johnny green balls Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 sad state of affairs in today's me first media generation. Materialistic society is 'damaging' children: poll Feb 26 05:31 AM US/Eastern Children feel under pressure to own the latest designer clothes and computer games and most adults believe the "commercialisation of childhood" is damaging young people's well-being, a poll said Tuesday. A survey by GfK NOP for the Children's Society showed that out of the 1,225 adults questioned, 89 percent felt that children are more materialistic now than in previous generations. Evidence submitted to the inquiry from children themselves suggests that they do feel under pressure to keep up with the latest trends, the society added. The poll is part of a larger inquiry into childhood and includes evidence by professionals and members of the public on issues such as lifestyle, learning, friends and family. Professor of child psychology Philip Graham -- who is leading the inquirys lifestyle theme -- believes that commercial pressures may have "worrying psychological effects" on children. "One factor that may be leading to rising mental health problems is the increasing degree to which children and young people are preoccupied with possessions; the latest in fashionable clothes and electronic equipment. "Evidence both from the United States and from the UK suggests that those most influenced by commercial pressures also show higher rates of mental health problems," he said. Commenting on the results of the poll, chief executive of the Childrens Society Bob Reitemeier said: "As adults we have to take responsibility for the current level of marketing to children. To accuse children of being materialistic in such a culture is a cop out. "Unless we question our own behaviour as a society we risk creating a generation who are left unfulfilled through chasing unattainable lifestyles." Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and patron of the inquiry, added: "Children should be encouraged to value themselves for who they are as people rather than what they own. "The selling of lifestyles to children creates a culture of material competitiveness and promotes acquisitive individualism at the expense of the principles of community and cooperation." Other results in the poll showed that just over 60 percent wants the government to ban junk food adverts and nearly 7 in ten agreed that violent video games make children more aggressive. The final report and recommendations of the Good Childhood Inquiry will be published in early 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 sad state of affairs in today's me first media generation. Depends on what you consider damaging. I think it does lead to a lot of kids robbing/stealing things they can't afford but they want. I know I grew up in an area where "materialistic society" led to a lot of people getting the $h!t kicked out of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tictac Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I see this trend, it sickens me. I prefer goodwill clothes to new expensive "cool" ones. People are gullible, they follow the leader like a bunch of sheep. And companies just eat it up as their new trend makes them millions, and just as quickly its out and people need to buy something new. Its going to be hard to deny a kid something when they are begging for it like their (social) life depends on it. Tough luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boozer76 Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 This has been going on a long time, from Z Cavaricci's to the Gap, to Abercrombie, and so on. While I agree in the idea that marketing materialistic items to kids so heavily is wrong, it's definitely nothing new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serphnx Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 What a retarded article. The media sensationalizes things stupidly sometimes (well okay all the time, but this one's harder to defend). We were all kids growing up once. It was the same back then too. The most popular kids had the richest parents and the most fun stuff. Then in HS, the guys with the expensive cars were generally the coolest. It's always been like that. It's been like that the past 50 years for the cars, and probably before that it was who had a horse buggy. Parties are generally at the rich kid's penthouse, not at the poor kid's apartment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickkotite Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I prefer goodwill clothes to new expensive "cool" ones. eeewwwwww. poor drago. he snuggles next to you, looking for some action and then smells the scent of the 80 year old dying woman that last wore your pants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 eeewwwwww. poor drago. he snuggles next to you, looking for some action and then smells the scent of the 80 year old dying woman that last wore your pants mothballs or the basement of a poor persons house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 sj will prolly agree that converse sneakers were the materialistic nemesis of our day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernJet Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 sj will prolly agree that converse sneakers were the materialistic nemesis of our day. hahah,, actually i was the first BBall player in our school to switch from converse to white addidas in about 1968ish,,coach was pissed,,he got a deal i think from local shoe guy for cons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alk Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 sj will prolly agree that converse sneakers were the materialistic nemesis of our day. I can't even think of all of them when I was a kid. All I know is that my parents didn't have much money and I didn't get any of them. My childhood has definately had an effect on the way I cave to stuff like that with my son. Case in point. Buying him the $40 Heelies at Journeys instead of the $20 Spinners at Wal Mart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetophile Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Every generation disparages the previous. It will always be that way. However, I think the difference maker today is the built in sense of entitlement. It smells like stinky chit, but that's the fault of the hovering schmucks that are raising our beloved country's children. Kids just get things just because, they just deserve things just because. And they believe that. Please, please, please, go outside and ride a bicycle without a helmet, crash into a tree, and show off your scabs and bruises at school at Show And Tell. You'll be the coolest kid on the block, no question. EDIT: And 'society' is a sum of its parts. Individuals need to do what they feel is important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L.S. Dylan Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 It doesn't help much when you have shows like sweet 16 on mtv. Not to mention paris hilton and the brat pack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I can't even think of all of them when I was a kid. All I know is that my parents didn't have much money and I didn't get any of them. My childhood has definately had an effect on the way I cave to stuff like that with my son. Case in point. Buying him the $40 Heelies at Journeys instead of the $20 Spinners at Wal Mart. yeah same here. prolly my biggest regret. not so much seeing that they had nice stuff but not making them work hard enough for it. but heh, if thats my biggest regret from child rearing things ain't so bad I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_blood Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Capitalism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidhuman Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I always hated kids who were label whores growing up. Honestly, your Tommy Hilfiger shirt rips just as easily as a t-shirt from Wal-Mart. To me there is no sense buying kids all these designer clothes. They grow way too quickly and need new ones real fast. I dont like spending my checks every two months on new clothes. My daughter has finally stopped rowing quickly, so we started buying her a little more expensive clothes. I wont let her walk around with some billboard looking shirt that says GAP across it. I think its just freakin stupid. IF you are going to advertise for the company, either the shirt should be free or you need to get royalties for wearing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetophile Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Capitalism.Don't knock it. What's yours is yours and what's mine is mine. I like it that way. It's just a matter of whether you want to work for it or not. The point of the thread is expecting everything for doing nothing to get it, I take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tictac Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 eeewwwwww. poor drago. he snuggles next to you, looking for some action and then smells the scent of the 80 year old dying woman that last wore your pants What can i do when he requests i not wash the clothes before i wash them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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