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U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

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Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#151

Post by arvinsim »

chongli wrote: post #66
e40 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can tell you that as a parent of an 18 yr old, I've always encouraged him to go out and be with his friends. Since he was 12, he's much preferred to meet online in games. Whole groups of them. Whooping and hollering until the wee hours of the morning, when they can. But, I generally agree with your statement. Oh, I have a son, some it might be vastly different for daughters.

Video games have brought an unprecedented transformation in the way young boys spend their free time, and not all for the good. As a volunteer who tutors kids in high school (and a former "hardcore gamer") and middle school I will say, anecdotally speaking, that they've made boys more sedentary, more isolated, and less interested in school. I think the most insidious aspect of video games is that they are a success s…

Video games were also a very big part of my life. While it was fun and brought a lot of memories, I would still rate it as a net negative. There were so many opportunities that I missed(academically, socially, romantically, financially) because I would just prefer to either play in the arcades all day or play with my friend's house on their consoles.

While I would probably still enjoy playing video games, I have actively went out of my way to avoid them. I have replaced them with healthier solitary activities IMO(music production, UI design) or more outgoing activities like cultural meetups, hiking and the like.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#152

Post by pram »

barry-cotter wrote: post #121
cududa wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dunno, when I did cub scouts / Boy Scouts even 20 years ago it was basically glorified arts and crafts

By all accounts the experience varies enormously between troops. I’m sure someone who learned enough wilderness survival skills for it to be useful in their military career will pop up in the comments, and some more who suffered as you did.

Id imagine it can be good if you’re never exposed to camping/survival otherwise.

I had to go through SERE for aircrew (which is in Spokane, WA) and that was the first time in my life I was ever out in the woods. It was such an insane shock and learning experience. I think there’s a lot of value being exposed to that stuff even if you have no desire to do it recreationally.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#153

Post by DanBC »

Zenst wrote: post #81
paulsutter wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely kids still try to make gunpowder, what are you talking about? And for who but kids are pocket knives and chenistry sets made? > there was a time when making explosives was a childhood right of passage along with chemistry sets, making fires, even having a pocket knife.

In the UK, both are now illegal, can't even sell a knife to anybody under 18, same with glue and many things above and beyond alcohol and tobacco. Equally, having a knife in public, would be mandatory jail in the UK in the current climate. For a child, they would be taken into care and some serious nightmares for the parents from social services and the police. As for explosives, all the above, but far worse. By defa…

> Equally, having a knife in public, would be mandatory jail in the UK in the current climate.

No, this is untrue, please don't spread misinformation like this.

If you're carrying a small and legal knife you're okay. If you're carrying a bigger knife but have a good reason you're okay. It's only if you're taking a knife into a football stadium or school or if you're affiliated with a gang that you're going to risk prosecution, and even then jail would be unusual.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/offensive-weapons-kniv...

Here's the CPS saying that youths may not even be charged, let alone receive a prison sentence:

> The first arrest of a youth aged 16 years or over, for simple possession of an offensive weapon or sharply pointed blade, with no aggravating factors will normally result in a charge.

> The first arrest of a youth aged under 16 years for simple possession of an offensive weapon or sharply pointed blade, with no aggravating factors, will result, in a Youth Caution or a Youth Conditional Caution. This must be supported by an appropriate YOT intervention, preferably with elements focussed on anti-knife crime education. For a youth under 16 years, an out of court disposal which is not a youth caution or a youth conditional caution should not be used.

The sentencing council has guidance here: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/publications/item/blade...

For "Section 139 Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Bladed and Pointed Articles)" the recommendation is here: https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-co...

> Maximum: 4 years’ custody

> Offence range: Fine – 2 years 6 months’ custody

But you need to read it to work out what tips it into prison sentence vs a fine.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#154

Post by DanBC »

chillingeffect wrote: post #131
Zenst wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The official line is:- https://www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/possession-of-... However, interpretation of what threatening is varies and for some people say walking a dog, the sight of a knife of any form would be a call to the police - however legal or not. This and the internet has demonstrated time and time again, that whatever is said or done - their will always be some who will take offence. Take a look…

Wow, so if I, say buy a cooking knife and get "caught" carrying it home from the store, "A court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife if you’re charged with carrying it illegally." Or if I take a chef's knife to a friend's house to cook dinner with them, the same court will intervene? Presumably following an arrest? That second link is just so creepy to me (pacifist American). I can see how it use…

You've been given misinformation.

