oppression, not respect. Respect is earned, and I would venture to say most disrespectful children have some issues with their parents. Maybe their parents aren't there for them, as the previous response suggests, or maybe the parents are disrespectful themselves, teaching such behavior to their children. Regardless, making a statement like 'Kids just aren't respectful nowadays' is denying the past and making a sweeping generalization of the present.

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Name : Marc22359, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 25, City : Morgantown, State : WV Country : United States, Occupation : Grad Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Dan31650]

It depends on the parents themselves. Quite frankly, the baby-boomer generation seems to be one of the most indulgent, self-centered generations in the history of this country. I don't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers; it's just a general observation. And of course there are exceptions, like my own parents. At one point in my life I was a very rotten person who did very rotten things. It wasn't their fault... it was psychological factors coupled with thug peers. Yet never would I mouth off to them, never would I disrespect them or steal from them, or anything like that. Whenever I did wrong, I worried far more about my dad's wrath and my mom's broken heart than the cops or the school authorities or whatever. I kept it mostly hidden from them... because it would have shamed me to no end if they would of found out. However, my friend's parents were a different story. Their moms were neurotic pill-poppers who allowed them to be raised by television and older kids in the neighborhood; their dads were either not around, disinterested or were violent drunken sluggards. They stole from their parents, they cussed them out, and all kinds of other rotten stuff. I feel the connection is obvious.

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Name : Dan31650, Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 22, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : College Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, 

[Tyrian24939]

I'm fairly sure there was a weak link in the flow of generations. That link was the Yuppies. Where our grandparents were hard, the Yuppies were soft. They knew too much materialism and not enough honest conflict. The possible exceptions are the veterans of Vietnam. Apart from that, the Yuppies are what went wrong. This new generation is going to turn out a LOT more like the generation before the Yuppies than anyone could guess. We might not believe it now, but we're going to get very hard as the impending major conflicts strike us. Finally, believe it or not, we're going to be very conservative by middle age. Right now, we're a generation looking for an event. We need a war, or an economic crash. ANYTHING. The books that categorize this new generation are things like Fight Club. We don't have any tests of our survivability. Our grandparents had the Depression and World War II. Give it time. We're a great generation waiting to happen. The only reason things have been so shaky is the incompetence and inexperience of the Yuppies.

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Name : Tyrian24939, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Asatru, Age : 18, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Education level : High School Diploma, 

[Amanda]

I have never used innappropiate language to or in front of my parents. To say that all of the kids are not honoring their parents nowadays is wrong. I am 16 and know my place. You, ma'am, must understand that there are different times today. Think about a movie when you were my age that was considered rated 'R.' Now think of one today. A PG-13 movie of today is like the 'R'-rated ones of the past. This is a different society we are growing up in today. The things we are exposed to are much different than what you may have been exposed to. I do not think parents are doing anything wrong. It upsets me that I can try so hard to be a good teenager and yet no one notices anyone but the bad ones. Ms. Diana, I suggest focusing on all of the teenagers who are worth focusing on. Sometimes it seems the only way to be noticed today is to be bad. No one can change how society has changed, but you can see it for the best that it is. I am sure there were some bad apples in your bunch as well. I'm sorry if I sound rude, but I try hard. I try very hard. I respect others, and I think I deserve some as well.

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Name : Amanda, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 16, City : Syracure, State : NY Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, 

[Rick]

Respect must be earned. Hmmm. No doubt some wisdom here, but what of respect for strangers? What has happened to manners? The sorry state we are in was made more noticeable to me than ever when I recently returned to (upstate) New York from London. Imagine, there, even the youngsters uttered such words as 'please' and 'thank you.' Then there was the absence of cursing in public, which I didn't even notice until my return to the States, where it is so ubiquitous it has become meaningless.

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Name : Rick, City : Ithaca, State : NY Country : United States, 

[Dan31674]

I was the same way when I was 16. I was very respectful to many people including the elderly and my parents. I have always dealt with the stereotypes that teens are rude, negative, etc. and it really angered me. I just decided to put it out of my head, because there's no need to worry about it. People form their own opinions no matter what and there's nothing we can do about it. What I do know is that those who are respectful and friendly will go a long way in this world. I'm a college junior right now and I'm about to enter the workforce. I feel as if I have a major advantage over my competition because I have the people skills to make it BIG in the business world. Don't get me wrong...it takes a lot more than just smooth talk, and that's why I'm getting my education. To summarize, some people, regardless of age, are punks....and they will not be able to make it in this world.

