Off topic. Bad Seeds

ryanh

ryanh

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Sep 9, 2006
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Just wanted a broader consensus.

I was on my way to work this AM and a guy walked in front of me and gave me a dirty look. I obliged and returned said dirty look. At which point he started walking towards the truck and waving his arms like he wanted to fight. Being 30 and having a life I drove away. Somewhere deep down inside me underneath the memories of drunken altercations and running from the cops a raspy voice said, "lets go kick his a^&". Then called me a wuss for not doing it.

The sad thing is that I have had at least 3 of these run ins in the past month. I don't live in the hood. I used to, and you know what the people were nicer there! Whats going on? In all of these cases it has been a late teen to early 20's white male.

I have absolutely nothing to prove. I got my ticket punched at every step along the way. It does seem that however there is a large pool of young males that hate life and want to risk it on proving their manness on someone else. How was this moron to know if I did or I didn't have a gun in my truck (I do pack).

Seriously. Its getting bad out there. Society does not let these boys become men and I think its getting to them.
 
I'm 21 for a few more days.... and i can confirm that people my age are asses. It's just how most of us are. To be honest, I blame it on the following...

Back in the day, the counterculture was hippies and potheads. Most of y'all are a product of that. You acted out by 'sticking it to the man' and being lazy bums.

The new generation's counterculture is the "street cred" style gangs and tough guys. Either you bend over backwards for them, or you are 'disrespecting' them. At this point, they have to flex their awesome muscles and try to put you in your place.

Representatives from both types have existed during both time periods, but these two are more prevelant in their corresponding times.

It's not a racial thing really, but the media wants you to think it is.

I think it's really just because alot of them don't have dads anymore.

I'm not a small guy... not big either though, but I tend to just stand my ground... But I also stay pretty introverted when I'm out in public because I don't want problems with anyone.
 
Wow never even heard of that term, I guess I am old. And I guess that I AM disrespecting them. You don't give respect on credit, it must be earned.

I wonder if any of those dipshits ever realized that the ONLY thing keeping some "old" fart from confronting them is that fact that WE can't pay the mortgage from jail.

pseudo toughguy. pathetic.
 
I am a young guy too (23). But I never feelt eh need to prove my dominance to anyone. Hence why I often do things on my own; for intrinsic reasons. I do often witness the tough guy mentality, but most of the people I encounter are just morons and have no real goals or morals; or are headed anywhere in life. Besides, I believe self will, self esteem, and self worth are the foundation to a person; something that most young people are lacking. I should mention that I teach students that have been expelled form school and most are like this. And their mouths override there abilities. They also can't think two steps ahead and live for the moment. I am not a intiminating man, but if push came to shove, these students would rather take a seat than be embarrassed in front of their peers.
However, I do feel that it is a few punks that rial everything up and a majority go about thier business and don't bother anyone.
 
There have been toughs and punks from the beginning of time. It's part of the natural order for young males to buck the establishment. Look at the immature bucks that spar with the dominant male. The problem now is that society has been trained to be indifferent to it. In the old days there was more pressure from society to get back in line. Prior to the late 60's a cop could roust these toughs and lean on them. Now the ACLU puts the cop in jail for not respecting the tough.
 
"street cred"

ryanh wrote:
You don't give respect on credit, it must be earned.

Ryan i think its short for "credibility" Not credit. Thus the having to prove ones self all the time.

Its not just young people, though. And without getting into a big "disrespecting the Burgh' thing" its the way it is around here. SWPA is NOT a friendly place. SEPA is no better.

I had another coach during a 9/10 yo basketball game, get into my face and tell me. "anytime, anywhere pal...I don't like you, remember that...?" The guy has to be at least 40...he cuts the sleeves off of every shirt he owns and has one of those little tough guy gotees like you do Ryan. Maybe its the facial hair that set him off. I just laughed at him.

You did the right thing. You have nothing to prove. When someone gives you a dirty look or calls you a name or puffs his chest out as he walks by, I find it really sad that they have that little respect for themselves yet they want it from you. So I just laugh.
 
Is there no limit to the social problems that people won't try to blame on the ACLU? You learn something new everyday: parents don't have to teach their children manners and common courtesy-- just let the police rough up the youngsters now and then and crime would disappear. :-x
 
Call them on it. Living and working in the city gives me the opportunity to interact with these fools all the time. Wannabe gang bangers, rockin blue timberlands and a rocca cap to the side. I get the looks all the time. Try being a yuppie living in the hood. You will soon earn your ghetto pass and the fools back off. The real gangstas don't mess with 30 year old professionals. I do not claim any knowledge of the burbs. I try and avoid going out to them at all cost, the people out there are scary;-)


I have to disagee with Tom Gamber. SWPA is full of great and friendly people. I have traveled all over the county for the past 3 years for workand have to rank people from the burgh as some of the best.
 
