The Disrespect Problem Among Gen Z: My Firsthand Story

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In recent years, many people have complained that the younger generation, especially Gen Z, no longer show respect to elders or people around them. They speak carelessly, challenge authority, and even insult those who care for them. Some blame social media, others blame poor parenting, and some say it is “freedom of expression” taken too far. Personally, I believe that respect is something you carry within yourself, no matter the era you belong to, and one experience really opened my eyes to this matter.

One day, one of my neighbor’s mothers came to me, asking me to help talk sense into her son. I simply told her, “Madam, I hear you,” because honestly, I no longer advise people these days. The boy is a young child who could insult anyone at any time, even his own mother. I remember one time he was arguing with her, she tried to correct him, and the next thing he asked was whether the school she attended or the money she was spending was bringing her any benefit now. My dear, I just sat quietly in my small room, minding my own business.

The day I almost got involved was when I heard him telling his mother that if she spoke again, he would beat her. My head became hot instantly, and my first thought was to gather boys of his age to teach him a lesson, but I calmed myself down because at the end of the day, the mother might turn around and say she never sent me, and besides, I had no desire to experience prison life, so I kept quiet.

What I didn’t know was that the mother had reported him to my landlord. That evening, my landlord and some of his boys came to our compound, held that boy, and gave him a military-style drilling for almost three hours. After that, they bought him food and told him to finish it in ten minutes. He ate, vomited, and they started the drilling again until around 12:30 a.m., I won’t lie, I felt a bit relieved.

Surprisingly, after a few months, the boy still continued to speak disrespectfully to his mother. From the way things were going, I realized that the mother herself was also fueling some of his bad behavior through her own actions and words. Since then, I have stuck to my principle of minding my own business. I don’t have issues with my neighbors because I set my standards, I greet you, and I go my way. Sitting down to gossip or chat idly is not on my schedule. If you have issues with me, that is your personal matter.

One thing this experience taught me is that many of the disrespectful behaviors we see in Gen Z today are the result of both upbringing and environment. Parents, guardians, and society as a whole need to do better in guiding these young ones.