yes, same here Jim. I daren't have come home from school and been heard to have been misbehaving. I'd have been told off. Others I know would have been in for much worse chastisement.
And that sums up the problem in modern times. In the past, parents curbed their kids improper actions. These days, if a teacher or a member of the public as much as says BOO to their kid, they get a mouthful of abuse from both kid and parent.
Here's an example. I live in a very good area and go out for a long walk, with a friend, a couple of evenings per week. Last night, there was a group of well dressed posh looking kids on the far side of the street (quiet no cars street). I'd guess they were maybe between 10 and 14 years old, girls and boys. They were on the opposite side of the avenue/street. My friend and I heard them say hello over at us. One of the girls was the main vocalist. That hello was only the pre-cursor to ever worsening abuse.....'hey, nice looking shoes', etc....lots of sarcastic abuse and jeering, at us. We ignored them from the outset and made no eye contact after their initial hello. But it sure left a nasty taste. Here were well-to-do kids, out looking for aggravation, and aiming their barbs at passers-by.
It may seem harmless, but it just takes one nutter in their group to push it further and attack a victim.....and then animal-like reaction of a group can quickly take over.
I thought today about what could be done about last night's situation. And I came up with nothing. Cops wouldn't take a blind bit of notice. And parents, if they could be found, would chase you (from their posh drive ways).
Society takes the side of the vulgar aggressive animals that patrol our streets. And by the time he/she has been assaulted, it is then too late for society to save the innocent bystander from his/her fate.
If parents refuse to control their offspring, then they should be called to account.