IS the youth of today a new breed? Are they different in some way from any of the former generations? I will answer the above questions just in case you struggle; the answer is no. They are identical, they are just as brave as the previous generations and just as bored.

We all hear a lot of folk tales about how much 'the youth of today has changed' and whenever there is a problem they are blamed. Crime rate climbs, well it must be all the young kids that hang around on street corners. 'My car got scratched last night' oh well that must have been them as well.

We have all seen them when we visit our local newsagents to pick up our paper and groceries. They stand there in there and they scare you, they intimidate you, they annoy you, but if you were asked what they did do intimidate, scare or annoy you, you would not have an answer.

You see on most occasions they don't have to do anything but be there. Are they intimidating, why yes of course they are! But have you have said hello, hi there. Of course not, people don't speak to strangers anymore because of the minority of dangerous strangers, and remember they are a minority and they are not the youth.

Kids, teenagers and young people need to be entertained constantly, not by you but in their small groups. They love to meet up and chat, have a giggle and generally mess about.

What harm are they doing? Well when it's on your doorstep it can be very irritating and they then become an annoyance, but where else can they go?

Community centres? No, most of them now don't offer anything for young people. Some might say they should go to the local playing field and maybe kick a ball around, and that's what some of them do but others, who have been at school all day working hard in most cases, just want to chill and not participate in any sports.

Swindon, slowly but surely is starting to wake up to this problem and are in the process of giving them places to hang out, but in the mean time we have to be patient and realise that they have no where else to go.

There are some that are only committed to crime and that's just a sad fact, but on a lot of occasions boredom again plays a role.

It's time to give them a break, they are after all the future whether you like it or not.

Give them the respect that they deserve and you might be surprised at the level of respect that you get back.

Sam O Blik

Rodbourne