Whats up with kids these days?

[badgirl]

I think the computers and games machines are fine as long as they are not abused. My son and my nephew and many other teenagers and even some young adults want to do absolutely nothing but stay on games, either by computer or game machines. When my boys were younger I used to MAKE them go and spend time outside and get exercise and fresh air. My son moved in with his dad 2 years ago and is now 16 and his dad is a workaholic, so therefore Brad (my son) does nothing except stay in his room with his nose stuck in a game. This disgusts me very much.

I lived in a neighborhood once that I thought my children were the only ones who lived on the whole street, till the school bus started dropping kids off at home and I know it made at least 7 stops on that street, but I never saw kids outside playing.

Had to get this off my chest and see what you guys thought about this.
Oh, another thing, young adults seem to be a lot lazier than I remember them being when I was growing up. Not all but most it seems. Makes me wonder what this country holds in the future.

[007]

Welcome to the new America. Hopefully it changes back to what we remember sooner rather than later.

[Mecca]

It's to god damned hot to play outside right now......

[badgirl]

It's to god damned hot to play outside right now......
not just right now, this kind of behavior has been going on for a very long time now.

:rolleyes:

[Mecca]

not just right now, this kind of behavior has been going on for a very long time now.

:rolleyes:

It's because.......video games are more stimulating than running around outside. Stuff like that can teach you good hand eye coordination and how to think fast and problem solving skills.

I just think people do overreact a little bit about this. Kids watch to much TV, kids do this they do that, they should do what I did yadda yadda. You need a helmet for this and that, pretty soon kids will need a helmet to jerkoff.

Maybe kids like to play video games? I don't see alot of harm in that.... :shrug:

[badgirl]

It's because.......video games are more stimulating than running around outside. Stuff like that can teach you good hand eye coordination and how to think fast and problem solving skills.

I just think people do overreact a little bit about this. Kids watch to much TV, kids do this they do that, they should do what I did yadda yadda. You need a helmet for this and that, pretty soon kids will need a helmet to jerkoff.

Maybe kids like to play video games? I don't see alot of harm in that.... :shrug:
You got kids??

[Mecca]

You got kids??

Hell no.....I'm only 25.....I grew up in the video game era actually and I still play so I can relate to some extent.

[Simplex3]

Come on guys, her real issue here is that it's impossible to pick up on 14 year old boys if they aren't outside and accessible.

[Mecca]

Also when I was 14 I didn't have the internet.........I wish I had had that kind of access to porn like kids do now, I'd have been in my room all day......

[badgirl]

Also when I was 14 I didn't have the internet.........I wish I had had that kind of access to porn like kids do now, I'd have been in my room all day......
It isn't just kids, I took care of a man with MS who had a van he could drive and could get out anytime he wanted, but he chose to play EverQuest all night and go to bed at like 9am and get up at 2pm and right back on it. Its not just children. EverQuest is the game my son my son plays all the time.
Anyone who has children should want them to be healthy, and this kind of behavior isn't good for anyone.

[badgirl]

Hell no.....I'm only 25.....I grew up in the video game era actually and I still play so I can relate to some extent.
Thats what I thought :rolleyes:

[oaklandhater]

Also when I was 14 I didn't have the internet.........I wish I had had that kind of access to porn like kids do now, I'd have been in my room all day......


I still remember when I frist got the internet I was a Grade A student, I had a Girlfriend a job.I't was some point at this time we got the Internet
now Im divorced working at a dead end job and I cant even tell you what's the color of the sun. :)

[Mecca]

Well I'm glad technology has brought us games and such for times like now when it is far to hot to be outside.

[Baby Lee]

You could do like my parents, and give the TV to Goodwill when I entered Kindergarten.

[Mecca]

You could do like my parents, and give the TV to Goodwill when I entered Kindergarten.

That would create serious boredom.....then they'll go to their friends houses to watch TV while you as the parent are bored.

[Otter]

You could do like my parents, and give the TV to Goodwill when I entered Kindergarten.

