# People These Days **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220 "2014-12-26T16:58:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/41 "2014-12-29T20:25:47Z")
> [@Lemmytheseal2](#): > > What does her status as an only child have to do with anything? Only children are selfish assholes who grow up thinking their shit smells like baking banana bread. > [@monstro](#): > > “Daughter, I’m sure your brother would gladly switch seats with you if you ask nicely.” > > Then when the guests have left, you chew her out. So after Dear Daughter took the brothers plate away and pushed him out of a chair you ask her nicely to ask the brother to move and word it such in such a way to indicate to the brother he needs to move because Dear Daughter wants his chair? Parenting Fail. > [@splatterpunk](#): > > He punched her in the face. Good. It sounds like the bitch has needed a good punching for a while now. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/42 "2014-12-29T21:48:14Z")
People are the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/43 "2014-12-29T21:53:34Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > People are the worst. You wouldn’t say that if you ever had to deal with fleas and ticks. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/44 "2014-12-29T22:17:06Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > My kids are young, so I don’t know for sure–but this might be an occasion for the, “Honey, can I speak with you in the kitchen, please?” tactic. Praise in public, criticize in private is one of the better pieces of disciplinary advice I’ve ever received, and it’s in my arsenal for when my girls are teenagers. Sure, but if that tactic has a history of failure, then there needs to be the option of a next level. A 16-year-old ought to know better than to pull this shit. However, I wasn’t there, and don’t know the daughter’s typical behavior. That said, I reeeaaaallly try to avoid punishing in front of others. I don’t think I’ve ever done it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/45 "2014-12-29T22:23:17Z")
> [@get\_lives](#): > > Sure, but if that tactic has a history of failure, then there needs to be the option of a next level. A 16-year-old ought to know better than to pull this shit. However, I wasn’t there, and don’t know the daughter’s typical behavior. > > That said, I reeeaaaallly try to avoid punishing in front of others. I don’t think I’ve ever done it. Well, according to the OP they are superlative parents with well raised children. I’m sure this behavior was an abberation, so could be treated discreetly. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/46 "2014-12-29T22:27:11Z")
I find nothing objectionable about you punishing your kid, though I think the rudeness to the brother is way more punishment-worthy than missing a call to dinner. What I find objectionable is your obvious sense of parental superiority. There’s no way your friends don’t pick up on it, they are probably sick to god damned death of your superior attitude, and this was most likely the final straw. FTR, I am an only child, and I was raised in a much stricter household than yours. ‘‘Yes sir,’’ ‘‘Yes ma’am,’’ the whole nine yards. Fucking nightmare. Be wary you haven’t achieved model behavior at the expense of your children’s psychological well-being. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/47 "2014-12-29T22:54:25Z")
My guess is that the rift has less to do with the OP’s discipline of his own child than with his view that the friends do not properly discipline _their_ child. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/48 "2014-12-30T01:01:25Z")
I suspect that part of the OP’s frustration is a dwindling supply of friends willing to endure the Jinx family’s ugly little scenes. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/49 "2014-12-30T01:04:12Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I suspect that part of the OP’s frustration is a dwindling supply of friends willing to endure the Jinx family’s ugly little scenes. THIS. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/50 "2014-12-30T01:14:08Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I suspect that part of the OP’s frustration is a dwindling supply of friends willing to endure the Jinx family’s ugly little scenes. Maybe it’s the conversation. I can just envision it: Jinx: How do I open this box of crackers? Guest: Um, just tear it open or look for the directions right on the box. Jinx: I just got new shoes. How do you make it so that they don’t fall off of my feet? Guest: The same way as you do on all of your other shoes. Why would these be any different? Jinx: I was just wondering. Was the Washington Monument named after the President or the city? Guest: Well, look how late it is. Time sure flies. We have to go. Jinx: Why do some clocks have hands on them and some digital numbers? Guest: :Sound of screeching tires: ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/51 "2014-12-30T01:39:04Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Maybe it’s the conversation. I can just envision it: > > Jinx: How do I open this box of crackers? > Guest: Um, just tear it open or look for the directions right on the box. > Jinx: I just got new shoes. How do you make it so that they don’t fall off of my feet? > Guest: The same way as you do on all of your other shoes. Why would these be any different? > Jinx: I was just wondering. Was the Washington Monument named after the President or the city? > Guest: Well, look how late it is. Time sure flies. We have to go. > Jinx: Why do some clocks have hands on them and some digital numbers? > Guest: :Sound of screeching tires: I LOL’d! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/52 "2014-12-30T01:44:50Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Maybe it’s the conversation. I can just envision it: > > \ Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/53 "2014-12-30T05:37:01Z")
Truthfully, most adults will, at some time in their lives, have a family that they just won’t see any more because they disapprove, rightfully or not, of the way the parents are raising the children, and it’s a big enough issue that it will indeed end a friendship. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220/54 "2014-12-30T05:38:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Maybe it’s the conversation. I can just envision it: > > Jinx: How do I open this box of crackers? > Guest: Um, just tear it open or look for the directions right on the box. > Jinx: I just got new shoes. How do you make it so that they don’t fall off of my feet? > Guest: The same way as you do on all of your other shoes. Why would these be any different? > Jinx: I was just wondering. Was the Washington Monument named after the President or the city? > Guest: Well, look how late it is. Time sure flies. We have to go. > Jinx: Why do some clocks have hands on them and some digital numbers? > Guest: :Sound of screeching tires: 😛 This almost sounds like my father a few days ago. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-these-days/708220.md?page=2)