More Troubles with Teens
Last week, we reported on an incident at the Court Street Barnes & Noble, in which a band of teens had an altercation with a manager and one eventually socked the guy. A similar problem seemed to happen yesterday, according to this note from Park Slope Parents: “All of 5th Street between 6/7 Aves is…
Last week, we reported on an incident at the Court Street Barnes & Noble, in which a band of teens had an altercation with a manager and one eventually socked the guy. A similar problem seemed to happen yesterday, according to this note from Park Slope Parents: “All of 5th Street between 6/7 Aves is taped off tonight. According to the policeman: ‘Stabbing’ ‘After School’ ‘Yes, it was students.’ He is not allowed to confirm if it was a fatality, but given all the investigation still going on at 8pm, I fear the worst. I have walked through the groups of teenagers on 7th Ave at 3pm almost every day last year and often this year and while they are often rowdy and often oblivious to anyone else on the street, those same students can also be very respectful and polite. It is scary and sad and yet another issue we should all be aware of and talking about.” Meanwhile, another group of Brooklyn teens was arrested for attacking another youth. Well, let’s talk about it, then. Thoughts?
MM we truly respect your input to this blog and will say you are clearly one of the more informed & reasonable voices here. However we completely disagree with your assertion “I don’t know what good it does to have a running litany of these stories. It just reinforces negative stereotypes, and unfairly makes it look like the majority of kids out there are predators”. As pointed out above this is a significant issue because someones life may be @ stake and the frequency of such maladaptive behavior appears to be on the rise.
Also an honest question do you really think there is some sort of a class issue here? We don’t get it from the OP but your statement seems to imply so… “I find snotty rich kids to be as rude and uncaring as attitudinal poor kids”.
“Bad parenting, maybe – but snotty, self entitled rich kids don’t typically stab each other.
I’ll refrain from using the “R” word – and attribute these incidents to a combonation of bad parenting and the family’s socio-economic status.”
A Guest, maybe I’m missing something, but where in the story above does it mention anything about the kids’ socio-economic status? Or are you assuming?
Bad parenting, maybe – but snotty, self entitled rich kids don’t typically stab each other.
I’ll refrain from using the “R” word – and attribute these incidents to a combonation of bad parenting and the family’s socio-economic status.
Is there ways to prevent these crimes amongst kids that are so far gone that that would consider killing another human being? If the parents don’t care, who should?
Morris-
” I find snotty rich kids to be as rude and uncaring as attitudinal poor kids.”
So do I. Usually the snotty rich kids don’t carry weapons.
I say imprison the parents.
Seriously…
with all respect, MM, this post is not about snotty, rude and uncaring kids. this post is about violence, actual physical violence that may be killing people, is at least injuring them and is making them scared to walk the streets. i don’t think these posts are unfair at all – readers should be mature enough not to assume that a majority of kids are predators.
Re-learning “how to care” sounds really nice, but it’s too late for these kids. I’m all for deterrence (cameras, extra police presence, after school programs, whatever actually works) and getting those we do convict (or whatever we call it for juveniles) off the streets and into some kind of environment where they learn some discipline.
I miss the summer. There was none of this going on while school was out.
I don’t know what good it does to have a running litany of these stories. It just reinforces negative stereotypes, and unfairly makes it look like the majority of kids out there are predators. That is just not the case. The good kids far outweigh the bad.
For those who have become little hoodlums, what do we expect? Frankly, far too many parents have left the care of their children to others – the schools, their kids’ peers, or a computer or gaming screen. Respect is not taught, not respect for others, property, authority, or respect for themselves. There are no consequences for anything, until the cuffs go on, and then regret. Not for the deed, but for getting caught. This is across the board – across racial and economic lines.
I know I sound like my grandmother, but it really does all come down to “how you was raised up”. I find snotty rich kids to be as rude and uncaring as attitudinal poor kids. I don’t know what can be done, because I think it means a national return to “values”, and that has become a right wing, political hot button that has lost all of its real meaning. But the only way people truly change is inside. We all need to re-learn how to care about people. All else will follow.
The cameras would be a huge deterrent. London is the test case for that. Is that the best remedy? Not sure.
“These things happen…sucks. ”
DizzyNYC, I wonder if that would be your reaction if it happened to someone close to you, like your child.