Your opinions on generational attitudes?

balletshoes

londonsurrey wrote: »

Just to see what the prevailing view is on these matters in this day and age

Scenario:

Gathering in house of couple in their 70s, have two sons who are in their 40s, both with partners.

One son has 3 children, aged 16, 19 and 4.


House has 5 seats in living room. Obviously, not everyone will have a seat, and the floor will do for some.


Teenage children seat themselves on the sofa, and don't help the grandparents with drinks. Grandparents have bad legs and are cheerful, but will accept help from visitors with doing drinks.


What is expected these days? For the children to give up seats or not?

in my family's homes, the teenagers probably would take a vacant sofa seat - and then when asked to move for granny, grandad, mum or dad, would be expected to, and would, move and sit on the floor. Mum or Dad would help the grandparents with the drinks, the teenagers wouldn't, unless asked to do so.

londonsurrey

The 40 year olds were otherwise occupied, one was a touch inebriated and the others were occupied with various tasks, leaving the teenagers perched on the sofa doing nothing, the only ones not inebriated, sorting out things, entertaining the young 'un or making tea.

balletshoes

londonsurrey wrote: »

How about the 40 year olds? Would you expect the teenagers to give up the seats to someone who is fit, but older?

once asked, yes I would expect that.

balletshoes

londonsurrey wrote: »

The 40 year olds were otherwise occupied, one was a touch inebriated and the others were occupied with various tasks,
leaving the teenagers perched on the sofa doing nothing,
the only ones not inebriated, sorting out things, entertaining the young 'un or making tea.

thats what school-age teenagers do though, isn't it ? They're in their own little bubble until they get a bit more mature and realise there are other people in the world.

Mojisola

burnoutbabe wrote: »

most teens don't make a great cup of tea!

As someone who had to make a decent pot of tea and serve the tea and cakes to others in order to get one of my first Brownie badges - so aged about 7 - I can't understand parents who don't make sure their children have these basic skills.

Marisco

If my kids (now adults) would have sat down when older folk were standing, they'd have got "the look" off me, and would have shifted pretty sharpish!! Their dad would have just told them "move"!! Although I must say I wouldn't expect them to make coffee/tea etc though, I'd prefer to do that myself.

balletshoes

Mojisola wrote: »

As someone who had to make a decent pot of tea and serve the tea and cakes to others in order to get one of my first Brownie badges - so aged about 7 - I can't understand parents who don't make sure their children have these basic skills.

I don't know anyone who makes a pot of tea, we all just drink coffee or tea from a teabag in a cup .

londonsurrey

balletshoes wrote: »

thats what school-age teenagers do though, isn't it ? They're in their own little bubble until they get a bit more mature and realise there are other people in the world.

I don't know, this is where I wonder about today's world, and whether I'm out of synch. From my earliest memories onwards, children were always expected to defer to adults for seats, so even when I became a grumpy teenager, this behaviour was automatic for me and the children around me.

Maybe it's just the people I've encountered prior to this. My old neighbour, with 4 children now aged 16-25, certainly held to this, and her children would immediately vacate seats when adults came into the room.

DKLS

Teens on the floor, no hesitation at that one, if they grumble thats the opportunity to humiliate or embarrass them which is a doddle at that age.

e.g. Do you remember when Tommy shat himself in B&Q?

andygb

Marisco wrote: »

If my kids (now adults) would have sat down when older folk were standing, they'd have got "the look" off me, and would have shifted pretty sharpish!! Their dad would have just told them "move"!! Although I must say I wouldn't expect them to make coffee/tea etc though, I'd prefer to do that myself.

:beer:
Obviously brought up correctly, with a healthy respect for elders, and parents who tried to instil a little bit of social ettiquette at an early age.
However, if parents continually pander to surly children, and fail to address their lack of manners/social graces, then they will grow up to be yobbos.