How would you feel if your 16 year old DS wanted to become a 'young conservative'

[BigSandyBalls2015]

That is all!
Opinions please.

"Tolerant left" out in force on here I see.

No problem at all. It's up to them and I'd be pleased if they took an interest in politics. The Conservatives aren't perfect but they are a normal mainstream party. If it was something extreme like BNP or Marxists it would be far more concerning.

My 18 year old ds voted Conservative. I didn't.
Doesn't bother me in the least. At least he is voting.

Not my choice of political party but that's up to him and I'd be pleased he was at least taking an interest.

it wonderful he is free to male those choices

Tories do love male choices. Female choices, not so much.

Gutted.

These are the friothing, angsty, hateful responses, up to the point where posters started saying ohmigod I can't believe how nasty you lefties are, it's profoundly depressing etc etc.

Disappointed (2)
Confused (2)
Meh
Pleased
Amazed
Really upset
Still love her
Wonder where I'd gone wrong
Very proud
Privately horrified
Unhappy
Intrigued
Absolutely fine
Pleased they took an interest
Supportive
Great
Book family therapy
Hugely disappointed
Proud (3)
Up to him
Happy
Depends why.

Some people really are reading what they think should be there, not what is actually there,

I am in a minority on Mumsnet in seeing any issue with watching porn at all- I am a bit surprised at that being picked up. There were several other examples.

Thinking about it, though, surely we all hope that our children grow up with the values we consider important. And would be disappointed if they don't? I hope very much that I am bringing up a man who does not think of women in a way that means he will be happy to watch porn. And with a mindset that finds current conservative values unacceptable, (Not individual conservatives as individuals- the core values they hold). So I will be disappointed if he turns out to be a different man to the man I hope he will be.

We do live in a democracy, you know! People are allowed to find certain ideologies utterly abhorrent if they want to!

And people are free to think that you being disgusted if your child was a conservative is pretty abhorrent in itself.

It's OK to be disappointed in the choices your children make sometimes ffs, that doesn't make us intolerant, it makes us human. We all want to pass on our values to our children so if they choose something that goes against those values (like some Tory policies regarding the poor, the disabled etc.) it's to be expected to be disappointed. Expect teenage rebellion but you don't have to love it.

I'd be disappointed and concerned if my DSs joined some extremist right wing or left wing group because I think extremists are all the same. Bullying and intolerant.
The state of the mainstream political parties at the moment is dire. None of them are worth joining.

Seek - bit of cherry picking there I see!

Very pleased!

And people are free to think that you being disgusted if your child was a conservative is pretty abhorrent in itself

I didn't actually say I would be disgusted - maybe someone else did? I would be appalled, just like I'm sure more people can think of things their child could do that would make them seriously question whether the values they'd tried to promote had been worth nothing in the end.

Seek - bit of cherry picking there I see!

Sorry - what did I miss?

Poor old Seek .

We're so over facts, you know.

FFS, it has nothing to do with "tolerance". Tolerance doesn't mean that you have to have wishy-washy beliefs. It is perfectly possible to hold very strong moral, political or religious opinions and to recognise that not everyone else thinks the same way, and to defend others' right to that difference.

The association of tolerance with a lack of passionate conviction is gendered, too.

I'd be delighted but point out that some bigotted wankers (so many examples even in this post) can't tolerate those with different opinions.

I'd be pleased that they were engaged in politics at a relatively young age and hope that they they could rise above and ignore those who don't have the mental faculties to cope or argue with opposing views.

I think that responses on this thread are a sad insight into the mind of many.

I think quite a lot of us have said we'd keep on arguing, topic, rather than that we'd refuse to tolerate our children.

Which things on this thread to you think are examples of bigoted wank?

Seek, I was meaning 'you' in general. But still, being 'appalled'...really? It is this sort of extreme reaction to what is mainstream politics that puts people completely off.

I would think I'd failed as a mother and a person.

I think it is different when you're talking about the way your own child has grown up, isn't it?

I'm not 'appalled' that some people are Tories - I disagree with them, I don't have a lot in common with them, I wish they wouldn't be Tories.

But I would be 'appalled' if my daughter, who's engaged as long as she's been able in conversations about injustice and poverty, and who knows and understands Tory policies on these things, suddenly decided that was the mast she wanted to nail her flag to, in the face of everything we as a family have ever discussed and every value we've shared.

Pretty gutted... but would try not to let on!

Horrified and disappointed. I don't mind a Tory OAP, and I can live with middle-aged Tory friends, but I think teenagers should be idealistic - generous, kind and champions of the weak and less fortunate, none of which fits with my view of the Tories.