McBeer? Why didn't our German posters ever tell us?

[gribbler]

My father was absent and my mother was an abusive *****. I was not raised.

But my upbringing is a portrait of modern America. You are out of touch.

70% of American youth grow up in 'non-traditional' families.

What the **** does 'non-traditional' mean? Only 27% of American children live with one parent. Therefore having an absent father is NOT the norm.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-parent#Demographics

[gribbler]

Of the 74.6 million children younger than 18 in 2011, most (69 percent) lived with two parents, while another 27 percent lived with one parent and 4 percent with no parents. Of those children who lived with two parents, 92 percent lived with two biological or two adoptive parents.

http://www.census.gov/newsroom/relea.../cb11-183.html

[Al B. Sure!]

Divorce, fool.

[gribbler]

That would partially explain the number of American children not living with both biological parents, yes. But as this "snapshot of America" shows the normal state for a child in America is to live with both parents and not some nightmarish fatherless experience.

[Al B. Sure!]

That would partially explain the number of American children not living with both biological parents, yes. But as this "snapshot of America" shows the normal state for a child in America is to live with both parents and not some nightmarish fatherless experience.

92% of children living with parents do not live with BOTH biological parents. That would be a virtual impossibility given divorce rates. Everything from single parent homes, to grandmothers raising kids, to step-families are under the scope of 'non-traditional'. This is the new majority.

And obviously with every divorce, there's a period of single-parentdom until the (usually) mother marries again.

[gribbler]

92% of children living with parents do not live with BOTH biological parents. That would be a virtual impossibility given divorce rates. Everything from single parent homes, to grandmothers raising kids, to step-families are under the scope of 'non-traditional'. This is the new majority.

And obviously with every divorce, there's a period of single-parentdom until the (usually) mother marries again.

What do you mean "it's not possible with the divorce rates"?

This is the Census department. They don't just make stuff up.

If we define "traditional" as "living with both of your biological parents, or two adoptive parents" then 63% of American children currently live in traditional families. In other words, if HC's biological parents are still together he is not out of touch with the mainstream. My parents aren't atypical either.

[Al B. Sure!]

What do you mean "it's not possible with the divorce rates"?

This is the Census department. They don't just make stuff up.

Something is inaccurate in their wording. The stats fail the sense test. How could 92% of two-parent homes be with biological parents? Only 8% of two-parent homes are step-families?

Fails sense test.

[gribbler]

Something is inaccurate in their wording. The stats fail the **** test. How could 92% of two-parent homes be with biological parents? Only 8% of two-parent homes are step-families?

Fails **** test.

How is this surprising? Next you're going to say "300 million Americans? I've never seen that many people in Philly. This census doesn't pass the **** test!"

[Al B. Sure!]

Step-families account for less than 1/10th of two-parent homes?

Sure, buckoo. Believe that.

[gribbler]

Step-families account for less than 1/10th of two-parent homes?

Sure, buckoo. Believe that.

Less than one-tenth of children living with two parents had a step-parent. Apparently you won't accept any data that contradicts what you already believe

[Al B. Sure!]

Less than one-tenth of children living with two parents had a step-parent. Apparently you won't accept any data that contradicts what you already believe

Fails the common sense test. I don't accept any data that is so patently false as this. I'm thinking there's a problem with the census questions that is causing an under-reporting of step-families.

8% of two-parent homes are step-families? Really? 8% of 69%... 5.5% of American families are step-families? So obviously under-reported.

[gribbler]

Fails the common sense test. I don't accept any data that is so patently false as this. I'm thinking there's a problem with the census questions that is causing an under-reporting of step-families.

8% of two-parent homes are step-families? Really? 8% of 69%... 5.5% of American families are step-families? So obviously under-reported.

No, 5.5% of American children under 18 have a step-parent. Of course your vast pool of experience derived from spending your whole life in Philadelphia makes you qualified to speak for the entire country.

[Al B. Sure!]

No, 5.5% of American children under 18 have a step-parent. Of course your vast pool of experience derived from spending your whole life in Philadelphia makes you qualified to speak for the entire country.

There must have been a great Marriage Re-awakening 18 years ago then! Divorce rates must have plummeted!

Fails the common sense test. You're an idiot and truly out of touch if you don't see a problem here with your statistics.

[Al B. Sure!]

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/...-stepfamilies/



According to that Pew survey, 33% of those asked 18-29 have a step-parent. 44% have a step-sibling or half-sibling.

So 5.5% of those under 18 have step-parents, according to you and the Census. So how the hell do 33% of the 18-29 demographic have a step-parent?

Americans must have stopped getting divorced!

[gribbler]

Average age of those aged 18-29: probably around 24
Average age of those under 18: probably around 9

How is it possible that more of the much older group has acquired step-parents? Why, I don't know!

[MRT144]

I don't know about you, but my parents raised me to be polite. Then again, they also taught me to swim and ride a bike and drive a car. Maybe it's another rich person thing?

White suburban thing for sure.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I do like that Alby blames everyone else for himself being a horribly rude human being.

[Hauldren Collider]

White suburban thing for sure.

It's a real shame common courtesy is a "white suburban thing." I would expect it to be a "decent person thing". But apparently that makes me a snob?

