https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:26:51 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771498 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:26:00 +0000 JR 771498@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Claire, this is an older post that Nanabear has revived. I have my camera back now. ;o) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771497 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:23:56 +0000 JR 771497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was raised in Western Canada, with a very Germanic kind of mindset. Pioneer days were still within living memory at that point, and the prevailing attitude was no-nonsense self-sufficiency. Praise was often seen as an attempt to flatter and manipulate and so viewed with a little suspicion. Not that anybody ever said those things, it was just in the air, if you know what I mean. When people said nice things to me, I would get all uncomfortable and wonder what they wanted from me.</p> <p>On the upside, it made me not dependent on praise as a motivator. I do things for the value I see in them, not for how other people will react, which can be very good sometimes. But I have also seen the value of praising people, and I think I have learned that from Americans more than anywhere else. It was a good thing to learn. I do try to make sure that I mean every word I say though. Even my kids know that I won't tell them something they've done is good just because they're my kids. They actually have to do a good job.</p> <p>So the Chinese will just walk up and talk to strangers, will they? Interesting. I mean, I will do that at bus stops or some place where we're standing around together, but it never occurs to me to say something to somebody just walking past. That's quite an opportunity you have, AB, to live inside such a very different culture. I've enjoyed my cross-cultural experiences, but they've never been quite as big a change as that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771494 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:17:42 +0000 Anonymous 771494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I dunno, I have two of the nicest teenagers around and I think the teen years are great! Dressing better makes you more approachable to everyone IMO. Teenagers especially notice when teachers and other adults make an effort to look current. </p> <p>As for your recent experiences, good for you! I hope you enjoy those compliments because you deserve them. I'm sorry you're without a camera. We'll catch up with you again when you have more time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771480 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:41:27 +0000 Anne Boleyn 771480@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always compliment people when I like their outfit, even if it's a little awkward to break that wall in America! In China it's pretty much expected to talk to strangers especially if you're a foreigner, and that's one of the things I love about this country, so I try to create the same kind of communual network feeling back home. Besides it feels good to point out the beauty in life! I'm not a teen anymore I suppose, though I still feel like one.</p> <p>What culture were you raised in, JR? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771474 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:13:35 +0000 Nanabear 771474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JR, lots of my classmates say I dress maturely for my age. I don't know, I just don't have the same appreciation for sweatpants and hoodies as I did 3 years ago. I just like to look polished. Hey - you never know when you'll meet a potential future employer!</p> <p>Unless, of course, it's exam/test/quiz day, in which case it's all about the comfort and the GPA (I even have a lucky exam hoodie!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771443 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:07:12 +0000 JR 771443@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's to wonderful teenagers! Nanabear, it never twigged on me that you were that young. It seems to me that I was not that nice when I was a teenager, quite honestly. But I was raised in a culture that did not stress the giving of compliments. I've learned, over the years. FWIW, I find that this is an area in which Americans tend to excel and something I try to emulate. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-771431 Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:47:47 +0000 Nanabear 771431@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always make a comment when I see someone wearing something nice and so do my classmates (and quite frequently, actually). I am a teenager and I certainly hope I come across as nice </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-747391 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 21:22:28 +0000 Caro in Oz 747391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was wondering where you were too. I've always thought teenagers were nice - but then I used to be one:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-747371 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 20:56:03 +0000 Krista 747371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the record, I've missed seeing you on the forum. And what a great boost to have a teen give you a shout-out to compliment your scarf - that would have made my day, too! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746592 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:46:11 +0000 JR 746592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sara, you are so right about unexpected compliments. Imagine a kid yelling one out at me from a distance. :o)</p> <p>Parsley, in the case of my niece, she is an exceptionally nice (and good) kid. But I did appreciate the compliment, for sure. And yes, I am making more of an effort to dress nicely, and have very much appreciated how this forum has helped me to evaluate things better. Just watching people think things through, and the analysis involved, has trained my eye a lot. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746588 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:40:19 +0000 Parsley 746588@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>JR, I don't think teenagers have changed much ( and I do know some pretty nice ones), but I think it's just that you have been looking extra stylish lately and people do notice!<br /> That IS a nice thing, isn't it? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746579 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:34:32 +0000 Sara L. 746579@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Unexpected compliments are the best! I think teenagers are the same as they've always been. Sometimes they just get a bad rap. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746571 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:31:12 +0000 JR 746571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ROFL! You just keep telling yourself that, Suz.</p> <p>Remember, if they come out on the other end of their teen years alive with their faculties intact, you can chalk it up as a success. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746534 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:15:26 +0000 Suz 746534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>They are definitely making teenagers nicer these days. </p> <p>I have to believe that, though. My daughter is about to turn 13. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/are-they-making-teenagers-nicer-these-days#post-746526 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:07:55 +0000 JR 746526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've had two compliments from teenagers in the last couple of weeks. I am in shock.</p> <p>First was a shout-out on the street from a girl admiring my scarf. LOL! Yeah, I know, give it a break, JR. I had been thinking of giving that particular one away, but maybe not... ;o)</p> <p>And my youngest niece told me at Thanksgiving dinner that I had gotten so stylish and then proceeded to analyse the outfit I had on. :o) Well, she always was a nice kid...</p> <p>I should have given YLF at least some of the credit.</p> <p>Sorry for being AWOL, but I have been trying to wean myself from excessive computer use, am still without a camera, and I also have a ton of work to do. Which means I shouldn't be here now. Oh well. </p>