Do teenagers scare you?

Biblioklept

On my local facebook group someone is saying how yesterday afternoon there was a large group of teenagers sat in a field next to the park and she felt they shouldn't be allowed to gather in groups as it's intimidating.
The responses were mixed with some saying they shouldn't be allowed to gather in groups and others saying if they're not doing anything wrong then they have just as much right to be there. She admitted they weren't drinking or doing anything bad just a large group of them talking and running about together but it made her feel uncomfortable and she left the park early with her children because of it. 
What do you think? 

I feel intimidated by groups of anyone, regardless of age. But I feel like that's more my issue than theirs and unless they are purposely causing trouble then they should be able to meet in groups. 

Cartini

Difficult one really.

On the face of the comment made in your local Facebook group, I think she overreacted; but then life isn`t black & white though, is it.  A previous experience to her, or her children, may have dictated her response.  Or an invisible illness may have dictated.

For me it would depend on my frame (not state) of mind at the time.  In my neighbourhood there are a couple of feral (newspaper usage, not mine) girl gangs, one of which beat an old lady up just for smiling at them.

As a general rule, I like to see teenagers interacting and enjoying themselves, especially with the way the world is going now.  I also agree that if there is no trouble, then they should be allowed to meet in groups.

bg844

There are a lot of groups who hang around my local community. The vast majority of them do keep themselves to themselves but you’ll always have the odd few in life, on the group I am on you see posts of vandalism and thefts daily. I personally have thankfully never received this but I do feel sorry for the frail. 

66Mustang

I don’t think you could ban groups of people of just a certain age without being accused of ageism. I think you’d have to ban groups of people full stop.

I don’t have a problem with them if they don’t cause any trouble. When we walk the dog we often pass groups of teenagers and they usually seem all right. 

The one thing I have noticed though is that when the groups move on they very often leave behind tons of litter - mostly plastic. Their generation is supposed to be the one preaching about global warming, not using plastics etc, then they behave in this filthy way. 

Biblioklept

I don't understand people littering at all, it doesn't seem hard to take your stuff with you, you carried it there to begin with and most places have lots of bins!!!

Victor

No.

janer1967

The trouble is teens no longer have any places to meet up like youth clubs or sports clubs so they do end up in local parks and community areas they have just as much right to he there as anyone else 

As long as they are not getting up to any trouble it wouldn't bother me but maybe I'm biased with bring mother of a teen myself 

OverlyAnxious

I joined a local group a couple of weeks ago after being prompted by a letter in the mail...and it just reminded me how overly entitled and inconsiderate many people are!  Seemingly totally oblivious to other peoples lives.  Give it a few years and the complainant will be moaning about how her own teens are being treated in a group at the park...  Needless to say, I came off the group pretty quickly and don't regret it! 

Personally, yes teenagers do scare me, as does everyone else, but I'd much rather walk past a group of youths sat on a field than the older people with dogs they can't control on long leads (or no leads at all) on the footpath by the main roads. 

I agree with the above regarding litter though, I don't expect an entire generation to be bothered about the long term effects on the planet, but I am surprised that so many still litter.  It's a problem that doesn't seem to have reduced at all over time.

Biblioklept

OverlyAnxious said:

 Give it a few years and the complainant will be moaning about how her own teens are being treated in a group at the park...  

That's so true!! I didn't even think about that.

OverlyAnxious said:

Personally, yes teenagers do scare me, as does everyone else, but I'd much rather walk past a group of youths sat on a field than the older people with dogs they can't control on long leads (or no leads at all) on the footpath by the main roads. 

I'm the same and it's hard  

Shame about your group was it on social media or something else? 

Sandy_123

When I take my grandkids to the park, lots of teenagers there as apart from kiddies section, there is a skate section, where they all play loud music, swear and smoke, but normal things for that age group. They can be intimidating in a large group. Few problems locally, silly things like egging cars and people's windows, the odd hanging basket taken. 

janer1967

My teenager scares me at times growing up too fast 

leeCal

I have always found groups of people intimidating including and especially teenagers because I find them to be unpredictable. Interestingly group behaviour is often different from individual behaviour due to deindividuation. Unfortunately it seems there’s little to be done about it.
https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/nuisance-behaviour-groups-people/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/deindividuation

Biblioklept

janer1967 said:

My teenager scares me at times growing up too fast 

This made me laugh!!