Our troubled youth, 1699 edition

The next was a Crew of Extravagant Blades,
Tho' Born to Estates, yet are Bred up to Trades:
As Merchants Apprentices, Sons of the City,
Who think to be Lewd, is the way to be Witty;
Or finely to Dance, or to Sing a new Song,
Are the only true Graces to Man do belong:
Thus led by the Fury of Youth, without thinking,
To Bawdy-House, Play-House, to Gaming and Drinking.

--From A Walk to Islington--

Kids these days, what with their music and dancing all night and filthy mouths!

Tabloid wisdom, 1708 edition

...the unhappy Eccho of other Peoples Failings.

--Fragment of The London Terraefilius--

I wonder how many people (and blogs) are an unhappy echo of other people's failings.