good picture

Out of control and no respect. I didn't dare do anything wrong or talk back you would get into trouble. They need to be taught that there are consequences for there actions.

The problem is .The young ones haven't got dance halls & night clubs like we had.We used up surplus energy dancing (proper dancing)We would get pleasure from dressing well too.I am so glad we had the Embassy ,Canterbury Court,RSL & other local dances.We met nice young men & well dressed too .I met my husband at the Embassy 62yrs ago (& still together)

First of all these kids need new parents. Parents don't want to parent, it's all too hard. I ran into a school principal that I know today. She had just come back from a camp and told me she felt like a pharmacist as she had a bag of drugs that had to be handed out to the various students. One of my sons has just put one of his sons on medication, because he says the child is noisy and unruly. He's just like you I told my son, no he suffers from ADD, yes he does, adult discipline deficiency. If you want to get kids into line you must start with the parents.

That's what you get when dogooders take control from Parents, Police, and anyone who tries to correct these up and coming so-called Our Future Generations, Won't Work, have no Respect for anyone or anything, The Only Way We Can Stop is by giving Parents Back Control, How Many of us that grew up with Parents Say No, Ment No, grew up Hoons, bet not many can say, I did. And Please don't blame Parents' Older Brothers, etc, L.C. My Parents brought 4 of us up with tough love, we had to say Please, and Thank You, and with Respect for everyone and everything,My Husband and I brought up our Two Boys the same way and they did not turn out Hoons, smoke or drunks, or break into people's houses and cause damage,or relied on the Government for handouts, So now tell what you think who is at faultEdited 04-Oct-22 19:54pm

Late teens/young adults letting their hair down, smoking and partying hard!!

Teenagers exhausted celebrating; drinking alcohol-etc.

Too much- I want, I have. Once both parents were forced to work and family values were lost, things started to decline generationally

I believe that we have Sue Bradford's anti smacking bill to thank for it. You take away discipline and give the kids all the rights and that's what happens. Kids need boundaries and consequences and when they haven't either for years this is what happens. I am opposed to child abuse so don't get me wrong but the child abuse hasn't got any better it's just as bad if not worse. There is nothing wrong with a good short smack on the bottom or legs. But when kids have had all the rights and parents virtually none what do you expect.

Think it all goes back to when parents & teachers lost control of the kids. Due to the goody goody society. No discipline, kids have more rights than their peers. Respect has gone out the window. Was out with my nieces children on the weekend 14 to 18 old range could not believe the language that was used and no one said a word its just the norm apparently how they speak. OMG where does it all end???

The problems manifesting today began when these children were infants. They are so complex and multi-faceted that there is no silver bullet solution, however, a powerful reward that they could be denied is access to social media. They get much kudos from their 5 minutes of infamy. I believe we have come to a time when children should be denied access to the internet until they are much older. We know so much about the effect it has on the brain now, it is frankly negligent to allow them to continue to have access. The problem is that many parents are just as addicted to their own screens and in order to enforce denial of screen time to children, we would have to deny our own access. Just putting it out there! In addition, parents need the tools to be able to form strong relationships with their children. Many of these children come from such dysfunctional families, it is a wonder they can function at all.

better education and resources for not just children but also the parents because a lot of this behaviour is what they've seen parents/family members do so they believe its normal

Kids (not all) have no respect. I see on the news kids stealing cars, robbing people, school bashings, etc. I would like to know what happens to these kids, are they just getting a slap on the wrist or are they getting support / mentoring.

I feel sad that these ramraids and robberies are happening. I feel that if these younger generation is at a loss to know that they are doing very wrong with these. Firstly they possibly steal the vehicles and then venture to wherever they intend to attack. When they were young it is sad that they were not able to participate in some after school activity of arts, music, dance sports or the like to give them a diversion from getting into wrong crowds and heading down the trail which will lead them to a prison record. Funds need to be created for them to join the above clubs and this could be where the breakdown heads through not being able to afford them. Could some of the lotto funds head there way and see how it goes.

I agree with Martha I, and if those boundaries are not set and adhered to while children are young, then there is no hope once they are older. I think the saying was: Give me a child until 7 years old and I will rule the world. That's when their major growing up and feelings are set for life.

Yes, we didn't used to hear about as much bad news when we didn't live on our technological devices. Also Parents and families need to take more responsibilities and set good examples. Be stricter - lead by example! The poor teachers AND police are over run because people don't take responsibility (in first world countries anyway), and use protection and not get pregnant, if they aren't ready to put a child's needs before their own.

