It is a combination of all of the above. I myself am a kid and my parents have told me multiple times that if i was a kid back in the 60's i'd be dead. That's where i told her that i would also gain more respect quicker and at a young age. I assure that at places like school it is very difficult to stay within the boundaries that me an my parents have indirectly set up without my arguing. I consider myself a lot better than most kids, and i can say that through my observation of the slobs at my school. I personally despise everything popular among the younger population where i live. (i live in a suburb of a big city, so hunting is not much around here).
I think that we have to hold ourselves to as high of standards as we dare to go. There is alot of anti-gun and anti-hunting organizations whose main aim is to get rid of people like us, and we have to show that we are more responsible and capable of holding whatever torch of leadership there is than them. It will give them no logical reason to attack us.
On the other hand, the good deeds that we do get no attention at all, it's all the stupid things that inconsiderate people that have no respect for other people's land do. It's our job to try to rid ourselves of that negative image.

Nate

Nate you ar eincredibly insightful for a self proclaimed "Kid" it's hard to go further than you have already. Having said that I agree that it is a combination af the above suggested people work longer hours more days a week now than ever before and we really need to remind ourselves to have the good old fashioned talks with our kids any more but really the responsibility lies with parents telling our kids what is ethical and responsible and what is not. I feel that the overwhelming reason is the majority of this generation of parents sit the kids in front of the tv they'll be ok I'm sorry but thats CRAP! I am partially guilty I work in agriculture and work 6 10's and one day my oldest did some moarally questionable and it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. My solution was to spend as much time with her as possible to try and be a good role model. That was 2 years ago now My oldsest I feel has found her own path which seems to be the right one and not to sound sappy but Hunting, Fishing and the Outdoors saved my family I really believe this My little girl(not so little now) has replaced my buddies as hunting and fishing companion but in the end it's a shared interest deal the onjly way to save our kids is to spend time with them. Tv and and and cannot replace the value and influence of being there to lead the way.

Thanks Beekeeper, little confession I was a Kid when I had my first kid (I was 16) and really sometimes I used to feel more like a Big Brother than a Father which made it easier to overlook the moral thing ] because we were just goofing off when I was home. I learned the hard way to grow up and be a responsible role model. I really am kind of freightened when I look around at the average kid these days. I now have four kids of my own and it would be the easy way out to say I have my hands full, but you know what? there are so many of our young people out there that are worth saving from our society(all of them inner-city, to the single parents kids in the small towns)thats why I volunteer myself and my dog for youth upland hunts, and try to mentor kids through the conservation groups we are members of and if it's ok with their parents my kids friends are welcome to burn some powder at my house, I built a mini trap field and a backstop in our back pasture (the high house trap is a hand trap in the barn hay loft)I am looking into becomming a certified Hunters Ed. instructor Bottom line is WE HAVE TO STEP UP!! as sportsmen and women and parents and as responsible members of our communities! this trend in society is terrifying and daunting, but together we can change the world one mind, person, kid at a time.
P.S. to Golfing I am genuinely sorry for both your personal and your communities loss due to the ignorance of a few people

To answer the question w/o being longwinded and nostalgic,...We should hold ourselves to the Highest standard ethically when afield. When we don't we perpetuate the argument for the abolition of the very lifestyle we enjoy. Smarten up people.

I agree with you totally.

Thanks Beekeeper will look at it. And thank you for starting this thread, got me and from the look of it several others thinking.