I get antsy and have a need to respond to everything...

*Claps* I concur.

Why would I argue with the entire article? I don't disagree with the entire article. His arguments were flawed, for the most part, and I called them out. It takes much more than an asinine article to make me mad.

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As much as I respect you Ripple, I'm going to have to disagree with you on a lot of your points. However, I have a slight theory as to why we would have such opposing views on his article, but I'll address that later.
Because of his umm..interesting exaggerations, you can't just take this one at face value. It isn't about appearing tough but actually being so. I think he was trying to get the Man's Man point out. If you have the ability to defend yourself in a fight, well this wouldn't apply to you. However, the majority of guys can't, because they were bred to be metrosexual.

The cable comment is extremely true, but why is that so? My parents would have died if they wouldn't have been able to go outside, because it was their form of entertainment. If they had the huge selection we have now, they probably would have spent a lot of time watching the tube as well. This is just evidence of the generation gap.
70% of a 2008 Technical College graduating class dropped out. Now, yes, there are a lot of factors and certain situations, but considering some 500+ people did graduate, you have to wonder why. I see people around me fail all the time, cry when those standardized test results come in, yet won't do their homework or study. How many people do you actually know make the MOST of their lives? I can name only two or three that may do all they can to live the lives they want.
It's like Njord/Thor/Odin, Maddox the Pirate, or Tucker Max. The ruse is just to get the point across in an appealing way that makes it stick. Who knows if he's really an old Mafia guy? Reading some of his other articles, I wouldn't deny him of being business savvy at least.
A little confused where you are going with this one. His point is just that everyone is sitting on their ass letting time go by, doing nothing to improve - or change - what goes on around them.
Example:
I know of a school which requires it's students to wear uniforms for the first time next year, without vote, debate/suggestions, or even any type of input/representation from the student body. Dozens of protests, in various forms, were "planned" as the students refused to conform to shitty uniforms without having the chance to either represent themselves or at least prove themselves capable of dressing well without them. As of today, 9 months after the announcement was made, there has been absolutely no concrete drive to make their issues known. Yeah, they'll bitch and moan next year, but none of them put in the time and effort to actually make a change.
You're mixing up points, and this would go along with mine above. If you think you can cure cancer, you obviously have the drive to do so. You'll work towards that goal until you achieve it, or get damn close. Again, I know plenty who don't have this.
There's a recent thread here where a girl is complaining because her mom didn't offer her another waffle. That, alone, proves his point.
Unfortunately, this is completely untrue. I would never, in my life, disrespect my grandfather. One, because I have no idea what his life entailed. When I found out that he volunteered to fight in WWII, then my respect for him soared. However, even before then, he already had an initial respect to begin with, which is what every human being deserves. Things like saying Thanks, or Excuse Me, are examples of general respect to a human. However, personal respect is gauged upon how you treat others in your social circle. You wouldn't walk through your boss, because as your boss (even though you may not know him personally) he is entitled to a certain respect, whether you "like" him or not.
Now this is one that's true unfortunately. Because of the area I used to live, I know dozens of families who live PURPOSEFULLY on welfare, while doing absolutely nothing to support their 3-4 illegitimate kids. As you said, I'd rather not debate, but his views on this are solid.
Etiqutte is the standard of social rules. What he's talking of means that today's youth have no class, or sense of being. If I took a poll of how many guys here have a tailored suit (or something similar), it would probably be <25%, however, you can't get a decent job without one. Certain rules, like slouching, are for personal reasons. Slouching damages the spinal cord/back bones, and you really will permanently end up in that position. Also, body language. It conveys a sense of laziness, unconfidence, and social ineptitude when you slouch in public.
Those would be the finer things in life. Having a drive, hobby, passion about some thing/subject/action. Most people I know just like to smoke weed and party. Odin even found it strange that I actually read The Art of War in school when I was bored. My peers actually marvel that I'm reading all the time, and can't understand that I actually love it. It's pissed me off so much that I just tell everyone who asks why I'm reading "some chinese book" that it's for a class.
Above point. Also, a suit serves the purpose of making you look professional, suave, confident, together, etc. And ask any girl what looks better on a guy, T-shirt and Jeans, or a tailored suit. I used to agree with you here, actually recently. I happened to have nothing else to wear, so I wore a nice shirt with a blazer to school (remember, I'm in a highly afro-urban/hip hop influenced area) Instantly, women (of all ages) were all over me. I had to take the only evidence I had at hand.
You're talking about heavy drinking xD
A good wine takes a nice meal a long way. I really thought it was all bullshit until a friend of mine actually took me out to a black-tie resturant, and showed me the differences. Plus, knowing how to select a wine, or having a good pallet for alcoholic bevs is always impressive to a woman, which is a plus in my book.
Again, I have to agree with him since my good buddy Hurricane Chris (along with Soulja Boy, and various other artists *entertainers I mean*) singlehandedly killed the only thing urban youths had to identify with, which was Hip Hop. And now, my peers continue to wallow in ignorance with absolutely nothing to lift their spirits, unlike the peace/love ballads of the 70s, or the Angst filled grunge of the 80s, and Hip Hop of the 90s.
Again, I'd have to solidly agree with him here. One, because children are the ultimate bullshit testers. I hate no idea where I read it, but children (even pets, friends, girls, acquaintances) CONSTANTLY test your boundaries. Let's say you tell a child that they shouldn't write on the walls. In a lot of cases, that child will still write on the wall, just to see if the action was worth the end result. Trial and error, cause and effect, etc. Well if that child gets beat, then that pain/fear is now anchored and synonymous with writing on the wall. I tell my dog all the time to get off of the couch, however, everyday it never fails that she'll look up at the couch wistfully and inch towards it, because of the ONE time I let her sleep on there. Now she continues to test me to see if I'll break. Rules are rules and they're set for a purpose and reason. I don't know if you've ever been beaten, but when done correctly, it never scars - emotionally or physically. It's been done for thousands of years, and for some reason, now it's socially unacceptable? Would the metrosexual generation he describes above be reason for that?

