My dad says times have changed....

[dkff49]

umm hillbillys been growing weed for city boys all along.

marry jane not what i am concerned about. it is the much harder stuff that keeps me busy at work out in hillbilly land.

[1carbine]

What does state matter, and probably marijuana.

Depending on what state it could be legal for him to carry the firearm.

[1carbine]

Times are tougher now for kids IMO, from when I went to school (mid 70s to 80s). More drugs in my time but we didn't have the violence and sex on TV and in music like there is now. School shootings were unheard of. We had no internet, music videos, or video games.
Now kids have cops stationed at school, piss tests to get a job, and the worry of wondering if some twit will bring a gun to school and shoot the place up. We used to carry our shotguns in gun racks in our trucks when we parked on school grounds. Everyone carried a pocket knife too. Nowadays the school will call in a SWAT team and lock you away for what we never gave a 2nd thought about.
Our society is going to hell in a hand basket now. And we can thank the media, big government, internet, video games, crack, MTV, taking prayer and spankings out of school, and a million other things for this. And it'll only get worse to the point where we implode from within, just as the Roman Empire did. We're losing our ethical, moral and family values more with each generation.  

I disagree on there being more drugs back, then yes they where everywhere but now the same things are still out there but the prescription stuff adds a lot more to the scene. I've seen friends on pot and on a few other things (the scene never appealed to me though) but my friends weren't my friends on that new prescription stuff. I agree with everything else though +1

[Gh0stFT]

guns at Basketball ? thats what we need. Everyone around tolerated this? It would not be
tolerated  here, maybe because a different culture, i dont know *shaking head*

[sntslilhlpr6601]

Times are tougher now for kids IMO, from when I went to school (mid 70s to 80s). More drugs in my time but we didn't have the violence and sex on TV and in music like there is now. School shootings were unheard of. We had no internet, music videos, or video games.
Now kids have cops stationed at school, piss tests to get a job, and the worry of wondering if some twit will bring a gun to school and shoot the place up. We used to carry our shotguns in gun racks in our trucks when we parked on school grounds. Everyone carried a pocket knife too. Nowadays the school will call in a SWAT team and lock you away for what we never gave a 2nd thought about.
Our society is going to hell in a hand basket now. And we can thank the media, big government, internet, video games, crack, MTV, taking prayer and spankings out of school, and a million other things for this. And it'll only get worse to the point where we implode from within, just as the Roman Empire did. We're losing our ethical, moral and family values more with each generation. 

Being from Arizona, I'd change 'crack' to 'meth'.

Also, nix the 'taking prayer out of school' and I agree. Things are bad and getting worse.

[1pLUs44]

Wow, stuff hasn't gotten that bad here when it comes to guns and drugs. BUT, Williamson County, Texas is probably one of the least favorable places to be doing that kind of stuff anywhere in Texas. Not too far back, they sent some alcoholic to life for his 8th DWI, where as in Travis County, he'd probably just get a slap on the wrists, night in jail, and a ticket, but Wil-co (Williamson County) made an example out of him.

http://www.realpolice.net/forums/police-officer-headlines-76/33968-man-gets-life-prison-8th-dwi-conviction.html

[fudgums]

I misunderstood.  I thought you said your father did not want you to play basketball there anymore due to the drug and gun experience.
I also thought you felt in disagreement with your father's decision and are now trying to prove some point you have in disagreement with your father to overturn his decision.  I misread one important sentence that threw me off.  It was the "All he said is that now you can't even play basketball without someone having a gun or drugs on them." part that I misread.

My fault.

Edit: Thanks for the benefit of doubt.  I think I came across as strong and ignorant in my earlier post.  

No problem, just curious.

[bagrat]

All he said is that now you can't even play basketball without someone having a gun or drugs on them.

I ask you all, have times changed or just a little worse than they used to be.  

u say that like its a bad thing...what if some crazy killer guy came runnin up to u guys, then u would be happy ol' boy had the gun to shoot em. Then u could all unwind from the craziness smokin a spliff.

[onan]

Growing up in London as a kid, we all played outside on the streets.  They were relatively safe back then.  A kid stabbing another kid to death was unheard of. 
Now there have been 10 or so kids murdered this year and it's only May.  Think it got up to 20 last year.
We didn't have electronic games or internet, mobile phones, the TV was boring for kids, it only had 3 channels and went off air at around midnight.
You knew everyone in your local area.  Playing outside got you acquainted with your community.  It was good for you.
Schools taught discipline, respect and encouraged initiative. The kids were healthy.  Sport at school was aimed at getting you fit.  The local parks full of Kids playing football, rugby etc...

Now, as a father of 5.  Ages, 16, 9, 6, 5, 4, I see the change.
Society doesn't want kids out playing in the streets. 
They can talk to each other on mobile phones, meet face to face on the webcam, MSN or chatrooms.  Video games and Youtube, Satellite TV.  They can keep fit with the Wii, balancing on a silly plastic board.
They don't know thier neighbours, they don't play outside without me or my wife's suppervision.
My street is now mostly immigrants.  Non English speaking.  I don't know them, I can't communicate with most of them.
The schools now don't challenge bad behavior.  IMO They accept it and excuse it.
Weapons and drugs, porn are all too accessible and available to kids.

I am moving my family out of London next year.

Things have definitely changed

[bagrat]

no kidding, todays kid arent welcome to play outside unless its with an organized group in which have to pay to be in and is under strict supervision with regulations.

not too long ago my friends and i would wander the neighborhood playing football, hide and seek whatever. we got into a habit of having to talk to the cops and explain ourselves as neighbors would call the police on us often, because of "suspicious" kids out side who may be planning to break into there houses. hell even if we were at a park playing police would come up to us making sure we werent doin drugs an spray painting things.

i kinda asked for this one but still, when i was around 11 one time me and a friend were shooting cans outside with a bb gun. we were not shooting cars or people just cans an boxes. well 5 people called the police on us, we were held gunpoint when 6 squad cars pulled up each with 2 shotgun an pistol weilding police screaming at us to put the gun on the ground and put our hands in the air...we were both handcuffed and thrown in the back of squad cars that day.....ahh the good ol days

so actually its kinda ironic from a young persons point of view when older folks say things like "why dont u kids go outside and play like when we were younger instead of playing ur gamestation 360 box?" well we would if u guys werent callin the cops on us all the time lol.

[Penguin]

See Rule #14

[ACE]

At my school fud people do that stupid stuff all the time.

I honestly get offerd drugs and alchol everyday and night, still to this day i'm clean and ill never do that stuff. Most likely because you'll regret it someday.

  Spektor

[uptown]

See Rule #14

[uptown]

marry jane not what i am concerned about. it is the much harder stuff that keeps me busy at work out in hillbilly land.

My wife and I moved to Iowa because it'd be a good place to raise kids. When we got here, we learned about the stuff they call "meth". It's even in the Amish community now. It's truly sad to see young promising men and women totally ruining their lives on this crap.
If you're out there combating stuff like this, you have my deepest support and respect sir 

[gyrene81]

See Rule #14