Children Today: Soft

[Rocket River]

We are raising a group of kids that are very soft

I read an article about them stopping the kids from playing
TAG at recess because they may hit too hard
[football is already a no no]

they don't go outside much cause it is too hot

Kids are suppose to get bumps and bruises
it is part of growing up . . . .

At this point . .. seems like all kids will be bubble boys
insulated from the world and reality

just give them another video game

I'm not sure I like it

Rocket River

[Master Baiter]

I agree, I can't stand little sissy ass kids. From what I see, most parents baby their kids to freaking death. It's disgusting.

[macalu]

there's only one reason why there's all these changes...lawsuits. and it freakin' makes me irate.

[jgreen91]

This is the liberal way. I figured most on this board would agree with this type of thing.

[thegary]

I agree, I can't stand little sissy ass kids. From what I see, most parents baby their kids to freaking death. It's disgusting.

i agree too, that's why i beat my kids daily.

[Lil Pun]

I completely agree with RR. My girlfriend babysits this 3 yr. old boy and she is constantly babying him if he falls down, bumps his head, or is scared. I keep telling her let him be a boy and stop babying him everytime he falls down or something small irritates him. That's why he cries and whines all the time now. I told her that when he starts school he is going to be one of those kids that gets their lunch money stolen and is doing everybody else's homework.

[Mr. Brightside]

I don't want my child turning into an ax murderer!

[MR. MEOWGI]

Kids being fully padded when they ride their bike down the subdivision sidewalk kills me.

When I was their age I would have done a tabletop onto their face.

[arkoe]

My church used to have a day school in it that a lot of my friends used to work in. There was nothing more fun than showing up when they were in the gym and going "bowling" with big 3 foot diameter balls. :D

I got yelled at and told to leave several times. :(

[Brad]

It's not just kids, society is soft. Funny e-mail I got about todays kids.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE

1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they
carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured
lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took
hitchhiking.


As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.


Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.


We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.


We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE
actually died from this.


We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but
we weren't overweight because

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!


We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back
when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down
the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell
phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chatrooms..........

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.


We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,

made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!


Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!


The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.


We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned


HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!
And YOU are one of them!CONGRATULATIONS!


You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.


and while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.


Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

[Drewdog]

Nice post Brad.

Totally reminds me of my childhood. We would ride our bikes everywhere, and go out for hours playing with other kids, made up games, played ball - all of that stuff. And my parents never worried. They knew that I would be home for dinner.

I look at my girlfriends kids and they really dont like going outside that much. One plays video games non stop. The other just kind of bounces around the room. They will go outside for a little while to ride bikes, but my girlfriend is always out there with them.

[WhoMikeJames]

i agree too, that's why i beat my kids daily.

lmao :D

[rrj_gamz]

I agree, I can't stand little sissy ass kids. From what I see, most parents baby their kids to freaking death. It's disgusting.


Agreed...Hell, even my ex does this...Let him grow up and learn how to deal with conflict, bullies, etc...

[lpbman]

I think some of this depends on where you are growing up... Outside the suburbs, it's not nearly as bad as you guys are talking about. Most of the kids I knew had chores before school, had paintball fights, roman candle wars (hmm maybe safety glasses would have been a good idea) finding the biggest hill we could, and rolling whatever plywood death machine we built that week down.

The only broken bone I ever had was from a nerf football... go figure.

[Saint Louis]

Agreed...Hell, even my ex does this...Let him grow up and learn how to deal with conflict, bullies, etc...

My daughter this last year was getting bullied by an older boy on the bus. Seems the boy only picked on the kindergarteners. I told her to either tell the bully off, throw the object back at him that he threw at her or organize a group of kindergarteners against him. My wife scolded me for inciting violence.

I said that whenever I was picked on, I always fought back with either my wits or my muscles. Even if I took a few wounds, there was never usually another attack. Bullies prey on the weak, and even if you are physically weak, you don't have to be mentally weak.

[Rocket River]

My daughter this last year was getting bullied by an older boy on the bus. Seems the boy only picked on the kindergarteners. I told her to either tell the bully off, throw the object back at him that he threw at her or organize a group of kindergarteners against him. My wife scolded me for inciting violence.

I said that whenever I was picked on, I always fought back with either my wits or my muscles. Even if I took a few wounds, there was never usually another attack. Bullies prey on the weak, and even if you are physically weak, you don't have to be mentally weak.


When I came in the house . .
cause someone was bullying me.
My mom . . .Walked be back out there to confront the bully
and
I WAS NOT GOING TO PUNK OUT OR GET MY
BUTT KICKED IN FRONT OF MY MOM!!!
[Cause that would be 2 whippings for the day]

Rocket River
I'm not violent. . but I know sometimes u gotta stand up to folx

[pgabriel]

This is the liberal way. I figured most on this board would agree with this type of thing.


good lord this is ridiculous. yeah, I pro-choice so I don't let my kid play in the sun.

[A-Train]

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.


mmmmmm...hose water...

Do kids still play smear the queer?

[gifford1967]

This is the liberal way. I figured most on this board would agree with this type of thing.


greenie is trying out for li'l t's soon to be open position on TeamWingnut.

[Rocketball]

Do kids still play smear the queer?

Yes, however it is now called Madden '06...

[rrj_gamz]

mmmmmm...hose water...

Do kids still play smear the queer?

Oh, helll yeah...I remember hose water...and that game...Holy crap, that's old school...

[thegary]

mmmmmm...hose water...

Do kids still play smear the queer?

yeah, i remember that game. once this guy got tackled up against a tree, and as he lie there writhing in pain, the dude that hit him whipped it out and pissed on him. yep, those were the good old days.

[ima_drummer2k]

mmmmmm...hose water...
I still drink hose water when I mow my back yard. There's something about the taste. Good stuff.

[MadMax]

I still drink hose water when I mow my back yard. There's something about the taste. Good stuff.

rust, you mean? ;)

[ArtV]

Softness must be changing our DNA. :(

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kprc/20060804/lo_kprc/9629034

A 6-year-old boy died after he played outside Thursday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The boy's mother called 911 after her son stopped breathing at the La Quinta Gardens Apartments on Aldine Mail Route near Gloger Street at about 7 p.m.

