Is this generation of boys too soft (not tough enough)?

At work right now and earlier some of my coworkers were talking about kids today. One of my coworkers is an older gentleman who said he doesn't like what he's seeing of boys today, that they're not tough enough and are too coddled by everybody. Do you think this is so?

It depends, you have the boys that don't leave the house anymore other than to go to school. They sit inside all day and night playing with their electronic devices. Then you have the little wise guy boys who think they are tough and bad ass and have no respect for themselves or any adults in their miserable lives.

Shale wrote:How old is this 'older' gentleman.

I would say he's in his very late 50's or very early 60's. He talked about having a 11 year old grandson who his daughter spoils and babies and because of that he isn't much of a "fighter".

Tony Marino wrote:It depends, you have the boys that don't leave the house anymore other than to go to school. They sit inside all day and night playing with their electronic devices. Then you have the little wise guy boys who think they are tough and bad ass and have no respect for themselves or any adults in their miserable lives.

I think a lot of kids today in general are soft as marshmallows for the most part....and all this technology and whatnot they have access to have been more of a curse than a blessing. They don't have to right attitude or smarts to use it properly.

I agree with Tony and NY.

I think "softer" kids is a product of how they spend their leisure time.

Eh, yes and no. In some areas, I think being softer is a good thing. In other areas, I think we're really conditioning boys to avoid being men/embracing an anti-male culture as some sort of karmatic turnaround or something. I suppose it doesn't really matter what all the boys are doing. I can only influence my own sons and if/when I have them, that's what I'll do.

Yes, actually I do. In general, kids are too spoiled today. Boys in particular are a little too "over-protected" for their own good.

Yes. I think this generation of boys/kids are more naive, reclusive, oversensitive and coddled than previous generations.

Oh hell yeah! Back in my day, this is what we used our G.I. Joe "action figures" for.

Nowadays? Feh!

Chris wrote:Yes. I think this generation of boys/kids are more naive, reclusive, oversensitive and coddled than previous generations.

And because of this they don't socialize with other kids like they should be doing.

I dunno, both my nephews are pretty aggressive. Guess it depends.

I guess that depends on the definitions of soft and tough because there are still plenty of little bastards who enjoy beating the crap out of anybody they don't like, though that's usually the smaller, weaker variety.

I think so. Some of it has to do with society becoming more liberal than ever before, allowing boys (and men) to not have to live up to certain gender expectations.

I think a good amount of them 30 and below are softer than a muthafucka. Meaning:

They don't know how to do basic shit like tinker around with a car, chop firewood, drive a 5 speed, fire up a grill, cut grass, etc. Don't even ask them to get dirty, they just got their nails buffed.

They don't know how to speak authoritatively. They barely know how to dress for a job interview.

They don't know how to put in hard work to get ahead.

They're too proud to work at TJMaxx or Lowes even if they're on their last dollar because they need to "save time" applying for "real jobs" in an office somewhere. Or worse, they fall into the drug game thinking they're "hustling hard" when really they just listen to too much Ace Hood on their free time and think they're him.

They're perfectly fine having their woman hold down the household. I don't care what nobody says, if you're in a heterosexual relationship and living with your significant other, without the king the house will crumble. If he's not contributing where it counts, what is his purpose?

They don't know how to have a relationship outside of text messaging or social networking. They do girlfriend cattle calls on Facebook, post about the first date from said cattle calls on Facebook, take pictures of the third date on Facebook, announce when they finally got the draws on Facebook, decide they really don't like the chick on Facebook, change their status from "single" to "in a relationship" to "single" to "engaged" to "single" in the same hour on Facebook...meanwhile they're responding to the same chick's phone calls with a text message while simultaneously liking a pic she posted on Facebook....and then wonder why she doesn't even want to be friends while updating his status via text to "where are all the real women at? Tired of going to bed alone."



I'm really concerned about these guys. That's why I thank God everyday for the one that I'm with, because from what I've seen, a lot of young men haven't been properly trained. Not saying they all have to fight and be rambunctious for no reason. But damn, learn how to stand on your own two like they did back in the day so I won't have to keep taking my car to the shop for minor issues that a real man can fix. Some of them seem to still be sipping on breast milk.

Let's just say that they don't have the same amount of bass in their voice as previous generations did.