Kids today, where does one begin to describe them?
So many kids are great and mindful.
Some kids have attitudes that they love to throw in adult people's faces.
Kids telling off strangers has become a constant.
Not every stranger is going to just take it through.
Redditor ImpressionPopular794 wanted to discuss her experience and get some feedback, so naturally, she came to the "Am I The A**hole" (AITA) subreddit.
She asked:
"AITA For Telling A Little Girl That Her Parents Should Be Disappointed In Her?"
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
"Earlier today, I was doing some grocery shopping, and I was just finishing up to head up to the check-out to pay for my items."
"A little girl, probably 11 or 12, and a friend that looked about the same age, came up to me and asked if I would be willing to make a purchase for them."
"It immediately raised red flags, so I asked what type of purchase."
"She tried to beat around the bush for a couple of seconds, saying that 'it's not actually for me, it's for my friend, but I promised her I would get it for her.'"
"I told her that I would not be making any purchase for her that she cannot make for herself."
"Because I had a feeling that it was for alcohol."
"She got a little irritated with me and asked why."
"I told her that if she could go ask her mom, and her mom would say no, it was NOT my place to say yes."
"I made a comment about how she needed to be a bit more mindful of coming up to people that she doesn't know in this manner."
"And that it can be dangerous."
"She got incredibly angry and started cussing me out."
"She called me a fat cow and a 'dried up old bi*ch.'"
"I am 24."
"So whatever."
"But I went to walk away, and as I turned around, I heard her say, 'she's probably a d*ke too."'
"I about lost it."
"I turned back around, stood right in front of her, leaned down so I was on her level, and said, 'Little girl, you need to go home to your parents right now and tell them that they should be disappointed in your behavior. That is NOT how you speak to people.'"
"She started laughing, and she and her friend walked away."
"I feel like I'm TA in my response to her."
"I feel like I should have just ignored her and walked away."
"But in my mind, if I don't at least attempt to shut that behavior when I see it, I am not doing my due diligence to society."
"Some people's children are never told no."
"And they feel comfortable saying anything they want."
"I don't know why a 12-year-old has me shaken up, but is this really what kids are like right now?"
"I don't have any yet."
"But that scares me."
"What is making them like this?"
The OP was left to wonder:
"So... AITA?"
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed in on some options to the question, AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You're The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
- INFO - More Information Needed
Redditors declared that OP was NOT the A-hole.
"NTA. Just because they are kids doesn't mean they should get away with treating people like that."
"My husband told off some teenage boys a while back, and they just got sh*ttier. He said 10/10 he would do that again because he's going to call out a**hole behavior, whether it's adults or kids."
"And I am that mum who tells her kids off in public for the added shame."
"If my kids are going to be a**holes, I don't care where we are, they are going to get told."
"I don't care if people are staring and they are embarrassed; they should be embarrassed."
"I'm not raising entitled a**holes."
"I will not stand for producing sh*tty people into the world." ~ JustWordsInYourHead
"I was queuing for an eatery a while back when this mom left her teenage son (who looked around 13) with his little brother (about 7 years old) in line in front of me."
"The teenager saw his friends and left to be with them for some time, walking out of sight of his little brother and leaving him alone among an entire shopping mall of strangers."
"I'm a teacher of younger kids, so I was looking out for the little guy and chatted a little bit with him till his brother came back some 20 minutes later."
"Gave him a piece of my mind because the little guy could have gotten kidnapped or whatever."
"The teenager was PISSED and told his mom about me when she got back, making excuses that he 'didn't even go that far,' probably expecting his mom to go off on me."
"Mom thanked me instead and scolded Teenager loudly in front of everyone... lol."
"I still have some faith in younger parents nowadays." ~ JojoBizarreAdventure,
"She's probably like this because of her parents."
"You're not the a**hole for not buying her stuff, but you sound a bit naive."
"Most likely, she has that attitude because that's what her parents are teaching her, or they don't care."
