Originally Posted by SilentKnight

I wouldn't narrow it down to just one generality. I think its a variety of factors these days.

But I agree that often its poor parenting. With so many 'kids having kids', we're in an era where youngsters are spittin' out babies just to collect mother's allowance and social assistance - with no clue or concept on how to raise the kid properly.

Then there's factors like economic/employment instability, media and peer influence, lack of discipline. Often times I think media and society bombards the younger generation with so much negativity (think of the nightly news), that kids tend to drift towards attitudes of hopelessness, futility and fatalism.

And its said that we all live increasingly more hectic lives these days...which makes it more difficult to find time to be more attentive to the youngsters. Its tough to be a good influence on a child if you're working 14-16 hours a day and coming home burned out and tired.

But I think (one of) the biggest mistakes we can make is to blame just one cause. We need to collectively step back and see the forest instead of the trees - take in the big picture of what's contributing to kids-gone-bad these days.[/QUOT

I totally agree..There are a lot of factors that contribute to that very sad situation of the kids.