Harold Ramirez49 said:I don't think kids today are any more spoiled than previous generations. If anything, I believe children need more affection because they only get one childhood. The real issue we're facing is that a significant number of kids today are growing up without proper guidance or social support. A child is essentially a mirror of their parents; whatever they witness and hear at home is exactly what they’ll carry out into the playground or the classroom. Our society has shifted in a way where hard work, genuine success, and actual knowledge aren't really respected anymore—instead, they often become targets for ridicule. Nowadays, it feels like all that matters is the money in your pocket, regardless of how you actually earned it. Rudeness is everywhere, both within families and out in public, so why should we be surprised by how children behave?
I am inclined to agree with you on most counts. Yes, children need affection, but we must be careful not to indulge them to the point of spoiling them, as doing so does them a massive disservice in the long run. It often results in adults who are fundamentally unhappy because they grew up incapable of handling the basic friction of life. If a parent caves every time a child throws a tantrum on the floor of a Target, or fails to establish any semblance of boundaries, how can we expect that child to cope when they encounter a world that doesn't bend to their whims? Whether it is in a professional environment, a classroom, a relationship, or a marriage, life will eventually say "no." True love involves setting those necessary boundaries and actually preparing a child to face reality.
Harold Ramirez49 said:I don't think kids today are any more spoiled than previous generations. If anything, I believe children need more affection because they only get one childhood. The real issue we're facing is that a significant number of kids today are growing up without proper guidance or social support. A child is essentially a mirror of their parents; whatever they witness and hear at home is exactly what they’ll carry out into the playground or the classroom. Our society has shifted in a way where hard work, genuine success, and actual knowledge aren't really respected anymore—instead, they often become targets for ridicule. Nowadays, it feels like all that matters is the money in your pocket, regardless of how you actually earned it. Rudeness is everywhere, both within families and out in public, so why should we be surprised by how children behave?
I am inclined to agree with you on most points. Yes, children need to feel cherished, but there is a fine line between nurturing them and spoiling them, and crossing that line does nothing but do them a profound disservice in the long run. If we raise them without discipline, we are merely setting them up to become unhappy adults who lack the resilience to handle the inevitable frictions of life. If a parent constantly caves to every whim just because a child has a meltdown in the middle of a Target aisle, or if a child is never taught where the boundaries lie, how on earth are they supposed to cope when they encounter a world that doesn't bend to their will? Whether it is in a professional environment, at a university, or within a marriage, life requires compromise. True love is expressed by setting those necessary boundaries and actually preparing a person to face the reality of the world.
Brandon Newman95 said:We used to play Border Patrol, but I can't even remember how you did the field subtractions—was it something like that math game Schoolhouse or what? And man, those Hershey bars we never actually had here, they were always imported from Austria, so when those old guys would bring home a whole pack, you were only allowed to grab one single piece. We actually respected our parents and teachers back then, but now you hear professors complaining that every new generation just gets progressively worse. They say they’re genuinely relieved when they get a decent class instead of a total circus where everything and anything goes (I mean, things weren't perfect before either, but it felt less extreme). Everything feels so much more depleted now, and there's more poverty among the students too. Honestly, I think my generation, born between '95 and '99, was actually one of the wealthier ones compared to kids today, even though we dealt with all that war chaos and students being displaced or fleeing... we still managed to pull it together.
Yes, field subtraction was essentially the same thing as playing with chalk on the driveway. If you can't remember that, well, I was born in '72, so perhaps your lot simply didn't play those kinds of games.
I find myself wondering if any of you recall the days of playing Capture the Flag or simple games of tag in the neighborhood? We certainly ate much more wholesome meals back then. For us, a quick snack consisted of nothing more than some yogurt and a roll, whereas today’s kids seem to survive almost exclusively on processed junk food. That is the supposed "progress" we have achieved. Even our treats were modest; occasionally, we might be permitted to pick up some Fruit Roll-Ups or Cheetos at the grocery store. And as for entertainment... I seem to remember a neighbor once receiving a VHS tape, and back when we were in seventh grade, the whole neighborhood would congregate at that person's house to watch *E.T.*—an original copy, sourced from who knows where, without any subtitles. There was also a very clear, unspoken understanding regarding curfews; once we were told it was time to come home to our parents, there was no arguing, and we all respected that boundary. Quite frankly, I struggle to see how this modern advancement has actually improved our quality of life. In my estimation, the only genuine progress worth noting has been in medical science. Everything else? I wouldn't call it progress. From what I can observe, people today are increasingly dissatisfied, true values are being completely eroded, and the sense of community has vanished compared to how we used to socialize. No one hangs out like they used to. There is never enough time in a day, and children are undeniably spending less time with their parents, making them both unhappier and more discontented than we ever were. This stems directly from a lack of discipline and a failure to provide quality time, leading to a certain level of entitlement born from inconsistent parenting. Such wonderful progress we have made.
