yourbuddy of Portland, ME Nice, we now have to fill in the blank comments. This is great.report abuse

anameutrust of Hallowell, ME Shawn replies,"but American Idol ???? Give me a break. These people are not forced to do this show. They are not in put in physical danger in any way."

Shawn, you ____ _____, when's the last time you _______ _____ _______? Can't you _______ ________ _______? You completely _________ _______ ________! Before you ______ ______ _____ again why don't you _______ _______ ______!? I've seen _______ that ________ _________ you.


As Ms. Lipkins points out, "the message that is being sent: it is ok to humiliate, demean, degrade and psychological(ly) harm another. This by the way, is part of the definition of hazing."

Whether one voluntarily submits or subjects himself to such treatment by others is not as important. That the punishment is not always physical is not important.

To conclude that "We are raising a bunch of wimpy children who can not take any form of criticism even it is is given positively" with the implication that hazing is a healthy way to "toughen them up" both exaggerates and does an injustice to what is meant by positive discipline. The "spoiled children" who represent our greatest challenge (and usually our greatest failures) are those who proceed from oppositional and defiant behaviors to conduct disorders and then to sociopathy.

These children, more often than not, come from homes where an abusive adult humiliated, demeaned, degraded, and psychologically harmed them, usually from an early age. This kind of hazing is frequently transgenerational and the liklihood that hazed children will become hazing adults is compounded by any cultural acceptance of such behaviors and attitudes.

Did my initial paragraph (which invited your projection of meaning) facilitate your attention, receptivity, or focus? Or, more likely, did it trigger a set that left you feeling attacked and oppositional?report abuse

Shawn Cram of Hollis, ME Susan,

I agree that hazing on campuses can be a problem, but American Idol ???? Give me a break. These people are not forced to do this show. They are not in put in physical danger in any way. If anything the contestants should be 18 or older because it looks to me like parents are pimping out their children for fame. (Another issue). We are raising a bunch of wimpy children who can not take any form of criticism even it is is given positively. We have to make sure their feelings are not hurt all of the time. Sometimes children (especially teens) just need to be told to cut the crap or to simply be told "NO !". All of this feel good crap is ridiculous. Sorry for the rant, but I have seen a huge increase in the "spoiled child" category in the last 8-9 years and feel this will eventually catch up to us.report abuse

Yankee_Biker of Augusta, ME Chlorine for the gene pool.report abuse