"But that's not what I was asking. What I want to know is, why do some of the kids today think it's all right to just say whatever the hell they want, to whomever the hell they want, end expect it to be perfectly acceptable? I don't even talk that way to adults I know."

Nah, Kim. Some kids are always like that, some are not.

I was in the city last week and had just crossed the road to get to the bank; a stream of teenage boys passed in front of me, chatting away. I was watching them in amusement, standing back to let them by. Then one stopped, smiled, and gestured for me to take the opportunity to cross the pavement, holding his friends back. I gave a huge smile and "Thank you!" - I was delighted - and his friends suddenly realised that they'd been trampling on by, not bothering to look where they were going. They weren't embarrassed (nor was that my intention), but they were impressed by his nice gesture, you could see it from them.

Victoria sounds like every kid with notions. Ever read the Just William stories? That cutting sarcasm: "Oh yeah, *really*, I like to wash my teeth, right". Part of the age. It's just that some keep to the old Irish rule: "What happens in this house stays in this house." Others bring it into the public writ.