shadowtrucker18 said:The neighborhoods were honestly pretty rough 😢
How on earth can you remember those too? It actually strikes me, looking back through the fog of memory, that before Oliver Mlakar took over, it was the late Ivo Serdar who used to lead things with Karapandz. As for the advertisements themselves, my mind is still haunted by those catchy jingles from Fant Fantastic! and the Nare ads—you know, that one for Fructal fruit juice. Or that classic line about how it wasn't wine and it wasn't water, but Traubi soda. And then there was that one for Poland Spring mineral water, where they’d say an uncle lived to be ninety just because he drank it... hahahahaha😂
I find myself in complete agreement with you. I recall those same childhood rituals—playing games like tag or playing with dolls right out in front of our house. My memories of that era are quite vivid; I remember specifically how we would sit down for cartoons at 7:15 in the morning, just before the local news started, and once that was over, it was straight to bed. There were no cartoons on Thursdays, though, because that was when the cooking show hosted by some celebrity chef would air. I used to try and negotiate my way out of bedtime by insisting that I absolutely had to watch that program. As for toys, I can still recall most of them and even remember their specific names. Whenever we took a trip down to Chicago, my father would tell me, "Since we are in this Target, you can pick out three toys." It sounds simple, but I would agonize over the decision for ages. It always ended up being some accessory for a Barbie doll and then something else entirely. I never once had the foresight to ask if I could have more. Regarding clothes, my parents usually handled all the shopping without my input; I honestly never gave it a second thought, nor did I possess any concept of designer brands versus generic labels. Once they had me, they simply adapted their entire lifestyle to accommodate a child. You can't just go out hitting the bars whenever you feel like it once you have a kid; certain sacrifices are inevitable. That wasn't really the norm back then either, as most social gatherings with friends happened right at our house. Of course, children aren't to blame for the state of things today. Those kids are truly unfortunate. A child simply doesn't have the agency to choose.
Amanda Stewart7 said:It’s one of the heavy hitters. It isn't really your standard sleeping pill, either; it's usually administered alongside other medications. Mostly used for people dealing with more serious issues while they're hospitalized. No doctor is going to write you a prescription for this just because you're having trouble sleeping.
🤷Personally, I haven't had any issues with sleep, though I did undergo surgery for something in my abdomen a while back. If memory serves—and it's a bit hazy since this was about six years ago—I believe they gave me something like Dormicum; I recall it being a small, oblong pill in some sort of light pastel shade, perhaps blue? Honestly, the details are a bit fuzzy, but I think they called it Dormicum, and I was completely out of it.
I honestly fail to see how this supposed sweeping progress has had any positive impact on the younger generation. It seems quite evident to me that today's children and teenagers are far more dissatisfied and prone to behavioral issues than we ever were when we were navigating those same formative years.
slyrider11 said:We all share some of the blame here. I don’t think either extreme works, because let’s face it, modern parenting techniques just don't click with certain kids. I have two sons. My youngest is easy; he actually listens when you talk to him or offer criticism. The most "strict" I ever get with him is raising my voice, and even then, it's only happened a handful of times. My older son, however, is a different story. He's a nightmare. Nothing works—not talking, not punishments, not critiques... absolutely nothing. He spent several sessions with the school counselor, both alone and with me. To him, the whole thing was a joke; he’d sit there mocking the counselor right to her face. Then came the child psychologists, the testing, and all the expert advice on how to handle him. He just laughed at all of it. Finally, one day after yet another frantic call from the school, I just snapped. I told my husband I couldn't take it anymore. He retreated to the boy's room and delivered two solid slaps—one for the kid and one for me. To make a long story short, once the word got out that if there’s trouble at school, Dad is coming in to have a "serious talk," the calls from the principal stopped drying up, and he finally settled down. The school counselor caught me in the hallway and said, all proud of herself, "See? We told you we could fix this!" I just gave her a cold look and told her it wasn't the counselors who did it, it was Dad's hand. She didn't say a word; she just walked right past me.
