Before I begin this essay, I'd like to say the my intent is to promote a discussion about the main topic which is as the title clearly states. If I offend anyone with my language or opinions, I sincerly apologize as this is not my intent. Now on to the essay; Consequences....they teach little boys that the path to manhood comes through responsibility and that part of responsibility is accepting the consequences of our actions. While this may be true, it doesn't only apply to little boys and the men they become. It applies to us all, it's pure science: action - reaction. Every action has an opposite reaction of equal force. There are people in this world, men included who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. Teen fatherhood quickly comes to mind. But why does it seems that the boys get blamed? Aren't the girls equally responsible? Aren't their parents responsible? Of course they are but, we feel more secure casting blame only the boys and their raging hormones - bullshit. Unless the girl was raped, she is just as responsible. Their parents are responsible for not teaching their children. You're gonna let school do it and actually be content with that piss-poor information? You must be joking. Relate your own experiences both good and bad, explain the risks. For god's sake, don't preach - you're begging to be tuned out. Make it a free flowing dialogue, encourage discussion. With everything be honest, don't hide your mistakes. Be honest to your children and to yourself - everyone has screwed up, no one is perfect. The sooner we're willing to accept our responsibilities and our share of the blame, the more enlightend we as a species will become. Are you willing to accept yours? I have. (This is only one example of consequences, by no means does this have to be the only one.) - RSG

Sounds like you're speaking about something that has affected you directly in the recent past. You can't blame parents for everything their teenage sons and daughters do, especially these days with governments passing laws left and right on the do's and donts of raising a kid. Teens by nature are rebelious and it really doesn't matter how hard or how much you, as a parent, try to talk sense and responsibility into them, they're going to do whatever it is they want to do, with or without your approval. Its all in how you make it known to your teenage kid what you do and don't approve of. If you rule with an iron fist, then chances are extremely high that your kid is going to deliberately go against you, where as if you leave the door open to neutral communication, its more likely that they'll listen to what you have to say and actually take it into consideration the next time they're presented with an opportunity to do something they know you're against. But parents cannot - and should not - logically be held responsible for everything their kids do, especially once they reach their mid to later teen years. I had originally written a lot more, but I'll stop for now. btw, though this is rather interesting, what does it have to do with the writer's forum? ~E.D.

Thanks for the feedback and, response. As for affecting me directly in the past? Only dealing with consequences, not my example of them. As far as what this has to do with the writer's forum? Hmm, not much I guess except it's something I wrote(kinda like a newspaper editorial). And, I don't know where else to put it, I thought all forms of writing were fair game here, am I wrong about that? Again, thanks. -RSG

Message edited on: 08/12/2005 10:28