Good thoughts and opinions here. I think some of this, along with the road rage thing is a result of the lack or corporal punishment, (a wack on the arse or a little roughing up in the upper grades) kids do not get corrected in school or at home ! My thoughts are rear ends were meant for two things, sittin on and kickin! I got wacked my first day at school!
 
I respectfully disagree on the corpral punishment idea.

I fully blame the lack of father's roles in their son's lives. This is especially prevelant in lower class areas.

I, for one, blame the handling of certain socialist programs... which enable fathers to fly the coop in these neighborhoods, knowing that their children will be provided for. I also blame a lack of accountability for parents in general in raising their children that results in such acts by their children when grown.

I really like posting here, and don't wanna ruffle any feathers... so any argument geared toward this post won't be responded to... I would definitely like to hear differing opinions, though.
 
No argument here jayl, agree 100 percent, but at the same time, if some of these kids got challanged in high school and roughed up a little (with the consent and agreement of the parents) some of the "attitudes" would change? I am training a pup now and that little #OOPS# challenges me every day, just like kids.
 
JayL
not arguing but... you clearly never did time in catholic school. Instilling the fear of the almighty was right up there with reading and writing. Even now when I do something a little bad I peek out of the corner of my eyes first to make sure there are no penguins around.


"Try being a yuppie living in the hood." My first night in the hood all hell broke loose. The choppers were flying chasing a guy running down the street. I thought the Russians invaded. I was on the deck with the turkey gun and a dog tag in my boot. The choper actually broke chase and megaphoned me to go back inside. Rednecks in the hood!
I even got some of them hooked on Copenhagen.


But the people I'm talking about now are affluent suburb kids. Driving nice cars that daddy is paying for.
 
LOL at the penguins comment.

My girlfriend went to a catholic school, and I only had to deal with them once... at prom. This was about 5 or 6 years ago and I had a bit of a wild streak to me, so I guess they singled me out.

Regardless, when I snuck out for a cigarette, they were on me like flies on crap. I thought they were gonna whack me one when I told them I didn't wanna put it out.

As far as the capital punishment, I understand the support for it. I have just always thought that there were more than one way to take care of it. It starts with a clear definition of respect, what it is, and how to get it.... and it must be delivered in the home, and by the parents.
 
It is not a lower income trait excusively, there are kids from affluent families who evidently were taught by their parents that they are better than anyone else. They need an "attitude" adjustment too! Dicipline works, look at Catholic schools in sports, size for size (enrollment) it seems Catholic schools are better, at least here in Pa
 
Don't take this the wrong way, JL but being as young as you are, I have some doubts as to whether your point of view is going to make much difference in how Ryan or I or most other "older" people see this matter. The reason I say this is at your age, I would have most definitely seen things closer to the way you do. I know that for a fact. And my feeling is that as you get closer to 40 and above, and have children of your own, perspective changes greatly. Its not that you aren't capable and if I am inaccurate in this assumption it would be to your own credit and in spite of your age. And, no, I don't know you so I will admit this is all speculative. But as someone who has already been there and done that, I think I can safely say this could be the case. As I said, this isn't personal. I have one just entering his teens right now and I'll be the first to tell you that the resemblances to myself at his age are just plain scary. And while he's a much better student than I was, the idea of him going off to college scares the crap out of me. At least based on what am capable of remembering from those 5 years.
 
My advice is this. Don’t punch anyone with your casting hand. I grew up in southwestern PA and in addition to being a fishing guide, am a teacher in an inner city school in southwest Florida. It’s sad to see these children deprived of a home life and you see this aggressive behavior all the time. The bottom line is that if parents don’t care how their children behave neither will the children. As teachers we only have these kids for 45 minutes a day, punishment in school that isn’t handled at home is useless to them.
 
No offense taken, tom. I understand that my being pretty young means that I have to earn some credibility (philiosphical cred :p) in any points I make. I'm totally fine with that, as I take anything that anyone younger than I am says with a grain of salt.

That aside, I am curious as to what I've said that you might disagree with and what your stance may be. If you'd feel like elaborating. If not, that's cool too. Not looking for a debate, just a few thoughts and a decent read (that goes for anyone, btw).

littlej,
I don't think that this is really a function of the strictness of catholic schools as much as it is a function of capitalism being an efficient governing factor in schools... All private schools, regardless of creed, that is. Private v public... IMO private always wins, due to the market's ability to ensure a quality product via competition. The product, education in this case, is sure to be better given that the customers will just leave otherwise. IMO, nobody should inherit the choice of where to get an education unless they like to allow the publically funded ones to get lazy and presumptuous.

Again... I'm pretty much a libertarian with a smidge of anarchocapitalistic beliefs, so that's just me. Don't worry anyone... trust me... i strive to be reasonable!
 
I have a book that was my Mothers, titled "Manners for Boys and Girls". I would love to see it republished and become a best seller! Our society and country would benfit greatly! Printed 1916
 
haha.

something tells me that you fish alot of these!
http://globalflyfisher.com/patterns/bergman/

haha. I kid I kid. :p
 
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