UK teenagers are awful

[Fedupwithteenagers24]

I live between two villages in the UK. Both have playgrounds aimed at under tens. Both are frequently trashed. Broken bottles left there overnight, stuff sprayed over the equipment. This has been particularly bad over the summer holidays. Currently in Germany. Loads of playgrounds, toys are left there anyone can use them. Nothing is vandalised. Why are things so bad in the UK? And before I get asked neither the UK venue or German one have any areas aimed at teenagers. But somehow the German ones don’t wreck their surroundings.

Pretty sure there will be some vandalised playgrounds in Germany. Might just be the teenagers where you are, play parks near me are all fine.

YABU

I have worked with lots of teenagers in different roles.

They are people, just like any other age group there are a variety of different types.

As a group they have a difficult time, very little power, lots of expectations and criticism from others and their future isn't looking that rosy either.

Give them purpose and responsibility, opportunities for them to learn skills and be physically competent and you often see an improvement.

We need to do better by our children, including our teenagers. We need to invest more time and money in them.

How do you know it's teens doing it?

I don't know if a lack of facilities for young people in the evening is the problem. Or are we just a totally fucked up society. I do despair of how these people will grow up.

I sort of agree with you both

If it was just one playground in uk I would think just a bad group alas and they will grow up, but it's both villages.

And my working life was spent with teenagers. They were , by and large, funny inventive and great to be around. But they are dreadful in groups. Absolutely awful

Well that's true. I don't.

But I can't imagine who else who do it

@Fedupwithteenagers24 I'd say it's more likely to be adults who are drunk and/or on drugs.
They are more likely to be out at night and off their faces than teens.

Well teenagers have been wrecking playgrounds for years, and yes it’s pretty awful. I’ve got 2 teens and they are not awful, they wouldn’t trash a playground

Are you on holiday in Germany op? If so I'd guess you've chosen a nice area to visit.

I live in a very nice, coastal tourist spot in the UK. We don't generally have any problems with vandals either. The community council and various neighbourhood watch schemes would be out for blood! Hooligans go elsewhere to hooligan.

Sort of a holiday... babysitting grandson in Bavaria
The thing is the villages in the uk are in a lovely area. In no way a place where there is any financial deprivation

I grew up in the UK but now live in Australia, I agree with you, I think if that happened here it would literally make the local news. I think a difference is that teenagers here generally aren't allowed to roam the streets in big groups in the evening by their parents whereas in the UK that was pretty normal. Maybe German teens aren't allowed to either?

The playgrounds near me are fine, they’re not trashed. There are a few skate parks by here though so maybe the teens are more entertained. Is there not much for them to do where you live? I’m not saying it’s okay for them to trash playgrounds if there isn’t much to do though

Oh 100% this - teens are a complex group - and not some homogenised mass - I work with teens who have been through extreme trauma and each and everyone of them has something of worth - something that, with nurturing, could produce amazing things. I am amazed some of them can function, given their ACE's but they are an awesome bunch - my own teens are pretty cool as well.

Maybe it's drunk ass adults smashing bottles in the park? Maybe, due to cuts to youth services, they are just bored and frustrated, maybe, because they know people feel like you about them they just thing 'well fuck it' and live up to the stereotype ?

So it's my fault ?

Eh?

The teens around here make the play areas unusable. Smoking, drinking, lounging on the equipment. In some cases, drugs.

We are in city they are generally okay

I work with UK teens and can’t agree that they are awful. The ones I work with are great. Perhaps the ones in your area are over privileged and entitled? Or maybe it’s drugged up adults rather than kids destroying the playgrounds.

It’s because they know they can get away with it. There’s nothing to be done in all honesty.

The Germany that has a big problem with neonazis at the moment? That Germany?

I don't think you're comparing apples with apples.

They are fine round here but we are under a mile to a beach and the teenagers tend to go to the beach and swim/paddleboard/surf so I guess that have more interesting things to do.

Wasn't it teenagers who did the stabbings at that German festival?
It seems very odd to blame teens for something unless you've actually witnessed it.

The area I am in has more issues with climate change protesters than neo nazis

YANBU but buckle in because you’ll encounter fierce resistance for criticising anyone or anything as an OP.

It all boils down to poor parenting and zero respect. There’s a cop out excuse for everything and teens are treated, and described as, children.

Same here. Our local park is a meeting place for bored teenagers who want to vape, drink and practice their rubbish graffiti ‘street art’