What the FUDGE?
Sunday morning, I got up and went to my local college track to jog. Taliban 1 asked me if he could come. So after getting him dressed and grabbing his soccer ball, we headed out to the track.
When we get there, there are a group of adults playing a pick up game of soccer. On the other side of the field, some kids are playing football. At first I was pretty happy to see the kids organizing themselves to do something. At least they weren't on the street hanging out. As I got closer into the park, all I could hear was "Throw the F*cking Ball." "You catch like a p*ssy" "F*ck you b*tch *ss n*gga"
The kids probably ranged in age from 9 to about 14. All boys.
I started to jog and probably got around the track twice before I couldn't take letting my son play soccer on the same field. The cursing was so extreme.
When I went and got my son, I overheard the men playing soccer say "If these kids were playing organized football, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves."
Now I applaud these kids because, like I said, they organized themselves to come together and play a game instead of being out and getting into trouble. I just wonder if the language stems from videos and the current thug culture. I strained to remember if I cursed like that at that age. I really don't think I started cursing until college and actually dating some sorry Muthaf*ckas. LOL
Seriously, are we failing the kids? Why are 9 year olds so freaking angry? Do they need to say "F*ck you n*gga"? Is that the only way to express themselves or am I just being sensitive to it because I am a mom? WHAT THE FUDGE IS GOING ON?
When we get there, there are a group of adults playing a pick up game of soccer. On the other side of the field, some kids are playing football. At first I was pretty happy to see the kids organizing themselves to do something. At least they weren't on the street hanging out. As I got closer into the park, all I could hear was "Throw the F*cking Ball." "You catch like a p*ssy" "F*ck you b*tch *ss n*gga"
The kids probably ranged in age from 9 to about 14. All boys.
I started to jog and probably got around the track twice before I couldn't take letting my son play soccer on the same field. The cursing was so extreme.
When I went and got my son, I overheard the men playing soccer say "If these kids were playing organized football, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves."
Now I applaud these kids because, like I said, they organized themselves to come together and play a game instead of being out and getting into trouble. I just wonder if the language stems from videos and the current thug culture. I strained to remember if I cursed like that at that age. I really don't think I started cursing until college and actually dating some sorry Muthaf*ckas. LOL
Seriously, are we failing the kids? Why are 9 year olds so freaking angry? Do they need to say "F*ck you n*gga"? Is that the only way to express themselves or am I just being sensitive to it because I am a mom? WHAT THE FUDGE IS GOING ON?
posted by 1969 at
4:42 AM
16 Comments:
I'm glad you wrote this. I think some of it is the fact that tv has become America's babysitter and many parent's aren't vigilant of the things to which their kids are exposed. Nor are they imposing sanctions for such language. And, they're probably not leading the best examples themselves. You're right to ask what could make a 9-year old kid so angry that he feels the need to say things like that. At the same time, is he really angry? Or, is he just mimicking what he thinks is "tough" or "cool"? It pisses me off to see kids talk like that. I didn't start cursing until I started working for a contractor after college (it was that macho, male-dominated culture of the business I got sucked into). It happened to my mom, too, when she started working in a similar industry. I'm not saying it's right. But, I also do not curse in my office here, nor do I curse in front of kids. I'm trying to work on not cursing at all. But hey, one step at a time. LOL
Yes you are maybe extra sensitive because you are a mom. But that doesn't mean you aren't correct in your assessment of those youngsters. When motivated, and in the appropriate company I can curse like a sailor (thanks Uncle Playa). But nowdays these kids can even make me blush. My son is 15 so I have to listen to every hip-hop and rap record out here to make sure it's not too crass. I let him have Busta Rhyme's CD without hearing it first. When I heard Busta saying (the uncut version, not the radio version)"i love my b*tch", and then the female replies "I love my n*gga" WTF???? I asked my son, Is this how we as Black people get down with each other? What female can you speak to like that and get a positive response? The scary thing is that these kids are desensitized to this language, even if they don't curse themselves! As mothers we have to be on post at all times....
That's the way we got down when I was a kid, and look how well I turned out!
KZ
You are scaring me Zed. LOL
First time commenting. This is an interesting observation. My brother, his friends and my cousins talked like this all of the time (they were 12y/o and up and out of my folks earshot)and this was in the late 80's, so I am sure it is worse now. I think it's posturing in an effort to prove that they are not punks. Effortlessly cussing someone out is proof that they can verbally spar so don't try that with them. They are just doing what Bush did, it is a verbal pre-emptive strike against a possible enemy. Physical fighting is what is being avoided but the suggestion is it will commence if they must fight. They are practicing leadership skills taught by the prez. Scary ain't it?
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Doesn't help that you have college teams stomping eachother at the field like at Sats Miami & FIU game. Doesn't help when everyother song is laced with oussy and bitch. Doesn't help that Movies made for kids are using animated characters to call eachother punks.
