Who's Rude To Kids?

Many, many kids wrote to tell us about their experiences with adults who are rude to them. The adults tune out while kids are talking; they eye them with suspicion in stores, or refuse to serve them; they assume the kid has no brain, or they simply ignore them.

A couple weeks ago we asked about people who are rude to kids, wondering what kinds of incidents you've seen, what you thought about them, etc. Well, we got lots of response, much of it from kids. So today, here are some of the kids' thoughts. We got so many letters from kids, in fact, we'll try to present more of them in the weeks ahead. But we'd be interested, too, in some adult reaction - especially what you adults think may be solutions to the situations the kids bring up.

SPEAKING INTELLIGENTLY

I can't tell you how many times I've had adults cut me off midsentence or phase out while I'm speaking. They don't seem to realize that I have a brain and that I use it. For a long time I took this as encouragement to not use it. Why should I think when no one will respect my thought? I no longer deal with disrespectful adults this way. I now simply continue to speak. I choose my words carefully and I usually end up amazing them. I'd like to see all young people do this because the more often we speak well the more adults realize that we are human beings.

- Lydia Maza, Seattle

INTERRUPT THEM BACK

People don't do that to me much any more. But if they do I don't let them get away with it. I interrupt them back if they're talking and say what I was going to say.

- Sye Peterson, Seattle

SMILE AND WALK AWAY

People don't listen to your views because you're too young. Smile and walk away.

- Tamar R. Donchez, Edmonds

and Lindsey Stee, Seattle

HANDLE IT WITH COURTESY

If you go into a store with another friend or by yourself the adults will look at you strangely like you're going to try to take something and they really make you feel uncomfortable. I usually handle this situation by just being really polite and as courteous about everything as possible.

- Leah Sherrell, Redmond

RUDE TREATMENT IN STORES

One time I went into a store in Vancouver with my friend. The clerk asked us if we would like something. We said ``no,'' we were just looking. Then as we looked around she wouldn't take her eyes off us. So we decided to leave because she was so rude. Another time I was in a bakery. I was waiting to be served. Just then another man came into the shop. I was next in line but the clerk just ignored me and asked the man what he would like. He ordered the last of what I was going to have. I got something else.

- Emily Riley, Seattle

THEY NEED TO DO IT BACK

A lot, lately, I have been going to protests. People think we are crazy and too young to know anything. Something especially upset me. This guy was walking by me talking to this woman, saying: ``Don't these kids or people have jobs? They have no opinion that counts.'' People flick us off and it is frustrating. This guy said to my friends: ``Are you skipping school? You should go back to school, you communists.'' You have to realize that they have different views and they had to have been treated badly toward their views. That's why they need to do it back to someone else.

- Ligaya Domingo, Seattle

HE STILL ACTED THE SAME

I was at a beach and I saw some sunglasses that I wanted. It was an open display of sunglasses. I picked them up to try them on and the man working there told me to put them back and that the children's glasses were on the other side. I told my mom and she went and told him how old I was, but he still acted the same to me.

- Lauren Lewis, Seattle

TROUBLE WITH OLDER FOLKS

I find that young foreigners have trouble with older Americans. Many people raise their voices or talk slowly assuming that they know no English because of the color of their skin.

- Jeff Ro, Seattle

`BECAUSE I SAID SO'

I really hate it when parents say ``because I said so.'' What I do is say why?

- Andy, Seattle

YOU GET BLAMED

Don't you hate it when you are with some friends and there's a rotten egg in the group? He or she gets caught shoplifting and you all get blamed, just because they think you're in with the shoplifting. All you have is some candy and you're just waiting for your friend to finish. And you get blamed for the problem and get in trouble.

- Melissa Gruenstein, Auburn

SHE GOT CUT OFF

One day my friend went to the store and she was in line. She was second and she had all of the stuff she wanted to buy. Then, after the cashier helped the first person, she was first in line. Then this man came in to pay for his gas. He cut right in front of my friend. After he paid, it was my friend's turn again, but then the cashier closed the line.

- Jennifer, Auburn