"She went and checked on him several times throughout the day, from the time he went to bed," Sgt. Noel Araguz said. "At 7 o'clock she realized he had passed and immediately ran out the apartment holding him, screaming, looking for some type of assistance."

The mother said her son told her he was not feeling well when he went inside. She tried to give him food and water, but all he wanted to do was lay down, deputies said.

The boy complained about having a headache for several days, officials said.

Deputies said they are investigating the death as being heat-related.

An autopsy will determine the boy's exact cause of death.

The boy's identity has not been released

[twhy77]

mmmmmm...hose water...

Do kids still play smear the queer?

I was at a minor league baseball game in North Dallas watching from the outfield grass. I was making similiar observations that this thread has, watching these 2 fat spoiled brats. And then this group of kids came by and totally restored my faith, they were a bunch of little leaguers about 10 or 11, they came around the corner and had a football, and were like this is a perfect place to play smear the queer. I was like flippin sweet. There's still some hope left.

[A-Train]

The reason I asked about smear the queer is that not only does it seem too "violent" for today's kids, but I doubt their parents would let them play a game with such an un-pc name...although I called it "kill the man" when I was a kid. Kill the man still sounds pretty violent, though...

Do kids still pee outside on the side of the house? I remember my parents used to always complain about me going back inside and outside the house to use the bathroom, so I just started whipping it out and taking a whiz outside...

[oomp]

Do kids still pee outside on the side of the house? I remember my parents used to always complain about me going back inside and outside the house to use the bathroom, so I just started whipping it out and taking a whiz outside...

My 4 year old nephew does. He had to come home with a "Code Of Conduct" letter form his pre-school because of it. He's my hero.

[thegary]

Do kids still pee outside on the side of the house?

my kids pee all over brooklyn, i mean, if you are out and about what are they supposed to do. if the city allows dogs to do their business in the streets, my kids will damn well do the same.

[Rocket River]

The reason I asked about smear the queer is that not only does it seem too "violent" for today's kids, but I doubt their parents would let them play a game with such an un-pc name...although I called it "kill the man" when I was a kid. Kill the man still sounds pretty violent, though...

Do kids still pee outside on the side of the house? I remember my parents used to always complain about me going back inside and outside the house to use the bathroom, so I just started whipping it out and taking a whiz outside...

We use to call it Killaman
or
Hot Ball

It was incredibly fun game

OH YEA
they outlawed dodgeball too

Rocket River

[A-Train]

My 4 year old nephew does. He had to come home with a "Code Of Conduct" letter form his pre-school because of it. He's my hero.

Well, I'm SURE it wasn't because he was peeing outside as much as the other kids looking at it and becoming jealous. ;)

[Master Baiter]

they outlawed dodgeball too
What in the hell has happened to our country? :eek:

[Rocket River]

What in the hell has happened to our country? :eek:



That is right my friend. ..
DODGEBALL is too violent for our kids

Rocket River

[Rocketman95]

What in the hell has happened to our country? :eek:

I heard an interview with a PE coach, who made sure the audience knew that he was very conservative and not some hippie tree hugger, who defended the decision at his school because dodgeball was doing nothing for the physical education (the actual point of the class) for a vast majority of students. Instead of spending that hour exercising, they were spending it sitting it on their butts after being pegged out immediately.

I think there are probably 25,326 problems that are worse for this country than banning Dodgeball at some schools (AFAIK, it's not a law or anything).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kprc/20060804/lo_kprc/9629034

A 6-year-old boy died after he played outside Thursday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The boy's mother called 911 after her son stopped breathing at the La Quinta Gardens Apartments on Aldine Mail Route near Gloger Street at about 7 p.m.

"She went and checked on him several times throughout the day, from the time he went to bed," Sgt. Noel Araguz said. "At 7 o'clock she realized he had passed and immediately ran out the apartment holding him, screaming, looking for some type of assistance."

The mother said her son told her he was not feeling well when he went inside. She tried to give him food and water, but all he wanted to do was lay down, deputies said.

The boy complained about having a headache for several days, officials said.

Deputies said they are investigating the death as being heat-related.

An autopsy will determine the boy's exact cause of death.

The boy's identity has not been released.

What a pussy. :rolleyes:

[pgabriel]

What a pussy. :rolleyes:

thanks for posting that story. we didn't read it when it was just posted a few posts above yours.

[Rocket River]

I heard an interview with a PE coach, who made sure the audience knew that he was very conservative and not some hippie tree hugger, who defended the decision at his school because dodgeball was doing nothing for the physical education (the actual point of the class) for a vast majority of students. Instead of spending that hour exercising, they were spending it sitting it on their butts after being pegged out immediately.

I think there are probably 25,326 problems that are worse for this country than banning Dodgeball at some schools (AFAIK, it's not a law or anything).



What a pussy. :rolleyes:



For the Record . .the kid had a headache for a couple of days?
I will be interested in what was the cause of death
I mean . . . If I have an inner ear infection and have no balance
then I fall off the cliff while rock climb . .
it is 'technically' a Rock climbing accident . . .
but the rock climbing was not the cause IMO

Rocket River

[pgabriel]

I think that story is a little irrelevant to the discussion. its not like rocket river saw the story and said, "kids are pussies, no one died of heat exhaustion in my day". I mean if there was a warning that it was too hot, I don't think people would say that parents are making their kids soft. as rr pointed out, that story isn't just about some kid dying of heat exhaustion anyway, he had some problems for a few days.

the dodgeball however I understand, but does it have to be outlawed? have bullies taken advantage of it before, sure? but bullies will take advantage of any situation to get over on other kids. the problem isn't dodgeball, the problem is bullies. and rr didn't start this post by saying, kids are soft because we don't want them to deal with bullies.


I thought outlawing it was extreme. bullying is a problem in today's schools, probably moreso than we were younger or our parents. but at the sametime there have always been bullies, we used to make fun of it, see "A Christmas Story", or "Our Gang" skits. but our society evolves, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, and sometimes to an extreme.

there's arguments for both sides, on one hand, do we really want to expose our kids to cuts and bruises, and broken limbs in some of the things we use to do? its really an interesting subject, because one can argue that the cuts and bruises you get on the playground prepare you for the obstacles of life. one could also argue that they teach what to avoid. and then one could argue that there is no reason to put your kids in avoidable circumstances.

