Where have all the rude people in the grocery store come from?

Thanks for your response. I do not agree with you. I do not think it is a trickle down effect at all. I think it is simple disrespect for the older generation. When I grew up, I was taught to respect my elders. If I had treated my parents the way these children do, I would have been in so much trouble. Sorry to say, the fear of spanking your child without being charged with abuse, has made parents afraid to discipline their children at all. There are other ways to discipline, but no discipline is not acceptable. I was a latch key child before the phrase was coined. I was baby sat by a television, and rejected it. I read more than watched television. I learned to cook, sew, needlepoint and didn't play Atari or the game consoles of today. These children today, know nothing about taking care of things or people. Parents aren't being parents, they are just a cash register for children and a yes man. Unfortunately, every generation tries to make it easier on their child, but it has gotten to the point, we are too easy on them and they expect it given to them because we are. If it isn't given to them, they take it. My two children as parents practice two totally different styles of child rearing, but they both believe in discipline and their children show respect to themselves, their parents, elderly, and others. They never put up with the things I see in public from children today. The trickle down effect, starts with the way we raise our children.

Im kind of like you cotruelove...we didn't have television until I was in the 9th grade and then it was just because my aunt gave my mom (sisters) a little 12 inch black and white set. Do you know how hard it is to enjoy watching TV with 4 high school age kids first making a joint decision on what to watch, and then huddle around the little set? We set it on a cart inthe corner nad then all sat at the (informal) dinning room table to watch! NO FUN!!! So I didn't watch much, but as a younger kid without, we thot dad was horrible as we were the only kids in the neighborhood and school that didn't have tv! I was even embarresed at school BY THE TEACHER when I innocently said we didnt have a tv and things were never the same for me with the other kids after that! But since tv and hand held games are what parents use as "babysitters" and are considered "fun"...kids learn what they are taught. I was watching last night with my 11 year old grand daughter...the show she was watching was okay at least in today's standards...but a commercial came on for another show..Sam Vs... or something like that and it just showed this kid constantly cussing, and gripping and complaining and calling others names and altho not foul language, just bad language and it was disgusting and I thought, no wonder kids act like that these days...they see it on TV!!!! I hate it when parents don't discipline their children in stores. I hear a baby screaming at the top of their lungs and the mother just ignoring it. Now an infant cries for one of three reasons...uncomfortable/hurting, hungry or tired. Does the mother help the baby out? No, she's ignoring it. THe kid is standing there throwing a fit, does the mother take appropriate action? No, shei s to busy on her cell phone at the moment. It is just deplorable how kids are allowed to act in public. I have been run over with skateboards cause the kids were doing it on the sidewalk and if I didn't move, I'd a been plowed down. I could go on, but I think every reading this discussion knows exactly what I am talking about. We would have been grounded for life if we'd acted like that as kids and so would my kids...however, I was taught and then taught my kids proper behavior (and see they are teaching their kids!) so that never happened for us. But it is normal and probably totally expected behavior these days. Sad sad world!