"So your choice of words was unfortunate." ~ feline_gold
"Yeah... the replies here saying she should've been even more of an a**hole are quite bad advice."
"It's still a child. "
"Trying to 'break bad' on kids with this type of perspective does nothing but make a fool out of you."
"It was the wrong move, because it was a reactive response from OP due to hurt feelings."
"Children like this don't respond well to being spoken to in a condescending manner."
"She's used to being treated like sh*t by her folks."
"She won't care if a stranger treats her like she's nothing, too."
"To be an effective teacher or role model in this situation, you have to be firm but factual." ~ o_wat
"Personally, NTA."
"The village disappeared, and I feel like parents are sometimes not as involved or knowledgeable as they think they are. "
"Also, you used people and not elders or whatever."
"That is clearly not how you speak to people who have declined an unreasonable request."
"I let insults to my person go a lot of the time, but I do wonder how those children grow up." ~ Roaming_Cow
NTA- Nah, kids are a**holes these days because parents don't want to be parents and want to be nice guys and 'work with them gently,' like their kid is just going to magically understand and never do wrong again."
"I would have called a manager loudly over and loudly said what these girls are trying to do, and does anyone recognize them, and someone should call the cops because these girls are trying to commit a crime."
"And then remind them of the cameras, because they seem stupid." ~ pecileci
"NTA i guess this is what a village is for a kid."
"I agree that strangers have no right to parent other people's kids, but when they start being rude or causing troubles and the parent is not doing anything, someone has to step in because these bad ones will be our future toxic adults or worse, criminals." ~ Lurker_friend24
"NTA, but I doubt her parents would be disappointed or even care."
"Behavior like that doesn't come out of nowhere; it begins at home."
"As others have said, though, a lot of dangerous people out there who would take advantage of her."
"You did the right thing flagging that." ~ andyjh64
"NTA. You let her off easy."
"I don't let my kids be disrespectful, and I'll be damned if some random child is going to be."
"And I don't care if her parents have a problem with it, one of the main things you're responsible for as a parent is preparing your child to be successful in life, and acting like that isn't it."
"Some kids aren't taught basic home training by their parents and have to learn some way."
"I was one of those kids who had to learn the hard way, and now that I'm older, I appreciate the lessons I got from strangers." ~ Ok_Profession_990
"NTA. You should have been meaner."
"Kids these days are absolutely f*cking savage to each other."
"A lecture isn't gonna land; she won't feel the slightest bit of guilt.
"But if you clap back and call her an embarrassing f*cking clown and tell her to get the f*ck out of there before you call security, that's gonna make a lasting impression."
"My significant other told me about something her mom once said in reply when she was being an unruly little sh*t.
"'Don't talk to me like I'm one of your scummy f*cking buddies.'"
" It made such a lasting impression that she remembers it 20 years later."
"If a kid is gonna talk to an adult like one of their scummy f**king buddies, give them the same back." ~ PM_ME_YOUR_REPO
"NTA, you were honest and did the right thing, not getting her alcohol."
"I would be surprised if the adults in her life are keeping tabs enough to be disappointed."
"Sometimes that is the best thing you can do for kids."
"Just let them know, hey, I have standards for you and you can for yourself." ~ silentscientist1901
"NTA. You were polite enough."
"It is concerning that an 11-12-year-old is approaching strangers to buy them stuff and reacting like that when they’re told no."
"If she indeed wanted alcohol, that’s an ever redder red flag." ~ MightyBean7
"NTA. That kid was super rude."
"She totally deserved an admonishment."
"Though chances are her parents suck and won't care about the stuff she does."
"So some other words back likely have fit better here."
"NTA, I probably would have alerted store management afterwards to have them removed from the store." ~ Cactuar_1000
Wow! That is a lot of "tough" talk from a little girl.
Reddit is with you, OP.
She had no right to speak to you that way.
You did what you thought was best.
Try not to worry about it.
