How do I teach youngsters sensitivity?

I’m not exactly sure how sensitivity applies to saying something is crazy in their current vernacular.

My sisters kids do the same and it drives me bonkers. If they text me with this bullshit I tell them to fuck off and use proper English when they need something from me and text.

In a odd turn of events my sister’s kids are better at texting than my sister is. I just nag the shit out of them.

One has to live among sensitive people from the day he/she is born so that sensitive actions are inculcated in them. Much of it is DNA personality material which one either inherits or does not.

Be the example, which I have no doubt you are.

Point out that we should not call people names, and that it might hurt someone’s feelings who doesn’t know you are joking, or being sarcastic, when you say it.

It’s tough, because those words are popular now, and most people won’t be upset by them. However, I think it’s always better to not even joke like that, especially with people who you really don’t know how it will make them feel. Using words can become a habit. A habit difficult to break.

First you have to accept that children are childish. Adults are sensitive. Children do not grow into adults until they have gone through the stages of childishness. It’s ok to teach children good manners, but don’t expect much in the way of performance.

Never give a kid a direct compliment. If he draws a picture you can say “That’s a good picture,” but not “You’re a good artist.” A kid knows very well that if he does something right, it’s an accident. He can not stand the strain of you expecting him to do that well all the time. That’s why when Mama asks if Junior has been a good boy, Daddy says “Yeah. I think he must be sick.”

I would say practice “strict discipline” (from my own experience). Parents should not be lenient and should be direct and serious in attending this issue. They should reprimand those children by saying “what did I tell you about saying such things!?” Or “Say that again and you’ll regret it” in angry tone (make sure there are consequences for violation toward your rules).

If the children are treated leniently in this matter then believe it or not, soon or later, the “you’re crazy” words that are free used will escalate in to “damn you, F you, etc”. I was reprimanded in such way by my grandparent when I was a child and never in my mind I would try to do that knowing the consequences that I’ll get if I do so. Their freedom of speech should only be given to them when they have become a linguistically responsible individuals.

I don’t think I said anything as “horrible” as “shit” during my entire childhood, and I was never reprimanded or threatened with punishment for swearing. Instead, my mum did something very smart. She didn’t make a big deal of it at all, because that’s a good way of giving power to words. Instead, she talked to us a lot – not about our use of swear words, but about other people’s.

Watch out for the words you want to target, listen for them when out and about or while watching TV. Then, clearly display your disappointment or even shock. When the kids notice, explain what you’re feeling. Mention how the words in question can hurt people, and add that you never use them, because you want everyone to be equally happy.

While I, personally, wouldn’t be bothered by the word in question, I do think teaching sensitivity is a very worthwhile goal in general.

My brother, who was schizophrenic, used to make fun of it. When people said “you’re crazy” or “that’s crazy” he would answer “Yeah, and I have papers to prove it.”

Many people with mental illness of some sort feel it’s shaming when people say “crazy”.

I believe you. It may be a regional thing. I feel like the German term is not even connected with mental illness in the same way.