# Kids and "It's Not Fair" Concept **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585 "2011-01-06T05:13:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/61 "2011-01-06T23:08:26Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I totally agree that “it’s not fair” simply means “I don’t like it.” Also, a great many people on this very messageboard display this exact same pre-pubescent mentality by endlessly debating and arguing about whether something is moral/ethical or not. No we don’t!!! ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/62 "2011-01-06T23:17:02Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > I totally agree that “it’s not fair” simply means “I don’t like it.” Also, a great many people on this very messageboard display this exact same pre-pubescent mentality by endlessly debating and arguing about whether something is moral/ethical or not. moral/ethical/legal What’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/63 "2011-01-07T00:26:06Z")
The difference is that “legal” means something–laws exist that proscribe certain actions, and people can argue about exactly which actions they proscribe. With “moral/ethical,” there are any number of different definitions of those terms and different systems to use, all of which simply boil down to people attempting to elevate their own likes and dislikes into some universal truth. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/64 "2011-01-07T01:29:45Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > The difference is that “legal” means something–laws exist that proscribe certain actions, and people can argue about exactly which actions they proscribe. With “moral/ethical,” there are any number of different definitions of those terms and different systems to use, all of which simply boil down to people attempting to elevate their own likes and dislikes into some universal truth. _ **But whhhyyyyyyy???** _ ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/65 "2011-01-07T01:45:25Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > …My doctor told me I had to lose weight, lower my cholesterol and watch my diet. I don’t think that’s fair, either. You just won the prize for the best answer to this thread 😃 ---
**Author:** ![xoferew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/e9a140/32.png) [@xoferew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xoferew)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/66 "2011-01-07T01:50:28Z")
I remember being around eight and being mildly punished for something I’d done to my brother, and being extremely hurt and angry at the unfairness of the situation because I could easily imagine an alternate universe/timeline in which I hadn’t done anything wrong. I think with small kids memory and self-image are easily mixed up. “I’m a good kid.” “I wouldn’t make that stupid mistake of throwing a basketball near mom’s Precious Moments collection.” “I don’t want to clean my room but I would like to have cleaned it.” Young kids also can feel pretty powerless over their own impulses and bodies. “It isn’t fair that I couldn’t manage to get myself to clean my room.” “How come I’m in trouble for hitting again when I didn’t mean to and that poopy head next to me, his hands never shoot out and hit people. It’s not fair I’m impulsive/a procrastinator/whiny/sassy/a serial burper.” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/67 "2011-01-07T02:36:34Z")
Parents want clean rooms. Kids want candy bars. It would seem that they are at an impass. Now, [as I said before](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13324484&postcount=54), I’m not saying this is good parenting, but: clean rooms _and_ candy bars - everyone’s happy. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/68 "2011-01-07T16:22:08Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > With “moral/ethical,” there are any number of different definitions of those terms and different systems to use, all of which simply boil down to people attempting to elevate their own likes and dislikes into some universal truth. Replace “universal truth” with “legal authority” and you’ve just described every legal system that has ever existed. But here, have a [candy bar](http://assets.kaboose.com/media/00/00/04/ab/62aa2a542305d673d7384afd87ebc8232bde16b8/476x357/Slideshow-Snickers_476x357.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/69 "2011-01-07T17:10:31Z")
Why does \*\*Rand Rover \*\*get a candy bar, and not every other poster in the thread, as well? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/70 "2011-01-07T17:12:34Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Why does \*\*Rand Rover \*\*get a candy bar, and not every other poster in the thread, as well? Yeah! It’s not fair! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/71 "2011-01-07T17:15:29Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Yeah! It’s not fair! Hey, why did \*\*Leaffan \*\*get to post that first? I wanted to post it first! It’s not FAIR!!! :mad: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/72 "2011-01-07T17:19:55Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Hey, why did \*\*Leaffan \*\*get to post that first? I wanted to post it first! It’s not FAIR!!! :mad: > > 😃 'Cause I’m the oldest; that’s why! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/73 "2011-01-07T17:30:42Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > 'Cause I’m the oldest; that’s why! **MOM!!! Did you hear what Leaffan said?!** 😛 poopyhead. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/74 "2011-01-07T18:24:42Z")
**WhyNot!** **Leaffan**! Both of you, to your rooms, NOW. No, I’m not interested in who started what. The longer I keep seeing your face not in your room, the longer you’re staying in there, Missies. The world isn’t fair, it’s round. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/75 "2011-01-07T18:24:48Z")
If you kids don’t stop arguing, I’m going to turn this thread around right now!! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/76 "2011-01-07T18:27:14Z")
But!..but!.. **Fine.** _pout_ _stomp_ … **Leaffan** ’s touching me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/77 "2011-01-07T18:29:30Z")
_grabs a yardstick, holds it like a samurai warrior_ I…HAVE… HAD… ENOUGH…OF…THIS!!! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/78 "2011-01-07T18:34:56Z")
Okay, okay! Sheesh, parents today! 😃 But did everyone notice how I got \*\*Leaffan \*\*in trouble, there? Classic younger sibling terrorism tactic. _I_ was the brat, but we both got sent to our rooms. Is that “fair”? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/79 "2011-01-07T18:39:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Okay, okay! Sheesh, parents today! 😃 > > But did everyone notice how I got \*\*Leaffan \*\*in trouble, there? Classic younger sibling terrorism tactic. _I_ was the brat, but we both got sent to our rooms. Is that “fair”? I’m telling! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585/80 "2011-01-08T03:49:09Z")
I don’t care who started it, I’M STOPPING IT RIGHT NOW! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-and-its-not-fair-concept/566585.md?page=5)