[Rocketman95]

thanks for posting that story. we didn't read it when it was just posted a few posts above yours.

Thanks for quoting my quote. We didn't read it when it was posted just one above yours.

[pgabriel]

Thanks for quoting my quote. We didn't read it when it was posted just one above yours.
you just quoted me
see, there's a reason there is an option to quote. just admit you made a mistake and don't try to make some ridiculous analogy.

[Rocketman95]

you just quoted me
see, there's a reason there is an option to quote. just admit you made a mistake and don't try to make some ridiculous analogy.

I quoted the story so I could make my response. I read the story and decided to make a smartass reply. I didn't post the story not knowing it hadn't been posted.

Congrats on your new position as Thread Policeman, though! :p

[MadMax]

YOU THINK I GOT WHERE I AM TODAY BY DRESSING LIKE PETER PAN, HERE????

[MR. MEOWGI]

I think yall need to settle this in a game of dodgeball.

[Rocketman95]

I think yall need to settle this in a game of dodgeball.

I am a liberal; therefore, I am completely frail and pale skinned. Maybe a tree-hugging contest?

[MadMax]

I think yall need to settle this in a game of dodgeball.

YOU'RE GOING DOWN LIKE A SWEET MUFFIN!

[Rocket River]

For those that feel this is not a BIG PROBLEM

well . . .
I totally disagree

While we have more IMMEDIATE or more URGENT problems
this does not mean they are MORE IMPORTANT

I think this soft sugar coating leads to attitudes and behaviors
that cause other problems.

A kid that has never known pain may not be sympathetic to another person's pain.

A Kid that has never felt loss . . may break when he finally does . . .

You have to fall down . . .to learn how to rise
Almost every great success . . .started with failure and pain
childhood physical traumas are the physical manifestations of this
they relate to the mental processes

Rocket River

[Saint Louis]

I am a liberal; therefore, I am completely frail and pale skinned. Maybe a tree-hugging contest?

I got a game involving a tree. You go stand over against a tree, put an apple on your head and I'll shoot arrows at the apple. Come on, it will be fun.

[Rocketman95]

I got a game involving a tree. You go stand over against a tree, put an apple on your head and I'll shoot arrows at the apple. Come on, it will be fun.

Are you referring to a weapon? Heavens no! (even though I don't believe in heaven as a liberal).

:)

[KingCheetah]

Modern playgrounds don't look like much fun at all.


When I was a kid that **** was dangerous. :D

[Saint Louis]

Modern playgrounds don't look like much fun at all.


When I was a kid that **** was dangerous. :D

You mean like holding on to the edge of merry-go-round. Have several of your friends run and push it as fast as possible, then when you are completely dizzy, you fly off and tuck and roll as best as you can.

[pgabriel]

yeah, the merry-go-round was dangerous, but the rest of the playground hasn't changed much. you can still jump fifteen feet in the air off the swings.

[leroy]

When my son was born last year, we were given one of those shopping cart/restaurant high chair protector things. My sis-in-law gave it to us saying that it will help to protect him from germs, etc. My thought was and is, if you don't get sick, how do you build immunity? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. There is very little of that in today's parenting.

[KingCheetah]

You mean like holding on to the edge of merry-go-round. Have several of your friends run and push it as fast as possible, then when you are completely dizzy, you fly off and tuck and roll as best as you can.


That or use a moped.

[Austin70]

My youth - water hose

My kids - bottled water from the fridge.

We used got to this on play ground with a 30 ft concrete pillar with about 10 chains haing down with handles. All you had to do was run, hold on and you would be spinning around about 5 -10ft off the ground.

[ima_drummer2k]

I heard an interview with a PE coach, who made sure the audience knew that he was very conservative and not some hippie tree hugger, who defended the decision at his school because dodgeball was doing nothing for the physical education (the actual point of the class) for a vast majority of students. Instead of spending that hour exercising, they were spending it sitting it on their butts after being pegged out immediately.

I think there are probably 25,326 problems that are worse for this country than banning Dodgeball at some schools (AFAIK, it's not a law or anything).
You sure that wasn't a Phil Hendrie bit? It sounds familiar. Was the guy's name Vernon Dozier, by chance?

[oomp]

In the Midwest, we had the Ice Covered Slide. After a good day of sleet, both the slide and the area at the bottom of the slide would be covered by ice. If you could make it up the steps of the slide without slipping and cracking your jaw, you could jet down the slide at light speed and plop right onto the ground. If your tailbone survived the drop you then went skiping across the ice uncontrolled, into any number of other things on the playground.

The Ice Covered Slide claimed many of my friends.

[MadMax]

When my son was born last year, we were given one of those shopping cart/restaurant high chair protector things. My sis-in-law gave it to us saying that it will help to protect him from germs, etc. My thought was and is, if you don't get sick, how do you build immunity? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. There is very little of that in today's parenting.

yeah, we stopped using soap entirely at my house for that very reason.

[thegary]

my sister got a brand new bike for christmas and me and my friends took it out ghost riding for the day. its final ride was into the bayou, it was beautiful. my sister was crying and devastated when she found out and i got the crap beaten out of me. however, neither one of us would have grown to be the paradigm of toughness that we are without the experience.

[Austin70]

I went to the hospital after playing smear the queer. We were running though someones yard chasing the "queer" and a tree had a low branch that hit my face. It cut my eye lid and I had to get three stiches in it that night.

[white lightning]

On the dodgeball issue, I totally agree with the coach. I wasted nearly 2 years at TH Rogers Jr high playing dodgeball in PE while the coach sat in his office. The few days that we got to play softball or hoops were memorable. PE is for exercise and skill development, not entertainment.

Having said that, my kids don't even get regular PE at their school now because of budget cuts.

[univac hal]

You people are all PUSSIES. Back in the day, we used to live in caves and all, with no light and warmth until that whole knocking-the-stones-together fad came about. Dodgeball? We had to dodge, like, boulders rolling down hills. And what the hell is with that wimpy language thing? You want to settle an argument with someone, bash him over the head with a club. You want to ask a girl out, bash her over the head with a club. Scraped your knee when you were a little kid? Boo friggin' hoo.. at your age I was out busting my ass hunting woolly mammoths, son

[Master Baiter]

On the dodgeball issue, I totally agree with the coach. I wasted nearly 2 years at TH Rogers Jr high playing dodgeball in PE while the coach sat in his office. The few days that we got to play softball or hoops were memorable. PE is for exercise and skill development, not entertainment.

