What’s the point? A tale of the youth of today…

I too live in a market town, on a mixed estate, with two or three parks where l walk my dog. It isn't worth saying anything about anti- social behaviour as you will only get abuse back.
I do think things are getting worse though, on our lunch time walk it's not unusual to see a drug deal going on in the park. My friend and l completely ignore it and go the other way.
At least once a week, we meet a loose dog trying to jump on Finn, the owner usually has no control. One didn't even have a lead with him.
I can't count the times that we have almost been knocked over by an electric scooter going at high speed.
The worst offender is a man in his 30's , who we see several times a week.

Amalegra, that’s sounds dreadful. Poor you, poor GS. I think people don’t get involved as they once did because they’re scared. As people have said, little arguments escalate and end in dreadful violence.

Tuskanini… I have to disagree. A six foot man with his “willy” out is NOT the same as a woman breastfeeding. Not the same, at all. And he wasn’t doing it discreetly; he wasn’t behind the tree for a start.

It's best to discuss urine as a possible source of disease separately from rude behaviour by badly taught youths.

Your observation is correct that the social world has changed with regard to elder persons being respected by virtue of being elder persons. The rude youth would not have spoken disrespectfully to a young and popular celebrity.

Some rude men speak disrespectfully to all women young or old.

Litter louts are actually committing crimes. My sons spent their youth in a village where all including elders were respected so I know where you are coming from. Litter was not a problem in these happy old days in the village but now the village is a popular venue for tourists who have no emotional attachment to the village the problem of litter is a matter for the police and your local councillor.

I always think it is a shame that decent people can’t get together and back each other up more! I was travelling home last summer on the bus from the beach with my six year old grandson when two loudmouth youngteenage girls got on. The language was appalling. They sat far apart for some reason, one at the front and one at the back. They shouted their conversation about quite intimate things; every other word was four letter. I politely asked the one nearest me to stop using such language so loudly as there were children present (lots of others apart from my GS). That elicited a torrent of abuse and not one of the other passengers backed me up, many of whom were, as myself, of a generation who will often complain about this sort of behaviour. In fact one guy, a good many years younger than me told ME not to get involved! ( I’m 65 btw). I actually was so mad I looked around at all those people (many of them grown men) and called them out for their silence in a situation which had them tutting and whispering about these girls but not doing anything about it. I know we have to keep ourselves safe when out alone but surely here when the offenders were surrounded, someone else could have spoken up too? Unless we, where we are able, can try to make a small difference society will continue on its downward feral spiral. But there again, in my working life I often dealt with people like this and their threats did not faze me, as I told them to their face !

Btw, what OP describes is not present in any parks I have been to in the US in the last decade

What you witnessed was disgusting op, but the difference between you and me is, I wouldn’t be confronting him for it, it’s not just teenagers either, there are vast amount of people that take all sorts of recreational drugs these days and carry knives! I think it’s really sad now that this is happening more and more, we live in a beautiful peaceful area but crime happens everywhere, I’m older than you and find that there are far more good people here than bad! I too agree with you though! It’s really sad when you hear all the bad language I actually think of our grandchildren and wonder what sort of world are they going to growing up in!

I find it difficult to get TOO upset about taking a pee behind a tree. There aren't many public toilets these days. Is a glimpse of a willy any more offensive than a glimpse of a nipple when a mother breast-feeds in public?

Sorry you feel down and depressed for the situaition of the park.

Sadly, this is not new - peeing, drinking, teenagers behaving over the top as they have no parents around them... not new at all

How old was the boy you called out for peeing on the tree?
Please learn from it - it is not a good move to do that unless it is a life or death situation or emergency (very few situations, basically)

While peeing outside is disgusting and unsanitary, it is nothing new and it is not a safety issue.

If you also knew the language they use is foul and aggressive, why volunteering to put yourself in the line of fire?
Not a smart move

The times I have been called out in public were by eldery people who thought my behavior or my family's wasn't acceptable according to their standards - none of their business and I let them know of that fact politely

Are the bottles of alcohol in their hands and drinking them or on the floor?

Not being underprivileged has nothing to do with these behaviours - they are tied to society changes, not money.

It is rude to take pictures of strangers in public without their permission.
A general background pic - acceptable
Targetting an individual - breach of privacy and their image rights

The park seems to be a safe place if mothers with babies are there too.

Please call the police if you see anything you feel needs reporting

There is an issue in our area with young people causing vandalism and generally behaving badly.

There is now a PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) on the area where this is happening. The local council have to apply for it.

Info from Google:

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), introduced in 2014, sit amongst a broad range of powers and tools to help tackle anti-social behaviour locally. PSPOs are aimed at ensuring public spaces can be enjoyed free from anti-social behaviour.

I understand that this enable fines to be issued for ASB.

I would speak to your local councillor about it

I just think that young people are not afraid of the police as they have no powers to do anything.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned. I didn't have time to read the whole thread

But presumably those parents are a product of the parenting of our generation!

I'm sorry but the majority of bad behaviour is due to bad parenting or lazy parenting, you see children playing in the parks and thier mums and dads are sitting there with thier faces stuck to the phones totally ignoring thier children

It's not your age, I'm 55 and feel the same way you do. Years ago if a kid through a stone at your window you would of chased them down the road, not now, they just get away with it because you can't go out to them for fear of reprisals. I grew up in an estate that was a really lovely place to live, now it's awful. Drug dealing, under age drinking and anti social behaviour has taken over. I was lucky I could move, others can't.
It's sad, but with no respect for police, not that you can actually any of them about, some of the youth of today get away with so much we would never of done.
I walk my dog alone and in some places I started to feel uncomfortable, so I've stopped walking there. I watched kids breaking their alcohol bottles on the path where they know people walk their dogs, I couldn't say a word.