As bad as it is the greater majority of kids are good. We hear more of it today, than we did of the BODGEES and Widgees of the 1950's. and 1960's

Most of the family’s are either unemployables or on drugs, broken families not allowed to give them a clip on the ear Bring back coscriiption It’s sad to thing that war would cuter them

They need to value themselves and communities more. I think they'd benefit from an overseas cultural exchange where they're placed in a small village (stripped of technology) and given a job that is important such as teaching kids basic English (like a primary school in a remote village in Africa or Asia for example) which can go towards credits back home if they complete the programme, or they could be given a job such as helping villagers harvest food for their families, or perhaps they could be a chef or maintenance person in a Buddhist monastery - you know those monasteries that whack you with an encouragement stick if you make a noise? Just kidding - maybe not that far. They would benefit from this because it's taking them out of the setting that encouraged crime, they're given opportunities to learn about real priorities, daily struggles, but also about other cultures and their way of life which will help them forget about their crimes back home (it's sort of like reprogramming them with new information) as they learn about other ways of life. Not sure how much such a programme would cost though versus the cost of rehabilitation, security and disciplinary measures etc. Probably more expensive but I bet you it would help make profound changes to those kids lives.

Where are you situated? I don't think it's as bad as the media make it out to be. Not here anyway. There's a few bad eggs every generation. Blaming older male relatives is a massive generalization. Mine sure as hell never encouraged me to do anything bad.

At the final years of each great civilization we read about youth turning to destructive behavior, the ancient Jews, Egyptians, Romans and so it goes. Are we next to go down the drain. There has always been the privileged and the underdogs, neither behaves well in youth but some at least do get sensible as they age. I have no magic ideas to cure the problems.

Wow this is a good question! Teenagers, young preteens are all a bit narcissistic but most grow out of that. I am just saying this from what i feel as I am now 47. Tough call on this one as each and everyone of us has completely different family dynamics . I guess love will see them through. Just thinking of this exhausts me ,lol

We need to be better examples to youth and model better behaviour to them, but they still have to pay the consequences for poor choices. Everyone does, young and old. Most youth with issues were not molded well by mom and dad or the lack thereof.

It all started and will end in family. Lack of it, or lack of being taught correct living standards. Maybe mom or dad or both were acting like kids instead of raising theirs. All I know for sure is everybody has their free agency and they will exercise it and there are ALWAYS CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY OF OUR ACTIONS, GOOD OR BAD. AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS JAIL TIME. There are prices that everyone has to pay, but what we as a society can do meanwhile is BE A BETTER EXAMPLE!! Edited 04-Oct-22 14:47pm

I must admit we used to have fun, smoke dope, drink, etc when young, but never went stupid or out of control, we wanted to have fun, as young people do, but is this what the youth of today call fun, really?

Honestly, as a teacher, I can say that the new trend to surround kids with love, care and no accountability has a lot to do with this. A lot of kids going through genuinely difficult situations are not being given strategies to face, and hence work through, obstacles. Other kids who lack training in basic respect see this cosseting, and manipulate the system (school staff and parents) so that they are seen as victims. They are not required to face consequences. Grace is a marvellous thing, but it should be dispensed with discernment, not with abandon.

The earliest records of people complaining about the crazy younger generation and how everything is falling to pieces...and how they should be more like older people was written (I think) in Ancient Rome...by some character wearing a leather skirt and sandals....the more things change, the more they stay the same.....

this generation is worst than my kids born in the 70s late 80s early 90s I think movie and video games made now days have a lot to do with it The younger people like to have hero's and copy what they do it seem like they can't think for themselves Its so sad all the respect for other people belonging is gone

Most of them grow out of it but they are not doing anything that teenagers haven't been doing since the 50s. Adults always moan about teenagers but forget they were irresponsible ratbags once, taking drugs getting pissed, its part of growing up to rebel against the system.

I don't think this generation is any worse than previous. It is just being posted online where people can see it.

Well I think it is a combination of a LOT OF THINGS. A lot of these kids come from good homes and have had discipline. I do not believe it is always the parents to blame at all. These kids are growing up in a VERY INSECURE WORLD - where anything goes - and they have a lot of influence of social media too. In many ways I am very sorry for the youth of today. We grew up in a very different world. Yes I do agree sometimes (quite often) it is a brother or relative - someone they trust - that pushes them into committing crimes - often they are paid. They are the ones that should be punished AS WELL.

