[John Stossel makes a really good point] "Kids Getting Older Younger"

[Knightskye]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/johnstossel/2009/08/kgoy-kids-getting-older-younger.html

I wholeheartedly agree, even though I do stare sometimes. :o

[Kludge]

Ugh. Those kids are so full of shit. If someone dressed like that, even in high school, around here, they'd be openly mocked, and it's a public school!

[Epic]

If there's ever a serious depression, you can probably "skirt-lines" to go down. [edit: yes, that should be "probably expect"...]

They always have. It's kind of an economic index.

[Knightskye]

If there's ever a serious depression, you can probably "skirt-lines" to go down.

They always have. It's kind of an economic index.

"can probably [expect]"?

[CasualApathy]

If there's ever a serious depression, you can probably "skirt-lines" to go down.

They always have. It's kind of an economic index.

That is equally true and depressing.

I think it has to do with the rising crime-rate

[CasualApathy]

Yeah I saw a 6-8 year girl with a cell phone. :O!!!!! What the hell does she need one for if shes with her parents 70% of the day and 30% at school.

She needs one to fit in because everyone else has one. And kids text a lot so you need one to stay "in the loop" so to speak.

[SelfTaught]

Yeah I saw a 6-8 year girl with a cell phone. :O!!!!! What the hell does she need one for if shes with her parents 70% of the day and 30% at school.

Exactly! What the hell, I didn't have a cell phone when I was nearly that young and I turned out fine (I think). All this text messaging and calling friends all the time is just peer recognition. Like these little ass kids can't think for themselves. I think a large part of education for youngsters has to do with self-reflection, not okaying everything you do with your friends. Many of my friends nowadays (I'm 25 by the way), almost can't be alone for most of the time. They have to constantly be around other people in order for them to matter.

I have to say, I'm not the friendliest guy. But others take it to the point where disagreeing with associates/friends is like being left out of the crowd. Crowd mentality -- ya feel me. I've become the type of person -- maybe for the better or worse -- where I don't put up with nonsense, at least not for the last few years. If I hear some shit that is blatently propaganda/false/complete-bullshit, I WILL call you out or challenge you.

As for these little wanna-be hoes...damn. Being from Chicago, many times I will hear at bars, houseparties, hiphop events: "Where the hoes at?" Recently, I've been asking the question, "Where are the hoes NOT AT?" It's hard to find a decent girl around these parts.

[AbolishTheGovt]

I don't see any problem with kids having access to more technology. Cell phones are pretty cheap these days. If it makes their lives easier (they can phone home if they get into an emergency, they can get permission to sleep over at their friend's house quicker, they can phone home instantly to let their folks know if they're staying late after school or going to hang out with friends, etc. etc.), why not?

With that being said, the other side of the coin is that part of the reason Americans (esp. American kids) these days have so much STUFF is because we've been living in a consumer-driven bubble economy and buying all kinds of gadgets we can't afford on borrowed money.

[roho76]

My daughter is going into second grade and all here freinds watch that slut Hanna Montana. Billy Ray should be ashamed of himself for flaunting his sixteen year old daughter around like a tramp. I told someone she was dancing on a stripper pole the other day and they said "no, it was an ice cream cart with a pole on it" (roles eyes). Sorry my bad.

[ClayTrainor]

My daughter is going into second grade and all here freinds watch that slut Hanna Montana. Billy Ray should be ashamed of himself for flaunting his sixteen year old daughter around like a tramp. I told someone she was dancing on a stripper pole the other day and they said "no, it was an ice cream cart with a pole on it" (roles eyes). Sorry my bad.

Should the parents of the Jonas Brothers be equally ashamed?

[coyote_sprit]

Yeah I saw a 6-8 year girl with a cell phone. :O!!!!! What the hell does she need one for if shes with her parents 70% of the day and 30% at school.

Oh, IDK her BFF Jill.

[Conza88]

Where does she get the money?

Ohhhh yeaaaaaah, there are child labor laws... so I guess that means her parents.

They CAN so "no".