Thanks for your opinion ShyBear, but obviously, many people grew up with spankings and we seem to be fine. I have a neighbor who spanked her son, and the judge upheld it due to the principle of the Bible.. "spare the rod, spoil the child." As long as the spanking isn't one that creates physical problems afterward, the mental is exactly what the spanking is designed to change. I know if I had told my mom she was abusing me, she would have said, call the police and we will see. Many children today, are disrespectful of everyone and they dare anyone to find a discipline that will work on them. Let me give you an example: My daughter in school was bullied by a 15 year old boy who had shot his father and got away with it. The boy expected my daughter to fight his girl friend and the winner would be his girl friend. When my daughter told him she had no intentions of being his girl friend, he showed up at our house and threatened to harm her brother if she didn't fight his girl friend. No, he has never been in jail. I called the police and all they did was talk to him. I've seen him in the grocery treat other people with total disrespect and he is now around 6 foot 5 inches tall and an adult bully. The school, because he started his threats in a classroom, did nothing but discipline my daughter for walking out of school because of him. The teacher did nothing to stop what went on in the classroom. Needless to say, I don't have much respect for the school either. I went to the principal and he said she shouldn't have left school, and I told him then he better talk to the teacher, because the teacher had no control in the classroom. I also asked why the boy wasn't disciplined, and was told, because he didn't leave the school. I couldn't believe it. The school allowed him to continue his behavior and my daughter felt she had to change schools and did. I just wonder had someone been able to spank him when he was a child, if that type of discipline might have reached him, because nothing else has. Unfortunately, one day, he will bully the wrong person. The point being, modern parenting is different than how many of us were raised. Perhaps the reason there are so many gangs, disrespectful children and teachers afraid of the children in their classroom, is because spankings are not being used in modern parenting. However, I have been seeing a trend in some high schools to return to spankings. I know when I grew up, the one thing guaranteed that spanking did, was get your attention. Many of the modern techniques of discipline aren't working and the child just ignores the parent or sticks their fingers in their ears. Sure, you can pull their fingers out of their ears, but from what I've been told, that is abuse. You can try to ground them (my daughter used to climb out her window and come home whenever she wanted to). The boot camps that are becoming popular should tell many parents how well the modern parenting idea is working. I've watched many shows on television when the parent throws up their hands because all the modern parenting techniques are not working on their children. Wonder why that is? It is not a parent's job to be popular with their children, but to raise a child to adulthood who can function in society as a productive and social person. It is funny, when I was raising my kids, the parenting classes were way different from the ones today. Thanks for your input.

They already have a special check out lane at many of the major grocery stores here in American for the handicapped and even special parking places at the front of the stores for their cars. I know when my children were growing up, they didn't talk foul language around me. However, when I asked about it, they told me I should hear the language on the school bus. Wow! When I was a child had you done that on a school bus, you would have been in the principal's office when you got to the school and your parent's would have been called. If you did twice on the bus, you weren't allowed to ride it anymore. There just doesn't seem to be any discipline taught these days, or used. with children and none used by the adults. My kids didn't vegetate in front of a television. Some how things have not changed for the best.

I think we have become accustomed to excusing bad behavior. I know one doctor when I was raising my children who made a point of telling two parents and their children to leave his offices because of the behavior of the children and the parents were allowing it. My children were with me at the time, and I watched their reaction to what was going on. These people's children were climbing all over the furniture in the reception area. The receptionist asked the parent's politely to control their children, and the parents ignored her and in fact, told her to mind her own business. The children were walking all over the furniture, picking up chairs and slamming them down, and many other things that were inappropriate. Finally, the doctor walked out and told them to leave. The parents became irate and screamed at him that they were in a public place and do whatever they pleased, and he told them, no they weren't. And if they didn't leave he would call the police and have them escorted off the property. All the while, my children and I were watching the drama unfold. He told them he did not choose to treat children who were permitted to destroy his office while their parents watched and did nothing. They continued to scream at him and he finally had the receptionist call the police. My children after it was all over, and the police had left with the children and parents, talked to me and said, "Mom, that was awful. We would never act like that nor would you let us." We waited only a few more minutes before our appointment and I know my children never forgot what they saw and never acted that way in any doctor's office or any where when we were in public or private surroundings. I've seen exactly what you described at WalMart, and that is only one reason I do not shop there.

I agree wholeheartedly. It amazes me every time I go out just how much worse it has gotten. Read back through some of my responses, and I truly believe we as a people need to stand up and make it heard that it is not acceptable to act that way. Nice to know that at least one young person got told. I think we need to post on sites like this, and everywhere that people need to learn to be kind, respectful and thoughtful of each other, at any age. I've had children pick things up and hand them to me, and I remember to always thank them, not just grad it and go on. My grandson is going to come to my house and help me with some things that a young person is better at doing than I am. He is an adult, but he doesn't get mouthy because I need help. I think we all need to hold the world to a better standard than it is exhibiting currently. Poor, economically stressed or not, we are responsible for our behavior and the excuses to be inconsiderate, unkind, moody, nasty and cruel, just don't cut it with me anymore. Being nice doesn't have to be a rarity today, unless we allow it.

