What the Friggin' Hell . . .

[wordweaver]

is wrong with younger people these days?

I don't consider myself old at 38, and I did my share of rule-breaking in my younger days (still do), but I don't remember having such a total lack of respect as teens and young adults do today.
Last week, I hired a guy in his 40s, who was under-qualified for the job, passing over several applicants in their 20s, who were very qualified. Why? Because none of them were the least bit respectful. A couple showed up in jeans and tennis shoes, most wouldn't look me in the eye, all had weak handshakes, and - according to their personality tests - had weak work ethics. I employ about 90 people in my department, most of whom I didn't hire myself, and I've noticed that the younger they are, the more likely they are to call in (especially on Monday!), come in late, go home early, and sit around watching others do the work.

My two teenage sons' friends call at all hours, are brusque and impolite on the phone, in person, and have no regard for other people's (namely, mine & my wife's) property. They've managed, in just the last couple months, to scratch my car, break out basement window, shoot a bottle rocket in my living room, burning my sofa, and tell me to %#@* off when I told them to leave. The only recourse I have is filing charges (which would upset my kids, so I don't) because I know they'll never cover the damages, and their parents don't seem to care. And they seem stupid, also. Putting 2 & 2 together, they should realize that I'm 6'3", 220#, ex army special forces, and have a looong memory. If it's not paid for now, it will be in a couple years.

So, my pearls of wisdom for young people are these: do your job well, or quit so someone who wants to work can have it; learn some manners; acquire some degree of intelligence; and, for cying-out-loud, pull your pants up! No one wants to see your underwear.

[Hallelujah]

Exactly!!!!! #clap#

[Cabranth]

Hi.

Well wordweaver, all I can say is... YOU'RE FRAKKIN-A RIGHT!

I'm also about your age (37) and have noticed the same thing. Although such behavior is occasionally observable in people of a more mature age, it seems more prevalent the younger the person is.

Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you. I've always just felt like it was "the thing to do" to show at least a minimum level of manners to anyone, at least untill a relationship became informal.

But, as with a lot of blanket statements, there are always exceptions. I recently experienced both ends of the spectrum. I joined a new forum and was stunned to encounter my very first internet "Troll". This person was absolutely fine with behaving in the most unbelievably rude and hostile way towards me that I have ever experienced in my entire time meeting and talking to people on-line.

At the same time, I also met a couple of very nice people at the same site who were quick to let me know this person was a total idiot, and to not give it any concern.

All of them were under 21. Two were nice, one was either stupid or mentally diseased.

So I guess you're right in general wordweaver, but it's always nice to know there are exceptions to the rule.

[greyeagle]

What's worse is when they come in and go straight to the fridge and help themselves to any leftovers, without asking if you have plans for them! I have found most younger people want a paycheck just for showing up at work, and when they get fired they holler discrimination! Also most young men do not wear unaerwear any more. My son fits in nearly all catagories, so therefore he is not welcome at my house.

[wordweaver]

Cabranth, you're right; it was a blanket statement, and I apologize for that. I also apologize to the younger people in this forum, most of whom have been nothing but polite and helpful.

And yes, I'm happy to note that there are exceptions to the rule. I have two sons, and I've found that (much to my chagrin) that the teen girls they bring around are much more pleasant than the boys.

Greyeagle, you're right, also. I forgot to mention the fridge. I don't mind my own kids, nieces etc. going to the fridge, but when a kid I've never met comes in, tracks mud through the house, and goes straight to the kitchen, it's enough to meke you crazy.

[Hallelujah]

You're right, not all young people are like that (especially not on this forum). There are a LOT like that, though. The trend towards extreme selfishness and lack of respect for everything and everyone seems to be reversing itself some in the last few years. The young people I deal with seem to have figured out that this attitude doesn't really serve them or anyone else. They tend to get treated the way they treat people and it doesn't feel good when the shoe is on the other foot. More and more young people are beginning to take responsibility for their own actions and paying a little more attention to how their actions affect everyone around them.

I am really sick of looking at people's boxers, though! #roflmao#

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Wow this is a great thread.... but now I feel old, not that it is the first time. I often have griped about these same issues... it drives me nuts too and I just turned 25 TODAY. And if you think teens are disrespectful to YOU you should see how they treat others in their own age range!! I also find that ignorant disrespectful people usually COME FROM ignorant disrespectful people. Here, I will give you an example (and this kind of thing happens all the time)...

Alucard (my husband) is the manager at a movie rental store and just last night he had another encounter with idiots. First off one of the rules that they really try their hardest to enforce at his store is to protect peoples rental accounts... so they won't rent to anyone whose name isn't on the account. This is for the account holders OWN protection... so that people aren't renting and causing late fees or stealing movies that they will be responsible for if they aren't supposed to be using the account. So anyway this girl comes in with what seemed like her boyfriend who was in his early 20s and when they were asked for their rental card they said they didn't have one with them. So next they were asked for a drivers license and the girl hands the clerk her MOTHERS license. So the clerk of course tells her that they can't rent to her based on her giving them a license that isn't even hers. Well the couple gets really angry and starts yelling at the clerk and Alucard goes over to diffuse the situation and then HE gets yelled at too. The couple then proceeds to call them movie nazis and leave the store. Well about 20 minutes later they come back with the mother and the mother starts yelling at them too. And claims that she herself rents movies using her husbands driver's license all the time because she herself isn't even listed on his account. Well at the end of a lot of yelling the woman asked for both Alucards and the clerks full names and a name and number for someone higher up in the chain of command so that she can complain that they were only following store policy!! And Alucard even had to threaten to kick them out of the store because of all their yelling and cursing!! Crazy stupid people!

