13 year olds more conservative

[Azi Tohak]

Since my farming topic is doing well, here is another for your enjoyment:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050731...s_050731205712

US 13-year-olds are fairly conservative: Time poll Sun Jul 31, 4:57 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - It might surprise their parents, but in the age of graphic lyrics and violent video games, American children entering their teens remain very cautious about sex and dating and still trust their parents and church.

In a story on the lives and thinking of American 13-year-olds, Time magazine reports that sixty percent of the 500 surveyed by the magazine are against sex before marriage, and 63 percent believe they are too young to date at their age.

The 21-page cover feature characterizes kids at 13 as "backstage adults" in a particularly precarious formative period.

"It is the age of childhood leaning forward and adulthood holding back, when the world gets suddenly closer, the colors more vivid, the rules subject to never ending argument," writes Time editor Nancy Gibbs.

If anything is surprising in Time's feature, it is how normal and conservative -- in a day of provocative music videos, widespread Internet access, and lurid cable television shows -- today's 13 year olds are.

Nine out of ten of those polled on line by the magazine said their relationship with their parents is good or excellent, and only seven percent said their parents were too strict.

And 63 percent consider their religious faith at least somewhat important in their lives.

But today's early teens face new issues their parents, and even older siblings, never faced, like cyber-bullying, according to Time.

The magazine reports on a Clemson University survey showing that over one-fifth of children in eighth grade, those between 12 and 14, have been victims of on-line bullying, which includes receiving ugly text messages or being hurt by on-line rumors.

But to me, this has a host of questions attached. What about when they are 16, 18, 21, 25, 30? How accurate is this over a big area? I do think it interesting though. Good for their parents. Nice to know not all kids are dirtbags that early.

Azi

[Sasaki Kojiro]

In a story on the lives and thinking of American 13-year-olds, Time magazine reports that sixty percent of the 500 surveyed by the magazine are against sex before marriage, and 63 percent believe they are too young to date at their age.

The sex ed classes do their job well. Scare the crap out of them with those nasty pictures of warts

[Strike For The South]

Sasaki youre right some of the stuff they show us ugh... I wouldnt wish own my wrost enemy

[Azi Tohak]

The sex ed classes do their job well. Scare the crap out of them with those nasty pictures of warts

Yup. That is what I am most interested in seeing chage. From 60% to... well... a lot less than that I can guarantee.

Is that pushed in Europe I wonder? Brits? French? Dutch? I'm curious now that I think about it....

Azi

[Franconicus]

[Watchman]

I don't think most of us ever had an US-level teen pregnancy issue in the first place anyway. Although advertising in particular tries its best to remedy the situation... "Who's that yoghurt ad meant to appeal to, pedophiles?" as my brother recently commented.

Anyway, what people think at the age of 6 or 13 or 16 or 19 doesn't necessarily have much bearing on what they'll be thinking in the age of 22 or 32 or later on; the later, more mature period (starts around 19-25 depending on the individual) often differs considerably from the infantile phase (which, it should be noted, some people apparently never grow out of...) and in any case fully mature people tend to change their views and opinions too.

[rasoforos]

13 yr olds more conservative than their parents...

...taking the actions and ideals of the current US administration into consideration this reminds me a whole lot of 1984...

...brainwashing is working rather well in the land of the free?

[Watchman]

Nah, more likely it's just the eternal cycle where the new generation nigh invariably rebels against the culture and mores of its parents' generation... Liberalism follows conservatism follows liberalism follows... you get the idea. People usually "even out" as they grow up.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Anyway, what people think at the age of 6 or 13 or 16 or 19 doesn't necessarily have much bearing on what they'll be thinking in the age of 22 or 32 or later on; the later, more mature period (starts around 19-25 depending on the individual) often differs considerably from the infantile phase (which, it should be noted, some people apparently never grow out of...) and in any case fully mature people tend to change their views and opinions too.

Yup the vast majority of people become more conservative as they grow older. So things are looking even better.

[KingOfTheIsles]

Must be a challenge growing up these days, what with "graphic lyrics and violent video games". Today, Little Billy might be playing that dreadful Grand Theft Auto game, but tomorrow he will be having unprotected sex with a male hooker. It is easy to see how the article makes the connection between violence and sex.

Thankfully, they are "normal and conservative ", as evidenced by how they have a good relationship with their parents, and religion is "somewhat important" in their lives. Strong statistics, there.

