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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
Paul wrote:
http://archive.thebrunswicknews.com/...ws%0A%09%09%09 Hopefully the link above works, I found this while cruising the web. Not two weeks after christmas and two children in this sleepy little town have already been hit by cars while riding scooters that their best friends (parents) indulged them with this holiday season. IMO, these parents should be held civilly and criminally liable for the damage to the vehicles that these children of theirs caused. I have witnessed these children on numerous occasions lately breaking nearly every traffic law imaginable except for speeding on these things - which I assume these scooters are not capable of. Among the violations and/or dangerous acts I have seen my self include disregard for traffic signals, disregard for stop signs, riding on sidewalks, riding on the wrong side of the road and darting in and out of traffic and otherwise acting in an unpredictable manner. Also, (atleast in GA), these kids are violating the law simply by taking these scooters on public rights of way since they must be at least 15 years of age to operate one off private property and they must also have a DL or Learner's Permit. It would be nice if the police would start to crack down on these idiot kids - hitting their parents in the pocketbook would be a good start. rant off -- Paul First of all -- the kids of this generation are spoiled and "do no wrong" in the eyes of their parents. They are right and you are wrong .... especially when a 13 year old wanted $40 to shovel the snow from my sidewalk recently. I told the kid I'll give him $10 and he walked away. Good. I'll wait until it melts before I pay that much. About 7-8 teens (12-15) received these motor cycles/scooters this Christmas and they ride (speed) up and down the street and don't even use helmets! The law here requires helmets for bicycles so you'd think the parents would demand they wear them .... but they (kids) always get "their way" but this will change when one of them is seriously hurt! They even ride through this neighborhood at night with no lights attached to their motor cycles. Where are the parents? Jon |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
Jon Walters wrote in message ...
First of all -- the kids of this generation are spoiled and "do no wrong" in the eyes of their parents. They are right and you are wrong .... especially when a 13 year old wanted $40 to shovel the snow from my sidewalk recently. I told the kid I'll give him $10 and he walked away. Good. I'll wait until it melts before I pay that much. Ah, so you think just because he's 13, he ought to do it for less than an amount that he considers worth his time? He doesn't owe you service. The only thing I can think of is that he might not have been polite, and that's the only thing that he might have done wrong. But, I've seen people like you grump over the polite ones, too. Shoveling snow is hard work, and it's no fun. And if you contract with an agency that does stuff like that, they charge $75. So you should either pay up or shut up and do it yourself. I've heard this so many time before...old codgers who think the neighbor kids owe them labor for cheap. And for whatever reason, it's always over shoveling snow. Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 |
#3
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
My grandmother's neighbor used to shovel her snow for her every winter, a pretty big job where she lived! She commented one year that she could tell he was growing up, because he still shoveled her snow but no longer charged her for it. I think he started shoveling for her when he was about 10 or 11, and stopped charging when he was about 16 or so. Kids do need a way to earn money when they're too young to take a regular job. ANd I've always thought hard physical labor was worth paying for, if done well. If your 13 year old neighbor seems to be charging too much, look at how much walkway you have to get cleared. Consider how long it ought to take him to do a good job, and in your own head work out a fair hourly rate. Then negotiate, and include both how much you think the job is worth, and what the job specifically entails. Do you want just a narrow path, or the full walkway uncovered? Does it include the full sidewalk in front of your property as well as the walkway? A walkway to the back or garage? The driveway? Does he put out salt or dirt as well? For labor of this demanding nature, we figure on a wage equivalent to $7 or $8 per hour with a $10 minimum. So given all that, was $40 really out of line? If only by a little, perhaps you could work on teaching the child how to negotiate, and throw in some hot apple cider on completion. Just my thoughts, --Beth Kevles http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner. NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the AOL one if you would like me to reply. |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 01:05:03 -0500, Jon Walters
wrote: About 7-8 teens (12-15) received these motor cycles/scooters this Christmas and they ride (speed) up and down the street and don't even use helmets! The law here requires helmets for bicycles so you'd think the parents would demand they wear them .... but they (kids) always get "their way" but this will change when one of them is seriously hurt! They even ride through this neighborhood at night with no lights attached to their motor cycles. Where are the parents? I'll tell you where... they've been stupidified by our nanny government (both liberal and Konservative) and are incapable of using common sense. They need someone to pass a law and regulate their lives otherwise it doesn't occur to them. The scooters are new, so they don't think they're as dangerous as motorcycles/bicycles. When their kid goes brain dead after smashing their skull on an a-pilar, they'll show up all teary eyed on Oprah talking about those murderscooters. "If I only knew... Oprah, if I can only reach all those mothers out there. If I can only save the life of one child..." Oh yes and don't forget the multi-million dollar study and appropriations to law enforcement so they can form "scooter patrols" with a cute slogan imploring you to follow the new law. --------------------------------------------------------------- Useful George Bush stats: Born 1946 Graduated 1975 (29 years to attain Masters) First known job 1989 (bought Texas Rangers with daddy's money) --------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
In article , Cathy Weeks says...