Hehe, my Dad took the dial off the TV so all that you could watch was PBS.

I eventually found a pair of needle nose plyers to turn the channel and next thing I knew the TV was a shelf for spark plugs in the garage for a couple months.

[badgirl]

You could do like my parents, and give the TV to Goodwill when I entered Kindergarten.
TV doesn't seem to be a problem, they don't come out of their room to watch tv, my son uses his X-box live and uses the tv and a headset to talk to the other players, he doesn't watch TV anymore.

[ChiefsfaninPA]

Badgirl I feel your pain. I am 25 but never got into the video game scene. I enjoy playing sports or just being outdoors. But I do watch a lot of TV so I guess that makes up for the lack of a game obsession. But I do have 2 children (7,5) and my 7 yr old always wants to play a game. I do let him play about 30 min a day depending upon his behavior and only after we spend some time outside playing(which he loves to do, he likes to play baseball). Now as he gets older I am sure that he will want to play more and I will let him but that is all dependant upon his behavior and school work. I do beleive that too many kids, young adults and even adults spend too much time on games, but I am not one to judge because I probably spend 2 hours a day watching TV and while I am at work and bored I do get on here and post.

[wilas101]

Whats up with kids? Kids are just like adults in as much as they are going to expend as little energy as possible to keep themselves entertained. Before TV kids went outside more why? Probably because they're indoor options were very limited. Then the television age began and kids started watching more tv and the generation before them proclaimed it the downfall of modern american. Those kids had kids and those kids had video games available to them at arcades and more importantly... in home via atari, intellivision, etc. Their parents declared video games to be the downfall of modern america. Those kids grew up and had kids and those kids now have the internet and games on computers PLUS console games... all available inside their house. Now we have parents (and I'm not saying you're doing this badgirl) proclaiming the internet and video games as the evil downfall of modern america.

The funny part is... nobody even blinks at television anymore.

Bottom line, if you let your kids stay inside all day they are going to but I seriously doubt it marks the end of civilization as we know it.

[oaklandhater]

TV doesn't seem to be a problem, they don't come out of their room to watch tv, my son uses his X-box live and uses the tv and a headset to talk to the other players, he doesn't watch TV anymore.


Woot woot Halo forever!!!

[Saulbadguy]

I played outside alot plus played Nintendo.

At age 16, I didn't play outside. I don't see too many teenagers "playing outside".

[Demonpenz]

America is already behind in teaching kids technology hey lets put them behind further!

[badgirl]

America is already behind in teaching kids technology hey lets put them behind further!
I'm not saying not to teach them I am saying they shouldn't make games their lives.

[donkhater]

TV doesn't seem to be a problem, they don't come out of their room to watch tv, my son uses his X-box live and uses the tv and a headset to talk to the other players, he doesn't watch TV anymore.
Maybe I'm missing something. If you feel so strongly about this, why did you get him an X-box to begin with? On another note, why does he still have it? Afraid he'll get mad at you? You're his PARENT, not his buddy.

[badgirl]

Maybe I'm missing something. If you feel so strongly about this, why did you get him an X-box to begin with? On another note, why does he still have it? Afraid he'll get mad at you? You're his PARENT, not his buddy.
He's living with his dad, he moved in with him a couple of years ago, things were different when he lived with me. My X and I have had this discussion and he just don't seem to get it.

[Predarat]

Thats why I love my neighboorhood, usually in the evening I take my two year old son for a walk. There are kids of all ages on bikes, skateboards, rollerskates, ect. There are games of basketball, baseball, football going on all over the place. They all seem to be having so much fun. It reminds me a lot of my old neighborhood. We played the nintendo some but played a lot of sports and stuff outside. Though there were a lot of broken limbs during football season where we promised to play touch/flag football but crossed our fingers and played tackle. After an injury we would play it straight for a week or so but before you know it smash mouth, lot yard football was back in full force! I can still feel the cool, Kansas October breeze!

[Rain Man]

It's ridiculous how much time kids spend on computers nowadays.


