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Original poster

DS doesn’t know much about politics

58 replies

bathinginglitter · 30/01/2022 20:07

DS 20 is at uni, he was telling me how he was with a group of students on his course and they were having a discussion about Brexit and Boris Johnson and DS said he sat there for 10 minutes and didn’t say anything as it’s not something he is interested in or knows enough information to feel he can comment on and feel confident in what he is saying. I’m just wondering have any of going to DC of a similar age who would react in the same way as DS. I’m just a bit concerned that he seems a bit clueless on very important topics.

OP posts:

StoneofDestiny · 30/01/2022 20:19

A bit worrying, but I've heard older people say they have 'no interest' in politics. Has he never voted?

Suggest he reads up as being at Uni is about being educated to an advanced level.

Momicrone · 30/01/2022 20:24

Brexit n boris are probably by two least favourite subjects, I don't blame him

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 30/01/2022 20:24

Um, that sounds very normal to me.

I studied politics at university so knew a decent amount but most people don't really much attention or, if they do, aren't interested enough to discuss it.

Even though I studied it, I have no interest in talking politics IRL as it always ends up in arguments!

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Families

Chely · 30/01/2022 20:26

Politics is a load of smoke and mirrors with muppets driving the shit show. Let him keep his blissful ignorance for a bit longer.

TraceyLacey · 30/01/2022 20:26

Tell him to follow @thechampagne_socialist on tiktok, he's a very articulate politics student. Not a socialist though!

AppleKatie · 30/01/2022 20:26

Well the good news is he’s noticed and he’s bothered AND he’s at a university! Seems like the best place to be if you want to increase your understanding of the world 😂

Seriously though, I think he’s probably in a minority at uni but not of all the people his age.

ShinyHappyPoster · 30/01/2022 20:28

Surely you must have noticed that he never talked about politics at home. Unless you haven't ever discussed politics with him, in which case then where did you expect him to develop an interest in politics?

JustLyra · 30/01/2022 20:29

Have you talked much to him about politics?

DH chats a lot to the kids about politics and current affairs, me slightly less so, so I doubt ours would.
My grandparents (who brought me up) were surprised when I was a teen that I knew morning about politics, but they never ever talked about it

ElephantOfRisk · 30/01/2022 20:30

I have one of each. DS 21 isn't particularly interested other than what he picks up from us but we keep telling him he is allowed to form different views. He votes. He's a student and wouldn't join in chat about politics.

DS 20, has been interested pretty much his whole life and joined a political party at 13, now at Uni studying politics and IR. He'd very much enjoy and have knowledge to participate in chats about politics.

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 20:36

I think this is one of those things that typically starts at home. I'm guessing that you haven't talked to him about politics very much, OP?

My dd is 16, and she is pretty clued up on most of the key political issues, knows who a lot of politicians are, has opinions on stuff. I think it's because she has grown up hearing discussions about it and being involved in conversations. It's just the norm in our house. She doesn't agree with me on everything, though our fundamental values and world views are the same.

From what she has said, about half of her friends are interested in politics and fairly well informed, and the other half don't have a clue because they just aren't interested. She does find it hard to understand how people can not be interested when they'll probably be entitled to vote at the next general election, but I think it's just a lack of exposure.

Hopefully, your ds will start to take an interest and educate himself a bit. Personally, I think it's a duty in a democracy to have a basic understanding of the key issues.

user1471453601 · 30/01/2022 20:40

I come from a very political family, Mum and Aunt were both local councillors. If you didn't talk politics in my family, you didn't talk at all. My daughter was coming on CND marches, March for jobs events and Rock against Racism concerts from about seven years old.
She's now very involved in local and national politics. And politics still makes up a largish part of our every day conversation. Sometimes we agree sometimes not, but we are generally in line with our thinking, even if we differ in specifics.
If politics wasnt/isn't a part of your family, it's not odd that he isn't very educated in politics.
It's hard for me to advise how he should start. Maybe take one or two broafsheets, of different persuasions?

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 30/01/2022 20:42

What's he studying? Most people feel confident enough to give their opinion on Brexit so I'd be a bit worried about that but if he doesn't need to know then it's not the end of the world I guess. Lots of people become interested when their old and politics has a more direct effect on their lives.

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 20:44

If you didn't talk politics in my family, you didn't talk at all.

Ha! That's pretty much how it was in my family growing up. One of my earliest memories is of meeting Tony Benn at a rally when I was really little!

HNY2022mam · 30/01/2022 20:45

This is what the government want - that’s why politics isn’t taught in school.

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 20:45

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Politics has a direct impact on their lives when they're young as well. They just don't always realise it!

HeadToToesNo · 30/01/2022 20:47

Get him a subscription to Private Eye magazine, he'll be clued up in no time. That combined with The Week are a pretty good jumping off point.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 30/01/2022 20:48

Maybe it is normal, as people are suggesting, but it’s worrying nonetheless. People should know about politics, or at least have a rudimentary understanding. Maybe if they did, we wouldn’t be in the appalling mess we are In now.

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 20:49

I agree, the Week is very good. It's a long time since I have read Private Eye!

CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 30/01/2022 20:50

Well, if you talk about politics a lot and he’s not picked up any info or interest then it’s a little odd. But some people just have no interest regardless.

If it’s not been something that’s talked about regularly at home then it isn’t surprising at all.

princesspeppax · 30/01/2022 20:51

I was the same at that age, I can remember friends and family having discussions about politics and me sitting clueless! I'm 26 now and very invested in all things politics

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 20:51

@princesspeppax

I was the same at that age, I can remember friends and family having discussions about politics and me sitting clueless! I'm 26 now and very invested in all things politics

That's really interesting. Can I ask what changed for you to make you more interested?

DepthOfTheAbyss · 30/01/2022 20:56

My ds became interested in politics because of Trump which lead to an interest in world politics.
He seems to discuss politics with friends and likes watching stand up comedy which often has political messages. He just needs to start watching it reading news if he wants to gain more knowledge.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 30/01/2022 20:57

@AlexaShutUp well I know that but I'm not 20. Give the boy a chance

AlexaShutUp · 30/01/2022 21:05

[quote JackieCollinshasnoauthority]@AlexaShutUp well I know that but I'm not 20. Give the boy a chance [/quote]
I am not really judging him at all. As I say, it's mostly about exposure. If a kid has grown up without ever really hearing people talk about the impact of political decisions on their lives or on the lives of other people, then why would they even think about it?

I would love to see better political education in schools so that everyone at least had an understanding of how the system works. It's harder to educate on the actual issues without some form of bias creeping in.

XenoBitch · 30/01/2022 21:07

Er, I am 40s and have no clue (or interest) about politics. Maybe I should be taken somewhere discrete, and hung, drawn and quartered.

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