Both my parents got to decide what they drove as their first car. Their parents paid for their cars, too. They were given a budget of what they were allowed to spend and got what THEY wanted. Now they are trying to tell me what I want.

Diogenes-why do you say child dominated society? Is it because kids today enjoy such luxuries that were not available when you were a kid? Is it because there are so many products and advertisements and tv programs aimed at a youth audience? Maybe you're jelious since kids today have things alot better?

 

WEll, I'd not speak for Diogenes, he does a great job by himself, but when I was growing up there was a statement that was often heard; "children should be seen and not heard, only talk when spoken to, and always respect adults." I don't remember knowing adults names until I reached the ripe age of 18. To me their first names were Mr. and Mrs. so and so.

However, in todays society it seems that all things are just backward of that. Kids, it seems are no longer children. They have been elevated to the place of small adults. They are gien equal status with everyone in society irregardless of the age of everyone.

It appears that children are the most important people in the society. Not that I do not believe that children are important, they are, but to give an immature person responsibility and control over their lives is to do them harm. They do not have the life experiences to make proper choices, nor are the able to live with the lifelong consequences of the choices that they are making.

Yes it does appear that today's children have a lot more than ever I did growing up. I do not fault them for that, nor do I wish to take it away. However, I have to question the WHY'S of why we seem to be so willing to give without question. Are we really creating better functioning individuals in society? I think not. I honestly believe that we are catering to, and creating a society of whining crybaby's who have never had to work for anything, therefore personal gain is nolonger looked at the way it used to be. We now fell society is obligated to give us everything, from a chance to opportunity, to even healthcare.

Enough preaching in a public forum, I'll shut up for now and climb off my soapbox. If you are really interested private message me and I'll continue with real examples of what I am saying.

 

Diogenes has a good point, though put kinda strongly [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]. We do live in a child-dominated society today, but also like you said-kids today do have it better than "back in the day"-too good in my opinion. I come from a farm. No, I don't currently still live or work on it, as we sold it some years back, but like the old saying goes "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy". My Dad was born on that same farm, the same one that my Grandpa inherited that had been handed down for years and years. In those times, you had to work for everything you had, and usually, that wasn't much. I was fortunate enough to come from part of that same farm (my Dad and Grandpa had already sold one of the upper ranches). As a result, I know the value of hard work. In today's society most kids don't.

I'm not saying you in particular, so please don't get offended, but today, most kids don't know what real work is. They bitch and complain about having to do anything at all strenuous, or get "pi$$ed off" if somebody asks them to do something, which usually means going out of their way to get off the couch or shut down the nintendo for a few minutes. Of course, in today's age, it probably isn't nintendo anymore, but most likely-the computer itself. In my opinion, this is due mostly in part to the parents responsibility, or lack there of. Parents should be the ones to make their kids get out and do more, learn the value of a dollar, rather than having everything handed to them. Of course, on the other hand, with all the politicians and such screaming for childrens rights and such, parents can't hardly even raise a child anymore without fear of getting thrown in jail for some stupid reason. What is considered abuse now was nothing more than a good spanking for something the child utterly deserved back when I was growing up -or back on the farm I should say. Unless you come from a farm, I doubt you'd know what I mean.

Hell, next time you go out in public, pay close attention to all the little kids around you-say at a restaraunt in fact. Just how are those kids acting? What are the parents doing about it? Hell, even the grocery store, or better yet, the gas station convenience store! Hell, when I was seen in public with my parents, or Grandparents, I stood right by their side, with my mouth shut, not saying anything, not doing anything unless asked or told to do so. Today, it's kids screaming and crying "mommy mommy I want this" or "daddy daddy, give me that, I want it now!" Unruly kids everywhere, and the parents won't do a damn thing about it. Even today, my Grandad will get on my case if I so much as raise my voice in a manner unbecomming of an adult. "son, don't take that tone with me" or something to that effect.

Take a look at all the guns and violence, drugs, gangs, etc. Why do you think this is? What age bracket are most of these "kids" in, and what makes them do this type of thing? Basically it comes down to the parents roll, or lack of. In most cases, I'd bet that most of those kids never got a spanking when they needed one. They were handed everything to them on a silver platter, and if it wasn't good enough, the parents got in trouble for it-not the kids. As for the guns-huh, don't even get me started with that one. I love guns myself, they are a very important part of my life, as well as every Americans in this country. Kids need to be taught at a young age to respect a firearm, to be taught how to handle one, and when to handle one. Sorry-said not to get me started didn't I.

So, basically when you question Diogenes about why he calls it a "child dominated society", I hope I have given just a few examples as to how he can say such a horrid thing. And, nothing personnal to you at all, please don't take offense, but can you see where I'm coming from? In all honesty, I highly doubt Diogenes is "jealous" of kids today. Personnally, I am damn glad I'm not a kid today-and feel bad for those who are.

Anyway, enough with the sermon. You have been given a lot of good information here with this thread, and at 16 years of age, you should be man enough to know how to handle it, or what to do about your situation. As I said before, I do wish you the best. Getting your first rig is and will always be something special that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Mike

-sorry, HondaHunter-must have just posted about the same time-nice post, and especially the last paragraph-I couldn't agree more.

 

Cowboy- you and honda hunter have provided some of the best advice I've ever gotten from this forum. Getting my first vehicle will be a special moment, and I'd like to remember it as getting something I had picked out myself.

Diogenes- I appologize if i've offended you. I felt you were implying that I was some spoiled little brat who didn't get my way. I live out in the stix. The nearest store is a gas station 3 miles away. I do most of the yard work around the house, I help my dad work on cars, I help him haul scrap too. All expensive items I own I had to work for. I only get stuff for free during christmas and my birthday. The truck will be my only birthday present this year from my parents.

When I first posted this topic I was mad. I didn't give any thought to the matter and I wasn't thinking. Now, with a little help from you guys, I've begun to understand this whole thing.

I think I will listen to my dad about not messing with my primary form of transportation. I know of a car that could be fixed up real easily. I'm not sure what it is since I've only seen it from far away. It looks like a gangster car from the early movies. Wildturkey would like it.<--private message me if you want to know my plans for it!!

I think I've learned alot from this discussion and will give you all updates as my search for a truck continues.

 

Dirt,
it pleases me to see you are trying to change your attitude.I will not give further advice on this topic,Cowboy and Diogenes both had EXCELLANT posts,as allways.Keep up the good work,we see improvement.
Bill

 

Dirt-
All I can say is Wow. Thank You. I was a little worried I might offend you with my last post, but I see now you know exactly what I'm talking about. Your last three paragraphs here sound like a whole new man-I'm very glad that we could help you out with this. I don't think there's much else to say, other than Best of Luck to ya, oh and-

Happy Birthday Man!

Mike

-And, Thanks Bill for the kind words!

 

Dirt you sound like a sensible young man. Glad to hear your replies. Continue with the attitude you're displaying and you'll go far.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

All your life you will go on thinking your parents were wrong, and maybe even bad parents, then there will come a day when you finally understand, and someone will be next to you looking at you how you looked at them.

 

i agree with holyman. my parents wouldn't buy me a car, so i didn't get one until i was 20. if they would have i would have taken anything they would have given me at that point. trust me having no car is waaaay worse than having one that you dont like. it sounds to me like your kind of spoiled. dont take that the wrong way, but instead of whining about not getting the truck you want, you should be saying thanks to your dad. because not everyone gets to drive their own vehicle at the age of 16. i know my kids aren't.

 

i wrote the last one without reading the rest of this. it's good to see your thinking about some stuff that was said here and happy b-day.