Having said that, my kids don't even get regular PE at their school now because of budget cuts.
My kids have a flex period where they do PE, Music, and Spanish. They do three days of Spanish, one day of Music, and two days of PE.

And they wonder why our kids are overweight. We used to go to PE, EVERY DAY!

I feel that physical activity is much more important than learning spanish. If spanish is that important, make everyone wait tables for a year. You learn spanish a whole hell of a lot faster that way than in school.

I took 4 years of spanish in school and remembered nothing. I waited tables at Pappasitos for 6 months and was fairly freaking fluent.

[white lightning]

Not to take this off topic, but can anyone tell me while kids are still forced to take a year of Texas history? Seemed like a waste when I took it in 1979, and is even less useful now. Can't this be covered in a couple of weeks in a us history class?

[Rocketman95]

Not to take this off topic, but can anyone tell me while kids are still forced to take a year of Texas history? Seemed like a waste when I took it in 1979, and is even less useful now. Can't this be covered in a couple of weeks in a us history class?

****in' Yankee. :p

[Rocketman95]

You sure that wasn't a Phil Hendrie bit? It sounds familiar. Was the guy's name Vernon Dozier, by chance?

Nope. It was serious.

[FranchiseBlade]

I agree with Rocket River. Kids today are soft, not only in a physical sense but educationally, emotionally, etc.

I teach 3rd grade. I will say that our school we do play dodge ball. It is part of the official program, as well as a station at recess. One reason why the students who go to my house don't play outside, though isn't because of video games, or fear of becoming overheated. It is because the neighborhood is just too dangerous. Kids at my school have been shot at, nearly shot, had parents who were killed, etc. just from being outside. They aren't going to be riding bikes around the neighborhood and getting exercise that way. It is a sad reality. Some kids are such babies though, it is amazing.

Anyway there is a huge problem when schools do things like ban books such as Huckleberry Fin or To Kill a Mockingbird because it uses the N word or any other words.

That is criminal and does a great disservice to kids. The fact of the matter is that children need to see stories of prejudice and understand that people have used and some still use those kinds of ugly names. The books don't support prejudice and actually have a message directly opposed to it. But pretending that a societal prejudice never existed or just mentioning it in vague context makes students unprepared and ill-equiped for how to deal with it when they do encounter it.

For other kids they don't see the great harm using such terms and acting out in such a way can do. Literature paints a vivid picture of scenarios and can do a great job of inspiring hatred of prejudice behavior, and a willingness to stand up to the wrongs even when the rest of society seems to feel that prejudice is ok.

It breeds generations of apathetic, unaware, people who don't deal well when confronted with real life situations.

[thadeus]

yeah, we stopped using soap entirely at my house for that very reason.

I talked to a doctor once, just a random conversation, and he said when his kid walks around picking up things and sticking them in his mouth, he lets it go to some extent because that strengthens the immune system, gets the body adjusted to the billions of germs that are going to be bombarding it for life. It's obvious that sort of thing can go too far, but one can go too far in the opposite direction as well.

[WARNING: An old birthday-boy musing about his youth follows from this point. Don't bother reading.]

I, for one, am quite happy about all the potential doom and destruction I faced as a kid. Drinking hose water, then riding a stolen bike with no brakes (I should have picked a better one) across a still-in-operation railyard on my way to a homemade wrestling ring (made of fence posts, railroad ties, and 'borrowed' clotheslines) constructed in a vacant lot, to get the wind knocked out of me and the ocassional bloody nose from the bigger kids just for the possible honor of wearing a cardboard World Championship belt.... reading decade-old National Geographic magazines at the library and being so enamored with the pictures of naked African women and glowing deep-sea monsters, stories about bloody battles between Alexander the Great and the Persians, that I was later chased and knocked to the ground by some teenagers after bolting out the library door with an toppling armful of magazines.... Going to visit a friend just so I could hang out with his older brother, who would smoke pot and talk about the evils of government and society while I picked random punk rock records (lots of songs using the 'f' word!) from his massive collection of 45s and dubbed them to 5-for-99 cents cassettes.... For the most part, I had a great, largely unsupervised, childhood. I feel genuinely sorry for the kids coming up who aren't going to be able to have experiences like this.

[JunkyardDwg]

I heard an interview with a PE coach, who made sure the audience knew that he was very conservative and not some hippie tree hugger, who defended the decision at his school because dodgeball was doing nothing for the physical education (the actual point of the class) for a vast majority of students. Instead of spending that hour exercising, they were spending it sitting it on their butts after being pegged out immediately.

I think there are probably 25,326 problems that are worse for this country than banning Dodgeball at some schools (AFAIK, it's not a law or anything).



What a pussy. :rolleyes:


I still think Dodgeball is a valuable sport..just like kickball (people have started complaining about that too). The trick is not just using it as a form of entertainment or free time, but to use it in quality instruction which is possible. Now granted, it isn't the dodgeball I used to play (hard as possible throwing, big red rubber balls, any part of the body is fair game), but a few modifications have allowed the continuance of it in an education setting. And as long as you keep the games short and permit the double switch rule, students will be actively engaged.

[twhy77]

I quoted the story so I could make my response. I read the story and decided to make a smartass reply. I didn't post the story not knowing it hadn't been posted.

Congrats on your new position as Thread Policeman, though! :p

You guys are both soft. Just pick a parking lot and get it over with! (after school of course)

[deepellumrocket]

This is the game we used to play when I was in middle school (for some reason we called it "Indiana Jones"):

We lived out in a small rural town in Southeast Texas and every family that lived on our street had a 3-wheeler or 4-wheeler. We would beat down a track around a vacant lot with the ATVs. Then one guy would drive the ATV while dragging an old ski-board behind it. Somebody would start off riding the ski-board and then it was everybody else's job to knock that guy off and take over the ski-board. When rained enough, we moved it the ditch.

Also, anytime my dad had any dirt dumped in our yard to build it up, we would use the piles for ramps.

