Is it just me or does the youth of today no longer have any sense of morals or * there is a word by I can't think of what it is * etc left? I am talking in the general sense however what got me thinking about this was relationships. Now I'm only 19, however I've never been interested in so called "dating" or one night stands, or relationships based on sex. Granted sex is a aspect of a relationship, but I would much rather have someone who I can have a good conversation with, and who I can just sit at night and watch crap on TV with, or just lie in bed with without the over-drowning need for something sexual to be involved? Even going out for a nice meal, most people my age I know are far more interested in going out clubbing than a nice meal. I find clubbing absolutely boring, I was much rather go for a night out in my local pub where there is a atmosphere, and you can hear yourself think, and don't have some half wits starting fights over who slept with who etc etc. Even the art of communication is lost. I have no problem with virtual communication (as my time online should show) but why do people insist on not using proper English? No-one is interested in language anymore, and definitely not in letter writing. I love writing things by hand and do so at every opportunity, by everyone else my age and younger is more interested in sending a "msgz 2 thR fRnds" then communicating properly.

Kids are another thing. No-one wants to have children before "old" now because that would ruin they're clubbing time and life. I want to have a kid as early as possible, I would much rather have a child of my own at a early age and grow up with them and live life with them than spend my time getting wasted and clubbing.

So is this just me or has anyone else noticed this? Does anyone else feel this way?


* Rant Over *

You remind me of me. We are few and far between, it seems. I'm in my twenties, now, and I've always been this way. People always, and still do, call me mentally older than I am. I guess I'm a little old fashioned when it comes to things like this. I have taste and class, unlike most of my generation (however subjective that may be). I like things from the fifties or the twenties or from the Victorian era. Classic, unforgettable things.

My spouse and I have engraved calling cards. Not business cards, calling cards. They are embossed with our names in a special ink. And we both carry fountain pens and have engraved stationary. I have an iPhone, but I take the time to spell all the words out properly unless it's "lol" or something. We don't go clubbing and we don't drink to get drunk, either; we drink because we enjoy the taste of it and how it compliments food. We have three girls, too. It's actually kind of odd, considering we have some less than conservative views, for lack of a better term, but I'll chalk that up to our continuous study of philosophy. We both dress modestly and classically. Our wardrobe is timeless, you might say.

Sex seems to be the national past-time of the younger generation as most have nothing to converse about and when they do, they usually complain about their lives. No one wants to hear about it. Few people read, nowadays, or have hobbies. They're too busy clubbing or playing video games or working to actually have a life. I will agree that sex is an integral part of a relationship, but it should by no means be based entirely on it. It is sad to see that most of the relationships I see are based on sex.

The proper use of the English language is severely declining. I'd guess that only a quarter of the native English speaking population can construct a proper sentence; it's probably less. I've seen people in their forties and fifties who don't have proper English skills. My middle child recently came home with a sheet of homework that was extremely confusing. Essentially, the teacher was instructing the class to use improper, not improper, just outright bad, grammar. I wrote quite the note about that. My child has not had homework since (Then again, I think most homework is absolutely useless and is mostly set out as pointless busy work, which it is.). Ironic, isn't it? The teachers have to take a test, which is useless, in and of itself, to become licensed to teach, yet she does not know how to construct a sentence and she is not teaching our children how to use it properly, either. I'm a stickler for English, though. If you grew up with the language, there is no excuse for you to not know how to use it. I also try and proofread most of my things, unless I'm in a hurry.

As for the time people choose to have children, I find that it has more to do with starting a career than with going out and getting wasted. That's the way it is with most of the people I know. On a side note, my manicurist is forty this year and she constantly goes clubbing and has no children. She would be considered a generation above us, yet these traits are observable in her. It may, indeed, be just a trend as many women are now finding out that having children in their thirties is less optimal than having them in their twenties. It also seems the level of emotional maturity is waning in the younger generations. I would consider it a societal norm, now, as a lot of us in North America are told we have to have a university degree to make good money, and that takes time. Then we need time to find a job and become established. You may be thirty before this happens. And, it seems, money is an integral factor in all of this. Many people do not have the luxury of having well-to-do parents or being independently wealthy to finance their efforts while having children. Only time will tell. It is the evolution of devolution of human society. No more than a point of view.

