Do you think some kids are born to be little s***’s or just raised that way?!

[MummyGina]

So, I live down the road from a lovely little park and beyond that is the shops. The park is well maintained and has a fairly substantial green space, lots of trees and a kids park and so on...

Anyways, every morning I take my lovely little dude (1) for a stroll through the park and then usually to the shop and back again - and what I love about it is that it’s home to an astonishing number of squirells. From what I can tell everyone loves them, they are forever being watched by kiddies and are so used to people they will take food straight out of your hand. We often take some monkey nuts with us and give them some as my DS absolutely loves animals and I swear it’s his favourite part of the day!

Anyway.... this afternoon I realised I forgot tea bags so I nipped back out to the shop. On the way past I noticed a group of what appeared to be 13-14 year olds hanging out on a bench with a few bottles. Not earth shattering, I know. But on the way back that same group of boys were under one of the trees about 50m away from me. They were jumping up and ripping off branches and then throwing them back up at the tree. I wondered what an earth they were doing then I noticed I could hear the squealing of a terrified squirrel - it was so fraught I thought it might be on the ground and injured so I did stop a second to check but thankfully they were more focused on the tree than the ground.

As I had little one with me, I couldn’t really do much - but it got me thinking. If my DS grows up and does something like this I would be livid and beyond disappointed and I cannot fathom how a kid would find joy in terrorising an animal.

So, going back to the title- do you think some kids are just inherently evil or do you think it’s taught? Or a mix of the two? And do you think their parents are aware or this behaviour? And do they care or are they just as bad?

Sorry for the essay, but I would be interested to get some opinions!

Apparently I put it in the wrong group facepalm oh well, see what comes back!

When children are born they are a blank canvas. Everything they do or are is learnt from someone or somewhere.

Knowing what is right or wrong is also learnt from someone or somewhere.

I think a small part of it is nature. I think a large part of it is nurture.

Teenage boys do alot of stupid and horrible stuff for bravado and playing up to their mates. At least that's what I experienced as a teacher in school.
Peer pressure and bravado.

Teenage boys can be right idiots in groups. If it happens again you could call 101, not for the squirrel (sadly) but because they're underage drinking, destroying the tree and antisocial behaviour.

90% nature, 10% nurture. One of my nephews was definitely born a complete and utter little shit.

Most behaviours are the product of a mix of nature and nurture. Some kids will manage to survive bad upbringing better than others. Some will be less swayed by peer pressure (for good or ill) than others. Some will turn out bad 'uns despite the best efforts of their parents.

The kids you describe sound bored and not raised with respect or manners. I’m adopted so the nature/nurture debate has always fascinated me. I think it’s a mix of both tbh.

I used to do that, if I was trying to get me some conkers to play, erm, conkers. I’m going to have a wild stab and guess they weren’t doing that, unless there’s a nice conkers app now.

Haha sicario... at least your honest thankfully my nephews are awesome! Its interesting to see a difference of opinion, in a strange way I have always found these issues intriguing as I find it so hard to imagine what goes through these people’s heads!

A squirrel just sat in a tree squeeling with fright? Are you sure? I would have imagined it would just scamper off to safety. Squirrels round my way have much more sense.

Pretty sure no conkers were involved I’m afraid!

When children are born they are a blank canvas.This 'theory' has been completely disproved. A lot is nature. DD for example is a risk taker, very very active, fast to approach and lacks fear. She could easily be an absolute nightmare. My friend has a girl who is very shy, very leg-clinging, very fearful. She would never be. The rest is upbringing.

Raffle - they appear to be getting a bit more defensive at the moment, maybe the shift in weather they are getting more protective of their stock and warm spaces. Can only imagine it was then feeling a bit trapped (and having sticks thrown at its face I’m sure wasn’t fun either!)

Children are not born a blank canvas. Many mental health issues, for example, have genetic links. It's definitely a mix of nature and nurture. Also peer pressure plays a big part of behaviour at that age.

I have 2 kids and brought them up the same one of them is polite and well behaved the other one is not. I think it’s a multitude of factors but my child who is not well behaved is not allowed free reign to throw crap at squirrels/gone for hours doing god knows what. She’s at home with me focusing on trying to do well at school GCSE’s for her future.

I don't believe any kid is evil but families have complex dynamics. One of my good friends is a health professional and a lovely mum but her son is a bully. Maybe it's the dad's relationship with him, peer influence, it baffles me. But no way did she bring him up like that on purpose.

I think it's mostly nature! My siblings and I (there are 6 of us) were all brought up exactly the same but we're all different, one of us was definitely born a little shit! One was born naturally selfish. One was born totally selfless etc etc

Although at that age I believe friends shape who we are/what we do so much.

I suppose looking at siblings is a fair point, in fact I am one of three siblings and we are all very different - but I am quite a different age to the other two, I wonder if that could have made an impact as well 🤔

Totally disagree with blank canvass. Both my friends have 4 children. All completely different.

I have an 11 year old and 9 year old. My eldest has always been easy and a real joy. His brother fights me every step of the way. Always has done. They were brought up the same.

Every child is different. Just look at babies some are chilled,some are absolute nightmares,some feed a lot,some don't,some sleep a lot some don't.
As for being little shits or evil,yes some do have the capacity of being so but that's where nurture and socialisation come in.
Just like some kids are perfectly ok but trauma or nurture and socialisation fucks them up.
They're interlinked..and constantly changing (no absolutes). Being a little shit as a kid doesn't mean you'll grow up to be an evil person. Just like being a little angel doesn't guarantee being a decent person.
There's no black and white looking at kids or grownups..just a lot of grey and a shitloads of opportunities to get it wrong..or right.