I think we failed a whole generation and that generation is what's bringing up the kids now...
I didn't talk like that when I was younger....I don't think. Hell, I don't even say it loud enough for muthafuckas to hear me now... I don't think.
I think its everyone's fault. We have failed our children (whether they be OUR children, or just children that we are in close contact with). It takes a village and if the village isn't acting right, the children damn sure aren't going to act right. We need to check ourselves first, before checking everyone else.
Kids have tended to cuss as a release. Yeah, media factors in, however, their parents may use that language alot.
I know my 16 year old can cuss like a sailor when she is with friends. When I was her age, I went through a phase of cussin around friends. I still do but did not do it in front of my daughter until she was in middle school.
I know growing up you watched cussing in front of grown folk even if you were in public and did not know them.
Boys seem to really like to cuss. The girls are getting just as worst.
We believe other parents are failing their children by not teaching to be respectful around folks.
People will curse it how, when, where and so forth. I do hate to hear kids cursing and not respecting I am around. Thing is you cannot correct all kids these days.
I was raised in a household where if I heard a cuss word I was shocked. It was rare. Now my friends called me the nerd cause if I did cuss I sound proper. LOL.
Now depending on the day, can cuss like a sailor and guess who shakes their head and says I need to quit, my 16 year old daughther. LOL.
I agree with Enigma some of it is posturing. I have to say it is hard out there for a boy to be proper-like. I feel for them though. Then there are the other gutter mouth boys who are hardened by life and do not care. I feel for them too.
1969, do you cuss?
Well you already know how foul my mouth is (at least you have an idea) so not sure what I can contribute. I wasn't big on cussing until I got to college though...stress I guess. But the funny thing is I cringe whenever I hear children cursing and swearing. It just sounds horrible...I guess I sound horrible to but I notice it more when it's them. Children today just aren't children anymore. THe neglect and ignorance they see at home has robbed them of the chance to be kids...they use curse words as a way to display that they are grown...doing grown up things. It's sad...I wanna stop cussing!!! LOL!!
You know this is a great topic.
I don't curse in front of my kids...ever. I do know that I can't protect them from hearing certain words. The world exists and I can't shield them from real life all of the time. I am really a product of my upbringing though, so my views may be tainted.
I grew up in a Caribbean household. My parents cursed in front of us. However, we just KNEW that we were not to use that language in front of adults ever. That was an instant "back hand slap" as my mother would say :)
There was always a respect factor. The culture in the Caribbean is very different. Kids have to "know their place", "be seen and not heard" etc. Very different than here in the States. Not saying it's better....alot of it is not...it's just different.
For me to see a bunch of kids cursing like that in the presence of adults and other small children, made me cringe.
My hubby and I don't curse in front of our kids. I definitely cuss...I am a black woman...we NEED to cuss :)
I just don't do it in the house. I cuss all the Europeans out at work...LOL
For me to hear the level of cursing was crazy coming out of such young boys. Not just a f*ck every now and then....I mean it was "f*ck you b*tch a$$ p*ssy" in practically every sentence. That was extreme.
I am not delusional. I do know that my sons will probably be outside cussing like sailors one day...I just hope when they are doing it and turn around and see a mom out with a 4 year old, they would say "Excuse my language." and stop while they pass by.
When I was 9, my favorite cuss word was d*ckhead. I heard on Ghostbusters and said it all the time. The only difference was I wouldnt say anything like that around adults. I don't care if they were cursing too, I just didn't do that.
I'm with Zed..I cussed as a teenager a lot, but never when adults were around.Till this day I cannot cuss in front of my dad...
Kids today have no manners.Soon as you say anything to them."YOUR NOT MY DADDY NIGGA." I respond " Okay since I ain't yo daddy I can beat yo ass without anyone calling child protective services" lol
at 9yrs old....damn that's crazy....i was scared to cuss at FREAKIN 18!!!!
ooh i dunno as the eternal optimist i still believe there are worse things in the world than cursing. we all cursed inmy household, especially my baby brother (there was a time we could barely take him out of the house) but as an educator my mother felt like children who could express themselves freely had a better chance.
We were fully aware of proper time and place but as a whole we said what we wanted how we wanted we talked loudly, fast and at times with profanity...
I spent a day at the school that my mother is Principle and played jump rope with girls with beads and braids and catch with little boys with snotty noses and from there the world still looked bright and promising.
No, you are not being sensitive. Kids today are out of control. I think the video's, music & thug influenced culture has A LOT to do with it. I know the media is not a role model & so many rappers do not want to be held acountable since parents are responsible for what their child views on television/listens to on the radio.
BUT, ALL ARTISTS are responsible for what they put out into the universe. Parents are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to keeping their kids away from negative influences in the media because it's everywhere & if they don't see it in your house, they will see it somewhere else.
So much to be said on this, maybe I'll blog it cuz I'm gettin fired up!
Anyhoo, NO, u are not being too senstive. : )
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