I had my 3 children when i was in my twenties and can i tell you that if i had my time again it would be no different . My kids although are 14 , 17 and 19 are my life and i am going to find it tough when they move on as i adore them .

Flatline you sound a very sensible , level headed person for your age . I agree there is so much emphasis on sex these days which i think comes from the amount of time our children spend on the internet and watching very sexual movies ect. Relationships are molded over time and it is a important part of life that we need to feel fulfilled and is what makes happiness , not just sex .

I believe i have taught my children morals which i hope will make their lives complete . Right from wrong is something that parents need to instill in their children from a very early age and sadly a lot of young people just forget this . Young mums and Dads seem to want to go out to go get drunk and party all the time and this can only lead to disaster sooner or later . The world has changed i believe and in my thoughts not for the better . Of course this is just my opinion

I have to agree with you Flatline, but rest assured you are not alone. I am also one of those young[er] people who doesn't enjoy the way that youth has gone in the 21st century.

I find clubbing also incredibly boring. I just didn't understand the concept, you go to a place, thats dark, filled with horrendous music that will make you ears ring for days after only to stand in a 4-line deep Que to get a drink from the bar. It seems pointless to me. I much prefer either a social gathering at one of our houses or a drink in a pub.

On a communication front I have become increasingly concerned about text speak. Though I teach music by trade I have taught English to GCSE level and the sheer amount of text speak I have encountered has disturbed me. Even some of the more intelligent students will still make the occasional slip up and this concerns me.

Sex has also lost its meaning for may young people. No I'm not a prude, but I do get a little concerned when I hear some of my students talking about sex. Many seem not to have the understanding that whilst sex is a wonderful thing, it can come with massive amount of consequences if your not careful. As far as children is concerned thats personal choice. I myself don't ever want children, ever. I don't feel the need for one, I've seen my brothers children grow up and that was enough for me.

At the end of it all it comes down to a lack of responsibility. Increasingly young people today don't feel the need to be responsible adults. They don't see the harm of getting wasted all the time, getting laid and disrespecting those in authority ultimately because they don't see the point.

I'll probably add more to this later but I have to go visit the family now.

Interesting conversation. I could speak at length about my similar values, but I'll try sparing you. I'd just risk repeating much of what you said or sounding like a pretentious blowhard ranting on about myself since I'm new here. To your topic though, when I was only 10 you would have been preaching to the converted. But by 18? Probably as sympathetic with people my age as someone born in 1918. Not sure if that means I was born a grumpy old fart or I'm a card carrying Martian.

So, you're not alone in the world obviously. Anecdotal observation, however, suggests that you (we) are so outnumbered as to often be alone where it matters. That is to say, the small fragment of the world we can reasonably call home, with the small group of people we can honestly call close friends – hopefully neither entirely on the Internet! Useful to observe though, that being a minority doesn't equate to being alone. Loneliness is commonly a choice, which inherently means we're empowered to change our environment or actions to acquaint ourselves with like minds nearby and abroad.

For this reason, I prize international discussions, travels and many hobbies. Particularly over spending my time surrounded by inebriated, horny packs of "people" at a bar etc. Since watching the reactions people have to highly physical sports on a crappy television, talking with people too drunk to not spit when they try old pickup lines and inhaling the cocktail of cheap perfumes and colognes wafting across the place like an Iranian chemical weapon isn't, by the way, as awesome as you undoubtedly get told. I've been lead to do it before and trust me, I spend the whole time pondering just how hard, and with what frequency I'd need to have fallen on my head as an infant to find this remotely fun. Then I think about the amount of babies spawned as a result of that night's activities. That last bit, not the drinks, is usually what makes me want to barf the most.