All in all, a slightly odd article, drawing some rather definite and far-fetched conclusions from a single source, whose reliabilty seems shaky. Bleh, damn journalists.

[Azi Tohak]

13 yr olds more conservative than their parents...

...taking the actions and ideals of the current US administration into consideration this reminds me a whole lot of 1984...

...brainwashing is working rather well in the land of the free?

Yup. Just ask our liberal teachers, university professors, media.

Azi

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Well, no-one ever said thirteen year old boys were bright.

[Azi Tohak]

With all due respect milord... you and I aren't that far removed are we?

Azi

[PanzerJaeger]

Who wouldnt be conservative with the current state of liberalism in this country? Flirting with weakness, treason, and incessent whining arent popular with 13 year olds I guess.. although you wouldnt know it by how some of them act.

[King Henry V]

I know for my part that I have mentally bipassed adolescense and gone straight into adulthood.

[Ronin]

try to think back to when you were 13......did you have any real, well-tought out ideas about the world,morality,religion...etc?

i know i didn´t....

anyone cares what a 13 year old things about anything?...i know i don´t, well maybe about videogames...


so the real question here is....why are we asking 13 year old´s about this stuff?

[King Henry V]

I was 13 only a few months ago, and I definetly had firm convictions about the world, morality and religion.

[Brutus]

May I ask how the word "conservative" is used here? I am used to hearing it being used in a political context, something which doesn't seem to be the case here; as it involves sex, religion and trusting one's parents. It seems to me like Time Magazine finally discovered that adolescense isn't as worse as people expect it to be, but the use of "conservative" confuses me... do most american 13 year-olds support the conservative party?

If anything is surprising in Time's feature, it is how normal and conservative -- in a day of provocative music videos, widespread Internet access, and lurid cable television shows -- today's 13 year olds are.

This comment just makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. It seems to be "abnormal" for kids to want something different from their parents and the authorities, but at the same time they are expected to become liberal (which seems to be a bad thing), early sexually active, anti-religious and such, because those same parents and authorities cannot control what their kids see and hear? Really, like we or our parents didn't grow up in a society that was alledgedly just as 'sick' as this one, and most of us came out fine, didn't we?

Here in Europe, or at least in the Netherlands where I grew up, it is (or better, was) perfectly normal to be a left-wing atheïst. Sexual behaviour was and is a private matter. I can now finally see I grew up in Sodom and Gomorra. Thank you.

[Samurai Waki]

I would probably have been in the same boat those guys are in at 13... but I'm not conservative, just bitter.

[Ronin]

I was 13 only a few months ago, and I definetly had firm convictions about the world, morality and religion.

give it 3 or 4 of years.....then get back to me and we´ll see if you feel the same way.

[PanzerJaeger]

do most american 13 year-olds support the conservative party?

During the election I remember I posted a mock election participated in by kids around the country and W won by a larger margin than he did in the real election.

[scooter_the_shooter]

My school made us do that election.. kids from all over the country voted.

If i remember right only

California and some north eastern states did not have a Majority for bush. Almost the whole map was red

[Ja'chyra]

As far as I can remeber I never thought about sex when I was 13, but 14..........

[Strike For The South]

My school made us do that election.. kids from all over the country voted.

If i remember right only

California and some north eastern states did not have a Majority for bush. Almost the whole map was red

We did something like that at my school the resutls were something like 83%-17% for Bush

[Gawain of Orkeny]

We did something like that at my school the resutls were something like 83%-17% for Bush

Well your from Texas Whoda thunk?

[Red Harvest]

Well your from Texas Whoda thunk?

No kidding. They have more libertarians on the ballots here anymore than democrats. The GOP runs unopposed in many races. It's not exactly a healthy political climate. The campaign ads are a joke: how many times can you say family values and condemn liberals, the beltway, and trial lawyers in a single ad? Texans have zero sense of national perspective.

[The_Doctor]

I am going to put my own spin on this.

Conservatives act like 13 years!!!

[King Henry V]

give it 3 or 4 of years.....then get back to me and we´ll see if you feel the same way.

Look at my political views. I doubt I will ever be changing them

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Look at my political views. I doubt I will ever be changing them

I suppose you think you are the first to say that? Tell me about it in 10 years.

[King Henry V]

My views are way too extreme for them to change.