<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/06/10/news/wyoming/40-forum.txt">Teen forum calls adults hypocritical</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Some student panelists called a local Jackson group that's targeting underage drinking a "joke" because of what they said was hypocrisy on the part of adults when it comes to alcohol.<br />n<br />n….<br />n<br />nShreiber said the Rotary Club of Jackson Hole is giving scholarships from money earned through Wine Fest.<br />n<br />n"I went to a Rotary luncheon and I listened as they joked about a golf trip they were planning and at the end there would be a tailgate party," Shreiber said. "Most of the people there were involved with Communities Mobilizing. What kind of message is that?"</blockquote><br />n<br />nI can't agree with the teens more. A bunch of people with drinks in their hands talking about curbing underage drinking. Pretty hypocritical. The adults might be drinking "responsibly," if there is such a thing, but it still is not an appropriate message to be sending to kids.<br />n<br />nI was over at a neighbors the other day branding and somebody there asked why I don't make my kids wear a helmet when they ride. I told him, "I know they should wear a helmet, it would definitely be safer, but there is not a chance in hell I would wear one so it would be hypocritical of me to make them wear one when I wouldn't. That's why I wear a seat belt now days. It would be hypocritical of me to expect my kids to use one if I didn't, so I did the right thing and wear one now, but there is no way I am wearing a helmet while riding."<br />n<br />nThe same thing could be said about drinking and smoking. When I got married and had kids I decided I needed to set the right example and quit doing both. If your parents don't do it you are less likely to do it. So far it's worked but there are a lot of teenage years ahead of me. We will see how it goes.<br />n<br />nBack to the teens though, they're right, there is a lot of hypocrisy out there. That doesn't mean you can't look past it and do the right thing. It just makes it harder.<br />n<br />n<b>Rural towns aren't always idyllic. It's easy to feel trapped and be aware of social hypocrisy. Bill Pullman</b>