[Rocket River]

Anyway there is a huge problem when schools do things like ban books such as Huckleberry Fin or To Kill a Mockingbird because it uses the N word or any other words.

That is criminal and does a great disservice to kids. The fact of the matter is that children need to see stories of prejudice and understand that people have used and some still use those kinds of ugly names. The books don't support prejudice and actually have a message directly opposed to it. But pretending that a societal prejudice never existed or just mentioning it in vague context makes students unprepared and ill-equiped for how to deal with it when they do encounter it.


I don't care for this practice as well
this is almost as ridiculous as the ideal of the HAPPY SLAVE
acting like it didn't happen . . until in another 100 yrs. . .
we will have people deny it happened. . .like the Holocaust
there are still a good number of people who feel it wasn't that bad
or actually helpful
but
that is another rant

Rocket River

[MadMax]

ever notice how every generation criticizes the one immediately preceding and the one that comes immediately after it?

[aussie rocket]

ever notice how every generation criticizes the one immediately preceding and the one that comes immediately after it?


excellent post.

it's like we have to do it because it's our turn or something.

it's a learned exercise.

[codell]

When my son was born last year, we were given one of those shopping cart/restaurant high chair protector things. My sis-in-law gave it to us saying that it will help to protect him from germs, etc. My thought was and is, if you don't get sick, how do you build immunity? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. There is very little of that in today's parenting.

those things don't protect them from germs, its for comfort ...not many 8 month olds are fond of sitting on a steel grate for 2 hours while mom looks for the bon bons :)

[leroy]

those things don't protect them from germs, its for comfort ...not many 8 month olds are fond of sitting on a steel grate for 2 hours while mom looks for the bon bons :)

That's how it was sold to me. We returned it for some formula and diapers.

I live in a subdivision on the NE side of Austin. There are a lot of kids around. However, the only time I ever see them outside is waiting for the bus. Other than that, they don't play outside. This is a safe neighborhood, so that isn't an issue. I guarantee that my son is going to be active once he's old enough. I can't imagine what I would be like had I not played sports my entire life. He may not end up liking it when he's old enough to know better, but I don't want an obese 3 year old.

[FranchiseBlade]

I don't care for this practice as well
this is almost as ridiculous as the ideal of the HAPPY SLAVE
acting like it didn't happen . . until in another 100 yrs. . .
we will have people deny it happened. . .like the Holocaust
there are still a good number of people who feel it wasn't that bad
or actually helpful
but
that is another rant

Rocket River
Exactly! It is like somehow erasing a part of history(white washing it for the children) ensures that nothing like that will happen in the future?

Sorry to derail the physical wimpiness with this, but I can't help but think the attitudes behind both are related. I mean I think the best way to prepare children is to be honest about the past, what it was like, why it was like that, the damage that came from it, the pain and suffering people have endured because of controversial subjects and what people have done to try and make them better. Highlight the sacrifice and dedication it takes to make changes, and why it is important enough to make those changes.

Pretending like it was some vague inconvenience that only affected one part of the population does a great disservice to those that fought against prevailing racist attitudes, and it does a disservice to children today who will surely encounter various forms of prejudice in their lives.

Both in a literary and physical education sense we need to send the message that students are capable and can overcome hardships, and that minor scrapes and inconveniences don't compare to the real harms and problems that they could face.

[IVFL]

I just find it funny that there is this large group of guys, talking about the glory days. How bad ass they used to be and how tough they were as a kid. All the while sittin behind a computer. Maybe our kids are soft, because we are soft. Just maybe. Then again, I was a latch key kid that didnt really see his mom until sometime after highschool graduation. So, I dont want to put my kids through that. Therefor I overcompensate buy doing a lot of stuff with them. While doing that stuff, I see my kids doing things that I did, and got hurt doing. There fore I intervene and stop them. I guess if my kids become soft, its all on me.

[Chicken Boy]

Rocket River, just wanted to say I've been on CF for a long time, and you've always been one of the better reads. The title of this thread cracked me up.

[Hmm]

I was with you guys up until,'kids should pee on the streets and the side of houses just as we let our dogs do the same'....



Yes, there's nothing society needs more than teaching the little boys of today and men of tomorrow to conduct themselves and comport themselves to the best standards of an untrained stray k-9.... :rolleyes:

[twhy77]

I was with you guys up until,'kids should pee on the streets and the side of houses just as we let our dogs do the same'....



Yes, there's nothing society needs more than teaching the little boys of today and men of tomorrow to conduct themselves and comport themselves to the best standards of an untrained stray k-9.... :rolleyes:

Take out the :p and I'm with you. Now let's go to Applebees...

[Hmm]

excellent post.

it's like we have to do it because it's our turn or something.

it's a learned exercise.


Excellent copout, actually..


It's not because 'we have to do it'..


It is because every generation has it's own flaws.. they just usually end up being the most annoying, disagreeable, upsetting of flaws to the generation before it and after it... It's quite simple actually, adults are full of *****, deny they are, as far as one could tell they're oblivious to the fact and infact think they are not but, continue to partake of acts and attitudes that show they are full of *****, and the new born babe would be bringer of hope becomes tainted by it and upon realizing this in their teens, they too start practicing this wonderful art of bull*****.. Teens realize the bull***** of adults, adults realize the bull***** of teens, neither realizes their own bull*****.. and in that crazy process we gain a sort of tardy quasi- wisdom which can only be applied to our past mistakes, which are gone, and to our future progress which is yet to arrive.. but, by that time, there's a new generation and a whole lot of other flaws..


Simple stuff. :)

[IROC it]

I just find it funny that there is this large group of guys, talking about the glory days. How bad ass they used to be and how tough they were as a kid. All the while sittin behind a computer. Maybe our kids are soft, because we are soft. Just maybe. Then again, I was a latch key kid that didnt really see his mom until sometime after highschool graduation. So, I dont want to put my kids through that. Therefor I overcompensate buy doing a lot of stuff with them. While doing that stuff, I see my kids doing things that I did, and got hurt doing. There fore I intervene and stop them. I guess if my kids become soft, its all on me.


Brilliant post.

[thadeus]

Maybe our kids are soft, because we are soft.

I don't have kids.

Anyway, while it's true that every generation criticizes the one before it - that doesn't mean that the criticisms aren't true. Maybe every generation is justified in criticizing the one before it.

