I have seen two disturbing trends that will be the fall of our civilized society if things don't change. You see, as someone who has worked in several career fields, (from my Psych degree spawned employment as a Distress Counsellor, to a Technician at a Sleep Disorders Clinic, to my current career in the Beauty Industry as a Make-up and Hair Stylist) I have seen a lot, much of it disturbing. However, even the most stressful suicide case has never plagued my mind as heavily as the behaviour I am seeing everyday in this modern-day world. The first disturbing trend is this generation of parents now with young kids who are not disciplining their children at all. I'm not kidding, I mean these kids never hear the word "No". There is this generation of monsters being raised now without any discipline. They are allowed to do as they please, and are encouraged to be completely self-indulgent with no respect for rules or others around them. I have many friends who are teachers and they tell me the same stories all the time. These kids are shocked to hear "No", and have no reverence for authority. You don't need a Psych degree to understand that if you are not taught any self-discipline, you will not be successful as an adult or as a good human being in general. You see, every aspect of doing well in school, work, athletics starts with having self-discipline. Keeping yourself healthy, and the best you can be requires your ability to say no to things and prioritize and focus on goals in every aspect of life. This current culture of self-indulgence will unleash on society a generation of young adults that don't give a shit about anything or anybody other than themselves, and their own comfort and convenience. What does that say about how much they will care about our ever-deteriorating environment? I have actually seen people drop their trash on the sidewalk as they were walking, and, get this, the trash bin/recycling bins are just a few steps off to the side! Are you kidding me? How lazy and disgusting are these slobby teenagers these days? It's bad enough that most of these teens are obese, out of shape smokers (still dressed in skin-tight shit), but the fact that they just don't care about anything is the fault of the parents. This learning starts from day one. You need to teach your child manners and how to be a dignified, respectful human being from when they are little. Babying them and letting them do whatever they want is NOT good parenting. You are failing at good parenting if you are creating a spoiled, whiny baby that you will later unleash on the rest of us when they leave your home. I am so sick of hearing parents speak to their children like they are developmentally delayed babies. Why are you baby-talking and coddling your five-year old? TALK TO THEM LIKE AN INTELLIGENT HUMAN BEING, AND THEY WILL BEHAVE AS SUCH! Seriously, talking to them like incompetent little degenerates will encourage them to be this exactly. I actually witnessed a woman taking apart the beautifully displayed coffee table with magazines and pamphlets on it because her toddler was ripping things apart. Instead of disciplining the child and telling him to sit still and stop touching things, she proceeded to bring all the things from the table over to our front desk and move everything around so that her child could spread out and take over the area! Are you kidding me????? I had to take several deep breaths from telling her what an idiot she is! When we were kids, if my mother or father told us to sit still, we would sit like soldiers for hours, if need be. There would not be a peep out of us because we had learned self-discipline. That same self-discipline has made me into the successful adult that I am. I have the discipline to work hard towards goals for work, and for my health and physical fitness. Another horrifying example, I'm sure we have all seen, is parents apologizing to the child for having to do something. For example, at the grocery store, a woman says to her bratty child, "Sorry, sweetie, just a few more minutes, o.k.? Then we'll go soon, o.k?" Asking the kid if it's o.k.???? Are you kidding me? Who is in charge here? You are not to be their buddy. You are the parent, and if they are upset with you for doing something they don't like, too bad!!!! You are not there to make sure they like you at all times - you are not doing anybody any favors with this, especially not the child!! O.k., so one more example before this turns into a crazy tirade (which I assure you, it is not, but an intelligent reality check perhaps). I witnessed a woman carrying a heavy box, approaching a heavy-doored entrance to the subway. Her teenage son was walking ahead of her, pants hanging down, ass out, shoes untied, slumping along. Not only was he not carrying the box for his mother, but, he went through the door, and didn't even hold it open for her!!! I watched her struggle and finally make it through, expecting her to shout out at him. Instead, she meekly says, "Sorry, you have to wait up for your mom, I'm slow!" What???? That kid needs a good kick in the ass. Actually, no, because the person at fault is the mother here. She failed, as a parent, to teach him the appropriate social skills. Can you imagine what kind of man this teen will grow up to be? Do you think he will ever open the door for a girl, or give his seat up on the subway to an elderly person? No way. And it's because his parents never taught him to have some social responsibility, to care about others and his environment, to be a person of dignity. This is not the responsibility of teachers, it is taught at home, and in every situation. If you don't want this responsiblity, then don't have children. It's as simple as that.
O.k., the other disturbing trend (then I'll end this post for today). The constant attachment people have to their phones/blackberries/whatever. This obsession with constantly having to text, constantly having to chat is ridiculous. We have lost all manners and civility. People are constantly texting when in the company of others at dinner, while walking on the street (not paying attention at all), and even in the shampoo sink at my salon! Seriously, I was rinsing this woman's hair in the sink the other day with water splashing and she answered her phone just to say, "Nothing, what are you up to?" What the hell??? So rude! Do we really need to know where you are at every moment of the day. Are you going to twitter everyone that you are taking your daily shit? Seriously, put it down, turn it off, and start talking to the human beings around you. Start being a social, friendly member of society again, instead of a detached robot, on the phone 24/7. You see, recent studies are showing that people feel more and more empty and depressed, and they don't know why. Well, the answer is simple. The more connected to this electronic crap you are, the more detached you are from real human connection. We are social animals. We need love, affection, and attention from our family and friends to be fulfilled and happy. You won't be able to fill that emptiness with yet more purchases of gadgets and bullshit material goods all the magazines tell you you so desperately need to be happy like those airbrushed models in the shiny pages.