If you're carrying a cooking knife there's no reason to stop you or search you. But if somehow there is a reason to stop and search you, and you have your new knife in its packaging with a receipt the police will say "what's this?" and you'll say "it's a cooking knife I've just bought and am taking home" and they'll say no more about it unless eg you have a conviction for stabbing people or you have a restraining order against you because you've threatened to kill someone.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#155

Post by arvinsim »

justwalt wrote: post #133
hardwaregeek wrote: post #116

Idk if this is specific to my generation, but us young people suck at hanging out. People never confirm whether or not they're going to an event. They flake all the time, often without warning. If they're not flaking, they're perpetually late, often absurdly (nothing like getting to a place and getting a text about just leaving). It drives me nuts. But it's so ubiquitous, it's hard to take a stand against it. It's li…

The flaking is terrible, oh my goodness. It’s hard to find friends who won’t do that to you.

People are just less invested in meeting in person nowadays with the ubiquity of social media as well as the increasing demands of society on our time.

People who never flake out now gets a lot of respect from me since they respect my time.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#156

Post by diminish »

It maybe be a good development, like a preparation for lonely future life in space exploration where most people will live in harmony with robotic beings and drive avatars, rovers and drones in a game like environment.

Also it will cease epidemics easier and social anxiety.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#157

Post by Symbiote »

chillingeffect wrote: post #131
Zenst wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The official line is:- https://www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/possession-of-... However, interpretation of what threatening is varies and for some people say walking a dog, the sight of a knife of any form would be a call to the police - however legal or not. This and the internet has demonstrated time and time again, that whatever is said or done - their will always be some who will take offence. Take a look…

Wow, so if I, say buy a cooking knife and get "caught" carrying it home from the store, "A court will decide if you’ve got a good reason to carry a knife if you’re charged with carrying it illegally." Or if I take a chef's knife to a friend's house to cook dinner with them, the same court will intervene? Presumably following an arrest? That second link is just so creepy to me (pacifist American). I can see how it use…

Back to reality, there's no problem with all reasonable purposes to carry a knife, like after purchase or for cooking. There's no problem carrying a Swiss Army knife. The police aren't looking for knives like this, and if they do find one for some reason, they are very unlikely to arrest you.

If you've gone to a bar after your dinner party, and you're carrying the "cooking" knife somewhere accessible (like your pocket), that could be a problem for you.

Children in rough areas should interpret the rules less favourably.

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#158

Post by Symbiote »

Simon_says wrote: post #143
Zenst wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The official line is:- https://www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/possession-of-... However, interpretation of what threatening is varies and for some people say walking a dog, the sight of a knife of any form would be a call to the police - however legal or not. This and the internet has demonstrated time and time again, that whatever is said or done - their will always be some who will take offence. Take a look…

That looks like a parody website. Just to be clear, though, it's not, right?

It is not.

A website is a much cheaper way of "doing something" than solving the underlying problems of poverty and drug violence.

This surprised me: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/09/british-soma...

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#159

Post by Animats »

Juvenile violent crime rates are falling in sync with teens spending less time with others. Compare the chart in [1] with the parent article.

Maybe the rate of violent crime is roughly constant for time spent with others.

[1] https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2019/vanishing-violence/

Re: U.S. teens are spending less time with their friends in person

#160

Post by Symbiote »

BFLpL0QNek wrote: post #125
ada1981 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friends and I grew up field testing pretty much everything in the anarchist cook book. Our summers were filled making exotic explosives and blowing things up. It’s a wonder we all lived, with no major injuries or jail time. Our antics would land a kid these days in Guantanamo Bay.

Having a copy of the anarchist / jolly roger cookbook would have you serving jail time in 2019. I remember a time where you would see printed copies at car boot sales or numerous geocity copies.

Not on its own. It's been considered additional evidence for (planning) terrorism as far as I know.
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