Related in a sideways manner, I'm reminded there's a more sociological scope to these considerations. Like how evil prevails when good people don't act (or are only reactive), stupidity flourishes when otherwise smart people do nothing against it. I trust you're all doing your part fighting the good fight.

In that vein, I came here to nab a technical e-book that's out of print, but enjoyed some of your banter during my download. Maybe beginner's luck, but I took a poke around and noticed surprisingly civil discussions throughout. So, figured I'd join up to say hi. Knowing how internet forums are though, my inbox will probably be full of flamewars and lolcat responses within hours and I'll delete the account. Nothing good is without it's risks I guess. (o;

Never fear being new here. Everyone is allowed to say as much as they want about whatever they want here.




You will get none of that here. And if on the slimiest possible chance anyone does send you one of those kind of messages then a quick PM to a mod will have it dealt with swiftly. We are a respectable community, who pride ourself on intelligent conversation. There is never any flamming and everyone's view is treated equally.

Very true. This is a very civilised and friendly forum. Flameing is frowned upon, and in my time here, I've never had an unpleasant PM, even though I can sometimes be a bit controversial.

I think, Flatline, that there are a lot more young people like yourself than you perhaps realise. I have four children, ranging in age from 21 to 36, and although they've gone through (in varying degrees) wild periods, they are all well adjusted people, with a well defined moral compass. They are also all articulate, and write well. And I've met many of their friends, and (again in varying degrees) they have for the most part been good kids.

With regards writing, I personally tend to try to be very particular about being correct grammatically (not always successfully! Having left school at 16 with two 'O' levels, I was never going to be e literary genius!), and I like to get my spelling correct also, but that comes I think from the type of education and upbringing I had. However, I feel that it's more important for people to communicate (and want to communicate) than to get spelling / grammar correct.

Particularly on a board like this, where we have people from many different backgrounds and cultures, I tend to suspend my pedantry ( ) in favour of the sharing of views, whatever those views may be. And of course, many here are using English as a second / third etc language.

But I do rather abhor "text-speak"!

I think the age you find the most appropriate to have children would depend very much on the individual. Tertiary education and a fledgling career would be two reasons to wait maybe until your thirties when you might be more financially stable and generally more settled. I know that my kids thrived on a regime especially when they were younger, they were most comfortable when they have a timetable and predictability in their lives, many parents might find this kind of structure more difficult to provide in their early twenties.

There are pros and cons both to having kids early and later in life. I just know that in my twenties, if I had had children I wouldn't have been an asset or even much of a father to them. My life went through some very distinct phases and all of those phases prior to my mid thirties were definitely not kid friendly.

The clubbing thing I never did get into. Two reasons, I'm not good in claustrophobic crowds, I get skittish and don't play nicely with others in that environment. Also I have a booze problem where things that I normally wouldn't do seem like a great idea after a few drinks. With booze I become far less tolerant and far more confrontational which usually ends in trouble. I learned at an early age to avoid clubs and also pubs for the most part so I'm probably not qualified to say much on this. I think for most, clubs would be a phase where you can mingle with others who are also in the market for a relationship. I'm sure that fueled by dance, drugs and alcohol, sexual relationships are the most common but surely with the right partner this could or would develop into something more long term outside of the club environment.

Finally your peave about lack of letter writing and the language around text messaging. I think this is just evolution of communication brought on by the internet. In my schooldays we spoke a completely different language outside of school than we did inside school. Our parents didn't understand us when we didn't want them to so I suppose this is the same kind of thing. Anytime you get people who are a group communicating it will be difficult or even impossible for an outsider to follow. This would go for doctors, engineers, computer programmers and Facebook users alike. Most distinct groups have a language that's particular to that group whether it be 1337 speak, pigin or Corporatese. I think our parents and probably their parents before them had exactly this discussion and the English language in it's official form still exists so I'm not loosing sleep over this one.

