Is it true that many parents find it easy to blame their teenagers for every problem the teen faces? Sometimes parents are also responsible for the teens' problem, but they don't think about that.

No I don't think it is a true statement. Most teens do not own up to what they deal with. They are to busy playing the blame game, when my teen has done something and I know I had nothing to do with it or her decision. Then she is the blame. I have tried to teach her that she is responsible for her own actions and the choices she makes.

Whenever i ask teenagers, they tell me that the parents don't understand their problems and don't support them. This is unfortunately the opinion of the majority of teens. the words they use are at times unprintable. It is sad.

Teenagers have lot of anger for parents.

I know he is not exactly a roel model for teenagers anywhere, but I once heard Marliyn Manson say something on TV that I've tried to keep in my mind when dealing with my older children.

I don't remember what the subject was, but the interviewer asked Marilyn Manson what he would say to his teenager if they came to him in trouble or with a problem. And MM said to him "I woulnd't say ANYTHING to him, I would LISTEN to what he had to say".

I think way too many people talk AT teenagers but not TO them.

Very true.

That was in Michael Moore's "Bowling for Colombine" when one of the opinions aired was that Marilyn Manson should have been held responsible, in part, for the carnage, due to the influence of his lyrics.

I personally think this is claptrap....And even Michael Moore said it was one of the most logical and sensible things he had ever heard. While I grant you that Music, films and general media are influential in their messages or transmission, the question begs asking, if anything is that influential, why isn't every kid looking for a gun?

On a different note, Charleton Heston was made to look a complete idiot, in his role of pro-gun lobyist. And rightly so.

I have no respect for him and those like him, in this regard.

"The TV made me do it."

Nah. Doesn't work for me, either.

There was an interesting study about the development of the brain in teens. The authors reported many teens don't appear to be capable of empathy, guilt or higher order thinking as the portion of the brain managing these functions isn't fully developed.

I could buy into that. There are exceptions, thankfully, but most of the teens I work with truly don't seem to be able to manage empathy and guilt--at least not well.

I would have to differ on that opinion...and I'm not arguing the point with you, Lynn - it's the findings....

In my experience (and I used to be around children a lot, working as a school governor with primary school children....4 - 11 year olds) children are very, very capable of telling right from wrong, from an early age, and what is more, feel injustices very acutely...And I bet anyone here with strong childhood memories will remember doing naughty things as a kid, AND feeling guilty about it....

Sorry, I don't buy the findings....

Maybe they simply have a greater capacity to give a damn...it's not so much an absence of guilt, but an over-developped sense of selfishness....
Now THAT, I could relate to....

Thanks for setting me straight on that quote. I just remember it struck as surprising that someone like him would make such a sensible statement!