Your specific worldview

[Phil]

Ya know i realized something funny the other day. One of the kids at my school was talking about how much he liked John Kerry (and I go to a predominantly republican school). I leaned over and whispered to my friend "ya know, he's just sayin that 'cause his parents said it first". Cause its true. At my age (15), you dont really know enough about politics to vote or even have an opinion personally. Its funny how kids my age agree with theire parents so much on politics. So heres the topic of the thread- when did you get your own opinion on politics? What are your views? When do you think your old enough to even have an opinion?

[theundeadhero]

I turn 22 next month and they still don't interest me.

[edczxcvbnm]

Its always something I have been mildly interested in but never enough to make a really informed decision until I was about 19 and about 2 months before 9-11-2001. I started to care and things like that.

I ended up agreeing with my parents out of chance. Politics had never been a point of discussion in the house because the kids were not interested in hearing about it. When I became interested it just so happened that our views were fairly a like. There are things we disagree on such as gay marriage...the general principal of it. We both agree it should be there because we shouldn't legislate our religious beliefs.

Politics doesn't interest everyone but I think it is one of those things that just comes with age for the most part.

[fire_of_avalon]

I've had my own opinions on politics since I was at least thirteen years old, and perhaps even younger than that. Incidentally, I rarely agree with my father on any political issue (and don't say "WHAT ABOUT YOUR MOM" cause i don't have one so hahaha I rebutted your argument before you even made one aren't i sexy? ).

But I could be an anamoly.

[theundeadhero]

What about your Mom? I think it has more to do with when you start to notice political effects around you more than a "coming of age". Politics were never talked about when I was growing up and even at 18-19. I was more interested in pursueing my own interests than what some politician had to say.

[eestlinc]

Well, my mom's about as left-wing as you can get, which comes out of her youth. I lean quite a bit to the left but I also have a strong distrust for ideology which keeps me anchored to the center a bit, and I also have a strong libertarian streak. I started forming my own political opinions around age 14, during the early years of the Clinton presidency. I have a more thorough understanding of how various policies actually affect the country now, but it hasn't changed my political views very much at all.

[edczxcvbnm]

What about your Mom? I think it has more to do with when you start to notice political effects around you more than a "coming of age". Politics were never talked about when I was growing up and even at 18-19. I was more interested in pursueing my own interests than what some politician had to say.

I disagree with that because I still don't notice the political effects around me. Also the "coming of age" isn't always the same age for everyone. If you look at the exit polls and see how many young people voted compared to older people the young are really small so at some point from being young to getting old that age group started giving a damn.

[theundeadhero]

Also the "coming of age" isn't always the same age for everyone.

That's basically what I meant. It's different for everyone when they start to think about politics. It just happens when it happens. The exit polls would suggest that more people vote later in life than at a young age because more of them have reached a point in their life where they care about politics.

[edczxcvbnm]

Okay. Misunderstanding. Sowwy

[theundeadhero]

No problem

[The Captain]

I've been exposed to politics, the world, media and the like from about the time I could walk as members of my family work for the media government on both sides, left and right. I decided at a youngish age, probably around 10 or 11, that I wanted to know what was going on and from that point forward, have done my best to remain on top of the news, and key in to different points of view before picking a stance for myself. I'd like to consider myself knowledgable on politics, but I've got a ways to go before I can back that up in any way, shape, or form. The best thing anyone can do is to get involved in it if it's something that interests you, and don't let someone else tell you what to believe in or stand for, but rather, do the research and decide for yourself.

Take care all.

[Shadow Nexus]

Well, I think it has been since 13. After seeing different types of life, I tried to think if mine was the best way of living. I got to the conclusion it wasn't, that I wished for something else. And from there it all started. I have changed a lot, but the basic pipe dream continues.

[nik0tine]

Cause its true. At my age (15), you dont really know enough about politics to vote or even have an opinion personally

That's utter BS. MOST kids don't know anything about politics because MOST kids don't pay any attention. However, there are plenty of kids your age and even younger that have valid political opinions. Im sick and tired of people saying that my political opinions are invalid because I am young, because they are NOT.

Anyways, I started to form my own political opinions during the time George Bush started talking about going to Iraq. I thought to myself, this is WRONG. Period.
Ever since then I have been paying attention to politics. I am no political expert by any means, but I know enough to understand where I stand on the political spectrum. I however, don't refer to myself as a "republican" or a "democrat" because neither of the two major political parties represent what I believe in, although the democrats do come closer to it.