Perhaps already mentioned but please OP take a phone with you when out alone...

It's largely 'free floating aggression' - not directed at you personally. When I am gardening in the front (always hyper modestly dressed) the occasional man shouts obscene suggestions - usually from the cover of a vehicle. It has always been the case most aggressive crime is committed by males aged 15 - 20. And most learn better - but I'm sure we all know the odd adult man who ain't to be mixed with.

shows re typo

Food chemicals may play a part, I don't know, but there is more to it, I think. It's a combination of reasons.
I agree with Grantanow about the cut backs in resources; this is certainly a part of it.

I agree with AuntyEleanorsCat, in that teenagers grow up to be adults that may later exhibit anti-social behaviour. It is also disappointing that people in positions of responsibility, in schools, colleges, even the police at times, dismiss obviously bad behaviour ( such as those cited in many posts above, including bullying and destruction of property) because it is not deemed ' serious' enough, (!!) because they have become indifferent or cynical because it happens so often and isn't properly addressed, or because they are fearful of repercussions from the perpetrator. This further diminishes the importance of what the victim has experienced and shoes no fairness or justice, only cowardice and indifference.
For those who said taking photos/ videos can be dangerous in case the perpetrator becomes aggressive, I agree she should protect herself, however I was pointing out in my previous post that it is not illegal to take pictures in public, despite what some people believe. I also find it quite ironic that the urinating teen would call the lady in question a perv if she took his picture, when he can be accused of deliberately exposing himself in public when he could have been more discreet or at least said "Sorry".

10 years ago in Torquay, I was walking along a busy street when I was struck on the face by a fairly heavy object that swung away from me when I looked up to see a drill 'bit' being hauled up on a fishing line onto a balcony of shops by a group of boys who were laughing their heads off. Fortunately I was wearing a wide brimmed hat and wrap around sunglasses so was not injured. I went up the stairs removing my distinctive hat and glasses on the way. Reaching the boys who were still laughing their heads off reliving the moment, I pointed out they could have blinded or disfigured me with their antics and asked them to desist so as not to injure someone else. They hurled abuse and taunted me with their rod. I then took out my mobile and said I would ring the police. They started shouting that I was a paedophile...!! I was particularly shocked that none of the shoppers on the crowded balcony came to my aid. I walked towards the boys saying I would film them and they started to run then shouting abuse. One did stop to apologise, though. They looked young teenagers, 'well spoken' and well dressed... I was left feeling very shaken. I know I put myself at risk but did not want someone else to be injured. I have run a successful youth project in the past and never had to deal with behaviour like this. Is it all the food chemicals in this Ultra Processed Food that is making them like this?

Take heart,OP, as I have come across one or two foul, ignorant young people who have made me feel old, dispirited and fearful, but then see happy, pleasant youngsters who are a credit to their families. The horrible people that you have encountered have probably not had much in the way of guidance; this won't help the way you feel, but what lives do they have in front of them? Full of unhappy behaviour and unsatisfactory relationships if that is how they react between themselves as well as to others. It is depressing but the kind of behaviour you describe comes from a very sad place.

The problem is one of lack of resources. Social workers, police and youth workers have all been cut back savagely by the Tories. Schools are overburdened. Teachers receive little support. This will take time to remedy but it will never happen under Johnson.

Dickens somewhere around the 60s 'society' relaxed its approach towards the young. They were encouraged (rightly) to 'express' themselves and we were similarly encouraged to view them as individuals in their own right. This (IMO) completely changed the dynamics. Some, for the better, and others not so much.

Spot on, and I can even give you the exact year this started which was 1965, leading into the explosion of 1967 and the cultural revolution. I remember 12 year old girls at school doing things in 1965 we would never have done in 1962.

The children raised during that period then had children who became teenagers in the 1990s and then the problems really started. We had a new generation of youngsters who did not respect adults at all. Since then the cycle has been repeated and things have got steadily worse. Obviously, this does not apply to all youngsters, but certainly enough to make a difference to the society in which we live.

So sorry to hear of how you feel about the world today. My advise is to seek out social groups used by your age group and above. You'll find not everyone is bad. Knit and natter, bowling, rambling etc usually it's always older people. Just stay away from parks where youngsters meet up. They have hardly any youth clubs now so parks are the meeting places.

I can remember back 30 years ago when young teenagers rampaging around and creating general mayhem especially on dark evenings was rife. The police knew who the youngsters were but the parents didn’t want to know. So there have always been problems with this age group and dare I say always will be.

As others have said best to avoid talking to them as it achieves nothing but further abuse and the risk of recriminations. It does make your blood boil though, especially when your young relatives don’t behave in this way. Therein lies hope.

Auntie EleanorsCat But… what’s the answer? Walk past everything with your head down because youngsters cannot be challenged; about anything?
Yes walk past everything. An older woman on her own is not in a position to challenge a group of youngsters who might turn violent because who knows what they're like. As we've already said, there are other ways of dealing with them but not by you on your own.

JaneJudge

if you have retired from being a nurse and are having to face this affluent generation of people who get what they want and don;t care about other people's feelings, then no - you are not just too old and are just most probably fed up of people. I fantasise daily about living in rural Wales and not seeing anyone else for months. I wanted to punch all the loud people in waitrose yesterday
oh yar what we having for tea blah blah blah
oh sod off big gob no one cares about your bloody monkfish

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