Man, I get so pissed about the Ritalin/ADHD crap that is swarming the schools. Here's the deal--take my little brother David. The kid was so hyper he couldn't play a CARD GAME. He'd play for a few minutes, then start spazzing, throwing cards around and such. The behavior was carried over into school. The answer: Ritalin, of course! Never mind the obvious problem--total lack of discipline and a diet consisting solely of Cokes, ice cream, potato chips, and whatever sugar-caked candy he could get his hands on. I think the closest he ever got to real food was pizza and chicken nuggets. Let me ask you something: Do you realize that the effects of caffeine/sugar are greater for kids than adults? Yeah, we drink a cup of coffee and get a boost. They drink a cup of coffee and can't sit still for four hours. QUIT GIVING KIDS HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP! Try that on for a change! How about some of that?? EH? EH?
I know that some parents get carried away and end up abusing their kids, but come on, what's wrong with telling them NO once and awhile? What's wrong with NOT giving them a reward when they don't behave?
AND DO NOT OVERREACT the other way...I honestly don't know what I hate more. The negligent parent or the neurotic ones that worry about "Dakota" or whoever it is so much that they kid isn't allowed to eat non-organic foods. These parents soak up the Dr. Phil or whatever pop psych they can find, then try to tell teachers and principals how their kid is perfect and society is to blame for all ills. A good example of this is the "It's time out, Dakota! Now go to your room and watch Teletubbies because you didn't eat all your SpongeBob granola flakes. And don't forget to take your ritalin!" Good Lord, what have we come to?
Man, I get so pissed about the Ritalin/ADHD crap that is swarming the schools. Here's the deal--take my little brother David. The kid was so hyper he couldn't play a CARD GAME. He'd play for a few minutes, then start spazzing, throwing cards around and such. The behavior was carried over into school. The answer: Ritalin, of course! Never mind the obvious problem--total lack of discipline and a diet consisting solely of Cokes, ice cream, potato chips, and whatever sugar-caked candy he could get his hands on. I think the closest he ever got to real food was pizza and chicken nuggets. Let me ask you something: Do you realize that the effects of caffeine/sugar are greater for kids than adults? Yeah, we drink a cup of coffee and get a boost. They drink a cup of coffee and can't sit still for four hours. QUIT GIVING KIDS HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP! Try that on for a change! How about some of that?? EH? EH?
I know that some parents get carried away and end up abusing their kids, but come on, what's wrong with telling them NO once and awhile? What's wrong with NOT giving them a reward when they don't behave?
AND DO NOT OVERREACT the other way...I honestly don't know what I hate more. The negligent parent or the neurotic ones that worry about "Dakota" or whoever it is so much that they kid isn't allowed to eat non-organic foods. These parents soak up the Dr. Phil or whatever pop psych they can find, then try to tell teachers and principals how their kid is perfect and society is to blame for all ills. A good example of this is the "It's time out, Dakota! Now go to your room and watch Teletubbies because you didn't eat all your SpongeBob granola flakes. And don't forget to take your ritalin!" Good Lord, what have we come to?
Matt Barton, Managing Editor
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
Email: matt@armchairarcade.com