Would you allow teenager to go to anti restrictions protest

[Tobeirritatedhdeh]

DS is 17 (just turned) and can drive and really wants to go to the protest on the 25th. Would you allow a teenager to go to an anti plan B protest?

@herecomesthsun

Well I'd be very concerned if my child developed an interest in far right politics and there are links with far right groups and the anti vaxxers. I wouldn't make them sleep in the car but I would worry and try to get to the bottom of it if I could.

I'd be concerned too - that's entirely reasonable. My issue is when positions become so entrenched that it's assumed that there's no shred of humanity or reason attached to others views, and those views are viewed as so reprehensible that the person holding them should be punished or excluded merely for holding and acting on them.

Absolutely
Their decision

All those saying you can't stop them. From the OP it sounds like they are planning on driving, not that many 17 year olds own their own car so if they wanted to borrow the car saying no to that could well stop them. Obviously they could then look at public transport and use that, but that may depend on where you live as to its feasibility.

I'd also be quite nervous about the protest going badly. Violence, arrests, etc. I probably wouldn't outright stop them, but I'd want to make sure they were aware of the risks, could keep themself safe, had a get out plan, etc. I'd feel a bit happier if they were going with someone else they already knew rather than meeting a load of strangers from the internet.

I'd also make it clear I disagreed with their point of view, and to be honest can't see the point of protesting something that isn't currently happening...

You can not stopthem but you can

1. Not facilitate it by letting themuse your car or pay for their transport

1. If they have chosen not be vaccinated refuse to let them back in the house for 2 weeks afterwards, shortening that if they have a negative PCR after 3 days.

1. Talk to them about the current problems in a&e departments and the 5.6 million people on waiting lists

1. Show them people who have listened to stupidity and suffered for it - e.g. www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/woman-hospitalised-with-covid-comes-home-to-find-husband-dead-from-virus/ar-AANMVSU?ocid=mailsignout

and www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/man-21-dies-of-covid-just-two-weeks-after-catching-virus/ar-AANvyvq?ocid=mailsignout

"Well I'd be very concerned if my child developed an interest in far right politics and there are links with far right groups and the anti vaxxers. I wouldn't make them sleep in the car but I would worry and try to get to the bottom of it if I could."

FGS. Protesting about restrictions etc does not mean you have links to far right groups.

Yes, obviously some will be like that but please stop generalising that everyone is like that.

There are indeed links between antivaxxers and far right groups you can't really dispute that

In my experience 17 year olds largely do what they like so it's kind of irrelevant what you allow them to do. Unless of course it is inside your home or requires parental funding.

@herecomesthsun

There are indeed links between antivaxxers and far right groups you can't really dispute that

And Indie Sage has far left links.

The fact is that the vast majority of people are not far right or left or anti vaxxers.

As regards Indie Sage, you can hardly compare with the anti vax guys?

If my child became an esteemed Professor who was working to make society better, I'd be delighted!

If they developed an interest in neo Fascism I'd be wondering where we went wrong?

"10:42herecomesthsun

There are indeed links between antivaxxers and far right groups smile you can't really dispute that"

As I already said, naturally in any group of people, there may be some who have questionable opinions, however lumping everyone together is a very narrow minded take on things.

We know why you like to push it though, because you oppose their opinions. Nor very nice really, is it?

"If they developed an interest in neo Fascism I'd be wondering where we went wrong?"

Literally no one has mentioned this. Why take this conversation down to the drain?

@herecomesthsun

There are indeed links between antivaxxers and far right groups you can't really dispute that

But he wants to dispute it, goddammit

@herecomesthsun

You just said in another post, everyone you love lives with you, so you must not have a wider circle? So how can you be so judgmental if you don't mix much? Or do all your opinions and experience come from the Internet?

@Peteycat

"10:42herecomesthsun

There are indeed links between antivaxxers and far right groups smile you can't really dispute that"

As I already said, naturally in any group of people, there may be some who have questionable opinions, however lumping everyone together is a very narrow minded take on things.

We know why you like to push it though, because you oppose their opinions. Nor very nice really, is it?

Well if you think opposing people's opinions is "not very nice" Petey you could always stop posting

And yes, I do oppose the rise of far right splinter groups in the UK,and I do oppose their opinions.

[quote Peteycat]@herecomesthsun

You just said in another post, everyone you love lives with you, so you must not have a wider circle? So how can you be so judgmental if you don't mix much? Or do all your opinions and experience come from the Internet?[/quote]
Everyone I most love lives with me. For example my OH and kids.I am not in the business of hugging other people in the village at social gatherings, on the school run and so on. Our older friends and family especially would not appreciate being hugged as a) covid and b) they are mostly very English.

hope that helps

you could

Sorry you could try reading what other people read carefully, you know.

What other people write,not read

Surely if they are old enough (according to the Government) to decide they want to have the vaccine without parental consent, then they are old enough to decide to go to a protest even if a parent doesn't necessarily agree ?

I'd be more worried and embarrassed about them going to an Extinction Rebellion protest and causing untold havic to motorists wanting to get to their destination as well as being attacked by said angry motorists. I'd still let them go if they really believed in the cause though.

I'd expect them to come back with Covid tbh.

I work in the NHS, so I’d be pretty pissed off if my child was so flippant about the last 18 months.

I’d worry about any 17 year old going to a protest like this to be honest. There is always a contingent who are just looking to fight the police (obviously not the majority of people there), and I’d be worried about him getting caught up in violence - I wouldn’t think a 17 year old would be savvy enough to recognise the warning signs and steer clear of that crowd. I’d have similar concerns about them going to a BLM demo, even though it’s a cause I support. I’d have no worries if the 17 year old was accompanied by another adult, or if they were a 25 year old. I just think 17 year olds are too young to spot potential danger and move away.

@Peteycat

"But I'd let them go because the right to protest is a very important thing."

You would have no say in a 17 year olds decision to go anyway!

Well, quite. But I was answering the question posed in the OP. Why have you not made the same point to every other person who answered? Or are you just... not being very nice?

17 is old enough to have your owns views and express them, so I would not agree but I would not try to stop either.