Teens labeled as 'bad'

Alright...it just makes me mad when every teenager is labeled as a bad teen...this is not the case at all...i personally do no know who vandalized the pool and i don't know anyone who knows either...personally i dont think its even a teen that lives in this area but i dont know...i think all the teens are asking for is a little more respect and i think it will be given right back...im not sure though...thats just my opinion...if anyone wants to talk about anything just tell me

little jim

 

Re: something on my mind

littliejim85-
First off, there are some who know who vandalized the pools and they ARE Broadlands teens. Does this mean all teenagers are bad? Of course not. Does this mean that some of the kids caught swimming in the pool after hours are "Bad" teens? I don't think so.
But when they trash the pools by defecating in them, throwing trash and the lifeguard stands into them, and ransack the poolhouses.....I can see why those would be labeled as "bad" teens.
There is a line between harmless mischief and criminal vandalism. I still wouldn't say that bad activity necessarily equate to "bad" kids. We all know what teens do. I was one and don't look back proudly on all my behavior either.
But it's reached the point where the behavior is costing significant amounts of money and we have to do something about it. This also means the days of leniency are over for anyone we catch.

 

Re: something on my mind

I just find it interesting that the people on this forum who want to label all Broadlands teens as hoodlums, and criticize all parents of teens who aren't with them every second of the day, are the ones who don't have teens themselves.

But I'll get the last laugh in 5 years when my kids are up and gone, and their kids are teens and are running around the neighborhood. (and don't say they won't) It will be MY turn to yak about parents that don't control their "wild" teenagers.

We have some bad seeds in this neighborhood. But they are very, very few compared to the great kids we have.

 

Re: something on my mind

I think it's partly because no one wants to believe that their kids are as bad as others or that their kids would hang out with troublemakers. Of course this is just my opinion and I realize you question was rhetorical.

 

Littlejim85,

The opinions on these forums can sometimes be extreme. Not all adults view you negatively, just some of the ones who post here a lot may make it seem that way. Plenty of regular adults do have respect for teens. I have found the teens in Broadlands to be generally nice and polite. Don't let these forums get to you.

 

Kind of a simple principle. Teens, or just about anyone, with too much time on their hands and no purposeful activities (job, sports, exercise, fun recreation, etc) tend to get in trouble. Teens walking around aimlessly, especially at night, tend to do mischievous stuff. That's when we did stuff when I was a kid.

I have a teenage son who's no angel, but he's a good kid. He's involved in a lot of different activities so there's not much time to be aimless and wandering around. Plus we stay connected to him and his friends, which seems to make a big difference.

 

OK, let's all of us Grups remember that the world we grew up in was so much different than what the kids have today. Back when I was a young'un hearing a bunch of noisy kids out in the street was a "Joyful Noise." Especially when we were playing Kick the Can, Touch the Pole, Ghost in the Graveyard or any of the multiple varieties of tag. For some odd reason, these are now no fun, or uncool. Gee, could one reason be that we adults no longer enjoy having "crazy kids" run through our yard? ( Mr. Herts' yard was the perfect place to hide, then sneak through McKay's yard to pounce the pole and free the prisoners!) Ah, but now that's just kids being Hoodlums!

Let's also not forget the whole Liability thing. Good Lord! We built a 5 story tree house that could see from South Arlington to the Landmark Towers! We must have been a good 50 feet up! Would YOU allow that to happen in YOUR yard? No, not today, no how, no way.

So, what are teens to do today (really, think about it a moment)? Well, they can get a bunch of their frinds together at someone's house and watch a movie. Right? Your house? Hrmm..... Maybe they can go to someone's house and play video games. BUT WAIT! Some video games induce violent behavior!!!!!

Does this excuse vandalism? Oh, no. So don't even go there. What it points out is that if we, as a community, are concerned about this, then we, as a community, need to offer alternatives. That can be at a personal level or at a community level. Obviously, we can't host something at the Community Center every night.

This does not mean that the current landscape is void of Teen opportunities. The Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department has an Explorer Post that will welcome kids (Boys & Girls) 14 years young. There are several Venturing Crews in the area that offer co-ed programs. I think the Sheriff's department also has an Explorer Post.

Ah, but there's a problem here isn't there? Anyone want to guess what it is? Anyone?

 

I simply don't agree that there are a lack of teen opportunities. Jobs. Internships. Sports. Swimming. Biking. Camps. Video games. Movies. Places to walk and ride all over the community. Ball fields.

What is missing is a lack of imagination and parents often jumping in to solve their kids "problems" and "boredom" with more and more activities. if anything, our kids have more opportunities than we did as kids. Maybe we've robbed them of their imaginations and self-motivation by organizing every single thing in their lives for them as soon as they're born.

 

You've not established a corrolation, but we all suspect one. Articulate that corrolation and you'll get the prize.

 

Here's some background on an initiative that has been started to try to reverse this trend.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/18/AR2007061801808_pf.html

We've always worked hard to ensure that the kids appreciate the need for balance between indoor/outdoor activities as well as the necessity for them to make their own (productive) amusement at times. It's something that kids do naturally if you don't insulate them from the world too much.

There also seems to be an awful lot of peer-pressure here on parents to enrol the kids in every/any sort of 'organized' activity versus playing with them and letting them play outside. All that teaches kids is that they don't have to use their imaginations at all, someone will tell them what to do. So why are we surprised when they sometimes have such a low threshold of boredom - it's what we taught them to have.

If you want to see the result of THAT approach, just drive through Broadlands when school is out - there's virtually no-one outside and that's a real shame.

 

Re: something on my mind

i totally agree with you ajnesk

 

Thanks! You're about the only one who does, however!

 

well i was actually going to say, that i thought community issues involving teenagers were decreasing.

i guess not?

 

Teens in this area are much like grown-ups. Some take responsiblity for their actions and try to contribute to society in a good way. Others don't. I think the problem is that most teens can be more brazen while breaking rules, while adults do it under the radar to hide thier shame.

 

Let's not forget that the parents are responsible for raising the so-called "bad teens." Parents need to be held responsible for the actions of their kids until they are adults.

 

Ahhh...but what about the 19,20 and 21 year olds back from school on break. Parents cant watch them every second but they may be the worst offenders for all we know.

 

See, that's who I would think is doing most of the trouble around here.

 

How are you thinking that? The last kid they caught trying to break into the pool was a teenager.
http://www.broadlandshoa.org/hoaforum/showthread.php?t=5553

And Cliff even posted in this very thread that 'First off, there are some who know who vandalized the pools and they ARE Broadlands teens.'

Now these would be 19yr olds, but I'd sure bet on younger.

 

Don't forget to look in the Neighborhood Watch section under Community Forums for an update about what's been going on and the reduction being seen in the vandalism issues, etc now that we have security.