Not all teens are rude

I am so sick of people judging teenagers or “youths” as they call us, writes our Teen Blogger, Rhian, pictured.  I was on the bus the other day and me and my mates we’re sitting at the back because there’s more room at the back and we can all sit together.

The people who got on the bus took one look at us and sat as far from the back as they could, when all the front seats were taken up people would stand so they wouldn’t have to sit next to us. We felt like outcasts!

Best of it was we weren’t being rude or loud. I understand why some people may be like that round teenagers because of all the stuff you hear in news, but half the time they only print half the story.

For example, in August this year there was a story about some teenagers putting washing up liquid in the ponds up by the courts. The police automatically accused all the ‘grebs’ who hang up there, which has now given them a bad name.

The article said that the teenagers were “imature with nothing better to do”, which in a way is true, the only reason they hang round the courts is because all these parks the council are wasting money on are being used by older teenagers who drink and do drugs.

Now see, I thought the police would be more concerned with that than some teenage prank?

I’m not saying what the select few did was right but it doesn’t mean people can accuse all teenagers of being like that. I was taught at school never to judge a book by its cover, but isn’t this exactly what these people are doing?

• Rhian is the Shropshire Star’s new teen blogger, speaking out on the issues that interest and effect her. Comment on Rhian’s blog by clicking here 

YOUR COMMENTS:

I totally agree with Rhian. I grew up in Market Drayton and went to secondary school in Wem. Spending time with my friends would prove difficult as we naturally didn’t want to stay in the house all day in the way of the ‘grown ups’ – so going out to the local park would always be the first port of call until the real ‘trouble-makers’ would turn up.
Drifting away from such purpose-built recreational facilities would cause us to seek refuge elsewhere in the town, where for just walking around and laughing we would quite often be looked upon as causing trouble.
What else are teenagers supposed to do? Rhian is absolutely right to point towards those who may sell and take drugs in such locations. They are the ones who are causing harm, not Rhian and her friends. People should not generalise about young people because all they are doing is alienating them.
Kate (a 24-year-old who has grown up not to stereotype teenagers)

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