Discipline and respect are all lacking these days. Punishment is a crime and they want every thing now and they don't care who they hurt to get it either. We are all to blame, we have a system that fails constantly. Governments, Schools, Parents, Child Safety Departments even immigration laws. You can't touch them, they can not be disciplined ever and if they do get locked up for a crime then they just come out harder and meaner than before. We have made this mess and I can't see any solution. We have to live with little old women being carjacked in a car park, women's doors been broken down so they can steal her car keys, or a woman sleeping while youths stole her car key that were in her home. Feeling safe....Me neither and a fact of reality is we can not protect our selves. Well done Australia. Some thing we should not be proud of. In saying all of that there isn't any country that would be immuned to this youth behaviour.

I think young people are disrespectful in general in which it doesn't matter if they are boy or girl based on how they are raised by their parents.

I have been told that these young people are being paid to do the things they do by older people who pay them because they know that the kids will just get a slap across the wrists and be set free to do it again. Maybe it's up to the law enforcers to get the people behind the kids. My question is where are the parents and why are they out and about in the middle of the night.

These kids are not smarter than the older generation at all, but I feel the older generation has let them down by what they taught them while they were growing up or maybe more what they didn't teach them. I blame a parent for being hooked on drugs, ignoring the kids and trying to buy their love rather than show them how to love and respect in the old-fashioned way which is good family time together. They are looking for the love and attention they never felt at home, and many of them were taught how to do drugs, and they got hooked on that lifestyle. I believe they should have had a firmer foundation beginning in the church to teach respect and right from wrong. How do you respect your parents or anyone if they never earned that respect? I feel these are good kids gone bad. I think the communities are responsible also. You know it takes a village and what has the community done to teach them and give them the right things to do with their time. They can be saved with the right mentors reaching out to them. Hopefully, they will accept the mentorship that they deserve. They need to realize that their futures have gone down the drain, but they can be saved. I doubt we will ever get rid of the drugs, but we can't give up on trying! The future of our nation depends on it. Drug dealers should be hung because they are doing whatever they can to get our kids hooked! It is horrendous how heartless they are! We need to be tougher on the guys at the top who are supplying this shit to our very young people! I could just cry to think how our kids are targets in so many ways. Parents, please watch, listen and snoop! Don't worry about their privacy, we have gone far past that. Their lives are at stake. Get a close relationship with them, talk and listen to what they want to say without them thinking they will be chastised for it. Let them be completely open about everything they see and here. We all need to report everything that's suspicious! God bless everyone!

Are you a saint

Bullets are cheap (LOL) It's a problem with some, make them join the army and learn discipline and respect.

Society has gone down the wrong road by shattering the family unit, no respect or recognition for the role of parents and grandparents. A loving family is something a child desperately needs, and it doesn't stop at a particular age. Mentors (such as teachers, clergy, extended family, parents of friends) can also be an important support for children. I am a grandmother of two beautiful children, and it is such an honour and pleasure for me to help nurture and care for them. Young parents need encouragement and support from older people to care for their kids, and assure them that even though there are tough time bringing up kids is a wonderful experience and so important.

Army wouldn’t have them. Conscription would be a good idea but from when they finish school. It’s a tough one to call, but boys homes, which were around when I went to school, and are something like, detention centres were they go to school but have no other privileges unless they earn them, and learn the basic skills of life lessons. Boys homes were for both girls and boys and sometimes children were placed there because no foster care, or other family to support children in difficult circumstances Edited 04-Oct-22 10:59am

There’s no mention of the youth who engage in sports, charity and volunteering, but then it only takes 1 mouldy cracker to spoil the barrel

When it comes to repeat offenders maybe some time in the Army where they have to do as they're told when they're told will straighten them out.

Kids are out of control because parents have abrogated their responsibilities.

they need some sort of punishment or serve time in the army so that they think a bit more before commiting another crime

I read a letter to the Editor of the London Times which said that the youth of today have no respect and are guilty of bad behaviour. It was dated 31st January 1925. This is not some new problem, every child needs good guidance.

I’ve been a full-time caregiver for 14 years, fostering many of our tamariki through cyf and more recently Oranga Tamariki. From birth, these kids have been exposed to, and raised in the most abusive, dysfunctional, sometimes extremely violent homes, where neglect is apparent mostly through parents suffering addiction. This is the reality…a way of life for them. These kids aren’t born evil. They have just never been given the opportunity to thrive in life. I do what I do because I can see the difference I can make, and every child born in this country deserves the very best start in life. So I will continue, helping one child at a time to be the best that they can be at whatever they decide to do in life. These kids have dreams… they just need the support, encouragement and guidance to reach and fulfill their goals. It takes a village, and if everyone does their bit to help (instead of condemnation), then the world would be a safer place to live. Become a buddy or mentor and volunteer to give your support or lend a hand in your community!

