First of all, I am a teenager, 17 years old, so I know from firsthand experience. Do teenagers really have smart political views? Every teenager I know hates George Bush, why? I always ask them why, and they never have a good answer besides something like "He got us into war!" I mean, i dont know if he's a good president or not, but do people who dont pay taxes, who dont work or who havnt even been to college or finished highschool have the right to say those things? It seems to me a lot of teenagers hate Bush for no real reason, other then it seems to be the popular thing to do. Also, a lot of kids I know are Athiests, why? What is there reason? Religion is a very serious thing, some of them used to be catholic, did they just wake up one morning and decide that God didnt exist, and that they were just going to start believing this? We all know teenagers try to be and act like adults, but do they really know what they're talking about?
2006-09-19 16:59:39 · 18 answers · asked by Andrew 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
They're the smartest people on earth, just ask them. It's easy when parents are paying the expenses. No responsibilities.
Most parrot what they see on TV or their idiot friends. Eventually, with experience, they grow up and understand the world around them is not MTV. There are no CEO positions waiting for them.
2006-09-19 17:16:06 · answer #1 · answered by rjf 3 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Great points! Teenagers can have knowledgeable points of view in certain matters if they educate themselves appropiately and develop a real, objective opinion instead of spitting out expletives and mottos. However, there are certain things in which experience is needed to have such an opinion. I personally don't like Dubya a lot, but I actually know what he has done, the consequences of the bad or good decisions he has taken, and can pretty much enter a decent debate with someone else about it. Now, you can ask any random teenager what the Patriot Act means or what Bush's tax politics have done to the economy and if they have truly had the horrible effect on the Federal budget that some people say they have, and you will surely get a blank stare in return.
When it comes to stuff like religion, that's sometimes that relies heavily on what you have personally experienced spiritually and the way that such happenings have influenced you. The great majority of teens lack such experiences and therefore go either what their parents and their community have cemented in their minds, or they "rebel" against the stablishment and deny the meaning of faith and religion itself. Religion is not a thing of "black or white," and like you say, you just can't switch beliefs like it was underwear, so the best thing is just to keep such thing to oneself and not publicize stuff about yourself that just isn't quite true.
So, I do think that teens can have solid and meaningful opinions on some issues, but there are others in which you just can't have an objective and informed view of things.
P.D.: By the way, I'm also 17.
2006-09-19 17:25:48 · answer #2 · answered by Last Son 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some teenagers are pretty smart and have accurate or at least interesting political views. On the other hand, you're right, the majority of them really care more about [insert 50 Cent album here] than about politics, and when it comes down to what their political views are, they just hate Bush. :\
As for religious views, well, the teen years are often the sort of 'experimenting' years, so these kids figure they're going to be different and start denying God's existence. I doubt any of them really doubt God exists, they just want to stand out somehow and so they start doing things more the way atheists would do them. Now, not believing in God is all very well (I'm an atheist myself), but when they don't believe in God for such illogical reasons...well, quite honestly it's almost as bad as, if not worse than, actually being religious. And then of course many of them grow into adults and decide they need emotional support, so they turn back to religion. :(
2006-09-19 17:05:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm 17 as well.
From what you're saying in this message I'm pretty sure I don't know you. :-) I agree with Bush and I know exactly why I support him (even if I can't do much about my 'support'); He reacted to an attack on our country the way that Clinton should have...he actually did something. :-) I don't think war is a bad thing, I think it would be if the world was perfect but in this very tainted world it is (sadly) necessary. Another thing that I agree with him on is that he's not taking the troops out yet...this is a controversial statement so let me explain; We came in there and overthrew their leader (horrible leader that he was) and destroyed some (not all, as the media and all kinds of liberals would have you think) of the land and buildings there...he is not abandoning them at this crucial point in their moving toward freedom. I do not agree with all of what he says, but I think that, given the circumstances, he's done the best that anyone could do.
I am also a Christian, meaning that I believe in God. I didn't just decide one day that I believed in God...it took a long time and I had to make the decision, consciously, on my own. I believe that nothing else in my life has been proven to me more so I choose to follow that way of life.
I don't know how much this helps you...I hope it does in some way...but I take what most teenagers say worth a grain of salt...so I won't be offended if you think that my opinions are wrong...most teenagers are. ;-)
2006-09-19 17:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by Maxafrigginlutely 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think it depends on the teenager and on the subject. If a teenager has read up on the subject, I think they can have knowledgeable views. I think most teenagers, though, parrot what their parents or someone they respect thinks, whether they understand the reasoning behind it or not. Some of this changes in college, when other viewpoints are presented with a knowledgeable base and mom and dad aren't around to tell them what to believe. It's part of the growing process. Sounds like you are one of the more mature ones who tries to think for himself.
2006-09-19 17:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by mountain_laurel1183 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
As one time being a teenager I have wondered that.....I think that teenagers view are not there own but some what related to the people around them.Your parents hate Bush so you do too.The only reason why you would ever say you like something different than what your parents like is just a way of pure entertainment for you sake.
2006-09-19 17:05:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
well... naturally some rebel... but I've also heard some oddly informed opinions from teenagers... that are very knowledgeable about the facts... and have many reasons for what they believe...
I mean... have you talked to adults about politics... many of their opinions are just as naive... they have no concept of the world or why they believe what they believe...
I think it's more of a problem with ignorance overall than a certain age group...
2006-09-19 17:05:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think some of teen's viewpoints stem from knowledge, some from their parents/pastors, some from friends and television and is therefore peer pressure, and some out of rebellion to their parents (as in the Catholic turned atheist possibly, but not in every case)
and g has a good point about adults being just as naive.
2006-09-19 17:05:57 · answer #8 · answered by Laurie F 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think they do. Most teenagers are honest about what they like or don't like, at least with themselves if not publicly and don't make decisions about what to like based on what their other beliefs tell them they should--as in, I'm Christian so I have to believe what other people of my religion do, or whatever the case may be. When you are young you (hopefully) resist being told what to think and being labled falsely, but people sometimes become more fearful or tired of fighting as they grow older. Not everyone, though-thankfully! And a lot of people who call themselves atheists, in my experience, aren't so much saying that they don't believe in God but that they don't have faith in a religion and that is different.
2006-09-19 17:16:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anne R 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
17 YOs tend to "copy" what they hear,,, be it from parents or older acquaintances they come in contact with, and quite possibly admire.
but I'm sure a small percentage of them can and do have the knowledge to back up their opinions.
I'm not touching the atheist issue.... they are 17,,,, things will change
2006-09-19 17:07:00 · answer #10 · answered by steelmadison 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
How could they possibly? I'm not saying that they're stupid, just that they have so little experience. That's also not to say that "adults" are any less ignorant, or more articulate, but I think it's a relative thing. You'll gain perspective...
I thought I was pretty freakin' smart when I was your age. I look back now at some of the things that I used to think and say and I laugh! I was such an idiot!
2006-09-19 17:06:41 · answer #11 · answered by elk312 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