Should parents let teenagers make their own decisions?

Many teenagers often complain about how they are restricted by their parents in decision making and other aspects of their lives. They complain that they feel trapped inside a cage and that they have no freedom and liberty to do whatever they like. However, what they do not know is that their parents are actually doing these things for their own good. Without their parents, they might eventually make the wrong choices in life. These choices might eventually lead to severe consequences that they might eventually regret. Thus, parents should not let teenagers make their won decisions.

Teenagers are easily influenced by their peers around them and they might be easily convinced into making incorrect decisions. For example, a teen might do something wrong that his friends had asked him to do just to fit into the group. Thus, parents must be there to stop the teen in making the wrong decision and guide him in the correct direction.

Also, many teens are often distracted by the latest "in" thing, such as having a Facebook account, or having the newest iPhone and android phone.For example, when a teen sees most of his friends having the latest Android phone, he would definitely want an android phone as he would not want to be left out. However, parents should step in at this time to stop the teen from buying the phone. This is so as some features of the Android phone,such as the apps and internet surfing, might distract the child from his work. Also, parents were also once teens and would definitely know how it feels and know the harmful consequences of these things. Thus, teens should not be allowed to make their own decisions.

However, parents should not exercise total dictatorship over their children. Parents should learn how to "loosen their grip" on their children and slowly let their children make their own decisions. These decisions may include what courses the child wants to take in college. Parents should not force their child to take a course that he or she does not have passion or interest in. Thus, parents should only exercise a certain amount of control over their children.

Should smoking be banned?

Smoking is bad for your health. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does. At one point in our lives, we all must have heard this sentence. However, many people are still addicted to smoking. This is because many people think that smoking is cool and that smoking is actually fun. Once they start, they cannot stop due to addiction. This will result in more people getting addicted to smoking. Thus, smoking should be banned.

Smoking should be banned as it is hazardous to the smokers' health. As most people know, smoking can cause diseases such as lung cancer and other lethal diseases. It can also increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant mothers. Smoking also contains harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide and nicotine which can result in high blood pressure in a smoker. The high blood pressure may eventually lead to the smokers suffering from strokes or even heart attacks. Thus, one in two smokers die as a result of these diseases in middle age. Hence, smoking should be banned as it is hazardous to the smoker's health.

Smoking should also be banned as second hand smoke exhaled from smokers can pose a threat to the health of others. People around smokers have even higher rates of contracting diseases caused by smoking. This is due to the fact that the smoke exhaled by the smokers is even "dirtier" then the smoke that the smokers breathe. Some people even contract cancer due to too much contact with second hand smoke. Thus, smoking should be banned due to this.

However, smoking also has its pros. This is so as smokers excessively buy cigarettes from stores around Singapore. This will thus increase Singapore's revenue from selling cigarettes to these smokers. Without smokers, Singapore's economy will weaken as it will lose a source of revenue from these smokers.

In conclusion, smoking is a bad thing but should not be totally banned. If possible, a scheme could be made to limit the amount of cigarettes a smoker can buy a month. This will result in the smokers having a smaller chance of contracting diseases but will still allow Singapore to gain income and revenue from the smokers.