Welcome to Gaia! ::

First problem with the world? The current and next generation of teenagers. Seriously, the level of respectability and general intelligence of teenagers as of late has been on a rapid and steady decline. The hay-day of Generation X is quite frankly a group of alter boys compared to how bad things have gotten with the youth. Now, granted, I'm only 21[Shae edit; He's 25 now].. but even I have to take a step back and go: "What the ********?" Since the demise of physical discipline, or rather discipline in general, teenagers in particular are worse than ever. Every one of these prepubescent and adolescent ******** needs a serious slap upside the head for the atrocities they get away with.

As was pointed out to me in a conversation last night, there are no consequences left anymore. Those who slack off and stagger behind the hard working and intellectual minds (Scant few that there are.) of the generation still manage to slip through the cracks of the education and employment systems with very little reprimand. It's a horrifying thought when we consider that these are the people who will be running the planet after us. We think the world is in a state of decay now? This will be a drop in the bucket if the pattern of degradation continues. Parents, listen.. there's a fine line between abuse and discipline and you desperately need to find the safe side of it and walk it.

Kids are going to get in trouble, it's inevitable. But how often and severe the trouble they get into will depend on whether or not they understand that their actions have consequences. There are three basic ways to discipline a child. And I say child because the sooner you teach 'em, the better off they'll be. These methods are as follows: A verbal reprimand should be given for minor things, things that will become common sense later in their lives. Deprivation or revoking of privileges should be utilized for moderate things, this includes grounding, setting curfews, taking away internet/television/other electronics, or the harshest form; to bed without dinner.

And finally, physical reprimands should only be given in instances where the child has done something incredibly stupid or dangerous. Things like playing with matches, beating up a sibling or other child, vandalism or other defamation. (Just so we're clear, by physical reprimand I mean a smack on the bottom or a twap on the wrists/top of the hand, not all out hauling off and pummeling your child.) If problems still persist as after a child becomes a teenager. Use harsher deprivation techniques, and possibly even involve authorities or use scare tactics. Think all this is too harsh? I don't. I think kids running around and shooting up schools, getting into drugs, committing thefts and serious vandalism and generally being ******** more than justifies these methods.

I agree with Shae's brother and would also like to point out that some kids don't respond to verbal warnings or taking their stuff away. My youngest step sis who is bipolar is one of those and believe it or not but the only thing she responds to is physical punishment (like spanking or washing her mouth out with soap). She isn't the only kid out there like that. We must take into consideration what works best with the kid.
Surprisingly I was staunchly against corporeal punishment until my mom and I moved in with her partner and her kids (I have never been spanked and when my youngest step sis was mouthing off and her grandmother asked me to get soap it didn't click what she was going to do with it). After leaving the nest and working at a toy store, some kids clearly need strict boundaries and a good spanking because talking doesn't work.
Our society has been going down hill and has become lack luster. I think a large part of it is a lack of discipline. Nothing good comes from permissive parenting.