Thanks for your response. There is no excuse for rudeness. We excuse people far to easily today for their bad behavior so it continues. When I grew up, a bad mood was not an acceptable excuse and if you wanted to be in one, than go be by yourself, but do not subject other people to it. My parents were not around much, due to working, but I was not allowed to run the streets either. We didn't have cell phones, but we did have phones and when you were supposed to be somewhere, like at home, you could expect a phone call to make sure you were. If you made a mess you cleaned it up, not your parent. It wasn't about trusting your child, it was about making sure that the child was safe and secure where they were supposed to be. If one of my parents came home because of my behavior, I guarantee it was not going to be pleasant. It was about asking me if there was anything I needed help with or advice about. Anything can happen to a child when a parent isn't around. I learned early on to either change my mood or keep my mouth shut. I learned to be where I told my parents I would be or they told me where I was supposed to be. I was not allowed to do everything I wanted to do, say anything that crossed my mind, or act like a jerk in public. My parents disciplined me, and I disciplined my children, and my children discipline their children. I have never been ashamed of my children's behavior in public and in fact, have watched my children be amazed that other children were allowed to behave badly in public. My parents never had to touch me in public, just the dreaded "look" told you to behave or else when you got home you could expect to be in trouble and disciplined. The hardest thing I remember was to be told to sit in one place and think about my behavior for a long time and do not think I was going to be doing anything but sit there and think. Nothing was worse for me than to have to be still for an extended period of time and think about how I was going to behave the next time. When the time was up, I was asked what I had done wrong, and how I was going to behave the next time, and I'd better have the answers right, or I'd be told and allowed to sit still longer until I knew exactly what I was expected to do. Because of the way I was raised, I have never behaved like I saw nor have my children, or grand children. I treat all people with respect.

There are still polite people in the world. There are less than before but they are still there.

Thanks for your response. My thinking is the world is just way to busy hurrying to do nothing for no good reason, and polite gets in the way. Just saddens me

Thanks for the response. It is just more obvious in the grocery when there isn't a vehicle or phone in anyone's hand. I just pray it isn't because people are totally self-absorbed and self-centered.

I don't do Wal-Mart, but I can understand why you do. I did notice that the grocery has put some employees on the floor to help control the craziness. I know for me, I'm going to make sure I do not go shopping on Saturday. My grandson works for one of the bigger grocery chains in the area, and he has preferences for what he does because of the rudeness of the customers. He is one of those naturally helpful types of people who truly loves people, but he says there are certain jobs that bring out the worst in both customers and employees. It would be nice if people held themselves responsible for their own behavior, but I guess being responsible for your behavior is just something that doesn't happen these days. Thanks for your response.

I don't know, but I see it around the schools nearby with the children who act like NO one has any authority over them. I used to feel sorry for the teachers, but actually, I don't anymore. They were hired to teach children and they seem not to be it for whatever lame reason. I watch parents walk their children to school in my neighborhood. I watched the same thing when I was in a small town. People do not seem to have any consideration for anyone else anymore. It is like a big game of free for all. People have lost respect for anything and sometimes I think even for themselves. Thanks for the response.

Baboons are meaner they would hurt the offenders!! It just saddens me to see what is going on. I do think that once the rudeness starts it is like a disease and everyone gets that way. No one seems to think about responding to anyone having a bad day with a kind word. I was next to a young woman with two very young children who were screaming and she was trying hard to stop them and juggle groceries at the same time. I observed for a few minutes and watched other young women just stare at her and not offer to help her in any way. I walked over and offered to take the groceries and put them in the cart so she could deal with the children. She was so relieved to have just a little help. Either we are moving to fast to our next destination and not seeing right or left, or people are just cruel and uncaring. I hope it is just the stress of the economy right now, because I'd hate to think this is the way it will remain forever.

I partly agree with you, but when I was living in a small town a few years ago, it only had one grocery store. People were fighting over who got the piece of meat that was on sale. It never seemed to cross anyone's mind that they could ask for another piece of meat from the butcher. Don't know why it is primarily the grocery store that seems to attract these kinds of people or they think they have to act poorly, but it seems to be more there than anywhere. Thanks for the response!