As much as I take your point Badog. I have to say that I'm not sure I totally agree. As you said with every group there is usually sub-dialects. In a business manner it's slightly different, as they are using what a outsider would call Jargon to discuss topics in their field. I don't even have anything against slang words to as you say confuse the parents, I myself don't really speak proper English, I speak the local dialect. However to me text speak, or 1337 speak seems to about just being lazy than anything else. You can still use sub dialects and slang but right them properly, as stupid as that sounds. I can even allow for it in text messages to a extend to save taking up two messages when you can shorten things and use one, but unfortunatly it's not limited to texts, it appears everywhere. I even know I few people who going around saying things like "lol" when they find things funny or "btw" instead of just saying by the way. I am also aware that English is not totally dead, it just seems it primarily used in formal or business scenes now and text speak being used for most other things. Also keep in mind I'm only talking about the younger generations, I'm aware most of the "older" generations do speak and write properly.

Well I can not say anything about proper english or spelling because mine are terrible I can say it seems to me that kids today seem like they want everything handed to them they dont want to work for anything. I am a manager of a small business and have had to give up hireing highschool kids mostly because they all have a poor attitude and no work ethic. Now I was no angel in my younger days(Im only 28 now) but always treated people with respect. I really think that is the main problem with the younger generation a lack of respect both for themselfs and others. As far as parents going clubbing or partying that drives me crazy. Mabey if parents spent more time with their children and less time clubbing and getting wasted the kids today would be in better shape. Or mabey I'm just getting old and crabby.


there I feel better now thank you

I have to agree with Flatline on this one, there is a difference between a group using an independent lexicon to distinguish themselves from the main stream and individuals just misspelling the common language, or rather spelling it phonetically.

When I see children turning in an essay in English with spellings such as "Waz" for Was, "Ov" for "of" and "M8" for "mate" I grow concerned.

I'm beginning to wonder if literacy is a dying art. Whilst I understand that english is a living language and as such prone to alteration, the ridiculous spelling of text speak has no place in an essay. I would also argue that it also has no place on the internet as (unless you are using a smart phone) you have a full size keyboard in front of you.

With regards to saying things like Lol out loud I understand what you mean Flatline. There is a woman on a BBC1 radio show (scott mills i think) who constantly says OMG. Why I find strange is that sometimes it can take just as long to say the individual letters as it would to say the words they represent.

Well, as my grandaughter would say, 'Kewl'.....I dont agree with most of what kids do or say, but the way I see It Is, that's the way it is, so lets just go with It.

We all need to find our own way in this big world, lets give them the right to do it their way, If they're wrong, Im sure they put It right when reality sets In.

Just give the kids their space, things always come out right In the end......mostly..

I have to agree with you, Twoplus. Even though I like things the way I like them, fighting with the next generation and trying to control them just puts unneeded stress on everyone. I remind myself at times that when we think we are right and someone else it wrong, it makes me think of what Eckhart Tolle said about us thinking we are "morally superior to reality." When I look at it that way, it just seems so absurd. How can we be morally superior to reality? I find it hilarious at times.

I do think everyone should be able to construct a proper sentence in order for them to make their point clearly and concisely and have basic math skills, including elementary algebra. After that, do what you want, learn what you want, be who you are, not what someone wants you to be.

I don't care how old or experienced people think they are, I will not give respect to someone that hasn't earned it. Respect is a thing that has to be earned, old and young alike.