I think the 'softness' of modern kids is not so much a 'modern' phenomena - I believe it has much more to do with social/economic classes than any sort of change over time. Middle and upper class kids are always far more coddled and protected than their lower class counterparts.

[KingCheetah]

The kids today who are good athletes are doing crazier things than kids in my day (running faster/dunking earlier/ triple kickflips/ etc.), but overall kids today are too restricted with all the extra safety etc.

I'm not sure anyone can seriously argue that kids today in general aren't a bit chubbier than they were 20-30 years ago. That's not old guys reliving the glory days -- that's fast food on every corner for the current generation.

[MR. MEOWGI]

It's all about the cpu and computer games. And it's only going to get worse (or better?). We are creating virtual reality nurseries and playrooms. We might not even have a need for our little happy suburban oasis in the near future.

Ray Bradbury anyone?

[Rashmon]

I'd be curious to know how many of you actually have kids. Not that I do not agree with some of the sentiments expressed here (to a degree) but once you become a parent, your "gung-ho-feed-the-kid-gun-powder-and-pass-the-ammunition" attitiude will most likely moderate. Either way, good luck with that and keep your young sociopath-in-waiting away from my kid.

[kaleidosky]

I agree with the sentiment of the thread. I don't have kids. But when I do, I have no doubt that I won't let them be "soft"..to a degree. For example, I will definitely let my kid eat some dirt and whatever. I mean some discretion is necessary, but I'm a big proponent of building immunity to things, especially in this day and age when anti-bacterial soap is everywhere and causing bigger and badder bacteria to come up.

But I'll have to find a safe neighborhood somewhere, cause damned if I'm gonna let my kid go play outside in a very unsafe place by him/herself.

Completely agree w/RR on the physical pain working later as strength to stand on in mental situations. Though he said it better than I did. But falls, bumps, bruises, tackles...need to happen while the bones are still flexible and even if broken, won't be bad to fix. Kids need to grow up and not be afraid of a *little* pain--mental or physical. That's how you build a 3rd baseman who will get his body in front of the ball ;) ("C'mon Dorn, don't gimme that o-LE bulls***")

[P. Moon]

The funny thing is that 50 years from now the talk will be about how tough kids were that grew up around the turn of the century. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[MadMax]

i checked with my kids and they said you're all dorks. :D

[Ognilecaf]

Is it just me, or do kids not play outside like they use to. when i grew up it seemed like there were always kids outside all over everyday.......Playing basketball, hide and go seek, etc. Is this the case or am i just out of the 'kid loop' these days.

[SwoLy-D]

yeah, the merry-go-round was dangerous, but the rest of the playground hasn't changed much. you can still jump fifteen feet in the air off the swings.Can you believe that the daycare my wife where used to work removed the swings (therefore removing the chance of the kids learning the 15' jump you mention) because, according to the director, it didn't induce the kids to "learn anything" or "involve them in anything". What a crock.I took 4 years of spanish in school and remembered nothing. I waited tables at Pappasitos for 6 months and was fairly freaking fluent.No te creo, Master. Espero que no sigas trabajando en Pappasito's. Pero, estoy de acuerdo, necesitamos más "PE" y menos mariconeadas. :cool:Rocket River, just wanted to say I've been on CF for a long time, and you've always been one of the better reads. The title of this thread cracked me up.I agree with El Muchacho Gallina. Your posts on this thread alone are full of truth, Rocket River. I am off to feed my two girls the rust off the hose. BRBI just find it funny that there is this large group of guys, talking about the glory days. How bad ass they used to be and how tough they were as a kid. All the while sittin behind a computer.I couldn't read any of your otherwise sense-making post (now I will never know) after I read this bull you compared. Oh, I am sorry, man. Where else can I post from if not a computer? Please point it out to me. ;)

Don't worry, I know what you mean.

Being behind a computer does not make me soft or my kids soft. It gives me the chance to speak out on things like this that Rocket River brings out. I have plenty of input because I was brought up during HARD TIMES in MEXICO and I have made it further than most. While not a bully and "maybe" soft as some may say, I disagree with all this PADDING, OUTLAWING DODGEBALL, giving BAND-AIDs for every nick and cut. It's pathetic, man.

As soon as my girls hear me say something like: "Hey! Let's go outside and...[play baseball | ride bikes | toss the ball | kick the soccer ball | play tag ] !!", they're off and running. I am so effin' proud of that *****.

[m_cable]

Maybe our kids are soft, because we are soft.

(Nods)

If kids today are soft, then doesn't that mean that parents today are soft too. So all those "tough kids" from way back when grew up to be coddling softies of today.

[Dr of Dunk]

What's funny about all this "back in my day" reminiscing is that the big, tough, brawny, lumberjack kids of yesteryear are the ones raising the kids of today... so what does that tell you about the upbriniging of the parents of today who were the kids of yesterday? They're raising the wusses of today... so blame yourselves! :D

*EDIT* : sunuvabiskit, m_cable beat me to it... grrr...

[Jeff]

You guys sound like a bunch of grandpas screaming, "Damn kids! Get outta my yard!" This is the third time I've posted this in a month: you guys can bitch about ANYTHING. :)

[Mr. Brightside]

Being behind a computer does not make me soft or my kids soft. It gives me the chance to speak out on things like this that Rocket River brings out. I have plenty of input because I was brought up during HARD TIMES in MEXICO and I have made it further than most. While not a bully and "maybe" soft as some may say, I disagree with all this PADDING, OUTLAWING DODGEBALL, giving BAND-AIDs for every nick and cut. It's pathetic, man.

As soon as my girls hear me say something like: "Hey! Let's go outside and...[play baseball | ride bikes | toss the ball | kick the soccer ball | play tag ] !!", they're off and running. I am so effin' proud of that *****.

Back in my day, Swoly, all we had was a broken pinata (sorry this computer doesnt have the tilde) to play around with. There was no string to tie it to the tree. It just sat there on the ground, and we took turns hitting it with a stick.

