Complaining parents - When did this trend start?

[Inky_Wretch]

No, this is not another "Let's ***** about parents" thread.

When did parents start calling to complain and/or demand about coverage for their kids? Has it always happened? Or is it a recent trend?

Every year, it seems like we (as in all of us) get more and more of them. Why is that?

 

[zeke12]

When boomers became parents.

 

[thebiglead]

Same time as reality TV took off?

 

[TyWebb]

I would imagine it started around the same time that mid-sized papers made the move to focus more on local. Once the parents got a bite of earnest coverage, they wanted more.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It started when I was talking with my father and he was asked about my biggest headache at work. When I told him about how parents expect coverage like it's included in the Bill of Rights, he was shocked. He couldn't believe parents did that.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

The day after Caveman Journalist etched a story about Little Johnny's hunting exploits on the cave wall.

 

[HejiraHenry]

When boomers became parents.

This is a pretty good marker.

 

[BertoltBrecht]

It started when you didn't write the story about those incredible athletes who work just as hard as everyone else.

 

[Ace]

I think it was when the Eden Extra gave Cain the headlines and didn't mention Abel.

 

[zeke12]

Abel didn't come through in the clutch, though.

 

[Kaylee]

I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It started when I was talking with my father and he was asked about my biggest headache at work. When I told him about how parents expect coverage like it's included in the Bill of Rights, he was shocked. He couldn't believe parents did that.

I probably sound a bit like Bobby Knight here, but I think it's an outgrowth of the "our kids can do no wrong" belief that's become so common in parents today.

The parents who kvetch because you don't send a reporter to cover Optimist Club junior sheep tossing are probably the same ones who ream the coach for not starting their budding Jim Thorps or confront the teacher because they're obviously not motivating Johnny's glue-eating ass.

 

[Ace]

Abel didn't come through in the clutch, though.

Worked just as hard, though.

 

[Ace]

I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It started when I was talking with my father and he was asked about my biggest headache at work. When I told him about how parents expect coverage like it's included in the Bill of Rights, he was shocked. He couldn't believe parents did that.

I probably sound a bit like Bobby Knight here, but I think it's an outgrowth of the "our kids can do no wrong" belief that's become so common in parents today.

The parents who kvetch because you don't send a reporter to cover Optimist Club junior sheep tossing are probably the same ones who ream the coach for not starting their budding Jim Thorps or confront the teacher because they're obviously not motivating Johnny's glue-eating ass.

I wouldn't mind covering the sheep tossing, actually.

 

[JR]

I've been thinking a lot about this recently.

It started when I was talking with my father and he was asked about my biggest headache at work. When I told him about how parents expect coverage like it's included in the Bill of Rights, he was shocked. He couldn't believe parents did that.

It's a boomer thing.

To put it into perspective, I'm the classic boomer--born in '49.

When I was a kid, my dad would occasionally come to my games--my mother never did.

We never thought ONE thing about it. It was a treat when my dad came but if he didn't, so what? (He also worked shifts)

Not attending your kids hockey/football/baseball/soccer games now is probably grounds for child abuse.

Oh, and two of my boys are playing university football and I've got the phone number of the SE of the Halifax newspaper. I'm gonna phone him every week to make sure he publishes the story idea I pitched him.

I think a lot of it started when players salaries started rising and parents thought they could cash in on their kids. Delusional as hell, but trust me, I saw it for over 10 years at hockey arenas.

Dumbasses

 

[Bob Cook]

I think a lot of it started when players salaries started rising and parents thought they could cash in on their kids. Delusional as hell, but trust me, I saw it for over 10 years at hockey arenas.

Dumbasses

I'll add one point to this -- when parents started spending absolute ****loads of money BECAUSE they thought that would make their kid a pro. Either that, or they're just showing off.

But, yeah, when you're a parent dropping enormous coin for your kid to be on an under-8 travel softball team, you start getting more demanding about EVERYTHING.

 

[BillyT]

I know it was different in 1981 than it is now.

That's when I started in the business.

Sure, there were folks even back then who called and demanded coverage, but I agree with the Baby Boomer comment. I think it's grown dramatically in the last 25 or so years.

I think part of it is the growth in scholarship sports (including women), and the sense of entitlement the last couple of generations has developed and/or had installed in them.

I am technically one of the last of the Baby Boomers -- 1959.

 

[Bud_Bundy]

No, this is not another "Let's ***** about parents" thread.

When did parents start calling to complain and/or demand about coverage for their kids? Has it always happened? Or is it a recent trend?

Every year, it seems like we (as in all of us) get more and more of them. Why is that?

The first prep football game around here was 1898.

 

[Cadet]

When boomers became parents.

Can I get an AAAA-MEN?

 

[healingman]

Started in 1981? I started in 1983. Clerk role. Only thing worse than complaining parents are golfers who call in their holes-in-one, ya ask them for witnesses and they don't have any. But they made a hole-in-one.

Oh .... OK. Thanks for calling. Go back to the beer girl and grab your 14th Budweiser or whatever.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

So it started with the boomer parents, does that mean it'll be worse with boomers as grandparents?