What's with todays youth?

Do you think every kid in Mitchums day did as Mitchum did or were instead fine upstanding citizens? No loitering on street corners, not listening to music their elders thought was rubbish.

Also, teenagers, learn to use headphones on the train, because it's really god damned annoying.

And mullets aren't cool. Ask Billy Ray.

I do think that the youth of today are overall lacking in the work ethic department. With exceptions of course.

But standing around the Migros looking dumb and talking in gibberish? That's a tradition that's at least 60 years old, be it Migros, a 7-11, a BBQ joint, or drive-in.

Do you blame the youngsters who listen to the stupid music and get high on alcopops etc. Or the "old timers" in high places who market these and promote such a life style for commercial reasons?

Who is acting irresponsible here?

Would'nt it be ironic, say, if the head of Music company, MTV and beverages compant then in turn, turns around to blame his/her kids for being so dumb and reckless?

More to the point, they themselves are too scared to have kids or dont have much hope with them.

No. Let me make a short summary: Vietnam war was on, in Paris students revolted for social change triggered by a government firing I believe some university professor (or somebody similar...), in Berlin the students protested against the visit of the Persian Sha and fought for some changes in society.

In Zürich, students were influenced by those developments and had large scale protests. I am not talking about a demonstration, but large scale violent protests. They were not smashing a trash can in front of Coop, they actually squat a Coop! (The one on the bridge next to HB) So do not tell me that kids today are more violent or vandals.

They wanted a place for their own (I'd translate it as "independent youth center") so yes, somebody could say they had a point. However, it is a pretty weak one in my eyes and it looks like they simply wanted to be "with IT" as well - and the youth Zeitgeist of 1968 was violent political protest.

The OP complains that teenagers wear strange clothes. Sorry, but

a) look at what teenagers used to wear in the last four decades - todays stuff is hardly the most extreme you will find.

b) look closely: Yes, the pants do not fit well, but it has probably never been more important what brand they wear and how expensive the stuff is. This generation is not testing their limits or looking for a social change, they embrace consumerism to an extent that I find it actually scary for very other reasons than the size of the jeans.

I am happy that I am not a teenager again as I think they have more pressure today than before. And some of them simply do not manage to fulfill the expectations their Goldcoast mums and dads have... I do not think it is good, but blaming kids for what they are is rubbish: Children have always been the same and simply become what they are based on the society they are in.

This is the book BTW: http://www.scharloth.com/zuerich68.htm

I do not blame MTV, I blame Samsung.

Agreed.

But I dont think we are discussing the work ethics or behaviour of the youngsters, but the reasons why they are like that, I suppose?

Mass media is a very easy blame, but I really think it comes down to the parenting. By parenting I mean offering positive outstanding role models.

I grew up glued to the MTV, playing violent video games, I wanted to be like my movie/rockstar role models, but my parents always taught me to be realistic: "Take a course in statistics, you'll find out very quickly you're not special and you'll never be a star"

So I went into engineering.

Dude... we the oompa loompas of science.

You can't compare it to America. The kids here are all well-fed and have nothing to worry about.

Please take into account that i'm not English native speaker. But i find it very irritating that nowadays on Facebook the way how the young Swiss type Happy birthday to HÄPPY BÖÖÖÖÖRSDEI. Alles gute zum Geburtstag sounds completely fine. i don't know where the hell or earth they come up with this ugly thing "HÄPPY BÖÖÖÖÖRSDEI"

if by wild times you are talking 60's -70's... I grew up in / lived in the wild times and let me just tell you one thing right now...

umm....

what?...what was I saying?

That you owe me money....

what about government control? Kids need something to rebel against. Every generation has something. A lot of kids in america are rich and well-fed too

When you look at every generation and they are just the product of the time. Comparing them shows up the glaring consistencies.

On that note and still off topic, I saw this once on facebook

"tschälli biins"

I had to say it out loud, record myself, play it back to myself* to realize they meant "Jelly Beans"

*not really, but it was still tough

money is a tool of "the man" man... learn to live free.. break free

tune in turn on and something else

I guess Wavy Gravy was right when he said: If you can remember the 60's you weren' there

sorry, too busy buying a football team to read that