Disrespectful kids in commercials...NOT funny.

[enyawd72]

I am absolutely appalled at how kids are encouraged to be in disrespectful and destructive in commercials that depict it as acceptable, even "cute" to behave that way.

Take this Dorito's commercial...

The mom asks if she can get some help with the groceries. The kid, who doesn't even bother to look up from his video game and isn't about to move, just smirks like a little smart-*** and replies "I don't know, can you?"

If I would have EVER talked that way to my mother, I'd have been picking up what was left of my teeth before I could say another word, and I don't even want to think about what my dad would've done.

[Hedji]

Snarky is the default for raising children nowadays. All you have to do is spend a moment watching Disney Channel programs or Nickelodeon, or Cartoon Network.

Every script is written following the Golden Rule: kids are smarter than adults. If it isn't dripping with an undercurrent of sarcasm and some cynicism, it doesn't sell.

[HardyGirl]

Speaking as a teacher, I see this stuff in real life. And what's worse, the parents do NOTHING to stop it. Temper tantrums and backtalk are the norm. And I've seen the kids even HIT their parents and they still do nothing to stop it. These parents are so afraid of traumatizing their kids, or what other people think,they just throw up their hands in defeat. These so-called educated people, (who BTW love to tell us how to do our jobs), will let a child who has just been on this earth for a minute, completely run their lives and walk all over them. Disgusting.

[TomStrong]

Hardygirl I know how you feel, and enyawd72 you're right this has become the norm. I teach high school and this is the way the majority of them act. Don't get me wrong I love what I do but you have to love them in spite of themselves sometimes and often you never see a return on your "investment". There have been days I left feeling like I made a difference and then others when I have left literally covered in blood from breaking up fights. (Scared my wife to death). My 19 year old daughter thinks her mother knows nothing and I'm the dumbest man she knows with a M.A. I think as parents we underestimate the amount of influence that these kids exert upon each other and I believe social media plays a role. My daughter and her friends are desperately and inextricably dependent on each other for everything; where to eat, what to wear, who to talk to, who not to talk to, document which pictures everything they do on Facebook and Instagram. And in this whirlwind they all reinforce to each other how stupid adults are and how we want to stop them from having fun. It borders on paranoia. I love my kids and I love my students but sometimes it's like hugging a porcupine, you know the porcupine would be better off for the hug but it sure does hurt.

[megojim]

Don't get me started . .. I know this probably isn't the popular opinion but this started with Bart Simpson and is now everywhere. Parents, especially dads are made out to be idiots, see Family Guy. If you watch this stuff you are supporting this behavior, plain and simple. People say, oh it's just TV relax . . . the proof is in the pudding . . . Kids get away with what we as parents allow them to . . . to this day all I have to do is give my son the look and he responds. I might also add that respect of all kinds is earned, not demanded and they learn more from what the see us do than what the hear us say . . .

[4NDR01D]

Kids have been giving their parents sarcastic and smart *** answers since the beginning of time. I didn't see anything in the ad so offensive to get upset about.

[Iron Mego]

I find the "Inept Dad," commercials even more offensive.

[YoungOnce]

Kids have been giving their parents sarcastic and smart *** answers since the beginning of time. I didn't see anything in the ad so offensive to get upset about.

I really do think that it's much different now. As mentioned by those in the education system who have commented (and my own wife who is a teacher), they have seen the behavior of kids degrade and are in a unique position to see it from year to year.

You can certainly make a judgement that you think the behavior is neither good or bad, but that kids are much, much less disrespectful to adults and authority and that these things have been supported (perpetrated even) by kid's fare in the last decade or so is hard to debate. At least I am convinced.

[jwyblejr]

Speaking as a teacher, I see this stuff in real life. And what's worse, the parents do NOTHING to stop it. Temper tantrums and backtalk are the norm. And I've seen the kids even HIT their parents and they still do nothing to stop it. These parents are so afraid of traumatizing their kids, or what other people think,they just throw up their hands in defeat. These so-called educated people, (who BTW love to tell us how to do our jobs), will let a child who has just been on this earth for a minute, completely run their lives and walk all over them. Disgusting.

Not trying to defend the action of the parents but what can they really do? If they try to discipline the kids,they yell child abuse. Sadly,it's gotten way out of hand.

[HardyGirl]

There is a difference between discipline and abuse. I'm a teacher, and don't hit my kids, but they get disciplined. Time out, taking away priviledges, can't go out to the yard to play. My kids do NOT walk all over me, b/c they know I don't play that. But the minute their parents pick them up, it's a complete transformation. Parents act like they're helpless, but they're not.

Not trying to defend the action of the parents but what can they really do? If they try to discipline the kids,they yell child abuse. Sadly,it's gotten way out of hand.

[Earth 2 Chris]

It's hard to raise your kids around spineless parents. I sometimes fear we go overboard by getting on the kids TOO much, trying to over-compensate for the all the bad influences out there.

Kids have whole TV networks aimed squarely at them. Most of the stuff on there isn't anything a parent could stand to sit through for long. But the adults are usually portrayed as morons, or at least as inept as the kids. Even shows that start off fairly balanced often are in this trap by the end. "Good Luck, Charlie" on Disney Channel is a good example. The parents started out being portrayed as fairly well balanced and intelligent, but by show's end the mother had descended into an obsession with getting herself on TV and becoming famous, much to the chagrin of her embarrassed kids.

It's a far cry from the Cleavers and the Bradys.

Chris

[Mikey]

My grammer school principal was a young guy.

His technique was playing guilt/head-games with the kids.

"I'm so upset to see you here"
"You've REALLY let me down" .... etc.

It actually worked about 90% of the time

The rest it didn't work on was your typical bad kids that only understand a good threatening or even beating.

These kids will eventually growup to be your average unreasonable bad adults.

Wheel in the sky keeps on turning

[TomStrong]

It's hard to raise your kids around spineless parents. I sometimes fear we go overboard by getting on the kids TOO much, trying to over-compensate for the all the bad influences out there.

Kids have whole TV networks aimed squarely at them. Most of the stuff on there isn't anything a parent could stand to sit through for long. But the adults are usually portrayed as morons, or at least as inept as the kids. Even shows that start off fairly balanced often are in this trap by the end. "Good Luck, Charlie" on Disney Channel is a good example. The parents started out being portrayed as fairly well balanced and intelligent, but by show's end the mother had descended into an obsession with getting herself on TV and becoming famous, much to the chagrin of her embarrassed kids.

It's a far cry from the Cleavers and the Bradys.

Chris

Boy are you right there Chris, we were big fans of the show but by the time season 3 and 4 rolled around the parents were characatures of themselves. Since then we've been watching the Beaver. It makes me giddy and happy, we all love it. Plus seeing the way kids treat teachers and adults is like looking in some sort of Bizarro mirror to another world. I know that parts of it were unrealistic too but dammit I wish I were half as slick and wise as Ward Cleaver. ( really jealous of his awesome hair too)

[Hedji]

My daughter likes a lot of those Disney shows like Good Luck Charlie. But we make sure she gets exposure to old shows as well. She LOVES Brady Bunch and Happy Days.

[Earth 2 Chris]

My kids are watching Andy Griffith right now.

Chris