Akula wrote on Jun 27^th, 2008 at 8:38pm:

Truer words have never been spoken. Our kids don't need a Nintendo, they need a place to explore with their own feet and hands. They need sunrises and sunsets, blisters, and moments of fear and accomplishment. They need to live life...

Unfortunately for many of the offspring of my generation ( The Boomers), well meaning but over protective parents have produced a generation that has never known "fear/failure" instead they've been told that as long as your "participate" ( just show up in many cases), you have "won" :-?
60 minutes had a good segment about the trials of a modern day corporation trying to get these "kids" to accept constructive criticism or show responsibility by showing up on time and giving a good days work for the pay.
They've always had Mom or Dad to fight there battles and had rewards given to them for less than a full effort, because God forbid anyone would "lose" at anything, that would ruin there over inflated sense of entitlement :(
As all veteran paddlers know, you can't appreciate the rainbow without weathering the storm.
I think most people would say they've learned more FROM there failures than success's?
Never being allowed to sink or swim on your own teaches you nothing, it makes you dependent and a burden on others.
I have numerous friends who's 25 something kids are living rent free at home, taking extravagant vacations, driving cars they can't afford and losing jobs because it cramps there social life !
Not only do they feel NO remorse over mooching off the parents, they think its there RIGHT >:(