Also as another point, I hate how people these days are become so false and not showing real selves. I know this has always went on but recently I've been shown it first hand with a best friend. For years I thought she was one kind of person, I thought I knew her. She was the same as me. Now though she has been at University for three years and has completely changed. She's became to opposite of what she used to be. I dunno whether it is how she always was and was giving me a false side or she has just changed to fit in and make friends. Either way it's not the point, peer pressure for people to change who they are and fit in is all to common these days. I'm never willing to change to fit in, I would only ever change for myself. Younger generations nowadays are all to happy to sacrifice who they are just to make a few friends. Everything is so superficial.

flatline theres always been peer pressure its if youre confident in yourself to withstand it then you know your friends are real friends you dont have to be somebody youre not .Ive tried tried to bring my kids up like that and touch wood never had any problems yet they are 23 and 19 so youre not alone ive got two like you the eldest wont even text back if you dont spell everything out right .Be who you are and be proud of it

You contradict yourself Flatline. You start out by complaining that kids have no morals and don't respect anyone but then not only condone but admit to practising not respecting anyone until they've proven that they are worthy of it.
That word is respect. Respect should be given freely until a person proves they don't deserve it. I find it strange that you say you will not give respect to anyone until they have earned it in one post and in another in the same thread you give respect freely to someone you have never come across before. Not only that but you tell them that here, Darkside, is a place where people's opinions are respected. I quote:

I KNOW you know that here at Darkside people are given our respect until they prove they don't deserve it. Even then civility is adhered to for the most part. Our members take pride in that fact. Both yourself and nisakiman have attested to it.

Peer pressure has ALWAYS been there for as long as human beings have existed. Our society is based on it.

I read a lot of this thread with a smile. Why? Think about it. The teddy boys, the mods and rockers, the flower children, the punks, the skinheads, the house ravers and many more "movements" that I don't even know about have been accused of having no respect and/or morals. Accusations of moral inferiority seem to be a regular pastime of the older generation. You just seem to have started early I suppose.

I'm not going to start in on people who text-type when there's a full keyboard in front of them or I'll be here all day

Oh and for the record, I have been known to vocalise LOL and OMG. Though I treat them as a word in their own right and not a set of initial letters. LOL is Lol and not Ell-Oh-Ell... if you get me. Sad I know. Let the public flogging commence.

I can see how it looks like I'm contradicting myself. However I think I'm, just not explaining my views properly. Let me try again. I don't see it as you either just respect someone or don't. They're are many levels of respect, I just won't truly respect someone till I know them (or have known through reputation) to be worthy of it. However I will not simply disrespect and ignore someone who has not earned it. I will listen to authority figures or others and treat their views equally and give them merit where deserved, I just will not truly respect someone till they have shown, either by my personal experience or by reputation, that they should be respect. I would expect others to treat me the same way. What I have a problem with is that the youth of today seem to actively disrespect people without good reason and with in intention of ever respecting them. Even if you don't respect someone yet you don't need to disrespect them, you can still be polite or treat their views equally. Everyone should start equal and either become respected or disrespected. I think what it comes down to is that respect to me is, and stick with me here, a bit like love. You can be attracted to someone and do everything you would do if you were in love with them but not be in love, then when you are in love, things are rarely different, it's a mental change to the way you see the person, for the most part your actions toward them will be the same as if you are just attracted to them. Respect is the same in that it's a mental view of a person, your actions whether they have earned your respect or not do not need to change, it's how you view/feel about the person inside your head. Although this is all just my opinion and I'm sure other will be different views about respect.

There are so many different levels of respect when you come to think about it but here are the general levels that I work on.

Respect for position:

If I am approached by someone of authority I will respect the authority of their position regardless of personal feeling (such as a Head teacher, police officer, or other authority figure). This is not a respect for the person who fills the role, but rather respect for the role itself. This is, of course, assuming that I believe the position to be legitimate. For example my Headteacher at a previous school was a compete idiot. It was well known that he was alienating the staff and miss managing certain elements of the school (he was later removed). People however still treated the man with respect not because they respected him but rather the position that he occupied.

Respect for the person:

This is where personal judgment comes into play. When I meet someone new I treat them with an automatic level of respect. I'm polite to them, kind to them and generally nice. I adjust my respect for a person based on how they treat me or others. If they are polite back I respect them more. If not then I respect them less. I don't base my respect of a person on anything else other than personal interaction.

I believe that everyone deserves respect when you first meet them and it is then their subsequent actions that should determine how much you respect them in the future.