On an unrelated note, I'm about to hit 43,000 posts!

[greg63]

I think the computers and games machines are fine as long as they are not abused. My son and my nephew and many other teenagers and even some young adults want to do absolutely nothing but stay on games, either by computer or game machines. When my boys were younger I used to MAKE them go and spend time outside and get exercise and fresh air. My son moved in with his dad 2 years ago and is now 16 and his dad is a workaholic, so therefore Brad (my son) does nothing except stay in his room with his nose stuck in a game. This disgusts me very much.

I lived in a neighborhood once that I thought my children were the only ones who lived on the whole street, till the school bus started dropping kids off at home and I know it made at least 7 stops on that street, but I never saw kids outside playing.

Had to get this off my chest and see what you guys thought about this.
Oh, another thing, young adults seem to be a lot lazier than I remember them being when I was growing up. Not all but most it seems. Makes me wonder what this country holds in the future.

I don't know that this is a new phenomenon. I can remember that as a teenager and young adult going through the exact same stage in life 25 years ago. (I'm 42) I think we parents of teens and young adults notice this simply because we're getting older and know what it is to take responsibility for our lives. I'm not saying you shouldn't try to encourage other activities, I can remember my mom turning the TV off while I was playing my colecoVision during a game of Donkey Kong while yelling at me about there being "more to life then that stupid game." You might have to nudge them a bit, but I am convinced that it is a stage that they grow out of eventually.

[greg63]

It's ridiculous how much time kids spend on computers nowadays.


On an unrelated note, I'm about to hit 43,000 posts!

ROFLROFL

[ZepSinger]

I have 3 little girls, age 4 thru 8. Video games are not an option- TV is very restricted. Occasional PBS and certain educational programs are fine. Friday night Movie Night with mom and dad(Disney or the like).

They are highly encouraged to play outside and/or read, which they love. The TV is off 95% of the time, replaced by music (classical, Christian rock, or jazz).

I couldn't be happier with the way my babies are turning out. :)

[Spicy McHaggis]

I'm a young guy (21) and I remember running around the neighborhood with anywhere from 15-25 kids during the summer. Rode our bikes to the pool, played basketball, massive games of capture the flag/water gun fights, threw the football around, walked to get Slurpees and if we got bored of all that stuff we would go get into trouble like a kid should, dammit! I sound like an old man when I say it but I hardly ever see kids out in the neighborhoods anymore. My children are sure as shit gonna play outside because grass stains and 95 degree heat builds character.

[Mecca]

I have 3 little girls, age 4 thru 8. Video games are not an option- TV is very restricted. Occasional PBS and certain educational programs are fine. Friday night Movie Night with mom and dad(Disney or the like).

They are highly encouraged to play outside and/or read, which they love. The TV is off 95% of the time, replaced by music (classical, Christian rock, or jazz).

I couldn't be happier with the way my babies are turning out. :)

If I was your child.........I would have slit my wrist.

[BucEyedPea]

I have 3 little girls, age 4 thru 8. Video games are not an option- TV is very restricted. Occasional PBS and certain educational programs are fine. Friday night Movie Night with mom and dad(Disney or the like).

They are highly encouraged to play outside and/or read, which they love. The TV is off 95% of the time, replaced by music (classical, Christian rock, or jazz).

I couldn't be happier with the way my babies are turning out. :)


Good for you! :thumb: This is so hard to do in this day and age.
My daughter's tv time is restricted...as well as video games.

They can watch Little Orphan Annie all day even but it just makes them lazy spectators and not contributers. Her school claims they are less likely to want to do homework or apply themselves which I have found to be the case.

Mecca, if you don't know any other way then what you've done then of course it this would seem horrible to you. It's just what you're used to.

[patteeu]

On an unrelated note, I'm about to hit 43,000 posts!

You'll never amount to anything if you don't pick up your posting pace.

[Jim Jones]

Video games are good in moderation. The problem with video games isn't the video games themselves, it's the fact that excessive video game playing keeps kids inside all the time and away from the outside world. Kids need to be outside making friends, developing social skills and keeping themselves fit by running around and playing.