[Rocket River]

You guys sound like a bunch of grandpas screaming, "Damn kids! Get outta my yard!" This is the third time I've posted this in a month: you guys can bitch about ANYTHING. :)


Sorry . . . . .
I need to post ANOTHER WHAT IS IN YOUR CD PLAYER Threat
What is the Hangout but a place to drop random thoughts
on the state of the world . . .and see what others think on it

BTW
Kids wouldn't be in the yard . . .
they would be in someone's den . . .

unless of the course . . . . it was a SIMS yard


Rocket River

[Rocket River]

(Nods)

If kids today are soft, then doesn't that mean that parents today are soft too. So all those "tough kids" from way back when grew up to be coddling softies of today.


Not Necessarily
Dr Spock and various CPS actions/Laws
have made the social ramifications of 'harder love' . . well harder

I mean . .your kid comes in with 'too many' bruises
and CPS is in your life. .. and they hard to get out

In fact . . . Kids have more rights and say than you
They say you did it. . . .you did it .. until you prove otherwise

Honestly. . .
we are a throw the baby out with the bath water society
a Kid bruised on the knee . .. we remove the whole park
a kid has an asshole as a parent. . .. then we make every parent pay for it

The government tells you how to raise you kid
then
wants to hold you responsible for the results
how generous of them

there is a bunch of laws, ordinances, etc that contribute to
the delinquency/softness of the minors


Rocket River

[m_cable]

Not Necessarily
Dr Spock and various CPS actions/Laws
have made the social ramifications of 'harder love' . . well harder

I mean . .your kid comes in with 'too many' bruises
and CPS is in your life. .. and they hard to get out

In fact . . . Kids have more rights and say than you
They say you did it. . . .you did it .. until you prove otherwise

Honestly. . .
we are a throw the baby out with the bath water society
a Kid bruised on the knee . .. we remove the whole park
a kid has an asshole as a parent. . .. then we make every parent pay for it

The government tells you how to raise you kid
then
wants to hold you responsible for the results
how generous of them

there is a bunch of laws, ordinances, etc that contribute to
the delinquency/softness of the minors


Rocket River

You're talking about a small extreme part of the spectrum. I mean, kids having bruises and such, and then having to face CPS action. Is that really such a common place situation. It's something that might get a lot of attention if hidden video hits the local/national news but does it happen that frequently. I'm sure the number of kids that are really abused, far, far outnumbers the number of kids that get taken away from their parents unfairly.

And even if it is a case of Dr. Spock and CPS and the government being in charge of the downfall of the "tough kid", aren't they parents as well. Aren't those officials and authority figures, in the same generation as today's parents. As your generation. If you encompass the kids of today as an entire entity then you need to recognize that all of their parents and all the other adult figures that are shaping their lives are the exact "back in the day" kids that you are so lamentful at having gone away.

And regarding childhood obesity. Last I checked, 2/3 of all American ADULTS are overweight, and 1/3 of American ADULTS are obese. Aren't those the exact "tough kids" that used to play outdoors and were active and all that jazz. So is childhood obesity really the result of video games, or is it because their parents are also fat?

[Rocket River]

You're talking about a small extreme part of the spectrum. I mean, kids having bruises and such, and then having to face CPS action. Is that really such a common place situation. It's something that might get a lot of attention if hidden video hits the local/national news but does it happen that frequently. I'm sure the number of kids that are really abused, far, far outnumbers the number of kids that get taken away from their parents unfairly.

No doubt
However it has caused a atmosphere of Fear among adults
Look at the lady with her kid at the grocery store a year or so back
That turned into a National man hunt
the concensus was there was NOTHING that child could have done
to warrent what happened. . it was not even a question asked

Growing up . . you *****ed around in the store
ya parent spanked you . . and it was done
such action would put CPS in your life now
not to mention being a social Pariah



And even if it is a case of Dr. Spock and CPS and the government being in charge of the downfall of the "tough kid", aren't they parents as well. Aren't those officials and authority figures, in the same generation as today's parents. As your generation. If you encompass the kids of today as an entire entity then you need to recognize that all of their parents and all the other adult figures that are shaping their lives are the exact "back in the day" kids that you are so lamentful at having gone away.

We also live in a society that convinced us that we all *****ed up in
some type of way.
that is every commercial etc
Remember the 80s when everyone's problems was because
dad didn't hug them enough
etc
I am not letting these parents off the hook
in fact
that is who this is about . . . the parents
They are the ones Coddling them
they are the ones ALLOWING this to happen

there are various reason from societal changes in parenting attitudes
to Laws and law enforcement and cps
to folx being so into themselves they forget their kids


And regarding childhood obesity. Last I checked, 2/3 of all American ADULTS are overweight, and 1/3 of American ADULTS are obese. Aren't those the exact "tough kids" that used to play outdoors and were active and all that jazz. So is childhood obesity really the result of video games, or is it because their parents are also fat?

It is not so much about Obesity
even though that IMO a side effect of it

Kids not playing outside
Kids not allowed to play 'rough games'
This is in schools mainly . .. . [when I sid Outlaws i was exaggerating]
Kids simply have become more sedentary indoor types

Rocket River

[MadMax]

ever wish you could go back in time?? i'd take state.

http://www.artisanchurch.com/e-news/uncle-rico-photo.jpg

[Hmm]

No doubt
Remember the 80s when everyone's problems was because
dad didn't hug them enough

Rocket River


Was that everyone's problem in the 80's?


Hmm... would explain the pop culture of that era....

[Hmm]

And, why are todays kids such obese, indoor dwelling, pill poppers... before the age of 12?


Soft parents and an instrusive government that really doesn't know when to mind it's own damn business and when to intervene...



You guys already covered the physical stuff.. and the 'lawful' repurcussions..



But, what bugs me... Are teachers taking parents, of a child they can't deal with, to the side and saying, "Little Johnny just can't seem to pay attention in my class or do as I say. yes, telling him to do what I say, is the best I could do and best I could try so... I think it's time to psychologically evaluate him, could be ADD or worse. Which is what I'll exactly share with the child psychologist. With full disclosure of my personal experiences with the child, from my one sided, impatient I'm-an-educated-teacher-on-meek-wages- adult-and-he's-a-mere-child , hubristic perspective, and snappy unexamined judgement that usually leads to irrepairable damages... And, I'll be adamant with my stance, that this is the most likely case with this child, whom I only see 7hrs of each day, glance at periodically during recreation/recess and have only interacted with on scholastic matters, and otherwise have no clue to his person, or remote insight to who the child is. Now, once your child is prescribed the pills, yes, he will receive a prescription, you'd be surprised how more often than not they take the non-relative side than listen to the actual parents... Make sure to agree to the intrusion with utmost submission, and do everything the doctor and I say as to what is best for your child, for as little as we know of the child and have actually been around him since his birth, know what's best for him better than you. Do, otherwise, and I'm afraid we'll have to take you to court, and there again, you'd be surprised h ow most often than not, favor our side, than yours... So, unless you want to lose your child and face nasty charges that will forever haunt and destroy your state in society... You will let us shove and force these pills into your baby's little body and system and mind, despite how unecessary you see it and prefer to preserve your child from drug treatments. Here's to hoping your next child is more obediant, and is easier to handle , the more still, and less free spirited the better, or else.."