Jon Walters wrote in message ... First of all -- the kids of this generation are spoiled and "do no wrong" in the eyes of their parents. They are right and you are wrong .... especially when a 13 year old wanted $40 to shovel the snow from my sidewalk recently. I told the kid I'll give him $10 and he walked away. Good. I'll wait until it melts before I pay that much. Ah, so you think just because he's 13, he ought to do it for less than an amount that he considers worth his time? He doesn't owe you service. The only thing I can think of is that he might not have been polite, and that's the only thing that he might have done wrong. But, I've seen people like you grump over the polite ones, too. Shoveling snow is hard work, and it's no fun. And if you contract with an agency that does stuff like that, they charge $75. So you should either pay up or shut up and do it yourself. I've heard this so many time before...old codgers who think the neighbor kids owe them labor for cheap. And for whatever reason, it's always over shoveling snow. Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 Yep. Like any contractor, he states a price, and the OP agrees or not. If it's obviously high, it can be one of several reasons. Perhaps the kid doesn't know the market. OK - he'll learn or lose out and go into another business. Maybe it's becuase it's a loooong walkway to shovel. Maybe it's because he know what the professionals *do* charge (would be awful high in my area, but I don't know the OP's area) and he's going to charge what they charge (and why not? - did the OP ectually expect a cheaper rate?). Finally, he may not *want* to do this job, except if it's very lucrative for him, and is coming in with the high bid - which is something real contractors do all the time. Especially if they can tell they build be building/working/whatever on a difficult job. So all the OP has to do is say "no deal". Which he did. Now as to what the actual problem is......???? Banty |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
In article , Demetrius XXIV and the
Gladiatores says... On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 01:05:03 -0500, Jon Walters wrote: About 7-8 teens (12-15) received these motor cycles/scooters this Christmas and they ride (speed) up and down the street and don't even use helmets! The law here requires helmets for bicycles so you'd think the parents would demand they wear them .... but they (kids) always get "their way" but this will change when one of them is seriously hurt! They even ride through this neighborhood at night with no lights attached to their motor cycles. Where are the parents? I'll tell you where... they've been stupidified by our nanny government (both liberal and Konservative) and are incapable of using common sense. They need someone to pass a law and regulate their lives otherwise it doesn't occur to them. The scooters are new, so they don't think they're as dangerous as motorcycles/bicycles. When their kid goes brain dead after smashing their skull on an a-pilar, they'll show up all teary eyed on Oprah talking about those murderscooters. "If I only knew... Oprah, if I can only reach all those mothers out there. If I can only save the life of one child..." Oh yes and don't forget the multi-million dollar study and appropriations to law enforcement so they can form "scooter patrols" with a cute slogan imploring you to follow the new law. You forgot - the law that will be passed, inevitably named "(Oprah's guest's deceased or brain-gorked kid's name)'s Law" Cheers, Banty |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
"Jon Walters" wrote in message ... Paul wrote: http://archive.thebrunswicknews.com/...ws%0A%09%09%09 snip You sound like my Mom. She REFUSED to let me have a mini bike when I was 12. Thumper |
#8
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
"Cathy Weeks" wrote in message m... Jon Walters wrote in message ... First of all -- the kids of this generation are spoiled and "do no wrong" in the eyes of their parents. They are right and you are wrong .... especially when a 13 year old wanted $40 to shovel the snow from my sidewalk recently. I told the kid I'll give him $10 and he walked away. Good. I'll wait until it melts before I pay that much. Ah, so you think just because he's 13, he ought to do it for less than an amount that he considers worth his time? He doesn't owe you service. The only thing I can think of is that he might not have been polite, and that's the only thing that he might have done wrong. But, I've seen people like you grump over the polite ones, too. Shoveling snow is hard work, and it's no fun. And if you contract with an agency that does stuff like that, they charge $75. So you should either pay up or shut up and do it yourself. I've heard this so many time before...old codgers who think the neighbor kids owe them labor for cheap. And for whatever reason, it's always over shoveling snow. Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 Oh Jeezuz, another overindulged maniac. Thumper Sons, Paul III 29, Film Technician and Musician William 22, Math Major and College Math Tutor, soon to be a High School Math Teacher. |
#9
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
"Scott in Aztlán" wrote in message ... On 8 Jan 2004 07:21:05 -0800, (Cathy Weeks) wrote: Jon Walters wrote in message ... especially when a 13 year old wanted $40 to shovel the snow from my sidewalk recently. I told the kid I'll give him $10 and he walked away. Good. I'll wait until it melts before I pay that much. Ah, so you think just because he's 13, he ought to do it for less than an amount that he considers worth his time? It has nothing to do with his age. It has everything to do with his own overinflated opinion of the value of his unskilled labor. $40 for half an hour's work? How many years of education and experience does the typical professional have to accumulate before he can earn $80/hour? Shoveling snow is hard work, and it's no fun. And if you contract with an agency that does stuff like that, they charge $75. Or you can hire Jose down in front of Home Depot to do it for $10/hour. I've heard this so many time before...old codgers who think the neighbor kids owe them labor for cheap. Wow, talk about your biases coloring your perceptions! Where did you get the idea that Jon believes the neighbor kid OWES him ANYTHING? All I saw was someone who refused to be overcharged for a mindless, menial task requiring no skills to perform. OBTW, I feel that I should be paid $50 for each of your USENET messages that I read. I feel that anything less than that is not worth my time. What's your address so I can send you my bill? -- I contribute to charity by not needing it. I just paid a migrant worker $1000.00 to fix my long suffering roof. No roofing company's would even consider it. It took franscisco about 4 hours and about 50.00 in materials. I would have gladly paid him $2000.00. $40.00 is just not a lot of money, unless your a Republican business owner trying to keep your workers down so you can make even more money for yourself. Thumper. Thumper |
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Rant: Over indulgent parents strike again
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