I don't understand "They need to have something for kids to do"

[kranky]

I don't consider this a P&N topic, it's not about politics. There has been trouble in some city neighborhoods (teens shooting other teens). Invariably, after each event the evening news will have someone from the neighborhood saying that the problem is there is nothing for teens to do, so something should be done about it.

The part I don't understand is this: whether or not there is anything to "do", how does that excuse behavior of this magnitude? It sounds to me like they are saying "It's not the teens' fault they are shooting each other" which makes no sense to me.

 

[mvbighead]

Agreed. I didn't have a whole lot to do growing up. Made use of my time playing games, doing chores, and that sort of thing.

Kids shooting other kids is not due to a lack of them having something better to do.

 

[Newbian]

They do have something to do it sounds like... playing real life cops and robbers.

 

[NetWareHead]

It doesn't excuse murder and teens shooting each other. I don't think anyone was excusing committing crimes but rather offering a reason why teens turn to violence or gangs. There is a saying: The Devil finds work/mischief for idle hands to do.

 

[kranky]

I figure that kids who live out in the country would have a lot fewer things to be involved in yet they don't seem to have that problem.

 

[NetWareHead]

I figure that kids who live out in the country would have a lot fewer things to be involved in yet they don't seem to have that problem.

IMO, there is far less ghetto culture, far less gang activity and if you are an outdoor person there is PLENTY to do out in the country.

 

[Macamus Prime]

I don't understand what is the issue with organizing community events; painting, cleaning up a local park, field trips, sports games (organize/set up a league), deliver food and medicine to the elderly/sick.

"something for kids to do" doesn't mean buying each kid a Playstation 3, $300 sneakers and $1,000 worth of sporting goods/equipment. It means getting the kids involved.

Now, the lack of "something for kids to do" does not excuse the voilence that occured. And, it's shame someone thinks thats what it was being communicated.

It is being said to do something about the voilence from happening again, not excuse it.

Look at some of the dumb shit on youtube. Idiots jumping off of roofs, opening the door of a moving car, sticking their head out and a car hits the door, this slamming the kids head.

Are these the actions of someone who is spending his/her time correctly?

 

[JTsyo]

While the ones already involved in these things might not opt to do something else, you can still give an alternative to the younger crowd. There will always be some that want to live the thug life but with other options they might not get as many to hang out with them.

 

[Wingznut]

Look at some of the dumb shit on youtube. Idiots jumping off of roofs, opening the door of a moving car, sticking their head out and a car hits the door, this slamming the kids head.

Imho, if the kids didn't have the audience (youtube), this wouldn't be so prevelant.

Don't get me wrong... I was a teenage boy once, and I did some pretty stupid sh*t. But there's no doubt that a lot of the kids on youtube do things in search of their five minutes of fame.

 

[lxskllr]

They need parents who aren't pieces of shit. Parents who know roughly what their kids are up to. Parents who pay enough attention that they can recognize when their kid's up to no good. Parents who take interest in school performance...

 

[SlitheryDee]

So I suppose they've all read the contents of their local libraries already. They need someone else to do.

 

[Wingznut]

They need parents who aren't pieces of shit. Parents who know roughly what their kids are up to. Parents who pay enough attention that they can recognize when their kid's up to no good. Parents who take interest in school performance...

This is the most true thing I've read on ATOT today!

 

[waggy]

I figure that kids who live out in the country would have a lot fewer things to be involved in yet they don't seem to have that problem.

there is a lot to do. just have to get the kids outside and do something. We have yards big enough they can play any sport, We have playsets etc.

also a few kids have go carts, mini-bikes or golf carts for the bigger kids.


I figure the big difference is culture.

 

[Texashiker]

Invariably, after each event the evening news will have someone from the neighborhood saying that the problem is there is nothing for teens to do, so something should be done about it.

Those types of people are stupid. They have forgotten what its like to be a kid.

Whatever happened to playing baseball ball, kick ball, football,,,,,,.

My buddies and I, we used to ride our bicycles around after dark looking for UFOs. We would go to each others house, and tell our parents how we were UFO hunting,,,,, good times.

I used to work in an upper class part of Houston called Kingwood. Even though the kids had all kinds of stuff to do, drugs were still a bad problem. One kid ODed on heroine and died his senior year. These were kids that had their own game rooms, swimming pools, and drove BMWs to high school. Drugs were a problem because the families were rich and had money to buy just about anything.

 

[Wingznut]

there is a lot to do. just have to get the kids outside and do something. We have yards big enough they can play any sport, We have playsets etc.

also a few kids have go carts, mini-bikes or golf carts for the bigger kids.


I figure the big difference is culture.

I think the kids who are out shooting each other, don't have a problem "getting outside" enough. Hell, one could easily make the argument that if they stayed in and played more video games, they'd be less likely to be causing trouble.

 

[Specop 007]

The root of the problem seems to be uninvolved parents. When the government provides for your every need its only natural to assume the government should also raise your child. Since the government doesnt do that and the parents dont give a damn to do that kids tend to look for groups and activities to become involved in which invariably pulls them into gang life and crime.

Way to go welfare.

 

[Wingznut]

The root of the problem seems to be uninvolved parents. When the government provides for your every need its only natural to assume the government should also raise your child. Since the government doesnt do that and the parents dont give a damn to do that kids tend to look for groups and activities to become involved in which invariably pulls them into gang life and crime.

Way to go welfare.

Exactly. How many of us thought about doing something stupid, but quickly refrained after realizing that we'd have to answer to our mom or dad?

 

[waffleironhead]

The root of the problem seems to be uninvolved parents. When the government provides for your every need its only natural to assume the government should also raise your child. Since the government doesnt do that and the parents dont give a damn to do that kids tend to look for groups and activities to become involved in which invariably pulls them into gang life and crime.

