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

[BigSandyBalls2015]

That is all!
Opinions please.

I wouldn’t feel anything at all. I can’t imagine anything less interesting than discussing politics with a 16 year old on a mission.

I would be if my DD was a young conservative.

We are an ethnic minority so it wouldn't sit well with me if she was part of a racist political group.

I'd see it as normal teenage rebellion against the views of the parents

Hopefully, they'd grow out of it in a year or so.

We are an ethnic minority so it wouldn't sit well with me if she was part of a racist political group

FFS. Double face palm.

I was just curious what MN would think. You knew exactly what MN would say.

I have stuck a placard in the hands of my 3 year old actually, but we were campaigning for the NHS, and she (now 5) does have an opinion on this (and wants to be a doctor like her mum)

I would send her to live with her dad (joking by the way, before I get called a bad mother).

My dd is very anti conservative so I would be very shocked.

People are entitled to their views at any age; it's good to encourage freedom of thought. I think it's a shame when parents try to dictate how their children should think and feel about the world around them. Personally I find politics so so dull, but would of course be fine if my child had an interest in it.

Well let's take climate change for instance.

Solid science, across the board agreement....and yet those on the right can't seem to grasp it. Reasoning skills?

cheese are you confusing Young Conservatives with the BNP?

As long as it wasn't UKIP I wouldn't be bothered. I'd be quite pleased they were taking an interest in politics.

@mogulfield For what it's worth, I don't vote Labour.

And to those criticising a lack of nuanced political discourse on here: the question wasn't 'give a detailed critique of political discource, 2010-15', it was 'how would you feel if your child was a young tory'. That's a question begging a visceral response, not a nuanced one. And I'd be really disappointed in them.

Or another one....if you allow people to stockpile an arsenal of automatic weaponry very bad things happen.

I think the right is saying they don't want to talk about it.

No not confusing them with the BNP.

Conservatives are covertly racist. Dont deny it.

Maybe one day we can have some kind of gulag type establishment to re-educate such children.

I'd be proud that they were showing an interest in politics.

Then I'd be even more proud that they had chosen the only party that policies make sense. Rather then one that just simply says anything to get the public on side and that they can see past the policies of the opposition that simply don't add up

Why do you say that cheese?

I'm not denying it because I can see you feel very certainly about it so I assume you must have reason to feel this way.

Conservatives are covertly racist. Dont deny it

I'm denying it. Why the massive generalisation?

I should think I'd feel the same way my mum did, when I brought home copies of the Morning Star, or my auntie, when my cousin was selling the Socialist Worker! I would hope my child had the critical thinking skills to keep it all under review throughout her life (that cousin is now a member of the Conservative party, I'm a moderate Labour voter), and would enjoy a few lively debates over the dinner table. I would be hoping she'd grow out of it, but wouldn't want to back her too much into a corner about something relatively trivial in the grand scheme of things.

What rational line of thought forms the basis for Mogg's feelings that he should determine a woman's reproductive decisions?

His God told him so?

Cheeese

Unfortunatly there is racism, discrimination and sexism in EVERY political party. The Labour party is rife with anti-semitism and misogyny; they've never even had a woman in charge! This is why I hate all political parties

Conservatives are covertly racist. Dont deny it.

All of them? Are you sure?

Because if you're wrong and there are conservatives out there who aren't racist, they'll see that your objection is flawed and that you're just making up reasons to criticise conservative voters because there aren't any actual facts to criticise them for.

It would also make you look prejudiced and hypocritical.

I fail to see what's hateful about being disappointed if your child follows a path you profoundly disagree with,

And I would also like to know how the Conservatives on here would feel if their 16 year old joined the Young Socialists!

olinsSister

Maybe one day we can have some kind of gulag type establishment to re-educate such children
😁

I joined the YCs at that age and had a great time. I was a member of the group where I was brought up and then re-joined the group in the town where I first went to work, rising to Vice-Chair.

Most of what YCs do revolve round mixing with people of their own age and interests. Lots of (cheap) drinking in the club, discos, pub crawls, etc.

We did do some political things such as attending the conference in Blackpool (back then) which was great fun. We also helped to distribute leaflets at election time, spoke to people house to house and helped drive people to the polling stations.

One of my friends - who is now a radical lefty - married one of the girls he met at a YCs disco. Now divorced he's never forgiven me for taking him there !! (actually he's got two great kids and is more bemused than cross..)

I think any engagement with politics is great for young people. I also went to Young Farmers - which is roughly the same as YCs but with no politics and lots of dances in barns. Both were equally fun.