The Youth of Today...

Tezcatlipoca · 13-03-2005, 15:20

Is it me, or are we getting more & more stories now about kids committing absolutely horrible crimes?

This week alone has had...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/4337153.stm

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Three teenagers have been jailed for life for hacking a friend to death with two scythes in a field near Sheffield.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4340339.stm

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A 13-year-old boy has been detained for life for raping his teacher during a one-to-one session.

The County Durham schoolboy, who was 12 when he carried out the assault in November 2004, admitted rape and theft at an earlier hearing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4341841.stm

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Two 16-year-old boys have been sentenced to life for raping a 13-year-old girl on a beach in Devon.

At the time, Aaron Hull and Daniel Collins-Frampton, then both 15, were on unsupervised leave from a children's home in Torquay which has now closed.

The pair were found guilty at Exeter Crown Court in December 2004 of rape, robbery and attempted robbery.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4332451.stm

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A 17-year-old boy has been found guilty of manslaughter after pushing a boy into a river where he drowned.

Dave Berry, 16, who could not swim and was afraid of water, died in the River Stour in Dorset, on 9 June 2004.

Then there was also that kid in Scotland who was convicted (but I think is Appealing) of stabbing his girlfriend to death.

Plus, some lesser crimes I remember recently... The new year saw a young boy get convicted for drink driving. He was the UK's youngest ever convicted drink driver.... until a few weeks later, when a young girl was convicted of drink driving.

Escapee · 13-03-2005, 15:29

I dont think I'm an old git, but the kids now are definately different to when I was young. I wouldn't dream of walking down the street swearing and being abusive to people, and to be honest very little of that went on.

I think some things that kids in my day were sent to borstal for, are seen as a common daily occurance now. Crime amongst youngsters has rocketed, and its about time limits on naming and shaming them was lifted, they seem to wallow in the fact that they can be as cheeky or abusive as they want, because an adult cannot touch them!

Interestingly, the Wales on Sunday has some interesting statistics about ABSO's again, its alarming how many are broken. Some of these kids are hardened criminals before they even leave school these days.

jellybaby · 13-03-2005, 15:35

Has it got worse, or is there more media coverage now???

Chimaera · 13-03-2005, 15:45

Sadly, I think it's got worse.

I have been working in schools for the past 7 years, when I first started the kids were, by and large, quite compliant when you asked them to do things. Nowadays if I ask them to do something (I teach cycling proficiency in schools to 10 - 11 year olds durung the summer) it's not unusual to be told to xyz off (insert your own expletive of choice!) and to be threatened by parents the following day, when little Johnny/Jane has had a chance to go home and bleat to it's parents.
It seems that the children of today are everyone elses problem when things go wrong - just blame the schools and teachers, social workers etc - it's so much easier than the parents having to do anything! I bet most of the kids in Matt's first post didn't have much parental input, they need strict boundaries and good role models IMHO.

Escapee · 13-03-2005, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by jellybaby

Has it got worse, or is there more media coverage now???

In my own opinion, going out and seeing what teenagers do compared to 20 years ago when I was a teenager, is what I base my views on. Kids have always been little devils, but there is a big difference in their actions now and then.

I cant remember me or any of my mates breaking into cars, running up the bonnet over the roof and down the boot of cars, breaking the mirrors off cars, running down the street pushing all the dustbins over...etc etc etc.

If I did a resident would be waiting to give me a good belt, and there would be an even bigger one for me when I got home. Even the people I went to school with that ended up in prison were never anywhere near as bad as many kids are today.

Xaccers · 13-03-2005, 15:51

There was a recent prog on Radio 4 (all in the mind or something I think) where they talked about how the attitudes of the generations have changed with respect to where to lay blame etc
40 years ago something like only 20% believed that all their problems were due to external influences, the old "society is to blame" scenario, but these days it's something like 80%
People don't take responsibility for their actions, like having kids, and it is getting worse.
I have met several people who've mentioned how terrible their kids are and ended with "but what can I do? I'm just their mother"

Chimaera · 13-03-2005, 15:54

Yep - they expect to be able to control them when they are 11 or whatever, when they should have started letting the kids know who is boss before they could walk! Although something else I have noticed is how many parents nowadays like to let other people 'babysit' for them - whether that is because they need a break from their badly behaved offspring or if that contributes to the problem I'm not really sure!