I can understand lol Hash, but how do you pronounce OMG? Om-Gh?

This has to be one of the most interesting topics I've seen on here in quite some time. Maybe it's just me, but this conversation really struck me when i began reading Flatline's view, and the fact that you are in fact 19 years of age. I myself am 20 years old and find what you are saying completely true. I have the hardest time with youth or even people my age these days. Sure i waste my time gaming, and probably too much (aside from the fact that its my job.) Regardless, I keep finding myself utterly annoyed with a lot of the youth today, all about drinking, partying and getting completely wasted, just to tell a story. So that when they wake up the next day with that highly uncomfortable hang over, they have a story to tell their friends that weren't their. I find it incredibly simple to have a conversation with youth today and get along if you have some drinking and pot smoking stories. Now I'm not saying in anyway that I don't enjoy a beer from time to time, that would be entirely incorrect. However what I am saying is I see where you're coming from Flatline. I often feel like the odd man out when at a public venue of some sort and people are exchanging stories of that weekend, waking up in a parking lot naked because they had to much to drink. I've had my share of drinking nights and no-where in there did I say to myself, "this is so much fun." sure I may have under the influence, but not when I woke up the next morning. With that said I live quite the "straight-edge" life as I have been told, after I moved to Seattle about 6 months ago, I stopped everything.. I use to smoke pot and drink a lot for about 4 months prior to moving here just to get over some personal problems. After the 4 months of my little tangent I just lost interest in doing any of those things, and just volunteered to be the DD or to babysit.

As far as dating goes, I'm currently in a "new" relationship and It's okay, but now that I examine myself and really dig deep, she's really into partying, and clubbing (she's in college and in a sorority.) and she can be severely dramatic at times, however when she's in the mood, we can have a really intelligent conversation. Now aside from my current relationship, I was previously engaged at one point, and our fun was either sitting at home, watching a movie and enjoying a nice beer. Or, going to the local hookah bar, smoking a hookah and enjoying the company of the VIP's and owners of the bar. I loved the atmosphere for the most part (probably because i was VIP). However I can completely understand how it feels when it comes to sex being the number one to a lot of youth today. I've never been huge on it, of course its an inevitable action when in a serious relationship and can be enjoyable, but I agree with most who have posted here that it shouldn't be consuming. With that said I do not think that it's just you Flatline or anyone who's wondering if their just different or if youth is truly messed up, I myself think their path in life and ours are just chosen and also how they were raised. My parents aren't strict, nor are they completely loose, their just there. They've always let me experience certain things when I wanted to (legally permitting of course). However when I look at the long run in life, I too find myself more jealous of people who are married with kids than anything. I would love to have a family soon or even be married at the very least.

So after much bantering and a long tangent, my conclusion is that we all just chose a path, and that the "new thing" as of now is to party and have fun while your young, and settle down when your older.

After reading all the preceding, I find myself in agreement with most of you that you would prefer decent relationships and good communication skills! Could it be that the clubbers mostly don't write on community forums as they are too busy getting drunk? What I'm saying is, if most of us agree with you flatline, then how is it that we are in a minority? Maybe it's that although many agree, the loud minority at the clubs drown us out. I know it's true that many brag about such foolish things due to social pressure, but when you talk to them alone they too will agree that there is more to life than that.

I suppose my biggest reaction is that you flatline, remind me so much of my 19 year old son! He can't stand the decadent ways of most his age, he loves a good conversation, talks quietly, hardly ever falls to peer pressure, loves good English and subscribes to some poetry sites where he submits some interesting material. He calls himself a new fogey an loves the old ways and old dress. His hero is Joan of Arc and after reading Mark Twain's rendition of her life would not consider reading any other, as it could never do her justice.

He is a bit self-righteous but I don't mind as I think he holds high ideals for his life. There are inconsistencies in some things he says as Hashishin has pointed out with you, but I wouldn't mention them to him as I wouldn't want to dampen his fighting spirit. I eel he will work out any inconsistencies in time as he has many years of life ahead of him.