Yes some disciplin from the army or such

There is plenty we can do, first we need to listen to them. Help them find something they enjoy and encourage them to pursue that field. Also we need to take a look at what is going on in the home. Children live what they learn.

The vast majority of younger people I know and those you see in society are at worst not too bad kids. We raised 5 kids and they weren't perfect, well none of us are any where near perfect ourselves, usual teenage ups & downs, a bit of rebellion here and there and have turned out to be pretty good adults. The major problem I see is Govt Policies and society in general has taught kids they have rights BUT neither taught them with those rights come responsibilities

Um, I believe most ‘young’ are good people. In my country a lot of crime starts , not with an older influence but with binge drinking,alcoholic dependence , ice addiction and the comfort with pills etc.

I would send them for 3 years in the Army without pay. They still have to pay for their crime. This may help them think there is something more out there they can build their confidence. Most of them are not raised appropriately. As they say Monkey see Monkey do.

Parents need to monitor and teach their children how to behave and what acceptable and what it is not. As an adult if you don't want that responsibility then don't have children.

Great approach, I appreciate your thoughts. I agree with you that helping them to get out of this is the answer.

WHERE IS THIS??? USA???. The only blame the adults have ALL of THEM including you and me... We swallowed the CV lie, and locked up the children because some idiot who claimed to be a medical expert said so. And now too many think Russia is the problem when we allowed the USA controlled UN and the genda benda rubbish, climate change, and idiot in schools. chipping away at the confidence and security of children. I remember a time when parents and all adults made sure education was education and not propoganda. Now the horse has bolted ,,, its too late to fix the fence. SUCK it up

Those crazy kids from the newer generations! I hope the situation gets better with them!

Technology, social media, convenience, freedom, easy access to drugs and alcohol, has created lack of boundaries for some youth and neglect from some parents. How to solve it? No idea, but what I do know is where our boys were, who their mates and parents were, kept them busy, put a roof over their heads, fed them and let them have fun. Get the fundamentals right and you're halfway there. The other half is up to them (fingers crossed).

I am very lucky and so far my grandsons are doing good. But I am hearing more and more of kids doing things. I feel the parents need to discipline them more at a younger age. Not let them get out of hand.

From birth, children are controlling the family. They are not disciplined, they are not taught responsibility, they are not taught, consequences. In the 'olden' days they would have been described as brats.

Blaming setups like Brother, Uncle and Father is very simple and indicates the fact the person does not have kids. Or otherwise just tries to shift his/her responsibility to someone else.

When teenagers are alone for the most part they act 'normally' whatever that is. Put them together with beer, drugs and a group of teens there likely will be trouble. But we have all been teenagers and likely took part in drinking and drugs we just didn't get caught. We have all done things that would embarrass our parents and ourselves.

Things today is so different for the youth, and i can understand they are having a difficult time accepting the changes. I think we need to help the young people, but if they still go wrong, we need to let them go and learn the hard way. I think we need to show them lots and lots of attention and love.

I think that it is not peer presure like every one talks about I believe wondering what new thing that can be done how it would make you feel when they finally find out that the way some people handle the problems of the day as it goes by is not how it should be handled take a deep breath and think that if another person does some thing one way how would it turn out if you did it the same way because you are not that person and you will never be the person he is you have to judge the right way for yourself not how summon else did for themselves.

Change the laws so these miscreants can be punished.

As a youth myself, I would just like to say that NOT EVERYONE IS LIKE THIS. And just because there is more being reported in this day and age doesn't mean that when you were a kid, the same things weren't happening. But for the kids who are struggling, they probably just need help. There is always a reason for doing something, and if you can address the root, then you can fix the problem. But at the same time, a lot of the problems now are extremely difficult and require systematic change that probably won't happen before the world ends.

