I Believe That Children Are Our Future, Teach Them Well…
For most of my life I have not been a fan of teenagers…even when I was one myself. Growing up, I found most of them mean-spirited, lazy, and not interested in anyone but themselves. If you’ve listened to my show over the last couple of months, you know about my adventures with my pain-in-the-ass teenage neighbors. After it has all played out, I’m not surprised the kids are the way they are. On the surface, the father seems like a decent guy, but in the end he was worse than the kids. He took no responsibility for his kids’ actions, did nothing to try and figure out which of his sons’ friends damaged my car (lazy), and once he learned the cops wouldn’t do anything about it he never offered to compensate me for any of the damage he admittedly says his kids were involved in (not interested in anyone but himself). Do you see the pattern? How can his kids not emulate that sort of behavior? Good parenting doesn’t happen by accident. Show me a well-adjusted, socially responsible kid and I’ll bet you anything there was some great parenting going on. The same is true on the flipside unfortunately.
As you can see, I have a pretty bitter view of tennagers, don’t I? However, something very interesting has happened over the last few weeks. I’ve started to receive a ton of email from listeners of the show that range in age from 13 to 17 years old. Sure, some of them are what you’d expect….”dude, I love the show – check out my My Space page…” etc. But many of them are incredibly insightful and well written. Many of you teens are concerned about the world around you, with your communities, and about the fact that adults don’t always take you seriously. I have really been impressed.
Unfortunately, I think you have an uphill batte to fight. It seems that the adult world lumps most teenagers into the category I described above. It’s sad that those of you that do give a shit about others and the world and can speak about it intelligently, have to prove yourself to skeptical adults. I am, however, confident that you can do it. Keep contributing to discussions in the same way you have been to me and surely the world will take notice. In fact, you may be responsible for singlehandedly saving your generation.
Tune into this week’s show for more on this issue.
-Scott
May 10th, 2006 at 11:03 am
Oh my good!!
I’m from Paris, so I’m french, and today I just found your radio station. I can’t go awy… your absolutely a genious!! I don’t know if it’s the riht way to respond to you becaus I think this is a space reserved for answers, but I had to write to you by any kind of way. Anyhow, your so great and and (I mean it ) very bright (even though you’r trying to say the opposite). I will listen to you trough my PC I muche as I can. And by the way… scott…you have a very intense voice!
Merci encore et à trés bientôt!!
Au revoir…
May 10th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Hi Ribera,
Thanks for your post. Welcome to the show. I think you’re the first listener that’s every written in from Paris, so I’m honored.
Take care,
Scott
May 13th, 2006 at 4:08 am
Hello Scott,
It won’t be fair not to response and just turn away pretending that I did not hear you. This is my first time ever writing to someone or show which I listened to. And this also is a response, literally speaking, to a show which I came to contact with at the first time. This show really is my kind of show and really surprised to hear many topics in intellectually sensuous and hilarios. One can’t just pass by without noticing other humane dimensions that you’ve shown in this show you have the most beautiful sense of humility in those topics you touched. From now on I will be listenig to it and hope to catch up alots later on. By the way, I am Khin Khin Fatimah and writing from Sweden. Just let you know that I don’t fall into teenage’s category :). cheers.
May 13th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Hi Scott,
Great to see that people can see that we aren’t all scum. Finally some people will listen to us. hear our ideas and see that 9/10 times we are atleast civil. Heck the best thing is that we have some serious thoughts that our normally ignored but maybe not now? Maybe your listeners will start to see that some of us are considerate and thoughtfull, maybe they will listen to the kid down the road ranting on about the War in Iraq, maybe they will listen to the kid complaning about the justice system. Maybe, just maybe we might be taken seriously by the population instead of just our family and close friends…
May 14th, 2006 at 8:11 am
This is probably completely rediculous but I have found that I also have had preconcieved notions about other teenagers. I feel somewhat ashamed admitting to this because I am not one who supports stereotypes in the least bit. I also feel pretty stupid saying this because I do believe that the fact that I am fifteen means that I myself am a teenager. I have nothing to say that could justify my thoughts of the adverage teenager being easily influenced, stupid, and self-absorbed. Perhaps it is because I am quick to blame the rest of the teenaged population for being the reason that I myself has been stereotyped in this manner.
May 14th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Yes, yes… Surely though you can not be surprised by the fact that in the end, despite many times what the teens may think, they are ultimately emulating their parents’ lifestyle. I’m 16, but I don’t mind that you say that most teens are lazy and are not interested in anyone else; This is the sterotypical image of the American teenager. You are also being the sterotypical adult American by viewing teens this way. Then again, aren’t we all subconciously applying sterotypes onto others based on the way we expect them to act and think? I doubt it is possible for even the majority of people to let go of this way of thinking; so how do you think things will be in a couple of years? Wow, the thought of it…
June 13th, 2006 at 3:34 am
Hi!
I’m a Chinese student .I like English so I want to make my English speaking very much .Now I need your help! Please give me some advice.
Tell me how to do Thank you !
Please send me a letter OK?
I’m waiting for it …