I am of the opinion that your husband acted entirely correctly. Most of us—especially boys, who can often be quite difficult to reach—grew up having been given a swat on the backside or a tug on the ear, and we certainly didn't emerge from that as traumatized individuals. Personally, I am grateful that my parents were consistent in their upbringing and established reasonable boundaries that were actually respected, which is why I consider myself a well-adjusted person today. And what has been achieved with this modern approach where "the child and I are best friends" and any physical discipline is labeled as "abuse"? It has resulted in exactly what we are discussing: children who throw tantrums on the floor, refuse to listen to anyone, show zero respect, lack any sense of boundaries, and ultimately end up deeply dissatisfied. Let me be clear, I am not a proponent of violence as a primary teaching tool, but occasionally, a firm hand clearly works, and peace is restored.
I was actually given some Midazolam at the hospital prior to my surgery, mostly because I checked in a day early and the whole thing wasn't scheduled until the following morning, and quite frankly, my nerves were such that sleep was an impossibility. For me, the dose felt incredibly heavy—just complete, total unconsciousness. I didn't even wake up until I was already being wheeled into the operating room; the transport over to the surgical suite didn't even nudge me back to reality, and half the experience is just... gone. It’s been completely erased from my memory. Apparently, I even managed to walk to the restroom with a nurse earlier that morning, but I have absolutely no recollection of that happening. My last conscious thought was taking the medication, and then—nothing—until the next scene: the OR and the prep for anesthesia. That stuff is potent. Perhaps it's because I rarely take any medications or anything of that nature, though I couldn't say for certain.
Gerald Walker7 said:That's a massive mistake, I think. I have a friend who's 32, and she didn't have her first real, honest conversation with her mother until her wedding day. She told her, "The only thing I truly resent is that you were never my mother—you were just my friend. I had plenty of friends; what I needed was a mother." And she backed it up with plenty of evidence. At the time, when I was 18, I couldn't wrap my head around it because, let's face it, we all secretly crave that buddy-buddy relationship with our parents. But once she explained how that dynamic actually messed her up, I completely changed my mind. A parent needs to be a parent. That doesn't mean there isn't some friendship involved, but I guess you still have to know how to set boundaries.
🙏 Bravo, honestly, I tip my hat to you. I couldn't agree more.
Sarah James4 said:Uniform or not... kids (and adults too) will always find ways to show off... it's just human nature...🙂
A uniform itself doesn't primarily exist to bridge social gaps. It's more about showing belonging to a group, a school, or a community. It's for organization, discipline, and building work habits. Everything else follows after that.🙂
I suppose that's true, though I would argue that so much of this ultimately hinges on how a child is raised at home. A kid isn't going to feel the need to flaunt their wealth or compete over status if they were raised with proper values and haven't been exposed to toxic examples by their parents. In my view, children are most often just a reflection of the environment their parents have created.
Personally, I find it utterly distasteful when parents drag their children to shopping malls instead of taking them to a local park; it seems to me that the adults simply sit there sipping coffee while toddlers, aged anywhere from two to five, are left to run wild in the aisles around 8:00 PM. By that hour, a child should ideally be bathed, tucked into their pajamas, and waiting for their favorite cartoon to start. Now, I am perfectly aware that modern working hours have shifted and people aren't necessarily clocking out at 2:00 or 3:00 anymore—it’s more common to finish around 4:00 or 5:00—but staying up late and engaging in frantic activity until nearly midnight is simply not conducive to a child's well-being. I see this happening even with those who don't work such grueling hours, including stay-at-home mothers. A child requires structure, and there is absolutely no reason for them to be wide awake at 11:00 PM, hyperactively jumping around the house or tossing and turning because they weren't allowed to watch the show they were craving. Since I don't have children of my own, I expect someone will inevitably step in to lecture me and claim I have no idea what I'm talking about, so, fine, let me lecture myself. Perhaps I truly don't know. All I know is that a child's place isn't in cafes or sprawling shopping centers, unless, of course, there is quite literally nowhere else to leave them while running errands for groceries.