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Name : Dan31674, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 21, City : Eau Claire, State : WI Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Sarah-Jayne28385]

I wish it were possible to have a war or an economic crash that affected the likes of you and not me. I don't know what sort of sheltered background you come from, but you don't seem to realise that, people were relieved when the 1950s came and the war and depression were over. You remind me of the upper-middle-class socialists who think poverty is glamorous. Come on, face reality!

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Name : Sarah-Jayne28385, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 24, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Sarah-Jayne28384]

I wish it were possible to have a war or an economic crash that affected the likes of you and not me. I don't know what sort of sheltered background you come from, but you don't seem to realize that people were relieved when the 1950s came and World War II and the Depression were over. You remind me of the upper-middle-class socialists who think poverty is glamorous. Come on, face reality.

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Name : Sarah-Jayne28384, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 24, City : Melbourne, State : NA Country : Australia, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[Jenna]

okay, respect easy word to define right? to show honor and greatfullness and showing great regard for sumone. yeah with out my parents i would not be here today to argue with you people. i am thankfull for being here and i thank my parents for that and they know i care. but i give them respect? only as much as they show me. i do that with everyone. i will only have as much respect as some one does for me. how could i possible care and respect some one that underminds me b/c i am young respect my elders? HA funny i will if they respect me. How about respect the furtue of your world? we will be leading this world yes it may be scarey but it wouldn't be if the so-called mature adults of this world for take thier time to listen to us and hear our opinions and let us make our own decisions. we learn from mistakes. we can't be perfect and we won't be. no matter how many time a parent will tell thier child don't touch that it's hot the child is still going to do it untill it learns FOR ITSELF. and for this instinct of ours we are getting underminded as the generation gone the wrong way? how is to tell us what is the right way? the right way for someone could be a complete desatur for some one eles. and the respect thing 'Respect me, Respect others, and I'll Respect you.' i'm not going to treat you like the king or queen untill you adknowlege me as an equal 'all men are created equal' it does NOT say all men over the age of 18 are equal now does it? so why do we even have these age-relater issues? i'll tell you why i think we do it is b/c the teenagers and kids and children are being underminded for being young well it is NOT our fault so why are you hurting us by it? we will grow up and be the best possible 'adults' we can be. and we will respect only those who respect us. and that is final

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Name : Jenna, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 15, City : Pittsburgh, State : PA Country : United States, 

[Tyrian24940]

Forgive me if I don't come from the impoverished, war-torn island of Australia. If what you drew out of my message was that wars and economic disasters are supposed to be glamorous due to their necessity, I must not have made myself clear to you. The fact that people were relieved when the '50s came is just my point. They had changed dramatically for the better as a result of those conflicts, which were unavoidable. And before you start barking about how unnecessary those events were, I'd like to remind you that both of them were part of the same conflict (i.e. The First World War), and were inevitable aftershocks. I'm not about to advocate starting a war. Nobody needs to. There are plenty of wars and economic disasters on the way. Just grab a world map and start counting the fascist-nationalist countries. There are a lot of new ones. I'm not about to tell you that you should love war or poverty. That would be insane.

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Name : Tyrian24940, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Asatru, Age : 18, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : college student, Education level : High School Diploma, 

[Rosa29477]

I see where you're coming from. It does have to do a lot with the different times. Think back to how your world was when you were a teen. Now, realize that today's teens endure many more problems. That anger could come from stress, or confusion, or hormones. I also believe that children of years' past were more respectful. But the reality is parents nowadays compared to parents of the past have also changed. Most parents were fit back then. Now most parents are corrupted themselves, on drugs, prostitution, etc. I've seen it: parents and teens doing drugs together! How many times did you hear of that happening when you were growing up? So that's also where the respect goes out the window. Not all teens are bad, though. I never disrespected my mother. Don't get me wrong, I had bad thoughts, but she is a strict mom and does not tolerate disrespect. I think that's the way parents have to be. I see my friends' mothers who are very sweet and easy, and they get trampled on because they don't set rules. Boy, if I said some of the things I heard my friends say to their parents...

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Name : Rosa29477, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Catholic, Age : 19, City : n/a, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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