"The Kids haven't Changed, YOU HAVE"

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2003)

I think this line by John Hughes in The Breakfast Club really hit the nail on generational gaps. Keep in mind it was written back in 1983 or 1984. The principal played Paul Gleason, thinks that his students are the worst kids ever. Carl the wise janitor tells him otherwise.
Principal Vernon: "Carl I've been teaching for 22 years, and each year....these kids get more and more arrogant!"
Carl the Janitor: "Awww bullsh*t man. Come on Vern, the kids haven't changed, you have!!"
Principal Vernon: "These kids turned on me. They think I'm a big f*cking joke"
Carl the Janitor: "Come on. Listen Vern, if you were 16, what would YOU think of YOU!!?????"

EVERYONE take a long pause and think about this scene. Think about the words written by John Hughes around 1983/'84. Kids don't change, WE do. We get older. Kids get older. Kids become adults, adults become anal and uptight about everything. But a new batch of kids come along, and they are still.....well kids.
So all you people ragging on the kids today, oh come on now. Shut up about how awful the kids today are, and how violent and messed up they are. "These kids today, all they do is hang out at the mall, play video games and shoot each other". My god the same thing was said about teenagers back in 1983. So all you former 80's high school grads, and even many 90's high school grads, stop acting like crusty old Principal Vernon. Gen Xers were the whipping boys for the Baby Boomers for years, and now here we are putting down the next crop of kids, the Gen Y and Gen Z. Even most teenagers and pre-teens today buy into the nonsense that they have changed and are so different and original with their bad ass selves. Kids are kids, no matter what era. I mean I was an early-mid 1990's teenager, and even many kids around today think they are so different from when I was a kid some 7-12 years ago.
Do we really want to be Principal Vernon? Kids don't change, we do.