What a night.

[stormrider]

Got a call from son #2 at 2:30 am. "Come down here to Phillip's" He's the neighbor Chris borrows a tractor from when all else fails. Seems he was almost home at 1 AM when he gets a call to go fetch a "friend" out of the mud. He's the second to get stuck. 1st guy is still stuck. Well, Chris gets stuck. So, he does as usual and goes to Phillip's to get the John Deere monster tractor. Only thing he usually calls to let him know. This time it was late so he got it anyway. The noise woke Phillip's mom who in turn alerted Phillip. He starts calling to find out who got it cause some stealing has been going on around. When he couldn't find out who he told his mom to call the law and he would go looking. He rode towards Dothan, and everywhere in between, not thinking it would be at the clay pit. And he surely didn't think Chris would have it since he always calls.
He finally went by the clay pit as they were leaving. He followed them right to his house and proceeded to scold them when the first one that got stuck cussed him, then one of the young females cussed his mom. Now mind you Chris doesn't even know this group, just the boy he calls Catfish that was the second to get stuck. About that time the cops show, one of the kids blasts out of there and Phillip being beyond perturbed, sets off in pursuit, not knowing who's who. That fellow made a wrong turn into a private subdivision dead end road. Phillip saw his chance to take him out and restrained himself with only a light tap. Still about $1500 worth of damage.
Are you interested yet?
The plot thickens. Phillip wanted the cops to scold the heck out of these kids and was really pissed at Chris for not calling. He's the type fellow that would do anything for you and would have gone himself to pull them out and tell them to do it again so he could watch the show.
Well, the cops tell the kid that got tapped that he could press charges against Phillip for assault. Up to that point this kid is very humble, then suddenly his attitude changes to being a prick. I'm sure glad I wasn't there for that part. The _______ cops blew it. Even if there would have been consequences for Phillip they should have given the kids the where with all. Or at least the speech about being a man. And prior to that part Phillip had already said he would pay for the damages to the kids truck.

When I got there things were dying down but we were still there at 4:30. Turns out Chris is a fault for getting the tractor. Phillip is at fault for ramming the kid. The ones trespassing got away scott free and I gaurauntee they will be bragging about it today. And Chris' so called friend that called to come get him out split as well leaving him out to dry.

They just don't make friends like they used to.

[Skinhead]

and I'm sure there were plenty of bad decisions made while emmotion was over-riding common sense.  I also agree about the friend part.  They don't seem to make them like they used to, except in rare cases.

It seems like alot of young kids today just don't respect others anymore, it's all about them.  I couldn't imagine cussin' out an elder under the circumstances you described.  This has been happening and getting worse ever since they quit disciplining kids at school and parents started getting sued for disciplining their kids.  More evidence of what happens when the government gets involved in your private life.

Well, I better get off my soap box, sorry about your troubles, I'm sure Chris learned from this experience.

[Steve K (IA)]

I have worked with a bunch of 20 something year olds for a year.  They have absolutely no respect for anyone or anything!   It is ME ME ME all the time.  Well, lost my job last week and I will miss the paycheck but won't miss the co-workers.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Skinhead, I like your soapbox and agree a 100 percent with you. My sons friend seemed like a good kid but after I loaned him about five hundred dollars he dissappeared not to be seen again. We let him live with us, bought him better clothes than he had at home, and even took him on vacation with us.. I know I was taught if you owed somebody money or anything you took care of that first even if you could only repay it alittle at a time. My kids were raised that way and I thought most people were also.

[Skinhead]

Skinhead, I like your soapbox and agree a 100 percent with you. My sons friend seemed like a good kid but after I loaned him about five hundred dollars he dissappeared not to be seen again. We let him live with us, bought him better clothes than he had at home, and even took him on vacation with us.. I know I was taught if you owed somebody money or anything you took care of that first even if you could only repay it alittle at a time. My kids were raised that way and I thought most people were also.

Thank you, Sir.  It sounds like we had similar up-bringings.  I tried to instill the same in my boys and am very happy with the results.  Many people have complemented me on their behavior, they got into their share of trouble as kids, and have even made mistakes as adults, but at least they accept responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. 

[Tundra]

I don't get the kids today...never mind I do, won't say it on this board. If I disrespected my elders as a kid, I'd be picking up my teeth. We were only told to do something once (not asked) and we new what was coming next and it wasn't "please". My father was a little rough, (Marine) wasn't the emotional type, but we all turned out good enough. Sorry for your troubles, hope he can learn something beneficial from this experience