Far worse be it that he simply succumb to the lower ways of what he sees around him.

i agree with you flatline as you already know... i have never seen the purpose of clubbing and i'm not just saying that becuase i get sweaty and claustrophobic, i com eout looking like i've had a shower... as for the english part, i don't know why but i could never grip spelling right, i don't know if i have learning difficulties i've never been diagnosed but certain words i can never spell right... or should i say i don't know if i'm spelling them right...

as for the sexual part, i think your right on that too, nearly all my friends relationships are based on sex and looks where as mine have always been based on personality, honesty, and trust and have been fairly worth it... maybe other things but can't think of them at the moment

i will add to this later... my brain is shutting down now going to bed

you are right, i live in curacao,one of the biggest clubbing islands on the world, i go to clubs, like to dance, but im not there to hit on girls and believe me, all the other guys are there for that 1 reason, when a girl walks into a club within 3 seconds there are 5 guys surrounding her, offering her drinks, feeling her up etc etc, its so disgusting, and the worst thing is the girls know that the guys only do it for sex but they dont care because they are the same..

my longest relationship was 3 years. we both got into a car accident and she didnt survive, after that i had alot of girls to ''forget about her''... that was the most stupid thing i ever did but i was deeply confused and stuff.
but eventually i met a wonderfull girl who helped me get back on the right track again, we are together for 2 years now and shes the most important thing in my life.
and about the ''getting kids on young age'' i have to say i dont agree, i want kids eventually but im just 22 now, i got a steady income but what if i get fired, me and my girl will get through this but i dont want my kid to have a bad childhood because of me, maybe im just scared about failing as a parent i dunno, i just think im not ready for it yet

sorry for my crappy english.. it sounds so good in my head but in words....ehhhh :S

I understand the kid thing is totally personal. I've just always wanted a kid early so I can grow up as much as possible with them.

Also I'd like to point out that as much as I hate the clubbing binge drinking attitude, that dosn't me I don't have the occasional night out. I have stories, not bragging ones though mostly funny. Now this may seem like I'm contradicting myself but hold with me. All my stories and "nights out" have not being sex run clubbing adventures, they were social gathers with a few friends just having some fun, and they're not a regular occurrence that we must do EVERY weekend instead we do it once every few months. Obviously I will drink between then, but never for the sake of just getting wasted and (excuse my French) screwing someone. I know my limits, I will only have enough to get a bit merry.

well i can kinda relate to that, i myself have very young parents, my mom was 19 when i was born, and i do think its a good thing,
i dont want to be 50 when my kid is a teenager.. guess i have alot of thinking to do hahah

i dont think i want to get going on this subject! ill say a few words,

skinny jeans! stanky leg! jerkers! sagging in skinny jeans! soldier boy!

i agree with you flatline as you already know... i have never seen the purpose of clubbing and i'm not just saying that becuase i get sweaty and claustrophobic, i come out looking like i've had a shower... as for the english part, i don't know why but i could never grip spelling right, i don't know if i have learning difficulties i've never been diagnosed but certain words i can never spell right... or should i say i don't know if i'm spelling them right...

as for the sexual part, i think your right on that too, nearly all my friends relationships are based on sex and looks where as mine have always been based on personality, honesty, and trust and things like that and have been fairly worth it...

i don't get the point in one night stands either, to me sex is when you have known the person for a while and care about them alot not just, wham bam...

and as for the respecting part, i think the same as hash, everyone deserves respect until they prove that they are not worthy of it, and i think alot of kids these days don't give a toss... i also think that respecting the elders is especially important, i have always respected everyone around me, unless of course they did prove unworthy

Anyway thats my 2 pence in

just edited my earlier version

Like I said, I think everyone is entitled to be shown respect. However I think there is a deeper respect that each of us holds. The type of respect that your parents usually automatically have, that you give to people you admire for whatever reason. That was the kind of respect that I meant has to be earned, in the meantime until they earn that respect you should still treat them with respect.

