Why do people assume that all teenagers are horny, irrational, reckless, etc.?
Question by Jacob M : Why do people assume that all teenagers are horny, irrational, reckless, etc.? I started seriously thinking about the way our society looks at teenagers and young adults after finishing my driver’s ed course, which to me formed one more in an endless series of insulting ivory-tower talks by the big, smart, sobre adults. From end to end, it seemed like the course was designed to be as subtly belittling as possible. The instructors in our educational videos said things like, “But don’t think you’re too immune to ever get into an accident” in a really smarmy voice. In every one of the situational enactments we had to watch, people our age, without exception, were portrayed as alcoholic, incapable of making sensible choices, naive, or completely unconcerned for safety. And the writers of the course always felt the need to write “cool” lessons, as if we would completely ignore the dangers of drunken driving if the corresponding lesson didn’t have a “hip” title like “Drinking and Driving: It’s for Dorks.”
What I kept thinking was, did the course designers ever consider that some of us sitting in that classroom were there because we wanted to be responsible, safe drivers, and not just because we were eager to take our new Cadillacs out for a race? But it seems that such questions rarely come up in the minds of adults when they think about teenagers. It’s true that a level-headed young adult is a rare gem, as I know by experience, but that doesn’t mean that our age itself renders us worthless by its very nature. Being younger than 20 makes me no less capable of being a well-reasoned, polite, thoughtful young man any more than being of a minority race makes a person a welfare recipient. Why is it then that many people automatically group teenagers into this bad mould, instead of realizing the potential of each person to rise beyond his circumstances? Best answer:
Answer by Wesley
We arent? well thats news to me :/
Add your own answer in the comments!
I was not irrational and reckless as a teenager
Unfortunately in my experience, with everyone not just teenagers, most people are idiots and in life you’ll have to put up with being treated like one from time to time.
The reason people feel this way is because of statistics that show teenagers are most likely to get into accidents within two years of getting their licenses. There is a high incidence of teenagers getting pregnant, having parties where they drink excessively etc. This does not mean that there are teenagers who are responsible, caring, level-headed and capable. You are an individual and should be respected for your choices and desires. It is unfortunate that you are lumped into a group that you are more mature than.
You are correct that you have great potential because you seem to have a great, mature and empathic attitude. Stay true to who you are and do not let others define you. You sound like you are going to be quite successful in life, and that you are facing a time of struggle to define who you are as in individual. Keep your enthusiasm and positive attitude and do not be distracted by the masses. The top 2% of people in society really are the ones that wind up making the best contributions and I think that you are one ot them.
Everyone is this world has to overcome bias and descrimination, because of their race, religion, age, beliefs etc. You are not alone in your struggle. Life is a lot of hard work to overcome obstacles. Keep a level head and stay with yourself and follow yoiur dreams and passions. Surround yourself with supportive, positive and reliable people who want to see you do well.
Thats stereotypes for you and I hate it as well. It always seems like everyone expects you to be bad. Like me and my friends were walking out of walmart the other day and we had purchased some bubble blowers (haha i know not the most grown up thing ever but who cares) and they guy asked to see our receipts when we started to leave! It made me so angry that he thought we were stupid enough to 1. steal them then 2. have them in plain sight as we walked out of the store.
But the thing you always gotta think of too is, why would they be saying this if a percentage of teenagers didn’t do these things and act these ways. These people are going by what they have seen and experienced. I know it does not always encourage you to be the best you can be and can sometimes make you really angry or upset with people for thinking these things but you just gotta remember that these people are going by what they know… or their really stupid.
I think that it all comes down to two things: ego and profit to be had.
Most adults are just giant children who like to think that because of their older age they have more knowledge and wisdom than anyone younger. Over the years, their egos have blown to a disproportionate size, merely because they have aged (pretty hard to avoid aging though, isn’t it?). They act as though aging is some type of accomplishment that showcases their true worth, and enjoy the hell out of humiliating and generalizing the adolescent population. Most of these people will never realize that their older age was the only thing they had going for them, and be delusional forever.
Youth will always be portrayed as a lump of childish things always rearing to hop from party to party and partner to partner (never concerned with consequences because, like, fun! DUH!). Is this because it is accurate? No, it is because no one glued to all aspects of media wants to hear/see/read about Betty having intelligent insights and being responsible. Humiliation, regret, and saucy unprotected hookups sell a lot more.
To sum it up, it is a lot easier for idiots (sadly they are the majority) to generalize and put down than it is for them to respect and be open-minded.