Reply #22: So what else is new? [View All]

Teenagers and Collage age people, all like people of all ages, they are social animals and to be sociable you have to know what other are thinking about. Now, mot teens to mid 20s are also looking for a mate, maybe NOT admitting it, but they are. Thus people of this age want to KNOW what others of their age know so they can talk to each other. This is normal and healthy. The problem is what is acceptable to teens (And I am using the term "teen" to mean anyone between 12 and 25)? They want to know what is in fashion and what looks good to other teens. Thus the tendency to read about Brittany and other "pop" stars, it is something they can all talk about without offending any other teen.

Politics has a problem for teens, mostly politics divisiveness. Teens do NOT want to be divided, and politics will do that, thus politics is something teens do NOT talk about with other teens. If the teen has contacts with older people, politics become something they are familiar with and maybe even enjoy, but the divisiveness survives. When the teen graduates from collage and finds a mate, the now 20 something wants to maintain their friends, BUT THAT IS SECONDARY TO THEIR SPOUSE AND CHILDREN. Thus they enter the divisiveness of Politics, but with great hesitation, for it breaks up their friendships (i.e. they have to make a choice, and that decision will turn people away).

My point is teens are noted for their lack of Political expertise and power. As their age, they slowly learn that politics is IMPORTANT to themselves and their Families. Just remember this most people do NOT get involved in politics unless it affects them personally, most teens view politics as something they have no or little voice in given most teens desire is to be popular. As they age, people start to see HOW politics affects them AND THEIR FAMILIES and react to those facts.

The real key is to show these teens (And remember I am including collage age students under the term "teen") that politics does affect them and to discuss it even if it means breaking up their social group. It is tough, for some teens will want to maintain their social group at all costs, even at the lOST OF POLITICAL DISCUSSION. Others will use this fear of breaking up the group as grounds for the group to drop the issue. It is easier to keep a group together is the issue is the latest pop star then who will decide if the teens Will be drafter or not. Thus it is hard to bring up politics to teens, but it is something we all must do. Refer teens to this forum and have them see how we discuss issues that often divide us. That is what "Adults" do that "teens" do NOT do and something "teens" must learn.