agree with you there ^^^

I believe it has something to do with our kids role models also these days.There are none,in a perfect world people always say the parents are the best role model,but you can only go so far with that.Like it or not they are going to choose who they want,I know when I was younger my parents were not my role models.These days kids are following sports stars,music stars and such.The only thing they see about them is usually bad news on tv,but they will still follow them.Dont get me wrong either I know that good people exist in the celebrity world,and Im not blaming it all on tv and such,as a parent we have to make sure they know whats right,just saying I believe it to be a contributing factor..
My 2 cents..

A Year Before I Would Have Probably Stood Against You And Would Probably Find An Argument For Your Every Word...
However Today I Can Only Come By Your Side And Agree With You...

And I Do believe They Will Stop Eventually If We Say "What Kind Of A Retard Are You?" If We See Examples Of Such Idiotic Language...

[quote name='Flat lineyes
Now I'm only 19, however I've never been interested in so called "dating" or one night stands, or relationships based on sex. Granted sex is a aspect of a relationship, but I would much rather have someone who I can have a good conversation with, and who I can just sit at night and watch crap on TV with, or just lie in bed with without the over-drowning need for something sexual to be involved? Even going out for a nice meal, most people my age I know are far more interested in going out clubbing than a nice meal. I find clubbing absolutely boring, I was much rather go for a night out in my local pub where there is a atmosphere, and you can hear yourself think, and don't have some half wits starting fights over who slept with who etc etc.
[/quote]

agree ^^^

i agree that going to clubs etc and putting up with half the idiots does not interest me, catching up with friends having bbqs and having a few cold ones is my way of being social. i am a fair bit older then you when i was your age i did cut lose for a few years i settled down pretty quick. but when out i just wanted to try beat everyone on the pool table not to cause any trouble pick fights which seem to happen at a lot at these night spots.

also on the relationship side of things very important as you have mentioned its not all about sex, communication is very important and working on the Relationship, its just trying to get a happy medium a bit of give and take.


i have 4 kids had them young which they are

13 , 11 , 7 , and 3 i agree with you having them young is a good thing it is for us but i can understand its not
everyone. just a bit of my thoughts

Alot has been said here. However I started having my children at an early age (19) I have a couple of teenage daughters two pre teen sons and then my newest angel 9 months old. I know that at all ages the birth of all my children caused a deep sense of wonder and amazement as far as when is the best time to have children in about 13 years I will check back on this thread and let you know because I will have ran the entire gambit. I do like that I "grew up" with my older children But I will also love watching the younger ones grow up will be equally fantastic because I know what to expect and be grown now(If I am) maybe I can help them to grow up with less mistakes than I made with the older ones.

The old adage, comes to mind:



Unfortunately, they are too often seen, and most deffinately too often heard, these days.

There's an old saying,a Fish rots from the head down.
Our nanny state have taken powers of punishment from Teachers and Parents,kids know what they can get away with.
They're flippant.

Speaking of Kids these days:

Today I became the "get off my lawn" guy.

These kids were at least 12-16 years old & basically 30 feet up into my property on my newly planted grass acting like it was a mosh pit.

So I uttered the age old phrase "Get Off My Lawn"

Now I'm the dirty rotten old bastard in the neighborhood... well at least I'll have grass?

Mind you, we have sidewalks and a huge - now I'm talking a huge park within a quarter mile of my house where they could roll around making mud pies all day.

Hate to bump a month old thread but I needed to vent.

kk one last time!

STAY OFF MY LAWN!

I'm totally going to have my house TP'd & eggs thrown at it this Halloween... think I'll just go out of town. lol

Here at Darkside, we prefer grave-digging a thread as we try to keep duplicates to a minimum.

That is music to my ears!

Now I'm am really liking this place

In fact I'm in love with it!!

Now I'll head out and survey the damage, may have to grab 20lb of grass seed while I'm at it - catch you later