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Conclusion about our views, which I now think is a pretty solid assessment. The difference in our upbringings is probably the one major factor as to why I agree with this and you don't. Mr. Mafioso, whether his name/character is a facade or not, is obviously from the darker parts of society. I can relate to that.

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You can disagree with someone and still respect them. :P

While I understand what you're trying to get across, I don't quite agree. Metrosexual doesn't automatically mean unable to defend yourself. Mr. Mafioso seems to be under the impression that we should act tough as well by the full context of the article. Which is what I was arguing against.

It depends. Kids use what is at their disposal. It doesn't make a child any weaker or impaired to choose to use electronics. I think we agree, for the most part, on this issue. My issue with the statement is that he seems to imply that being tough is going outside.

Yet at the same time, the generation of Mr. Mafioso had barely any college graduates and very low standards for testing. So, for him to claim insight on the matter is far fetched. It is improbable for him to have insight on how the youth should behave today as the standards were not as high then as they are now. Chances are, the ambition of yesterday's youth would be about the same level as today's if the standards were the same.

Njord, just trust me on this one. He's not. I am full-blooded Italian and I live in one of the most Italian neighborhoods in New York. Someone in the Mafia wouldn't divulge that they are in the Mafia in a public setting. That's an incrimination and he can be tracked by the government. He may be business savvy (I haven't read his other articles), but he is not a mobster. That's why I made my comment about it, possibly, being a satire.

That one was actually my fault. I misread what he wrote.

But to the initial issue at hand. That's pretty much children of all generations. Except maybe during the 80s because that was the "cool" thing to do. And it's a rather self-defeatist argument. He claims to discipline your kids and don't let them argue... but at the same time says they lack ambition and should be doing all of these things.

Ah, but he still says we should get our hands dirty. As I said, there's nothing wrong with that if you don't have the capability of doing something else. But he doesn't make the point that those who excel beyond that station should take advantage of their skills. He says, simply, "Unless you force them to do something, they don't do anything" and "Nobody wants to get their fingernails dirty." And with his references to working in a butcher shop as a rite of passage, I think the point speaks for itself.