Sitting inside and playing video games is the reason we have so many fatass kids out there these days.

[BIG_DADDY]

They estimate that 1 out of every 3 kids right now will have diabetes as an adult. The pussification of these kids combined with poor diets,no movement and a bunch of them on ritalin should insure the fact that they will be our countries downfall. Nothing worse than seeing a bunch of young boys waiting to get on the bus to go to school with man boobs already.

[Iowanian]

I didn't play video games because it wasn't an option until I was 14. It became an option because I was traveling with a road crew, doing a man's job making cash.

My folks worked us enough, it would have never been a problem. My dad would have smashed the box with an Ax if we did that instead of our work.

The heat this past week, I'm sure would have stimulated one of our neighbor or uncles' button to bail up a couple of thousand squares.

Kids become what the parents teach them to become.

[Demonpenz]

Most the time people don't let kids go outside because it is too dangerous. Especially with places that don't have pit bull laws

[Jenson71]

They estimate that 1 out of every 3 kids right now will have diabetes as an adult. The pussification of these kids combined with poor diets,no movement and a bunch of them on ritalin should insure the fact that they will be our countries downfall. Nothing worse than seeing a bunch of young boys waiting to get on the bus to go to school with man boobs already.

I can picture all the "game nerds" at my school. The constant similarity - they're as skinny as cornstalks.

[bogie]

My 8 year old goes to a website called ClubPenguin. Each kid creates a character (penguin). The website has different games that earn coins. With those coins they buy things for their penguin, cloths, hats, shoes, stuff for the penguin to hold, etc. They also use the coins to buy their penguin an igloo to live in and to buy furniture and stuff to decorate their igloo. They can also buy little critters called puffles. They use the coins they earn to take care of their puffles. I forget what they have to buy to take care of their puffles, but if they don't take care of them on a regular basis the puffles will die. My kid is very serious about taking care of her puffles. It bums her out when other kids on the site aren't responsible enough to take care of their puffles. There is a free area that they can play in, but to enjoy the website to it's fullest you need to pay for a membership. I think it's $6.00 per month. We have given her extra chores around the house to earn the $6.00 a month. The website has really improved her computer skills, taught her the value of taking care of things you own and taught her the value of a buck. We limit her time on it, but I think this website has had a positive influence on my kid.

[OldTownChief]

Most the time people don't let kids go outside because it is too dangerous. Especially with places that don't have pit bull laws

ROFL

[Valiant]

I agree with you badgirl, I am 27 and I know both eras of this... All you are going to see is kids getting fatter and fatter..

Yes playing some video games stimulates your hand/eye coordination but it drops your level of fitness overall.. Kids no longer ride their bikes like they used too, run during a cult-de-sac tennis ball game, play back yard football.. Kids are missing out on outside...

Yes it has been hot lately but I go out and have a blast playing competivie volleyball... It is not too hot to play sports right now with proper water and breaks...



The biggest problem with all of this though, IS parents are too ****ing lazy to mind their kids... This is just like the parents that drop their kids off at the movies... PC's are great in moderation for children-teens but they need a balanced mix of the inside and outside activities...

Ask the average 14 year old how many hours a day/week they spend on the PC/console/cell phone and it is sickening....

[DomerNKC]

not just right now, this kind of behavior has been going on for a very long time now.

:rolleyes:it is their "music"

[ZepSinger]

If I was your child.........I would have slit my wrist.

I was EXACTLY like you at 25. I was a lead guitarist in a touring metal band in the 80's, and the most self-centered egotistical prick you'd ever wanna know. Until you have kids, it's all about you.

