“Wisdom is profitable to direct” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). That ancient line feels very relevant to what is happening in today’s world, especially when you look at how everyday conflicts are now being amplified on social media. Because sometimes, what could have been a simple misunderstanding ends up becoming a viral debate, a public disgrace, or in some cases, a full-blown fight that divides opinion online.

One of such recent incidents happened in Lagos inside a korope, and it has once again brought up the phrase making rounds on TikTok: “children, train your parents.” At first hearing, it sounds extreme, almost disrespectful, but when you look at the situation that sparked the conversation, you begin to understand why younger people are asking deeper questions about respect, boundaries, and behavior.

A young lady was on a bus watching videos on her phone when another passenger asked her to reduce the volume. According to her, she complied, but others still felt the sound was disturbing. What started as a simple issue of noise quickly escalated when an older woman sitting beside her began to verbally attack her instead of calmly resolving the matter. The situation became tense, words were exchanged, and then the older woman slapped the young lady twice.

The young lady retaliated physically, and what followed was chaos inside the bus. What is even more interesting is that nobody intervened when the insults were being exchanged or when the first slap landed, but the moment the younger woman fought back, intervention suddenly became urgent. That detail alone has sparked a lot of online debates about selective morality and how people respond to conflict depending on who is involved.

Afterwards, the situation took a familiar Nigerian turn. The young lady was arrested, videos went viral, and she was eventually made to tender an apology, with reports suggesting the older woman did not want the matter pursued further. In her apology video, she said, “I didn’t beat mama intentionally,” 🌚.

But beyond the viral moment, the real conversation is deeper. Was this just about a noisy phone in a bus, or is it part of a larger issue about how people, especially younger ones are expected to absorb disrespect in silence simply because of age?

And that brings us back to that trending phrase, “children, train your parents.” Whether people agree with the wording or not, it reflects a growing frustration among young people who feel that respect is often demanded but not always given in return. Many can relate to situations where they were insulted, cheated, or treated unfairly by older individuals, yet any reaction from them is immediately labeled as disrespect.

The truth is, wisdom is supposed to guide conduct on both sides. Respect was never meant to be one-sided, and while violence can never be justified as the first response, it is worth asking why accountability seems to disappear when the older person is the aggressor.

In the end, the Lagos korope incident is not just about two individuals losing control. It is a reflection of a wider social tension, between tradition and changing expectations, between age-based authority and personal boundaries, and between silence and self-respect.

So maybe the real question is not just who was wrong, but how we can build a society where conflicts do not always need to escalate before fairness is considered.

“Children, Train Your Parents?” — The Gen Z Line Between Respect and Retaliation

“Children, Train Your Parents?” — The Gen Z Line Between Respect and Retaliation