I already conceded that children are spoiled. But he seems to magnify the issue to a much greater extent than it is.

But did you unconditionally respect your grandfather? Of course not. He had to have done something, initially, for you to respect him. If he did something like molest a child or brutally murder someone, would you have the same respect for him?

I don't believe anyone who does not respect you deserves respect from you. For a chain to link, both pieces must wrap around the other entirely. You can respect your boss, but if he goes and calls you a "cocksucker", are you going to respect him after that? I, for one, would not. I respect those who are in a position to receive that respect. Earning respect isn't hard -- I usually respect someone until they prove that they do not deserve that respect -- but losing it is just as easy.

But it can actually mean quite the opposite. It can mean that you're comfortable in the surrounding, thus socially apt. Slouching may damage the spinal cord, but that's a personal convenience and should have no role as a commonplace practice. Slouching was just an example as there are many useless "rules" of conduct.

I have two points to make here.

One. Do you think children of the 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s would react any differently? Hell no. They'd probably be worse.

Two. He doesn't make reference to learning being one of those finer things. He focuses, solely, on wine. As though it were a universal spectacle. My guess is that the finer things in life, according to Mr. Mafioso, judging solely on his character alone, is wine, cars, sports, restaurants and business. To impose that those things should be universal ambitions to everyone is arrogant and obnoxious. He says:"they don't know the difference between Chianti and Cabernet" quite affirmatively. So, it can't be said that he isn't imposing his views of the finer things.

Oh, no, no, no. I like blazers. In fact, I love blazers. And dress shirts. Worn how I like them, however. The matter of suave, etc. is opinion based and the way it is valiantly enforced by certain individuals is ludicrous. I never said that they look bad. I just don't see the point in making it mandatory for certain arrangements.

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Ripplemagne does not need to impress women. He needs women repellent. So, it is a negative for the Ripplemagnian wondar!

My mom is, actually, a bartender. One of the best. So, I am familiar with everything pertaining to alcoholic beverages. I don't drink any form of alcohol despite my brother's constant push for me to do so. I'm perfectly content with my Shirley Temple. XD

I never said that I liked it. I think Soulja Boy and Hurricane Chris are abominations. But I don't condemn them. I, personally, enjoy a mix of modern rock and various forms of classical music. Hell, I'm listening to "American Pie" by Don McLean as of this very moment. I think it's a rather dull argument though; it's basically "my opinion is better than yours!"

No, children love to test you. I know that. But a slap to the face? Unnecessary. The most you should ever give is a slap on the rear. A face is overdoing it. The shock is what makes kids stop; not the pain.

I was never hit. I didn't need to be. Good parents don't need to hit their kids. My mom never hit me, but she also never had to worry about me doing something like writing on the walls. If you know what you're doing, it's really not that hard to make a child behave.

This is a man who thinks disciplining your children includes traumatizing them. I don't think he very well cares if there are physical or emotional scars.

If you mean wealth. Trust me, I'm not even close to being wealthy. I live in a neighborhood notorious for being completely Italian and Irish, so his attitude isn't anything new to me. But his tactics are, quite simply, ineffective.

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There are various problems with today's youth, and some are mentioned in his article.

He does not seem to realize that all generations have different values and ways of thinking / living.

That said, I agree that the majority of today's youth have problems. More specifically, the want of immediate gratification and materialism.

This is good thread, thanks for posting the article.

i was sent to a milarary school wasnt much fun. but it tought me ALOT.

Apparently it didn't teach you how to spell 'military'.

Heads up, okay, we found Scooby Doo!

"Raggy! It's the Milarary!"

...wait, please dont tell me youre the same guy we called an orc. You can't be an orc and Scooby Doo at the same time!

I have a question??

If we kids are so bad..and they've been bitching about it for like ever...
why the hell dont they change there methods in teaching???...cuz its obviously not working....I cant help the way i was raised...shit...i grew up with a strict ass dad and a mom who wasnt really there till up about...3 4 years ago...
why dont they do somthing about it now? instead of waiting till everythin gets worse

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i am the orc