**Mick** · 13-03-2005, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Escapee

I think some things that kids in my day were sent to borstal for, are seen as a common daily occurance now. Crime amongst youngsters has rocketed, and its about time limits on naming and shaming them was lifted, they seem to wallow in the fact that they can be as cheeky or abusive as they want, because an adult cannot touch them!

Absolutely, I also think parents attitudes have changed as well, parents nowadays get all defensive and uptight if someone blames their children for any wrong doing and I think this is the major route of the problems of youth today.

Escapee · 13-03-2005, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Absolutely, I also think parents attitudes have changed as well, parents nowadays get all defensive and uptight if someone blames their children for any wrong doing and I think this is the major route of the problems of youth today.

And have you noticed how many parents laugh when "little Johhny" is being naughty these days, instead of telling him off. Some parents seem to find it funny when the kid misbehaves, and that IMHO sets the seed for later life.

Chimaera · 13-03-2005, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Absolutely, I also think parents attitudes have changed as well, parents nowadays get all defensive and uptight if someone blames their children for any wrong doing and I think this is the major route of the problems of youth today.

Yes, it's never the kid's fault - they are not taught to take responsibility for their actions, if anything happens that the kids don't like, the parents will be there to bully the teacher or person in authority until the kids get their own way.
Actually I'm starting the school work again this year in another couple of weeks - wonder if I can get a transfer to something nice and safe, like a Parking Attendant?

**Paul** · 13-03-2005, 16:03

and it will continue until proper punishments are once again allowed, instead of pampering to their "rights".

Tezcatlipoca · 13-03-2005, 16:05

I think it's got worse. Or rather, kids have got worse.

The stuff you read about now.... rarely heard about anything like that back "when I were a lad" (god, I feel old, & I'm only 27).

And it's not just things like the above stories (hacking kids to death, raping teachers, etc), more & more kids today just seem to be....right little ****s in general (insert own 4 letter word of choice).

And they're "the future"

AndrewJ · 13-03-2005, 16:10

I am more 50-50 here, I think some of this did perhaps happen in the earlier old times, but there is more technology now to inform other people, also familes tend to be more open now.

However this gang culture and I hate to say this but American Gung HO rap culture ganster thing, is going to far. Although it is down to the parents, the peer pressure thing gets far too many teenagers and kids heading the wrong way, although the recent change in the rule of smacking your own child, does not help as they need to be taught right from wrong, and the goverments and PC Brigade are just making it hard to raise children correctly.

In Rochdale where I live we have our morons, but I have noticed the council is relaxed over these mini bikes so long as they drive them on some fields local to me, this has helped cut down on a muggings and late night yobs throwing stones at buses etc, as now we have a group of lads even some girls making motorbikes up from scrap yards and so long as they wear a helmet, we have noticed they prefer to have a laugh on some fields.

Although you do get your moron it is something they enjoy and is more productive then sitting in front of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas and thinking that is the way to be.
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

I think it's got worse. Or rather, kids have got worse.

The stuff you read about now.... rarely heard about anything like that back "when I were a lad" (god, I feel old, & I'm only 27).

And it's not just things like the above stories (hacking kids to death, raping teachers, etc), more & more kids today just seem to be....right little ****s in general (insert own 4 letter word of choice).

And they're "the future"

I agree there the intital post of this topic opened by eyes a bit, had not realised just how much is going on, something surely has to be done over this

.

Ramrod · 13-03-2005, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimaera

when little Johnny/Jane has had a chance to go home and bleat to it's parents.

Surely you mean little Connor/Amber?

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While we are on the subject............never ever call your little baby girl 'Melina'.....it means 'black, tarry sh*t'

punky · 13-03-2005, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Absolutely, I also think parents attitudes have changed as well, parents nowadays get all defensive and uptight if someone blames their children for any wrong doing and I think this is the major route of the problems of youth today.

That is exactly right. My dad used to be a copper and what seemed like a big part of his duty was picking up 12 year olds drinking and hurling abuse at people. He'd take them home (not worth prosecuting), and get a load of abuse from the 'parent' (term used very loosely). No "I am sorry officer, it won't happen again", or "Thank you for bringing him home", but my dad would get abuse hurled at him for doing it. Thats a world away from what used to happen.

I don't think though that the problem is specific ethnicity, races, or other ara of society (low income say) as it seems to fairly consistantly getting bad across the board. I am sorry to say this, if you have young children yourself, but when I was a kid, they were bad... I certainly wouldn't like to be a kid in my era again, but nowadays, they are absolutely diabolical. It is getting so bad now I am glad that part of my life is over, but how can you ignore kids as an adult?