They are noisy, always on bikes or skateboards or roller blades, shouting, hanging around. The kids of today are a constant nuisance. Sounds familiar, I am sure.

It was just like when we were kids, and the adults wanted to keep moving us on.

One of my colleagues, deputy editor David Jones, wants to Ban the Boarder Brats from Rainham shopping precinct.

He quickly found himself in trouble with everyone, from the articulate lads to youth workers and the police, who all defended their right to be there.

Now, I’m not going to rabbit about the rights and wrongs of his argument, or on the fact that this was a youth “no-go congregating” area a short time ago.

They are getting exercise and fresh air (DJ’s smoky exhaust always allowing).

When you get to a certain age, you want to be away from teachers, adults, parents, authority. It’s worse when parents won’t let them go unescorted to the shop until they are old enough to marry.

When you are their age, you don’t want to be told to do this, that or the other. They gather often for no other reason than that our generations don’t like to see younger people apparently happy without something to do.

Remember the youth workers who tried to organise events, games, things to see, or things to do when we were young?

The kids need to test themselves, either as an impending adult able to converse about anything from moaning adults to today’s exam, or which person of the opposite gender attracts their attention, or to live their lives more independently than simply being at home.

I make this observation a few days after attending the Medway Try Angle Awards at the Central Theatre.

I met youngsters trying to grow up their way (just like mum and dad did). I saw some brave people who brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience.

Above all, what I saw was there is absolutely nothing wrong with today’s teenagers.

They are caring and thoughtful. They enjoy life.

Indeed, in some cases they fight appalling health problems just to be treated as normal.

Don’t knock today’s youngsters, David. They are terrific!