My parents have become insufferable.

Very similar. I think mine might have actually always been this way but past few years I've noticed it more as they speak like it in front of DC. In some cases, they have actually commented on grandchildren's physical appearance too (things they can't change). I now just choose to see them a lot less, luckily live 6 hours away.

Part of me feels bad as I know they have noticed my reduced contact, but absolutely can't talk to them about it as they won't accept it, or they'll think it's me - y'know, like it's my issue that they mock certain groups etc. A bit sad really. Interestingly, my kids haven't commented on the reduced meetings.

Obviously. In fact having 2 parents together - and having a supportive family environment is the main influential factor in having a successful life. Educational outcomes and all.

Still - no excuse for leaving white working class kids behind.

Do they find your views repugnant? Not everyone has to be interested in the same things or have the same views as you. Change the subject and live and let live.

Home is a huge factor. High aspiring, engaged parents support their children, who in turn achieve well.

There is a direct link between parental support and outcomes for children.

Oh God this could describe one of my parents + step parent. In their case, I blame the Daily Mail, plus not getting out as much as they used to. It means their lives are insular and small, so they end up thinking what they read is real. DH, who's always got on really well with them until recently years, exploded a while back, pointing out after one bigoted comment, that one of their own grandchildren is mixed race (one of my siblings children), but that apparently 'was different'. DH then shouted that if the party they think are so great they should be running the country were in charge, it most definitely wouldn't be different and their grandchild would probably have to go to his mum's country of birth with her as she'd be deported (sibling and her are not married), or stay and suffer terrible racism here. But there's no getting through to them. It's like poison being dripped into their ears, by media owned by people that don't even effing live here.

The issue here is that you say I've got a Muslim friend and he's lovely. Well of course. I have several friends who are Muslim, they are wonderful. Like my other friends of other religions, or no religion at all (like me). No one is talking about individuals here.

MI5 spend 75% of their budget on Islamic extremism. There are more than 2 billion Muslims worldwide. World population is 8.3 billion.

So it doesn't take Einstein to understand that a minority of Muslims being extremist terrorists - or at the very least extremely misogynistic men unsuited to the European culture - is still millions of Muslims. And it is a problem.

'A 2024 study by the Fondation pour l’innovation politique found that there were 56,413 Islam terrorist attacks recorded between 2013 and April 2024, representing 84.4% of the total recorded since 1979.
>
In 2016, four out of the five most violent groups in the world were Islamist extremists. These groups carried out 88% of the 2,916 attacks [in that year] and caused 99% of the 14,017 deaths by the top five groups.'

It sounds like as they are getting older and maybe don't spend as much time with people the world outside starts to look more threatening? I'm the opposite, I've been a staunch Conservative for all of my life but after seeing what the Orange pdf is doing to the US I've completely changed my political views. I used to listen to all the negative propaganda about Muslims but then I started doing business with a Muslim and he's become a really good friend and tbh he has better morals and a kinder nature towards people who are struggling than most of my Christian friends at church. He's the only person outside of my family who tells me that he loves me and that means a lot. Maybe tell your parents that you are feeling a bit disappointed in them and that you expect more from them. Take them out to cultural events where they can mix with people from other countries and cultures. They might be surprised by the love they get shown.

Quite happy to go along with "one viewpoint" if it is that white people are not superior to all other races thank you!

We didn't have that at my comprehensive school or my HE college. But my children have it at their private school. Shame it's not more widespread. The state don't want kids to question, just conform. Preferably be deep in student debt / on benefits. That helps conformity too.

Norm Chomsky: “Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of debt . they can’t afford the time to think. Tuition fee increases are a “disciplinary technique,” and, by the time students graduate, they are not only loaded with debt, but have also internalized the “disciplinarian culture.” This makes them efficient components of the consumer economy.”

Yep. White working class children - always back of the queue. Disgraceful. Makes me sick.

Yes, we did this too aged 14 plus. Teacher chose two people to speak for the motion and two against. You didn’t have to personally agree with your side. Everyone was expected to contribute an opinion. Teacher stopped the discussion if some one was disrespectful and explained what was wrong and how you could say it better.
I’ve often thought that many posters on MN could have benefited from this, but especially younger ones( not always ).

My son now 28 did this at school- he was amazing at it - and consequently is a pretty rounded person at dealing with all kinds of people and views- he’s the guy his company always send out to deal with on site IT issues!!

We used to have debating in English regularly and once a year the whole school would hear a competition of debates it was then decided which house won. Sometimes you'd have to debate on something you didn't agree with but convince the audience that you did agree. My DC's did the same. I guess debating and voting isn't allowed now in school

This thread makes me laugh. The irony of claims that older people were not taught critical thinking coming from bigots who do recognise any viewpoint but their own. You havent been taught any form of reasoning, you've been taught to conform to one particular viewpoint and never to question it.

You dont live in the real world, you live in a fantasy world. To maintain your fantasy you need to keep reassuring yourself that other people agree with you.

Get a life, children. Mix with people who are different to you. Listen to them.

I see your coloured and raise you (with my sincerest apologies) d*rkie.

There’s a long article in the times today showing that
@Anonyanonay may have hit the nail on the head.
It’s about the Pisa results , showing that white British children are amongst the lowest performing group and states clearly that DEI may have been focusing on the wrong group for a generation,
Time for you to start calling out racism against whites @skygroundsky !
I shall await with interest ….

No

Oh yes, white privilege. Except critical race theory and its bastard child DEI has reversed that, hasn't it?

What makes you think I'm a fan of Farage? I voted Remain.

This will get deleted but I post it in the hope that you will see it.

From the white mother of a half Jamaican child, you are an ignorant fucking arsehole who has no idea of the the privilege you have.

Perhaps I make no sense to those who are hard of thinking... there are quite a few of them on this thread.

Are you typing in your balaclava?