National Media and Teenagers.

How a person voted was a private issue when I was growing up. As it should be IMO. Disguised as a class discussion, I remember a few teachers in my elementary school asking us kids who we were voting for. They fully knew that kids at an early age mimic their parents. Living primarily in a highly partisan district, it was their way of finding out their opposition. After I told my Dad, he got upset over such an underhanded tactic, but it taught me a lesson about privacy at the voting booth that I never forgot. No, you won’t see any campaign signs on my front yard either.

When I was in grade school, our class was able to cast votes for the president. All the classes were doing it and I remember that our class reelected President Carter. I remember talking to my parents about what we saw on the news in the evenings. Carter's failed policies and the achievements Regan had as governor. This was back when the news reported was journalism. They gave you the facts and it was up to you to draw your own conclusions. Fast forward to today, journalism is dead. All we have now is sensationalism with the news reporters spewing their opinions where their only goal is to get you emotionally invested so you don't change the channel when they go to commercial. Add social media to this and it is inescapable for children, they get bombarded with the propaganda.

We always had dinner table discussions with our children about anything and everything and continue to do so now that they are grown.

Going camping without the Internet is a great way to disconnect and reset. This allows free and independent thinking and lets your brain follow it's natural process. Like your subconscious when you are dreaming, your mind puts things together. When your brain can do this on the conscious level without distraction, you might be surprised what things you can come up with.

Shadetree Mechanic said:

. This was back when the news reported was journalism. They gave you the facts and it was up to you to draw your own conclusions. Fast forward to today, journalism is dead. All we have now is sensationalism with the news reporters spewing their opinions where their only goal is to get you emotionally invested so you don't change the channel when they go to commercial. Add social media to this and it is inescapable for children, they get bombarded with the propaganda.

We always had dinner table discussions with our children about anything and everything and he conscious level without distraction, you might be surprised what things you can come up with.

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Very Very true. Unfortunately. Networks have gone from broadcasting the news to broadcasting opinion. By both the anchors and their self-important "pundit" guests who spew hatred for both candidates. and whose opinions really don't count for anything. I love the USA. It's my country. I jjust hate the direction it's taking.

- J.J. 399

Further study with respect to turning the news over to the entertainment industry, plus the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine is needed IMO.

sunbulls said:

No, you won’t see any campaign signs on my front yard either.

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I have to add some humor to this one. Does everyone remember about the song years ago about how Stupid People should have to wear a Sign so you know which one not to bother. That's why I'm glad when they put their political signs in their yard so I know which ones are Stupid and I don't waste my time talking to them ! LOL

sunbulls said:

entertainment industry

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More like disinfotainment.

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There is not much journalism anymore. Most big name news broadcasts are given by speaking heads, not journalists, for the networks paid for opinions.
I find I learn a lot more by the alternate streaming networks, but I still have to weigh the content. I like OAN, they seem to have a good mix, but do also dwell on some subjects a little much sometimes.
FOX is the only brand I watch of the main stream media, but they pretty much are just talking heads as well.
That NewsNet station ( News as it used to be) that folded not too long ago gave a pretty balanced view of national and foreign news.
Definitely not FAIR and BALANCED across the segment.

To bring this back around to Secret Squirrel's original question; one thing that hasn't changed is that when kids get around 14 years old, they are exposed to more adult conversations and topics.

When you're 8, and your parents are talking about politics at the dinner table, you don't even have a frame of reference, so it means nothing to you.

as a child gets a bit older, they are able to pick up on the things that are said by their parents, teachers, coaches, and other kids.

It's always been a tough thing to be a kid with an opinion, because none of the adults really give a flying !@#$ what you think.

I think the main thing that's changed for kids today is just how much new information comes their way every day. Not just political info, but new music, new media, new games, etc...

The world seems to be spinning faster than ever before, and kids these days are not given enough time to digest what they heard yesterday before the new info comes in today.

This causes kids to be confused, and to keep that to themselves because no one wants to be viewed as "out of touch" or "behind the times".
so they just have to move forward without ever getting a chance to really understand the nuances involved.

Because of this, many kids just turn their attention away from things they have to think about too much. Politics being a big one.

We all need to think back to when we were first gaining awareness of world events and when we first started caring about them.

I can pretty much guarantee that most if not all of us started out just parroting something we heard on TV or from our elders, as if it was our own opinion.

some people never grow past that, and i still find myself in conversation with peers and co-workers that just re-word what was said on their favorite news channel so that it sounds like they came up with it on their own.

The biggest and best lesson we can be teaching the next generations is to learn to think for themselves, and to not be afraid of being challenged on their positions.

As much as parents want their kids to see them as all-knowing, It is SUPER important to let your kids know that you don't know everything and just try to do the best with the information you are given.
tell them about the mistakes you've made in the past, and why you've changed into the person you are.
They need this type of interaction and perspective now more than ever.
LC