Way to go welfare.

Its not just welfare areas. I grew up in a fairly high income area and there were just as many uninvolved parents. Kids with 2 parents working 70 hour weeks running the rat race equals no supervision or involvement. This leaves a lot of unsupervised kids with nothing better to do than cause trouble. Plus they had the money to afford the drugs.
Parent lack of involvement isnt limited to the lower class.

 

[Svnla]

Just more excuses for bad behavior.

Do bad things? Not your fault. It is "fill in the blank/so and so did that/make up BS excuses".

 

[LookBehindYou]

It's weird, I don't think you can pinpoint one thing or another, I think its more a change in times than anything.

When I was growing up (we'll say middle school / high school times, 90-98) my parents both worked and werent home until around 6 everyday, so they weren't super involved with me. Hell I think we only ate dinner together a couple times a week because I was usually out and about wanting to play sports or whatever else.

My friends and I always had shit to do. It didnt take community events and ymcas and all this other shit to give us something to do either. The only real thing offered to us relatively close that we could realistically do every day was an arcade, and that cost money so it was more of a once or twice a week we'd head there for a bit.

So what did we do? All kinds of shit. We'd drag out the basketball goals into the culdesac and run full court ball, or play baseball in the culdesac or at the local park. We'd ride bikes, we'd play video games, we'd drag out my buddy's dad's old vhs camcorder and make movies. Sometimes we'd go exploring in the woods. Every now and then we'd get real daring and ride bikes ten miles to the dollar theater.

The only thing that really changed into highschool was a couple of us would get stoned while doing these activities, or we'd just hang out at someones house or on their porch and bs, other than that we were good kids who didnt have any problems in the neighborhood.

I really think it's just a changing mentality, and the environment. It's easy to blame the parents, but you can take people from area and people from another area whose parents have the same amount of involvement and end up with varying behaviors. You throw in the youtube element, people having an audience and learning from others because they can now see so many other people doing crazy shit, and it really just becomes a matter of people and times changing.

I'm sure 15 years ago, people our age now were saying the same shit.

 

[waggy]

I think the kids who are out shooting each other, don't have a problem "getting outside" enough. Hell, one could easily make the argument that if they stayed in and played more video games, they'd be less likely to be causing trouble.

lol so true.

my point i guess is get them out doing something positive. Guess that comes back to parent involvement.

hmm that has to be it.

around here nearly every family is involved in the childs life. people just take responsiblity for it. One family on the other hand has..lost that.

they USED to be the model family. mother stayed home to home school the kids. All of them (6 kids) were polite and caring. the last 3 years the mother has started working and neither parent is ever home (really. they are gone in the morning and not home until like 8pm). the kids have turned mean. the 3 oldest (2 are married and around 20 and the 16 yr old girl is "engaged" to a 22 yr old who lives at the house) are fine. the 2 oldest are nice men who help out anyone that ask.

The 3 younger though are mean. the oldest boy is 12 (5'6 and 180 lbs) has been held back the last 2 years in school. last year in school he bullied EVERYONE (he is the largest kid in school. with 100 kids total that's not hard heh) but the principal refused to write him up. UNTIL he threatened to kill a kid while swimming and held him under until a teacher pulled him off. EVEN then he was suspended 1 day. its so bad the kid has caused the bus driver and librarian to quite (one teacher is retiring before she gets him) because he won't back them.

he used to be a polite and very nice young man. i think he is lashing out since he has nobody paying attention to him anymore. It seems the more the parents work the worse he gets. it;s rather sad yet interesting to see how its happening.


/tldr FUCK YOU hehe go have a beer and read it..or not. but get the beer.

 

[waggy]

It's weird, I don't think you can pinpoint one thing or another, I think its more a change in times than anything.

When I was growing up (we'll say middle school / high school times, 90-98) my parents both worked and werent home until around 6 everyday, so they weren't super involved with me. Hell I think we only ate dinner together a couple times a week because I was usually out and about wanting to play sports or whatever else.

My friends and I always had shit to do. It didnt take community events and ymcas and all this other shit to give us something to do either. The only real thing offered to us relatively close that we could realistically do every day was an arcade, and that cost money so it was more of a once or twice a week we'd head there for a bit.

So what did we do? All kinds of shit. We'd drag out the basketball goals into the culdesac and run full court ball, or play baseball in the culdesac or at the local park. We'd ride bikes, we'd play video games, we'd drag out my buddy's dad's old vhs camcorder and make movies. Sometimes we'd go exploring in the woods. Every now and then we'd get real daring and ride bikes ten miles to the dollar theater.

The only thing that really changed into highschool was a couple of us would get stoned while doing these activities, or we'd just hang out at someones house or on their porch and bs, other than that we were good kids who didnt have any problems in the neighborhood.

I really think it's just a changing mentality, and the environment. It's easy to blame the parents, but you can take people from area and people from another area whose parents have the same amount of involvement and end up with varying behaviors. You throw in the youtube element, people having an audience and learning from others because they can now see so many other people doing crazy shit, and it really just becomes a matter of people and times changing.

I'm sure 15 years ago, people our age now were saying the same shit.

yeap.

lol growing up we didn't have cable until i was 14 and if the sun was out we were outside. my mom didn't want us in lol

i agree with not having to be in something every night or day. Friends of mine have their kids in so many clubs, sports, etc they are busy nearly every day of the summer and even during school. WTF thats insane.

we would put the kids in sprts during the summer. both founds sports they love. My daughter love gymnastics and my son is into karate. though he wants to join wrestling too.

but they don't need a ton of shit. they NEED be bored and develop the ability to make up games or such.