Well, now I'm a dad. I'd run thru a brick wall for my girls, and I'll do whatever it takes to raise them right, whether it's in my comfort zone or not. Children will totally change your perspective, but there's no way you're going to see it until you have them. You'll see. :)

Z

[KcMizzou]

I was EXACTLY like you at 25. I was a lead guitarist in a touring metal band in the 80's, and the most self-centered egotistical prick you'd ever wanna know. Until you have kids, it's all about you.
Ouch ROFL

I have one son who likes to play video games, and one who's always out riding his bike. I don't push 'em much. :shrug: The boy who likes the games is always up for a trip to the pool, if I feel like it's time he got outta the house. (We live in a townhouse, with a free community pool)

[stevieray]

I was EXACTLY like you at 25. I was a lead guitarist in a touring metal band in the 80's, and the most self-centered egotistical prick you'd ever wanna know. Until you have kids, it's all about you.

Well, now I'm a dad. I'd run thru a brick wall for my girls, and I'll do whatever it takes to raise them right, whether it's in my comfort zone or not. Children will totally change your perspective, but there's no way you're going to see it until you have them. You'll see. :)

Z

Rep.

Even cut my long hair off, something I used to say I'd never do.

[ZepSinger]

Rep.

Even cut my long hair off, something I used to say I'd never do.

Mine used to be down to the middle of my back- curly, highlighted, and occasionally Aqua-Netted up to the sky. Now I'd pass for a hip VP at a bank.
:)

[|Zach|]

I'm a young guy (21) and I remember running around the neighborhood with anywhere from 15-25 kids during the summer. Rode our bikes to the pool, played basketball, massive games of capture the flag/water gun fights, threw the football around, walked to get Slurpees and if we got bored of all that stuff we would go get into trouble like a kid should, dammit! I sound like an old man when I say it but I hardly ever see kids out in the neighborhoods anymore. My children are sure as shit gonna play outside because grass stains and 95 degree heat builds character.
Ha, everytime I read your posts I see myself nodding in agreement. I have a doppleganger!

I will say though, I played a good amount of video games but it was always a social thing with my friends. 8 of us would go to someone's house during a snow day and play golden eye against eachother laughing and ordering pizza and getting all worked up...

[stevieray]

Mine used to be down to the middle of my back- curly, highlighted, and occasionally Aqua-Netted up to the sky. Now I'd pass for a hip VP at a bank.
:)

me too, except now I'd pass as VP for an Elvis Fan Club... :(

[Jenson71]

Ha, everytime I read your posts I see myself nodding in agreement. I have a doppleganger!

I will say though, I played a good amount of video games but it was always a social thing with my friends. 8 of us would go to someone's house during a snow day and play golden eye against eachother laughing and ordering pizza and getting all worked up...

STOP! STOP RIGHT THERE DO NOT GO FURTHER.

[greg63]

I'm a young guy (21) and I remember running around the neighborhood with anywhere from 15-25 kids during the summer. Rode our bikes to the pool, played basketball, massive games of capture the flag/water gun fights, threw the football around, walked to get Slurpees and if we got bored of all that stuff we would go get into trouble like a kid should, dammit! I sound like an old man when I say it but I hardly ever see kids out in the neighborhoods anymore. My children are sure as shit gonna play outside because grass stains and 95 degree heat builds character.



Those things don't build character, they reveal it! :D

[Mecca]

Now now I'm not that egotistical.....ok well maybe I am......

But I still have my long hair so I laugh at you guys who cut it off!

[Rausch]

I'm not saying not to teach them I am saying they shouldn't make games their lives.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/images/beatkid1.jpg

[Moooo]

I have a friend like this. He's in the military now, but before that his house would just be one big pile of trash and clothes, and he would be playing halo and starcraft until 8 in the morning.

I hate the outdoors (they make me sneeze), but I also can't do much of anything for that long. Except for post on CP!

Maybe I need to see counseling about this...

Moooo

[greg63]

Now now I'm not that egotistical.....ok well maybe I am......

But I still have my long hair so I laugh at you guys who cut it off!

I used to have long hair, but alas I have since become one of those that you laugh at. :crybaby:

[luv]

Now now I'm not that egotistical.....ok well maybe I am......

But I still have my long hair so I laugh at you guys who cut it off!
Why do you laugh at those who cut their hair? Or do I need to actually read back in the thread to see what led up to that comment?

