Hey IMWAN parents ... surely your kids have a friend you aren't too fond of, a kid who's maybe a bit rude or forward or generally lacking the kind of child-to-adult respect we all grew up with.

Discuss.

Yes, my nephew. He thinks he's an adult, and talks "snippy" to people when the give him direction. I don't entirely blame him though, he only talks to people like his mom and dad talk to each other. Probably a common cause of such behavior.

My wife, son and I are pretty sarcastic with one another around the house. We joke, poke fun at one another, get a bit irreverent, and all that fun stuff. He knows, however, that just because we interact with one another in that way doesn't mean he ought to do it with others, too. ESPECIALLY adults. I'd be rather upset to find out he did.

We're the same way around here with our kids. They usually know when something is appropriate and when it's not. My nephews parents? They're not sarcastic or joking though, Eric. They just don't get along and are pissy to one another, and he picks up that attitude and talks to other people that way. If there were ever a textbook example of why "staying together for the kids" is a bad idea, it's them.

Your nephew's family environment is the kind that makes my job difficult.

My goddaughter used to be evil incarnate, primarily because her parents did NOTHING to discipline her for anything, EVER.

She seems to be growing out of it (she'll be seven soon).

A lot of kids seem to be this way now. It's disturbing. If it's directed at me, and the coast is clear, I just furrow my brow and get real stern with them. Stuff like "I don't think so" or "We don't talk like that." The kid gets a head-scratching look on his face like he's thinking "Who's we?"

I see the results of kids allowed to grow up like that every day. The shock on their faces when they get lit up by some incensed Noncommissioned Officer is usually a thing of beauty.

Push-ups are a very handy educational tool.

Heh. That thought has crossed my mind a few hundred times, Ted. I especially like the undisciplined high school students who tell me they are going to go join the Army or Marines, so they can go shoot people. I tell them, "Good luck!" Then I turn around, smile and think, "I hope you survive the first week of boot camp. Life is about to become hell for you."

For the students who are organized, I tell them, "When in boot camp, do whatever your drill instructor (or whatever) tells you. No matter how stupid, do it. Do it right then. If it does require instructions, get them, and go to it. You'll find life is good."

Yeah, I remember the first time I got to chew out an E-2.

Rude kids are the result of ignorant parents.

Children ? Rude? Disgraceful!

Truth.

I just had a rude kid leave my house. This kid, to my shock and amazement, sat in front of me and complained to my son because I wouldn't let him play one of my video game systems. Grumbled and complained because I told him no. Right there, complaining, in front of me, because I wouldn't let him do whatever he wanted to do in my house, with my stuff.

What the hell?

Thing is, this kid gets his way at his own house all the time. Grumble and complain and his parents let him do whatever he wants.

Not in my house. I'd be irritated at that sort of behavior if it came from an adult. I should tolerate it from a damn kid? Thank you, no.

Kids are people who have less sophisticated modes of expression at their disposal. All of you lot are very articulate. Don't look down your nose at the inarticulate, hormonal and angry! (unless you want to).

Not that I excuse it, by the way - I am a radgie tekka (translation: I tell anti-social children that they should become social or they will be largely rejected by society).

Isn't it great being old?

It'd be easier to swallow from a teenager, actually. This kid is 9.

Nine-year-olds should not be dealing with adults as if they're peers.

Like it, Mark! My favourite was when a 15 year-old told me "I hate you - you're always telling me what to do! I'm joining the army!". I laughed so much that he walked out the room.

You're right, el Presidente. But a lot of parents can barely look after themselves.

I've met really rude kids in my life. I will say I don't think that thinking they're adults is necessairily the problem. I think that thinking they're adults without having their responsabilities explained to them is the problem.

What I mean is, when I was a kid, I tended to think that I was more equal to adults than some thought I should. If an adult treated me in a way that I thought was unjust I always felt that I had the right to say something. Someone thinking I should take their orders just because they were adults didn't get far, or atleast not when they had done things that made me lose their respect. However I was rude a couple of times and I will NEVER BE ALLOWED TO FORGET THAT! My mother still tells the stories. Most of the time however people were surprised at just how polite I was. Teachers loved me...in essence I was a loser. My mother alwayse made it clear that when you're rude, people don't like you and you can get in trouble wheather you are a child or an adult.

The things I tend to see leading to this the most are:
a) parents being rude jerks
b) parents ignoring their kids
c) laughing when their kids are rude jerks(oh it's so cute when he uses that language).

eh whatever though the point is there are alot of rude jerk kids around. Some day they will get old enough that, when they are rude to someone, that person will not feel bad about punching them and on that day I will laugh.

You're totally right, Victoria. The promise of malevolent violence against kids gives away that you are getting older like the rest of us.

LOL

I like rude kids just fine -- prepared nice and lean and slow-roasted, stuffed with fresh garlic, and served with the right amount of Hollandaise sauce...

I find rude kids funny.

I have no children.

You have no soul. Grow up Taft and leave the video games to the kids.

Now, excuse me while I read the Batman Chronicles Vol. 2 I just bought.