Corruption of Our Young Peopel

[Tim_T]

Call me naive but I'm of the thinking that all most all of the ethics, morals....... kids learn comes from their parents. I know television can play a major role in sending the wrong kind of message to kids also but again parents can somewhat control that if they want.


Whith the divorce rate in this country over 50% and probably a majority of the reason being infidelity I think it's kind of wrong to cast blame else where in this case, such as on to sports stars, politicans.........


I know role models can play a major part in a kids life but I beleive there should be no bigger role model in a kids life than his parents.

Ring the bell, I believe we have a winner. Nobody takes reponsibility any longer and passes the buck.

[apb]

Years ago my brother worked with delinquent kids. His experience pretty much echos what several people here have said: in the vast majority of cases of delinquent kids, the parents were pretty much no apart of the kids life. Either the parent was too busy, in trouble with the law/drugs/alchohol themself, or plain just did not care. In only a few cases did he meet a parent that showed a real interest in helping their kid.

Also agree with MHall, a little discipline when needed is not a bad thing.

Kids have to learn respect and to take responsibility for their actions. That starts at home.

Andrew

[GeoFisher]

I agree with what everyone else said here........BUT I also think that TV and Movies have a HUGE impact on social norms.......

* On TV, it is NORMAL to be divorced 1-2-3-4 times........Now that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have sexual relations with befor Marriage........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have homosexual relationships........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, is it OK to show life as Godless.........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is OK to RAPE and KILL.........Now, seems like that is the Norm in Society.

I'm not saying these things didn't exist before, but you CANNOT say that TV and Movies don't have an effect on our young people.

Later,

Geo

[Chubminnow]

Good parents can turn out bad kids, sometimes it's not the parents fault at all, it's just in the kid's gene's to be bad (I truly believe this).

On the flip side of the coin terrible parents can turn out surprisngly good kids...I think these kids are pften referred to as survivors and usually a child who comes from this survivor back ground does well in life....why? Because he or she doesn't want to turn out like their mom or their like dad.

Granted, good role models play a huge part, but a good role model doesn't make or break the child. A good role model makes a difference for sure, but doesn't bring any gaurantee's. I could go on and on, but won't....

[HURRICANEBOB]

Good post, made me stop and think.

I'm thinking of the young men and women in uniform that are serving us overseas. Voluntarily going in harms ways, multiple times, make sacrifices well beyond those most Americans are asked to make, and they are doing so optimistically, and with reverence for their country and their duty to it. They look out more for thei team than they do for themselves.

Then......I thought about what kind of magnificent job their parents must have done. Teaching responsibility, teaching selflessness, self-sacrifice for a greater good, teaching the value of a person is in his service to others and higher causes.

And then it came to me, there will always be those who get it right, and those who don't, but for the most part, what I see in youth is encouraging.

Its just that sometimes those that act irresponsibily seem to get more acclaim for their unacceptable behavior than those who do it right.

[HURRICANEBOB]

I agree with what everyone else said here........BUT I also think that TV and Movies have a HUGE impact on social norms.......

* On TV, it is NORMAL to be divorced 1-2-3-4 times........Now that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have sexual relations with befor Marriage........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have homosexual relationships........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, is it OK to show life as Godless.........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is OK to RAPE and KILL.........Now, seems like that is the Norm in Society.

I'm not saying these things didn't exist before, but you CANNOT say that TV and Movies don't have an effect on our young people.

Later,

Geo

I won't call them the norm, lest I be judged well below normal as a hetero, married once for 29 years, non-rapist, kinda guy. All of what you speak was going on before TV's were even made. So there we agree. Newspapers are as guilt as TV, they both highlight the "news" and sensationalize. Given movies and TV has such an impact, why aren't there more kids running around in Bart Simspon T shrts, or wearing Jurassic Park Hats? When was the last time anyone saw a kid wearing a PAC-MAN t-shrt?

I don't think these things are the norm. I think we are all just more aware of there existence.

Homo the norm? Well, that would be one way to reduce overpopulation! :-)

[pontooner]

I agree with what everyone else said here........BUT I also think that TV and Movies have a HUGE impact on social norms.......

* On TV, it is NORMAL to be divorced 1-2-3-4 times........Now that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have sexual relations with befor Marriage........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is NORMAL to have homosexual relationships........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, is it OK to show life as Godless.........Now, that is the Norm in Society.
* On TV, it is OK to RAPE and KILL.........Now, seems like that is the Norm in Society.

I'm not saying these things didn't exist before, but you CANNOT say that TV and Movies don't have an effect on our young people.

Later,

Geo

You might be right but it is really more of a which came first the chicken or the egg kinda scenario for me. Maybe TV adapted their shows to the life style by which people were living to appeal and draw people in. Of course a few of the things you list as being normal don't apply but most could. Some of the things are just there for the shock value.

I think TV can skew a kids view on how things should be or are but it should not be whats teaching them their morals/values.

Also Chub, I know a very strict religious family (no tv, no shorts, dresses only for the women) that had 2 kids and one just plain rebelled when he got out into the world on his own, the other kid is carrying on the familys way of life. It just happens sometime when the reigns are pulled to tight.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Ring the bell, I believe we have a winner. Nobody takes reponsibility any longer and passes the buck.

I'm very responsible, ask my wife who holds me responsible for everything that goes wrong. I promise if you pass me a buck, I will keep it, and send you a thank-you note.

[Chubminnow]

I hate to bring religeon into any discussion....but this thread got me to wondering about something that I have often wondered about in the past. In the bible, Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans I have for you." declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future."

I don't know....it just makes me wonder stuff...but then too...there's lots of things in the bible that makes a person wonder. The Lord has plans for us...so why do some kids turn out bad I guess is my question?

I apologize if I got off the original intent of this thread.

[DJD]

I have often asked the same thing. I was told that we sometimes don't follow the plan and that in the end it's up to us to find our way back when we stray off course. It's a tough one to answer.

[apb]

I can remember as a kid watching TV at least one of my parents would watch with us. If they did not approve of the show, we never saw it again. They would also tell us why we were not watching again. It comes back to the parents having an active role in their childern's lives.

Geo, not sure what shows you are watching, but there are a number of things on your list that I cannot see anyone viewing as normal. I mean, raping and killing is normal????

Andrew

[GeoFisher]

I can remember as a kid watching TV at least one of my parents would watch with us. If they did not approve of the show, we never saw it again. They would also tell us why we were not watching again. It comes back to the parents having an active role in their childern's lives.

Geo, not sure what shows you are watching, but there are a number of things on your list that I cannot see anyone viewing as normal. I mean, raping and killing is normal????

Andrew

Andrew..........this stuff is so common on TV today that it is rare to go a week without examples of both on prime time.

Rape scenes are rare, I give you that....but Murder, pre maritial sex, teenage sex, whatever.......they are commonplace on TV today.

Just 2 days ago, CBS spoofed frosty the snowman with JUNK from one of their comedy shows.......NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THAT.......and they ran the garbage after the evening news.

The stuff today that is PG, was pretty much close to R in the 80's........

The liberalization of our society has been very DAMAGING to our kids....Like it or NOT.