Monsters. But they're only children!

I am one of those people who believes that there is innately BOTH good and bad in people. And today I was reminded just how bad the innate bad can be. So it's not the first time I have been disappointed in people and I know it won't be the last, but these were kids. And those of you who know me well know that I absolutely love kids... so you might understand why I am so upset.

Last week the Cub and Boy Scouts placed plastic bags on the doors in my apartment complex saying that they would collect canned goods today. The instructions were to leave non-perishable food items in these plastic bags on our doorsteps this morning, where the Boy Scouts would come by and pick them up. So during my weekly grocery trip, I picked up some extra soup, jello mix, and granola bars for this bag. I placed them out in the bag in front of my door this morning as instructed.

When I came out of my apartment to run a few errands this afternoon, I was absolutely APPALLED at the mess in front of my door. Some kid(s) in my apartment complex had taken all of the jello and granola bars and mashed open the soup cans, spilling out all of its contents in the hallway. I was disgusted, so I went down to the leasing office to inform them. Of course, I was given the standard leasing office response (a sympathetic "really? that's too bad" and complete inaction), but it has really made me lose faith in people.

You think people are innately good? Let these monsters be the first to prove you wrong. No one taught those kids how to be mean. No one taught these kids how to be so cruel and inconsiderate and beat each other down like I've seen them do at play. And worse yet - these kids have no one willing to teach and correct them. I thought that they would surely respect what the Cub and Boy Scouts were trying to do - boy, was I WRONG.

This is not the first incidence of mean stuff these kids have done - there have been other things too: opening my packages and throwing the contents at my door, throwing crap into my balcony, destroying the apartment property, the list goes on. (Like one of my coworkers said when she visited, "Wow - it's like being back in Brooklyn again.") I have taken all actions to prevent these sorts of things, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do except look forward to moving out.

Sadly, these kids are just like their parents: monsters. This destructive behavior and lack of corrective discipline just snowballs into even worse actions: graffiti obscenities, knife stabbings, domestic disputes - all of which have occurred in this apartment complex since I have lived here. The sad thing is, the kids are watching their parents. They cry and scream during the domestic disputes until the cops show up. They see it all. It's all they know. And, without sacrificing his/her own safety, there's not much that anyone can do about it, unfortunately. This is where you have to step back and let law enforcement, churches, and social services take over. It is really a miracle that any child in these situations can overcome these things and succeed in life.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not one of those people who whine and cry and complain about shady areas just to get sympathy. I'm completely teed off and scared, ok? But hey - I got myself into this living situation and I have to be careful, take the necessary precautions, and tough it out. It is the one thing about this area that I will NOT miss. If anything, living here has been a motivating factor to finish off the next semester well, earn my degree, secure a well-paying job, and move to a safer area. All I can say is I'm glad that most of you will never have to deal with this sort of thing. Consider yourselves fortunate.