Here's an article saying what I've been thinking for at least 10 years: That kids today are pussies.
Its 8 pages, but it is interesting and will probably piss you off ("...In my day we beat each other to death with baseball bats!")
1. College students suffer from anxiety??? Look, that is not a legitimate mental disorder. Of course you should be anxious at certain times in college (writing a big paper, studying for an important test). It is healthy to be able to cope with stress.
2. Parents complaining about their children's grades? I would be mortified if my parents did this to me. But in college?? Embarassing for everyone involved.
3. 40,000 schools have canceled recess?? Permanantly??? How will kids beat the shit out of each other? Learn to avoid the authorities? These are all important skills later in life.
4. Despite finally breaking down and getting a cell phone, I am still fundamentally opposed to them. And they do help children to not break ties with their parents and set out on their own (e.g., my sister).
The whole point of all this is it really made me think of my childhood (and apparently how freakin' great it was compared to these narcs). I had acres of woods to explore without any parental supervision. I could bike almost anywhere I wanted to (and NEVER wore a bike helmet). We never had enough kids in the neighborhood to play a pickup game but we played a crapload of tag and "shoot each other with play guns," which I assume is probably illegal now. We had TWO recesses everyday in elementary school and would play tag on wooden playground equipment. Which was already against the rules. I remember falling off the giant 2-story slide in fourth grade. I think I blacked out. Basically, I am saying that all parents need to do is to make sure kids are doing well enough in school and not killing or committing crimes, etc. Next time I talk to my parents I need to thank them for not doing any of the crap that parents do now.
My basic life philosophy revolves around doing things for myself. If someone else does it I can't really learn from it. I'd rather do things wrong myself than someone else do them right. But I guess self sufficiency isn't too popular anymore.