Tools.

[ClayTrainor]

Yeah I saw a 6-8 year girl with a cell phone. :O!!!!! What the hell does she need one for if shes with her parents 70% of the day and 30% at school.

If i had kids, i wouldn't mind them having a phone on them at all times, to be honest.

I'd probably buy one of those phones that only allows them to call like pre-set 3 numbers though, until they grow up.

I think it's a good idea, because children can be kidnapped, or put into harms way when you're not watching them 24/7.

[Ian A.]

Okay, I'm going to say it:

WTF is wrong with kids wearing less?

Uh, uh...um....uh...because it's sick!

A child's body is sick? What about nude modeling?

That's different! This is sexy dressing!

Ah, I get it: you don't want them feeling sexy. Can't let them feel too empowered, can you? Can't can't let them express themselves.

No! They're too young! It attracts bad people!

Than teach the kids to avoid bad people. A kid isn't stupid! Look both ways when crossing the street, and don't follow a stranger somewhere. Duh.

Besides, is that reeeeeaaaally the problem? Are you REEEEEEAAAALLY concerned with a kid's safety? Or does the idea of a child feeling sexy make you uncomfortable? Uncomfortable because they are not the porcelain dolls you want them to be? ZOMG, they're human beings! :eek:

[RM918]

Okay, I'm going to say it:

WTF is wrong with kids wearing less?

Uh, uh...um....uh...because it's sick!



Yeah, that's about it. Stuttering is pretty unnecessary, though. Not something you really need to think about.



A child's body is sick? What about nude modeling?

That's different! This is sexy dressing!


I don't think they do nude modeling with 10-year-old girls?



Ah, I get it: you don't want them feeling sexy. Can't let them feel too empowered, can you? Can't can't let them express themselves.

No! They're too young! It attracts bad people!


/Empowered/? What kind of new-age feel-good crap is that? Whatever happened to just letting kids be kids? Buying them stuff from Cosmo Girl isn't letting them be kids, though. 'Feel sexy'? 'Express themselves'? I think you'd have a better human being on your hands if they expressed themselves in ways not typically attributed to a stripper, especially 12 year-olds.



Than teach the kids to avoid bad people. A kid isn't stupid! Look both ways when crossing the street, and don't follow a stranger somewhere. Duh.

Besides, is that reeeeeaaaally the problem? Are you REEEEEEAAAALLY concerned with a kid's safety? Or does the idea of a child feeling sexy make you uncomfortable? Uncomfortable because they are not the porcelain dolls you want them to be? ZOMG, they're human beings! :eek:

A kid isn't stupid? As I'm sure we all remember, at least myself having been a 12 year-old a decade previous, kids /are/ stupid. That's why they're kids. They need to learn, and they need to experience childhood. Rushing them to self-esteem courses before they're even in junior high isn't going to help matters much.

[RedLightning]

I work at a Hollister and it's crazy to see what girls are wearing these days. Funny, even though I'm only 21 kids didn't seem to wear clothes like that when I was in middle school...


Oh, but I have to say in the end it's the parents who need to decide what's appropriate for their children. If they don't like their kids dressing like that, they need to take charge. Don't just pass the blame.

[Ian A.]

I don't think they do nude modeling with 10-year-old girls?

You're right, it's done with 6 year-olds. Check out Australia's Art Monthly:

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00037/art_monthly_37085a_37197t.jpg



Whatever happened to just letting kids be kids?

That's what I am asking. Why can't they be themselves? You're not letting them be kids, your telling them what to be.




A kid isn't stupid? As I'm sure we all remember, at least myself having been a 12 year-old a decade previous, kids /are/ stupid. That's why they're kids. They need to learn, and they need to experience childhood.


You know what my childhood experience consisted of? Me and my friends (girls and boys) taking off our clothes and playing "show me yours." :eek: It was tons of fun! But we were scared to death that our parents would discover us, and they'd scold us. We didn't know why they'd be angry, but we just knew :(

Teach kids to walk away, or say "I gotta use the bathroom", if a stranger asks for help. They'll be fine. :cool:

Kids need to experience responsibility at their own pace. I'm talking about letting them go trick or treating ALONE (provided they are taught what to do in the event of a stranger with candy;)), I'm talking about letting them grow emotionally without interference.


