The impetuousness of youth

[Baitball Blogger]

Sometimes you just want to find a way to tell kids that they need to be smarter because the things they are doing out in the open will eventually be caught by someone who has the power to give them a very bad day. In one week there were two incidents that I saw just driving around on my errands and both warranted some friendly advice.

The first was a huge toke taken by a kid who couldn't have been more than 16. He was on the passenger side of the car and didn't even bother to look around to see where he was as he brought the cubic looking pipe to his lips and inhaled. By the time he came up to spew smoke that was characteristic of a hit, the car was making a full stop at the stoplight. I was in the next lane and our eyes made contact when he finally thought to look around. But then, the lights changed and we were on our way, in different directions. I probably shouldn't have encouraged him by laughing, but it seemed to be the appropriate response at the time.

But today was exceptionally eye raising. Or should I say, eye averting. Again, I was out on my errands and this time I picked up a sandwich in between stops. I parked in the parking lot to finish off the sandwich before getting out to pick up a few things at the store. When I drove in I was aware there were two people in the car next to me, but I figured they were just waiting around for someone, so I unwrapped my sandwich and started to eat.

For most of the time I was there finishing off my lunch I was looking the other way towards a busy intersection where there was more to see. But at some point I looked the other way and saw the two kids in the car next to me and they were very definitely making out. So I averted my eyes and looked the other way out of courtesy.

When I finished my sandwich I got out of the car to go into the store and neither one of the two kids seemed to be concerned about my departure. But it was very obvious by now what was going on, since they were no longer in an embrace.

If that was all there was to say about this, I wouldn't bother posting this thread. The part that really shocked me occurred when I got back. Not only were the two still at it, but the girl was so twisted and contorted that I could see the name on the back of her sweater. It was personalized with a last name! I mean, What the h*** people?!

How do you send a message to kids to tell them that these things will eventually get noticed if they continue to do this out in the open--and in broad daylight!

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Simple. I don't.

Is it harming me in any way? No.
Is it one of my kids? No.
Do I tell my own kids not to do stupid stuff in public and hope for the best? You bet.


If it's stuff like this, I'm not getting involved. Now, if it looked like a girl or guy being made out with against his/her will, that would be a different story.

Also, a lot of those pipes are hookah pens/e-cigs these days.

[PassingFair]

2. I'd only snitch if I knew them.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I think I would only get involved if there was drinking while driving.

That one you don't forgive because it only tends to escalate.

Now that I think about it, there were three especially ill-advised youthful indiscretions that I witnessed in the last week so. The third involved some kid who tied a surfboard to a golfcart and took it out in the open fairway where he drove it up a knoll. Then he rigged the brake so the golfcart would propel forward, sans driver. He then jumped on the surfboard and road it in on the wake of the green. Looked pretty impressive.

I lost sight of him on my walk, but when I came back I saw the golfcart heading for a hammock of trees, sans driver. The kid was frantically running behind the golfcart, trying to catch up to it, but failed.

BOOM! It sounded like a cannon when the golfcart hit the trees.

Sometimes the transgressor creates his own self-punishment.

[cwydro]

3. Wow.

The things I did when I was young.

My oh my.

[BlueJazz]

4. Probably the same dude that was smoking the joint.

[KMOD]

5. Have you seen what some of them post on the internet.

There are many young people who don't seem to worry or care about privacy, at all.

Actually, I think there are many older people like that, too.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. You know, KMOD, about that privacy thing...

...those of us who knew what true privacy was like back in the day know that we are without it in today's world. It's not difficult for anyone who has crony contacts to get beyond the scope of public records. That's what crony networks are for.

[csziggy]

8. Well, I grew up in a small town - we pretended there was privacy but

Everyone knew everyone else's business. There was no air conditioning so in the summer sound carried out the open windows and across the yards to the neighbor's windows. Unless you discussed business and had family fights in whispers, the neighbors knew everything that happened in your house.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. In Florida the characteristics of a "small town" has changed.

It's very cliquish. In a HOA meeting people will hide their relationships to one another, which makes it easier for them to collude against your interests. New comers do not have a chance against well-practiced liars.

Deception and cronyism is their way of life. They could be lawyers, lobbyists or even ex-police chiefs.

I've seen it all.