Originally Posted by blackcrossfire07
Excuse me.... I would say a couple things to you but not in this forum. Not sure who made you the boss/judge and jury around here.... or what gives you the right to jump in and attack me.
My conclusion is based on someone that deals with these kids each day. I read the entire thread. I am telling you as a fact that any teenager that walks up and says "I want to shake your hand" is being a wise crack. After they saw the lambo doors and talked with him it turned into a serious encounter and they were genuinely interested. That is when the good behavior and everything positive about the encounter occured. But their initial approach was that of an immature wise crack... designed to look good (and humorous) in front of their peers. This is a fact!
I am just telling you that if I saw a group of teenagers walking up to me and asked to shake my hand I would give them the boot and tell them to get lost. You people need to stop attacking me because this is a fourm and I am only speaking the truth. I am not trying to crap on anyones thread. I am simply telling you how the teenager mind works today. Ask any young educator in middle school and they will tell you exactly what I am saying.
I work with teenagers several times a week, and the one thing that will make them lose respect for you faster than anything is "lumping" them all into one group.
A teenager sarcastically shaking your hand in a classroom is a totally different scenario than a friendly gesture over a car.
I get the most sincere compliments from two groups of folks:
- The baby-boomer generation, and older. These guys have lived enough life to appreciate a beautiful car when they see one, and many I've spoken with say it reminds them of the classy sports cars from their heyday. Just last week, an elderly gentleman I had never met before walked up and said "Son, that's one fine automobile you got there". I thanked him, and sat and talked with him for quite a while, as he hearkened back to the old Studebakers and 30's era cars.
- Children from age 2 to 16. As we all know, kids are candid. The young ones (6 and under) waste no time in restraining the "WOW" statement, and "Cool car dude". As they get older, they tend to ask more about it, what it does, etc. There is a pack of teenagers that ride bikes/skateboards through my neighborhood on a daily basis, and they stop and talk to me every time I'm out washing it. They love it, and have asked how they can "get one" when it's their time to get behind a wheel. Kids these days YEARN for approval, nothing more and nothing less. If you simply come off your high-horse and give them genuine attention, they'll love you for it.
The only "negative" comments I receive are ones from jealous drivers that are my peers, who would rather eat their hat than cede a compliment to "someone other than themselves". Last week, a 24 year-old at work told me that my car was "decent, I mean I'd drive it I guess if I had to"... then I saw him climb into a '94 Civic with no two body panels the same color, and the car was slammed to the ground with a Japanese cartoon bobble-head on the dash. Seriously.
I smiled and said "I'm sure you would. Thanks".
It's a shame that my current generation's healthy 'adult' life is forfeited by their refusal to put others before themselves. By the time they figure out how dumb that stance is, they're up in their years and the calendar has fewer pages left to enjoy life. You can't go back and be nice to people once you've run out of friends.
Bottom line, don't be so d@mn cynical. Not every kid wants to make a fool of you. As Karl suggested, many are still genuine.
Careful who you cuss out and dismiss... these "kids" are the future generations that will vote on laws to keep your humble self plugged into life-support.