Double standards for adults and kids?

Question

I have noticed that every time kids make mistakes, people get very angry. But when adults make mistakes, it's good. When children mess up their lives, society looks down on them and adults calls them names like "stupid" and "a shame", but when adults mess up their lives, it's no big deal and people help them. It's not fair.

Answer 1

That's interesting.  My experience is just the opposite.  A kid is allowed to make mistakes, but not the adult.

Answer 2

Depends on your kind of mistake really, but in my understanding it is the opposite way around.

Answer 3

I've also noticed a different standard, as well it should be, but much different than from your perspective.  When kids goof, the first things adults say are things like "Who raised that kid?" and "Where are that kid's parents?"

When kids commit a crime, they go to "juvi"or their parents pay a fine.  When adults commit a crime, they go to jail or pay the fine for themselves.  When a young girl gets pregnant out out of wedlock, her parents catch the blame of not teaching her better then bear the burdon of caring for that child while she goes back to her life at high school (assuming she keeps it).  When a grown woman gets pregnant out of wedlock, she has to take responsibility of finding a way to care for it, elsewise she becomes a "welfare case" that people look down on.  Kids, by law, aren't allowed to work (before age 15) because they are protected by the child labor law.  When they do work, they are allowed to keep the money for themselves while their parents pay for their needs -- as it should be.  They rarely even have to pay tax on their earnings.  They have the "priviledge" of being a kid.

I could go on and on, but I have a question for you.  Where are YOUR parents?  Who are these people that are calling you "stupid" and getting angry when you make mistakes?  Have your parents messed up their lives, having people (taxpayers) help them, then acting like it's "no big deal"?

If that's the case, then you are correct -- it's NOT fair.  But the "shame" is on them for not setting a better example for you.  Just don't let them "mess up" your life by making you think this is the way things should be.

Answer 4

I understand what you are talking about!Look here, i work at Walgreens and i'm 17 and all the older people i work with act as though their smarter than me and one of my coworker told me it's a shame you don't have enough money to pay for this and walked away and don't come over here for your discount  and she's like 40 something and she sometimes don't have enough money to pay for her rent and she told me that!I tell the rest of my older coworkers who are about 24 or older and they act as though she a victim and say well she's been working here for  20 years and she's bitter bout that but it's like she gets all the victory for treating someone however she pleases and let alone to someone who could be young enough to be her daughter.

My dad yells all the time when a news story comes up about a missing child about where the PARENTS are at!But it's like the parents get a free pass for not taking care off their child and believe that too many times adults get away with a lot of things whether their teachers,parents,coaches it's really not fair and it's what's causing ALL these out of control teens problems!And it's like they had about 30 or 20 years to get their lives straight and had opportunities in their face!I also hear people saying that you living the good life and you don't have to pay no bills and no kids and they feel that it's a shame or they hate on us for being young and they hate even if u r doing something RIGHT it's like you always have that feeling of doing something wrong from an adult! It's a parents responsibilty to do that and it's like you really wonder what the h**l these GROWN UPs were doing for 20 years of their life.They complain about not having enough money but they had long enough time to get they stuff right but it's like they want to mess up someone elses future out of jealousy and envy!Where's the support and good role models!

Answer 5

I think that is where the statement..."Do as I say, not as I do" comes into play.

Kids now are doing alot more then just playing mail box baseball and setting off cherry bombs in trash cans.

Answer 6

Where did you observed this?? You must be kid!!

Answer 7

It's not fair and life isn't either.  

Adult behavior to a child's mistake is emotional and usually animated, thus more apparent.  For an adult, verbal reprimand, fines, pay loss, job loss, forfeiture of belongings like vehicles and homes are the the societal responses to adult mistakes.

So what is more fair; The adult losing their job and not being able to support their family for arguing with a boss. or A child losing television priveleges for arguing with their parent?  Same argument, different consequences.

Try having a straight conversasion with your parents about what fears they have and struggles they endure.

Answer 8

I have noticed children get a "free pass" because they have so much time to make up for their mistakes.  From a child's point of view, what a punishment is for an adult might seem like a treatment that is no big deal.  adult's are judged harsher for doing stupid things because more is expected of them.

Answer 9

actually kids are allowed to make mistakes, but not the adults.