In the Teenage Wasteland article the author talked a lot about teenage suicide and about a particular group of kids that were deemed the "outcasts."
I could relate well to the issue and I also remember what it was like to be a teenager in the '80"'s. Everything was intensified... sex, music, love, friendships, ect.
When I think about how things have changed in the way teenagers handle their own circumstances, (suicide in the '80's and mass high school shootings in the '90's), I wonder if there is some urgent message that our society is just not comprehending.
There are too many expectations on our youth to succeed and prosper. But most teen's don't have a clue about what they want to do, or they have ideas but just aren't sure.
Could it be that these drastic actions are a plea for a longer childhood and for the pace of life to slow down enough to be more thoroughly enjoyed? I'm sure there is a lot more to it, but I am curious about what every body else thinks.