[BMoney]

The reason I asked about smear the queer is that not only does it seem too "violent" for today's kids, but I doubt their parents would let them play a game with such an un-pc name...although I called it "kill the man" when I was a kid. Kill the man still sounds pretty violent, though...

Do kids still pee outside on the side of the house? I remember my parents used to always complain about me going back inside and outside the house to use the bathroom, so I just started whipping it out and taking a whiz outside...

We called it "killer." We would play seemingly for hours. Our house had a big yard and was on a dead end street and it was pretty much on most of the time. I did me a lot of good. Sure, I can't see the color orange anymore and I have this funny taste of metal permanently in my mouth, but I have my memories (ouch).

[BMoney]

You people are all PUSSIES. Back in the day, we used to live in caves and all, with no light and warmth until that whole knocking-the-stones-together fad came about. Dodgeball? We had to dodge, like, boulders rolling down hills. And what the hell is with that wimpy language thing? You want to settle an argument with someone, bash him over the head with a club. You want to ask a girl out, bash her over the head with a club. Scraped your knee when you were a little kid? Boo friggin' hoo.. at your age I was out busting my ass hunting woolly mammoths, son

One of the best posts ever. Well done, Univac Hal!

In honor of this thread, I give you this:

http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/jokes/monty-python-four-yorkshiremen.html

Four Yorkshiremen Sketch

Monty Python



Four well-dressed men sitting together at a vacation resort.

Michael Palin: Ahh.. Very passable, this, very passable.

Graham Chapman: Nothing like a good glass of Chateau de Chassilier wine, ay Gessiah?

Terry Gilliam: You're right there Obediah.

Eric Idle: Who'd a thought thirty years ago we'd all be sittin' here drinking Chateau de Chassilier wine?

MP: Aye. In them days, we'd a' been glad to have the price of a cup o' tea.

GC: A cup ' COLD tea.

EI: Without milk or sugar.

TG: OR tea!

MP: In a filthy, cracked cup.

EI: We never used to have a cup. We used to have to drink out of a rolled up newspaper.

GC: The best WE could manage was to suck on a piece of damp cloth.

TG: But you know, we were happy in those days, though we were poor.

MP: Aye. BECAUSE we were poor. My old Dad used to say to me, "Money doesn't buy you happiness."

EI: 'E was right. I was happier then and I had NOTHIN'. We used to live in this tiiiny old house, with greaaaaat big holes in the roof.

GC: House? You were lucky to have a HOUSE! We used to live in one room, all hundred and twenty-six of us, no furniture. Half the floor was missing; we were all huddled together in one corner for fear of FALLING!

TG: You were lucky to have a ROOM! *We* used to have to live in a corridor!

MP: Ohhhh we used to DREAM of livin' in a corridor! Woulda' been a palace to us. We used to live in an old water tank on a rubbish tip. We got woken up every morning by having a load of rotting fish dumped all over us! House!? Hmph.

EI: Well when I say "house" it was only a hole in the ground covered by a piece of tarpolin, but it was a house to US.

GC: We were evicted from *our* hole in the ground; we had to go and live in a lake!

TG: You were lucky to have a LAKE! There were a hundred and sixty of us living in a small shoebox in the middle of the road.

MP: Cardboard box?

TG: Aye.

MP: You were lucky. We lived for three months in a brown paper bag in a septic tank. We used to have to get up at six o'clock in the morning, clean the bag, eat a crust of stale bread, go to work down mill for fourteen hours a day week in-week out. When we got home, out Dad would thrash us to sleep with his belt!

GC: Luxury. We used to have to get out of the lake at three o'clock in the morning, clean the lake, eat a handful of hot gravel, go to work at the mill every day for tuppence a month, come home, and Dad would beat us around the head and neck with a broken bottle, if we were LUCKY!

TG: Well we had it tough. We used to have to get up out of the shoebox at twelve o'clock at night, and LICK the road clean with our tongues. We had half a handful of freezing cold gravel, worked twenty-four hours a day at the mill for fourpence every six years, and when we got home, our Dad would slice us in two with a bread knife.

EI: Right. I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night, half an hour before I went to bed, (pause for laughter), eat a lump of cold poison, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad would kill us, and dance about on our graves singing "Hallelujah."

MP: But you try and tell the young people today that... and they won't believe ya'.

ALL: Nope, nope..

[pgabriel]

obviously humans progress through technology. obviously we are all better off than people who live 100 years before us through products like refrigerators, running water, electricity in the home, etc. but that's not really what rr was referencing in his first post I believe.

my dad was born 39 years before me, but I played outside, basketball, baseball with sticks just like he did. there are a lot of things I did as a kid just like my father did. of course I had some things he didn't but the concept is the same.

the dodgeball example has nothing to do with advancement in technology. my dad played dodgeball, I played dodgeball, kids today have dodgeball outlawed. that's what rocket river is referring to. When I played dodgeball, I had better sneakers, better dodgeballs than my father had but we still played dodgeball. now kids don't.

[Nuclear Yak]

Dodgeball was stopped at our school after someone got hurt...so our gym teachers just changed the name. Instead of dodgeball, we now have TACSIE (pronounced taxi...Throwing And Catching Strategically Involves Everyone)...same game, different name. everyone's happy.

[m_cable]

One of the best posts ever. Well done, Univac Hal!

In honor of this thread, I give you this:

http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/jokes/monty-python-four-yorkshiremen.html

Four Yorkshiremen Sketch

Monty Python


Why don't you just give the actual video. :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo