# Childhood is false imprisonment **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924 "2012-03-27T03:45:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Packs_a_Day)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/1 "2012-03-27T03:45:09Z")
When a person is young, they believe anything, respect anything (and anyone), obey anyone, etc. because they don’t know better. And the worst part is, there are million of adults out there who take advantage of this. For example, when we were kids we all respected and obeyed every “grown-up” (gag) we knew, whether it be teachers, parents, etc. Then you get older and realize how stupid those people were, and resent them (and all others like them, past and present) for allowing and encouraging you to do that, just because you were too young to know better. The statutory raping of minds, if you ask me. Or is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/2 "2012-03-27T03:48:21Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/3 "2012-03-27T03:59:19Z")
> [@Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](#): > > For example, when we were kids we all respected and obeyed every “grown-up” (gag) we knew, whether it be teachers, parents, etc. Then you get older and realize how stupid those people were, and resent them (and all others like them, past and present) for allowing and encouraging you to do that, just because you were too young to know better. Wait till you get even older. Someday you’ll realize how much they really did know all along. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/4 "2012-03-27T04:10:21Z")
I don’t care what it is, if you’re going through 3 packs of it a day, you’re not going to ever be that much older. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/5 "2012-03-27T04:10:32Z")
It never occurred to me to resent all the adults in my life from when I was a kid. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/6 "2012-03-27T04:13:21Z")
I can totally picture the OP, as a little kid, standing on a soap box (literally) on a street corner, shouting to the passing kids (Who are all waiting for the red light to turn green) “This is just another way THE MAN is holding us down! Why would you need to look both ways before crossing the street? Everyone knows cars have to stop when they see a kid crossing!” > [@](#): > > It never occurred to me to resent all the adults in my life from when I was a kid. Huh. That’s because THEY already got to you! ---
**Author:** ![Meyer6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Meyer6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyer6)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/7 "2012-03-27T04:13:51Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > It never occurred to me to resent all the adults in my life from when I was a kid. Huh. Yeah, I think that if you resent all the adults in your life ‘and all others like them, past and present’, there’s a chance the problem is with you, not society. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/8 "2012-03-27T04:15:25Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I don’t care what it is, if you’re going through 3 packs of it a day, you’re not going to ever be that much older. Gosh, I wish you’d told me that 40 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/9 "2012-03-27T04:26:42Z")
Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/10 "2012-03-27T04:56:58Z")
How many of these stupid fucking threads are you going to start? This is at least the third one I’ve seen, all full of " WAAAA! Poor little emo loser me" drivel. Get over it already. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/11 "2012-03-27T04:59:01Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > How many of these stupid fucking threads are you going to start? This is at least the third one I’ve seen, all full of " WAAAA! Poor little emo loser me" drivel. > > Get over it already. He won’t last. In the meantime, it’s kinda fun to mess with him. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/12 "2012-03-27T05:03:21Z")
Funnily enough, if he really is a young man, he has NO concept of The Man holding him down - 40 years ago when I was a kid, they really did believe kids should be seen and not heard. Now, _that_ was some Grade A oppression, man! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/13 "2012-03-27T05:15:55Z")
Bonk! Bonk! On the head! Bonk! Bonk! Kill the Gr’ups! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d2c977/32.png) [@Three\_Packs\_a\_Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Packs_a_Day)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/14 "2012-03-27T05:37:21Z")
Holy crap check out this thread: [Please help me id a short story? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=646170) I couldn’t have put it better myself. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/15 "2012-03-27T05:39:17Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I don’t care what it is, … Bacon! > [@](#): > > if you’re going through 3 packs of it a day, you’re not going to ever be that much older. Don’t care, It’s Bacon! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/16 "2012-03-27T05:50:30Z")
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” – Mark Twain I seem to remember a longer version of this, but as it is, it still fits the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/17 "2012-03-27T06:01:21Z")
I think we should be asking him what just what is IN those three packs a day? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/18 "2012-03-27T07:09:56Z")
Rufio, you’re alive! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/19 "2012-03-27T08:02:41Z")
Up your dosage to four packs a day. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2012, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924/20 "2012-03-27T08:23:31Z")
Set the little bastards free, I say. Release them from their bonds. I’ll start. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-is-false-imprisonment/616924.md?page=2)