They’re Gonna Do It
Let’s face it: Kids are stupid.
Whether you have some of your own or you’ve simply gained the knowledge after having been one yourself, you have to realize that kids are going to do stupid shit. As parents or adult mentors, all we can do is give them as much guidance as we can to make sure they don’t hurt themselves or screw up their lives in the process.
The Maternal Unit and I talked about this phenomenon as it applied to kids and drinking. Despite the fact that tragic accidents involving speed and alcohol still occur, most reports indicate that the younger generation is pretty careful about their drinking and driving habits. Designated drivers are, well, designated, taxis are taken and general disciplines are practiced, and we should be happy about that. But Mom was amazed at just how much time, effort and money that the younger set invests in the simple act of buying alcoholic beverages. Let’s face it, booze is expensive.
I explained that a lot has changed since her generation was in the Stupid Stage: First, there was prohibition. That took the booze out completely. After that, there was depression, which meant no extra money to throw around on such frivolities. It simply wasn’t in the picture. In my time, there wasn’t a lot of money to throw around, but we still managed to get up to our share of alcohol-fueled mischief. After one too many hangovers and a few new responsibilities, that phase of life faded away.
My point was, no matter how hard you try, kids are going to do it. Same thing goes for sex.
Only a Conservative with their heads firmly buried either in the sand or up their asses would think that preaching Abstinence-Only would pass as effective sex education. Human nature is such that, the minute we’re told we can’t have something, we want it more. Once we’re in that mindset, if we get what we’re after, we’re bound to abuse it or screw it up somehow. Saying “no” and restricting any kind of information regarding birth control or safe sex practices has resulted in teen pregnancies being as high as they’ve always been. Sarah Palin isn’t the only Young Urban Professional with a grandchild on the way: Despite the best efforts of the bible-thumpers, babies are having babies in every state in the union.
Prohibition didn’t stop everyone from drinking, it just inspired more people to think of ways to smuggle. Same goes with sex: If Mom and Dad say you can’t, chances are if you want it bad enough, you’re going to sneak off somewhere and do it anyway. Restriction is a one-way ticket to rebellion.
Which is why I thought the New York Times piece that I’ve linked to above was brilliant, and exactly what I see myself doing when Ray’s daughter hits that stage in life. I would be the first to tell her to wait and give it a lot of thought, not because it’s a bad thing, but because it’s so goddamn emotionally complicated. That said, we’d also make sure that she was armed with the right information, and the right preventative…you know…stuff. Because if she’s going to do it, she might as well do it right.
Tuesday September 09, 2008 | 12:22 AM in The World From My Window