[Mecca]

Why do you laugh at those who cut their hair? Or do I need to actually read back in the thread to see what led up to that comment?

Because they gave in to the man! If you have long hair and cut it you give in to every person that ****s with you about your hair or tells you you should cut it because guys shouldn't have long hair. They buckled to the pressure.....well unless you're going bald then it's ok.

Don't make me post pictures and make you all jealous!

[Moooo]

I used to have long hair, but alas I have since become one of those that you laugh at. :crybaby:

So did I. In hindsight it was light and stringy, and I honestly looked like a woman with it. I'm not narcisstic, but I look better with short. You have to have thick hair to pull it off, and I don't.

Moooo, who had a mane.

[Hammock Parties]

Don't be mad just because your uterus dried up.

[luv]

Because they gave in to the man! If you have long hair and cut it you give in to every person that ****s with you about your hair or tells you you should cut it because guys shouldn't have long hair. They buckled to the pressure.....well unless you're going bald then it's ok.

Don't make me post pictures and make you all jealous!
So, you are who you are just because "the man" thinks you should be someone else?

[Moooo]

Because they gave in to the man! If you have long hair and cut it you give in to every person that ****s with you about your hair or tells you you should cut it because guys shouldn't have long hair. They buckled to the pressure.....well unless you're going bald then it's ok.

Can I buy some pot from you?

JK

Moooo

[luv]

Can I buy some pot from you?

JK

Moooo
Sure you are.

[Mecca]

Can I buy some pot from you?

JK

Moooo

Ask again in a few days..

[Rausch]

But I still have my long hair so I laugh at you guys who cut it off!

Once I finished puberty and my testosterone levels passed my estrogen levels long hair just didn't seem fitting...

[BucEyedPea]

The biggest problem with all of this though, IS parents are too ****ing lazy to mind their kids...

I'd say it's more like both parents too busy chasing the buck!

[MahiMike]

I have this problem with my daughter but not my son. He's just like his old man - plays outside till we call him in for dinner. That's my boy!

[Lzen]

Because they gave in to the man! If you have long hair and cut it you give in to every person that ****s with you about your hair or tells you you should cut it because guys shouldn't have long hair. They buckled to the pressure.....well unless you're going bald then it's ok.

Don't make me post pictures and make you all jealous!

I know exactly what you're talking about. However, sometimes it's just time for a change. Perhaps balding or the long hair really isn't in style anymore. I cut mine off about 10 or 11 years ago for those reasons. I actually cut and shaved.

BTW, go ahead and post the pics. We could use a good laugh. ;)

[sedated]

I don't know what you people are talking about.

There are more kids in my neighborhood than mullets in Invesco.

of course, they might as well call my neighborhood little mexico.

they just run around because they have 12 people living in a 1 bedroom apartment.

looks like a ToysRUs commercial on UniVision

[ZepSinger]

I know exactly what you're talking about. However, sometimes it's just time for a change. Perhaps balding or the long hair really isn't in style anymore. I cut mine off about 10 or 11 years ago for those reasons. I actually cut and shaved.

BTW, go ahead and post the pics. We could use a good laugh. ;)

My haircut had nothing to do with 'the man'. The guys on either side of my cube have longer hair than I ever had. As a web/graphic designer, everyone expects you to be the 'art' guy with accepted quirks, long hair being one of them.

Mine had everything to do with my desire to change at a certain point of my life. I'd had it long for over 20 years, and I just didn't want it anymore. Besides, the look I used to sport would be pretty pathetic on graying hair(NOT balding) and increasing wrinkles. :shake: Releasing the young Z and embracing the middle-aged one, I suppose...

Z

[Mecca]

I don't know what you people are talking about.

There are more kids in my neighborhood than mullets in Invesco.

of course, they might as well call my neighborhood little mexico.

they just run around because they have 12 people living in a 1 bedroom apartment.

looks like a ToysRUs commercial on UniVision

I don't have a mullet.......I'd rather die than have a mullet.