In my opinion these people just ruin everything for the rest of us... because you all are right the vast majority of this generation is rude and irresponsible and so in effect the rest of us get judged based on them. Like Alucard... who is a VERY hard worker and VERY polite. But because he is 24 and wears hair long on top of it he is always judged badly on first meetings. But if you talk to ANY previous boss of his he was the number one TOP employee that they have ever had. This still doesn't help him much though because even though he has done a wide range of jobs and has a wide range of skills all of his jobs have been crappy retail and labor jobs so when anything good comes along in our crappy little town he gets passed over because of his age and looks... argh!

[wordweaver]

Wolfe, I agree that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I disagree about the appearance thing, however. I have piercings and tattoos. But, I do think that if someone is applying for a professional job, they should at least try to look professional. I wouldn't care if applicants walked in with hair long enough to sit on, as long as it's clean and styled. My wife, who is in an administative field, would love it if I had long hair (she likes the 80s rocker look), but the truth is, it would drive me nuts.

I grew up in a rural area (thankfully, within an hour of a decent sized city), and understand the ultra-conservative viewpoints. I never fit well, so after the army, I moved to the city to get away from it. So, I'm not talking about personal preferences as far as dress goes. I'm just saying that people should dress for the job.

As far as you and your husband go, I'll give you the same advice I give my nieces and other young people I know who still live in rural or small town environments: move. There are more educational and employment opportunities in metro areas than in any small town.

[Whiplash]

hi all, this is my first time posting here, and i just want to say i love the site.

Now to my point. I'm 24 years, and I have tattoos and peircings, quite a few actually. I must admit that they have hindered my job searches and quite a few prospective employers, who have loved my resume, my initial phone interview, and my personality tests, tend to stop loving me once they meet me. I also have VERY long hair, down to the small of my back. The tattoos can be covered, and the piercings taken out, but the hair stays. I have found that some others my age and style seem to ruin it for the rest of us who, although look like freaks, are very professional and intelligent. I see the youth of America today and I am sickened at what I see. Fourtenetly I have found work where I am only on the phone (working tech support for a cell phone company) and all the customer gets is my voice (which is rather pleasent) and all they care about is if i can fix their problem. So I guess my point is: don't judge before you get to know the person.

[Night Ω Wolfe]

I very much agree with you DwarfMaster... people should not be judged merely on appearance... well most of the time.

I also have a few piercings (though most people don't ever notice that my tongue is pierced unless I let them and my bellybutton doesn't show). But I do have a few tattoos that can be seen, particularly the one on my hand that was to cover up a bad mistake from my teenage years. And I have to say that I get judged on that one a lot. It is very strange too because when I am NOT going on an interview I have tons of people (many, many of them older) that comment on how pretty it is (it is a flower, a lily for my daughter Lilyanna). Everyone seems to love it and it is a great conversation starter and once they start talking they really like me because I am professional, intelligent and generally have a very "sweet" personality... well when I am talking to strangers anyway #lmao# But still when it comes to work people are afraid that the older clientele won't approve.... and again many of the people who like my tattoo are little older grandmotherly ladies. I mean it really does count that it is a pretty flower and not something like a skull or whatever.

But anyway I digress.... I have to say in certain instances though that I WOULD judge someone on first appearances. For instance if I was doing the hiring and someone came to the interview in a ratty tee-shirt, backwards baseball cap and pants hanging off their butt I definitely would NOT hire them. If you don't even care enough about GETTING to job to dress better for the interview than I can only imagine how much care you would put into working once you HAVE the job. #voodoo#

[Whiplash]

very true wolfe. i myself go to interviews in a nice button up (no tie, neck is too big) and nice black slacks, nice shoes, my hair tied up and what not, but i also tattoos around my wrists. so when i go to shake their hands, the sleeves come up a bit and they see those. i just think its so stupid that even though im more qualified, they arent going to hire me becuase of some ink and some metal, so stupid.

[Night Ω Wolfe]

Well see now that IS stupid.. from the sounds of it you dress VERY nice for an interview. And now you've gotten me all curious.... you should send me a pic hehe #wink2#

[Whiplash]

lol, dont have one of me dressed up, but i can send you a few pics

[rendclaw]

admin said:

Well see now that IS stupid.. from the sounds of it you dress VERY nice for an interview. And now you've gotten me all curious.... you should send me a pic hehe #wink2#

lol
Make sure it's one you don't mind showing up in her calender. . . Which of course she sells in the "mature" section in Ebay. :laugh:

[Night Ω Wolfe]

ROFLOL!!! #woot# Speaking of which YOU still owe me a pic