Bryan Watson said:Honestly, kids these days are just numb and totally socially awkward. It’s pretty standard now for elementary schoolers to have smartphones—which, fine, is great for parents wanting to track them—but on the flip side, it’s killing their ability to actually talk to people. I started elementary school back in the early 90s. Even though that wasn't ages ago, most of us didn't even have landlines yet. We used to hang out by literally walking over to a friend's house, ringing the doorbell, and when a parent answered, we'd say, "Hi, is Mark home?" Nowadays, I see kids who have zero social skills. They can't even strike up a conversation. I sell computers on the side, and I get high schoolers coming in all the time, and man, it’s pathetic how few of them can put a sentence together. A lot of them can't even handle basic interaction with a stranger like me—if you just walk up and say, "Hey there, how can I help you?" they practically shrink back in fear. Look, I was awkward too, but I finally grew a pair around 3rd or 4th grade when I had to face my buddy's older brother—this 6'5", 280lb dude with a voice like thunder.
Also, we didn't have a mountain of toys, but what we did have was physical stuff—toy cars, slingshots, bikes, you name it. We were actually developing motor skills. We were racing bikes, making bows and arrows, playing with slingshots. Where do you see kids doing that today? Personally, that's when I actually learned how to handle a screwdriver or any other hand tools. My sister works in a school and she's noticing more and more kids struggling with handwriting because they literally don't know how to grip a pencil—their fine motor skills are shot. These are the kids who just sit at home playing on their PlayStation or PC. In my opinion, parents are failing them here. Don't get me wrong, you shouldn't ban tech entirely—quite the opposite—but you absolutely have to limit it. It shouldn't be the *only* thing they play with.
And then you see these little kids in primary school already acting like they own the road on electric scooters. They're still growing! They need movement and actual activity, not just sitting there scooting around. Not to mention they have zero clue about traffic laws, they don't wear helmets, and they don't even turn on lights at night...
This is a very insightful post; truly, you have hit the nail right on the head.👍
Emily Robinson4 said:That sounds absolutely terrible to me. People should be allowed to wear whatever they want—no one should be forced into some arbitrary rules or strict dress codes.👍
Personally, I find the whole situation quite acceptable, if only to prevent children from lower-income families from developing deep-seated insecurities caused by their wealthier peers—kids who are often poorly raised and under the impression that they possess greater inherent value simply because their parents insist on dressing them in designer labels for school. This is precisely why I maintain that our own childhoods were far healthier in this regard; back then, the concept of material wealth was virtually non-existent to us, nor did it hold any significant weight, as there was no constant emphasis placed on the socioeconomic disparities between students. As for what happens privately, outside the confines of the classroom, people should be free to dress however they please, but the school itself ought to function primarily as an educational and developmental institution.
Whether we are discussing school uniforms or even just that old concept of a designated corner for students—which, if I am being honest, could certainly be redesigned with much better taste today—I find myself leaning toward a positive view of such measures. It seems to me that having a standardized look prevents those glaring disparities in wealth among students from being so blatantly obvious through their clothing choices.
Henry Moore2 said:If I had even dared to throw something on the floor back in my day, my mom would have given me such a piece of her mind that I’d be feeling it for a week. It was just how things were. But nowadays? Kids get reported to the school board or something just for doing that.
Morgan Rodriguez57 said:Honestly, back in the day, you’d probably give him a good smack to settle him down after an outburst like that, but nowadays, people call that abuse... 🙂 🙄
Yes, I find myself in agreement there, yet the fundamental question remains why a child would ever reach such a state of behavior in the first place. When we were growing up here in the States, I don't recall seeing this level of conduct—this specific type of entitlement, throwing tantrums on the floor, and all those other foolish displays.
darkhawk30 said:If you check YouTube, just below little Fritz, there’s a clip of his father reacting to a "disobedient" computer. It’s the exact same lines and the same reactions, just dressed up in a suit and a bit more subtle. The kid didn't need to travel far to learn how things work. He learned it right at home.
I can't seem to track it down myself; I keep running into nothing but bad dubbing and terrible translations, but the father is nowhere to be found.
Do you ever find yourselves reminiscing about those old reality docuseries, like that one show featuring the "Super Nanny" figure who would swoop into households to impose some semblance of order on unruly, spoiled children? I believe it was aired on an American network, perhaps something like ABC or TLC, if my memory serves me correctly. It makes me wonder, quite frankly—when those kids were acting out for the cameras, what on earth was the reality like when the production crew actually packed up and left? One can only imagine the sheer chaos behind the scenes. There were moments in those clips that felt almost impossible to witness; I recall sitting there, completely incredulous, struggling to process the madness unfolding on screen.