(If you are being sarcastic, I didn't pick up on it, and I apologize)

[Al B. Sure!]

I do like that Alby blames everyone else for himself being a horribly rude human being.

Horribly rude? It was I who always ended posts with 'Thank you'.

I don't say 'please'. It is unnecessary. I want, so I ask. I asked, therefore, I wanted. I don't need to add some ingratiating word, let alone to someone who is doing the job they are paid to do.

I don't say 'sorry'. I apologize. If I make a mistake, I own to the mistake, and apologize. I'm not 'sorry'.

I do say thank you, though. I thank someone for the service rendered. That, to me, is the only obligation.

[Hauldren Collider]

Horribly rude? It was I who always ended posts with 'Thank you'.

I don't say 'please'. It is unnecessary. I want, so I ask. I asked, therefore, I wanted. I don't need to add some ingratiating word, let alone to someone who is doing the job they are paid to do.

I don't say 'sorry'. I apologize. If I make a mistake, I own to the mistake, and apologize. I'm not 'sorry'.

I do say thank you, though. I thank someone for the service rendered. That, to me, is the only obligation.

Alby, manners don't have to be logical. They're like public decency laws or having to wear neckties--something you just put up with and follow to fit in and make other people happy.

[MRT144]

It's a real shame common courtesy is a "white suburban thing." I would expect it to be a "decent person thing". But apparently that makes me a snob?

(If you are being sarcastic, I didn't pick up on it, and I apologize)

It was the swimming and driving part, not the courtesy part.

[BeBro]

I didn't read the thread, but: beer

[Provost Harrison]

Horribly rude? It was I who always ended posts with 'Thank you'.

I don't say 'please'. It is unnecessary. I want, so I ask. I asked, therefore, I wanted. I don't need to add some ingratiating word, let alone to someone who is doing the job they are paid to do.

I don't say 'sorry'. I apologize. If I make a mistake, I own to the mistake, and apologize. I'm not 'sorry'.

I do say thank you, though. I thank someone for the service rendered. That, to me, is the only obligation.

Come to the UK. Someone will masturbate on your food with an attitude like that

[Al B. Sure!]

Come to the UK. Someone will masturbate on your food with an attitude like that

Yup because this...

"May I have 2 McDoubles and a McChicken?"
"3.24"
"Paying with credit card"
"Swipe your card... *swipe* Here's your receipt"
"Thank you"
"Next person in line"

Is not typical for McDonalds service transactions in the US

No one better turn this into a Philly thing. I know how **** goes down. I've been to McDonalds' in other cities.

[N35t0r]

Yup because this...

"May I have 2 McDoubles and a McChicken, please?"
"3.24"
"Paying with credit card"
"Swipe your card... *swipe* Here's your receipt"
"Thank you"
"Next person in line"

Is not typical for McDonalds service transactions in the US

No one better turn this into a Philly thing. I know how **** goes down. I've been to McDonalds' in other cities.

There, you lose no time, since the cashier would still be typing into the register.

[Dinner]

Come to the UK. Someone will masturbate on your food with an attitude like that

I'm sure he gets the same in Philly.

[Al B. Sure!]

Pay attention next time you go to fast food places. Listen to how other people order. You won't hear many 'pleases'.

[Al B. Sure!]

Can someone else chime in about the prevalence of stepfamilies? I know I'm right and the census is under-reporting.

I saw this article in the Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wednes..._b_373314.html

We're hearing a lot about the new U.S. Census these days and many might wonder what, precisely, is at stake. For stepfamilies, the answer is: quite a bit. Experts project they will outnumber first families by 2011 if they don't already. And the divorce rate in a remarriage with children is as high as 72 percent. But because the current Census is as backward as the last one when it comes to stepfamilies, we won't even have a basic sense of how many there are in the U.S. any time soon--or how to help them stay together.

This time around, the Census is once again equating "family" with "household." Translation: you don't count as a stepfamily unless the child in question lives with you "most of the time." If your step/child lives with you 50% of the time or less, you're not a "real" stepfamily.

I don't believe I even know anyone who grew up in a home with two biological parents the entirety of their childhood. According to that article, it is expected that stepfamilies outnumber first families. Yet the census is claiming that the ratio between first families and stepfamilies is almost 10:1. How the **** is that possible?

[Al B. Sure!]

I see stuff like this:

In his 1994 study, "The Changing Character of Stepfamilies," Professor of Sociology Larry L. Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin challenges the common perception that the stepfamily is defined by marriage. His research states that:

About half of the 60 million children under the age of thirteen in this country are currently living with one biological parent and that parent's current partner.

If anyone has JSTOR access, this is the link to Bumpass' study:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/2061689

[gribbler]

I don't believe I even know anyone who grew up in a home with two biological parents the entirety of their childhood. According to that article, it is expected that stepfamilies outnumber first families. Yet the census is claiming that the ratio between first families and stepfamilies is almost 10:1. How the **** is that possible?

1. You seriously don't know anyone whose parents stayed together? Is Philadelphia some kind of sociological disasterscape or something? Definitely wasn't uncommon where I grew up.
2. The census department didn't say the ratio of first families to stepfamilies is 10:1. I think you need to read more carefully.