Rushing them to self-esteem courses before they're even in junior high isn't going to help matters much.I'm not suggesting that they should be rushed, I'm saying let them be. :)

[t0rnado]

Stossel went to a mall, looked for dozens of kids, and only showed the ones that would back up his point. The only recent trend I've seen is kids wearing Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle, and Aeropostale crap.

[angelatc]

Okay, I'm going to say it:


Besides, is that reeeeeaaaally the problem? Are you REEEEEEAAAALLY concerned with a kid's safety? Or does the idea of a child feeling sexy make you uncomfortable? Uncomfortable because they are not the porcelain dolls you want them to be? ZOMG, they're human beings! :eek:

Do you have kids?

[Ian A.]

Do you have kids?

Sadly, no. :p

I'm curious how I would score as a father, but since I'm not a father, I'm non bias.

[Original_Intent]

You are right; if you raise girls to know they aren't little whores and they have more value than the amount of skin they can show, they will dress modestly by choice without needing to be told.

It's sad there is even a need for this discussion. parenting used to mean something, and if anyone didn't like the job you were doing with your kids barring abuse) you would tell them to STFU and GTFO. Now everyone is in everybody else's busniness, it seems like even conservatives decided it takes a village. :mad:

[Flash]

Kids aren't stupid? Do you realize who Obama's biggest cult-followers are? Haha.

[angelatc]

Sadly, no. :p

I'm curious how I would score as a father, but since I'm not a father, I'm non bias.

You'll see things differently once you have kids. Ask any parent.

Having a daughter that's overtly seeking sexual attention tends to be more symptomatic of family problems than just a natural expression of sexuality.

Having it start at such early ages is the result of television and the media making sure that little girls "understand" that their primary sense of worth should come from the approval they'll get if they only flash some skin.

A responsible father discourages his daughter from seeking sex, especially before she's old enough to handle the emotional consequences of the behavior. He doesn't tell her that using her body as a method of entertaining men is acceptable, that's for sure.

[Knightskye]

Stossel went to a mall, looked for dozens of kids, and only showed the ones that would back up his point.

That's an exaggeration.

[RCA]

the parents are the enablers and the children are the victims

[t0rnado]

That's an exaggeration.

Lots of shows use similar tactics to show how dumb the "average" person is. I doubt Stossel just randomly picked people and got the answers that he wanted.

[SelfTaught]

Stossel went to a mall, looked for dozens of kids, and only showed the ones that would back up his point. The only recent trend I've seen is kids wearing Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle, and Aeropostale crap.

Well, I'm not gonna just go with what Stossel says, I'm going to see what's going on with my own two eyes. I live in the city and don't see a whole lot of young kids, but when I go to a mall in the suburbs, there is an abundance of little-ass hoes walking around.

If you think about it, the claim that girls are trying to act and look older, younger, can be backed up with the other trends you see nowadays. The prevalence of internet pornography is one. I didn't see internet porn until I was well into my teens. Young kids tend to be computer savvy nowadays, so its not unreasonable to assume that many of them visit porn sites with some frequency.

I think a lot of the highschool dramas on TV and movies like "Mean Girls" have a lot to do with shaping the way young girls dress. Not to mention pop star icons like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. How can that not effect young kids? There are gangs and mountains of hoes on TV. I'm not calling all women hoes, I'm just matching the uniform with the occupation.

Damn, when I was 10-12 years old I think I was still watching "Hey Dude" on Nickelodeon.

[Knightskye]

Well, I'm not gonna just go with what Stossel says, I'm going to see what's going on with my own two eyes. I live in the city and don't see a whole lot of young kids, but when I go to a mall in the suburbs, there is an abundance of little-ass hoes walking around.

QFT.

In my case, it's downtown, and other nearby towns.