Well things are a bit different now just keep teaching your kids thats what we can do let them know ya love them and then let them grow up and yes some have to learn the hard way.... I did and I am mostly okay haha

they are no different than when we were young, we did things crazier than our parents, and the kids today do their thing, it's part of life as it evolves, you either except it or spend the rest of your days throwing kids of your lawn,,, it's simple. it is life ;-))

Is it really any worse than it was in the past? It would not be unfair to suggest that almost everyone has got some skeleton in our closet from our own youth. How many of us experimented with marijuana, pot, weed, herbs - call it what you will - when we were in our late teens early 20s? The vast majority seem to grow out of it. The only reason we hear so much of it today is largely thanks to the Internet and the almost unlimited ways in which people communicate, how the Media - Print and Electronic - latch on to all, and seemingly the only, Bad News. Today's young people get blamed for everything unpleasant that happens in society and, paradoxically, we accept almost without question the Lies which our politicians use to involve our countries in wars. More recently there was the Illegal Invasion of Iraq by, initially, the USA whose politicians from successive US Presidents down deliberately Lied to the American people and governments such as those of the UK and Australia in order to get us to join in their Illegal activities. Afghanistan - that sad country has been illegally invaded by the UK, Russia and then the USA invaded ostensibly to rid Afghanistan of the Taliban, Al Qaeda and anyone else they, the USA, did not like. Then when they had successfully destroyed Afghanistan they cut and ran and allowed the Taliban to take over again and just look at how they are once again treating the Women and Girls of Afghanistan. If today's so-called Adults especially the politicians of all countries can get away with unrestricted Corruption, Dishonesty, Deceit and other Criminal behaviour, people who are supposed to set an example to the Young People, just how can we expect those Young People not to behave in the same way. Look at how the Media treats the Russian Dictator, Vladimir Putin! Yes, they condemn him for his Illegal invasion of Ukraine but does it stress his illegality, his criminal behaviour? No - they simply refer to the rather innocuous "invasion" Conveniently omitting words such as "Criminal". "Illegal" which should preface every mention of his Crimes against Ukraine and Humanity. Straighten out the Adults, make them behave decently and honestly and punish them more severely than they punish some young person who is caught smoking a bit of weed, set the good examples and the Youth will follow. We should also remember that the vast majority of illegal drugs such as methamphetamine etc. are manufactured by ADULTS who then sell it to Our Young People!

One, better role models - their parents (since their parents got them here - parents should start doing their job (raising their kids - instead of expecting public schools, etc. - to do their job). Two, if you cannot afford having kids - then don't have kids (I don't have kids). Three, kids reflect the values of their parents (your parents have the most impact on you - for good or bad - for the rest of your life). Four, stop giving white-collar criminals - passes (no effective harsh penalties) - white collar criminals rob societies (all societies on the planet) of trillions of dollars each year. Yet, it is punished youth offenders severely (but not adult offenders (white-collar criminals)) severely. Last, if society collapse - it will because of white-collar criminals ongoing damage to all societies on the planet. FYI: The Banking Scandal of 2008 (white-collar criminals - almost brought down every society on this planet - however, every major government on the planet put out - bailout money to stop the collapse - other words, crime (white-collar crime) DEFINITELY does pay WELL)!

Maybe better role models in both thought and deed.

The youth now a days can't do anything just about with out their phones and computers. No basic survival skills whatsoever!

I agree that youth of today are out of control. Someone needs to step in and find something that will interest to do good and not damaging actions.

Bring back National Service for young adults that havent got an apprenticeship, job or arent studying at university or TAFE.

I think it is too easy to blame parents or carers for the behaviour of todays youth. I have seen plenty of wonderful parents who have had to deel with problem children. One can be bad and others in the same family are great. Nurture v nature. Every generation says "what is wrong with the young of today" etc. However, todays youth seem to be so mixed up with drugs that it is destroying them bit by bit. What is the answer. I have no idea. You speak to them re the drugs and they say we don't know what we are talking about and there is nothing wrong with doing them and everyone does etc. Teaching them when they are young can help but when their peers say one thing then everything a parent or other has said to them is ignored. How many parents have heard the catch cry "I just wanna have fun". Many feel entitled and are rude and thoughtless much more than what is normal. Anyone who has seen the affects drugs has on people - young and older - feels powerless. However, these young 11-15 year olds have become so anti social stealing cars and robbing houses etc. being out late at night that I do have to wonder where are the parents. Everyone has challenges of some sort but that doesn't mean you have the right to go out and hurt people or rob them and it is not OK to say oh the poor kids have had a tough start to life. There has to be consequences for their actions and if the parents are neglectful then perhaps there has to be consequences for them also and then maybe there will be a turn round of some sort.

It is really up to the person. Each has their own values.