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[Circus Animal]

But, in a couple of years when their knowledge has increased, I feel positively that The Chaser world will be open to them, too.

I agree. When I was in high school, my favourite TV show was The Games (still is). It was hilarious then (especially the 'Four Corners' episode), but as I got to know more about politics, I started to understand more of the show's political undertones, and now it's even better.

Teenagers are one of the most enlightened and potentially revolutionary age-groups in existence. Vietnam moratoriums were, more often than not, organised by teenagers in some capacity or another. The Youth Campaign Against Conscription was one of the most productive anti-conscription organisations around in Australia. Chairman Mao recognized the power of teenagers when he set up the Red Guard-- groups of young people, often teenagers, whom he gave direct power to in order to circumvent his political opponents. Joan of Arc was very young indeed when she led the French Army into important victories during the Hundred Years' War; as a nineteen-year-old, she boldly faced trial and was unable to be swayed in her conviction even in the face of death. William Wilberforce was only seventeen when he began to consider a parliamentary career, and it wasn't much later until he was inspired to put an end to the legalized slave trade in  Britain.

Your most recent example was from the 1970s- has there been no significant youth movement since then? Why not?

Your example of Mao is counterproductive- demonstrating that teenagers are extremely vulnerable to illusions of power and unable to recognise when they are being manipulated.

Please, help me to understand why it is that we, futuristic, bright young people, are not welcome here.

Futuristic, bright young people (as you have so far demonstrated yourself to be) are welcome here. Its the celebrity-obsessed "oh, look, Paris Hilton just bought a new pet dog" idiots that no one wants to see on the site.

our futures are not yet written

Please, please don't write that anywhere that Wolfe Tone can read it.

Have you got a better political idea than the one we've got. I say anarchy, but that seems unpopular.

It's unpopular because it doesn't work. Who's going to enforce it? The anarchy police?

[alice j]

But to look for a new system requires you to acknowledge that a new system is necessary, and to recognize that a new system is necessary requires one to reject the original system. Which could just be (not necessarily is) what teens of today are doing.

And those 'all-sorts' deserve recognition as providing an alternative to the mainstream. I'm just saying, rejecting mainstream culture must be a scary thing.

You're right about the Mao thing C.A-- I think the point I was trying to make was that teenagers are recognized as having considerable power...and that, despite the fact that they are vulnerable to influence, deserve recognition and the opportunity to contribute.

I think the lack of student & youth movements since the seventies (and I'm not saying there's none, just that they haven't been as well-publicized) has got to do with the complete rejection of adult society. We take on a completely ambivalent attitude to the lives of our parents, and this causes us to disregard the goings on of their 'world' which we don't really realize is our world too.

[Nev Bartos]

Dear honorable sirs and madams,
I kneel humbly at your feet and ask for direction. Why is it that that any Chaser fan with a large number of shiny gold stars next to their usernames seems to opine strongly that, to appreciate The Chaser's comedy, you must surely be above the age of nineteen? I do feel strongly that any Chaser fan is an ally of mine, so why doesn't everyone feel the same way?

You're just not in the clique yet. Post regularly & they'll accept you. It doesn't matter whether you leave thoughtful comments or complete drivel. However, it will take a long time to become a 4 star General if you persist with these long, coherent & intelligent posts.

[Thaluikhain]

It's unpopular because it doesn't work. Who's going to enforce it? The anarchy police?

 

But to look for a new system requires you to acknowledge that a new system is necessary, and to recognize that a new system is necessary requires one to reject the original system. Which could just be (not necessarily is) what teens of today are doing.

Correct, it isn't what they are doing.  Ignoring something is not the same as replacing it.

And those 'all-sorts' deserve recognition as providing an alternative to the mainstream. I'm just saying, rejecting mainstream culture must be a scary thing.

Yes, it must be scary to reject mainstream culture, but "rebellion" is a big part of mainstream culture, and has been for decades.  Emos are as mass-prodiced and media driven as any other "rebellious" group.

[Wolfe Tone]

It's unpopular because it doesn't work. Who's going to enforce it? The anarchy police?

Taking the piss.

[alice j]

True. Perhaps they're just onto the fact that a new system is necessary, but aren't sure how to, or even that they want to, replace it yet?

It is true that, for some, 'rebelling' means staying with mainstream culture as opposed to rejecting it. But for others, this isn't true. I'm just saying 'for some'... not talking about every kid with spiky hair and studded wristbands.

[Mez]

...it will take a long time to become a 4 star General if you persist with these long, coherent & intelligent posts.

 

Keep on doing it, Alice.  It's refreshing to read your stuff.

[Thaluikhain]

True. Perhaps they're just onto the fact that a new system is necessary, but aren't sure how to, or even that they want to, replace it yet?

As a rule, no.  Sure, there might be some who are politically aware, but most ignore the issue as being complicated and boring.

It is true that, for some, 'rebelling' means staying with mainstream culture as opposed to rejecting it. But for others, this isn't true. I'm just saying 'for some'... not talking about every kid with spiky hair and studded wristbands.

Oh sure, "for some"...but, again generalising, that isn't usually the case.

[alice j]

I know you're right, it's just...I feel bad writing off a whole subculture as completely hopeless, ignorant and without any kind of contribution to the future whatsoever. Bad and ignorant. I mean, not being an emo nor having any kind of emo friends or contacts myself, I don't really know what they talk about all day. What if they're not apathetic about politics? What if they honestly feel they've been overlooked by the system? Not necessarily true, but if there are people who feel like that, then we, as a society, should fix it.

[Emperor Fadeaway]

Alice, these people you speak of are just full of shit OK. They don't exist, because by the time they get to an age where their opinion matters, they've changed. Your observation, once again, is useless and irrelevant. Eloquence can't make up for a nonsense thesis.

[Thaluikhain]

What if they honestly feel they've been overlooked by the system?

I daresay they do.  But that's teenagers and/or wannabe rebels for you.  SG likes ranting about how the youth of today believe that society owes them everything and it's all theirs for the asking, and he's not wrong.

Mind you, I'd say that the people he are complaining about aren't wrong either.  I mean, we live in a first world country with a democratically elected government, and though there will always be complaints about about infrastructure, health system, police force, unemployment benefits, education et al, they are still pretty good.  More than enough to make a comfortable life.

[alice j]

Alice, these people you speak of are just full of shit OK. They don't exist, because by the time they get to an age where their opinion matters, they've changed. Your observation, once again, is useless and irrelevant. Eloquence can't make up for a nonsense thesis.

When will you realize that peoples's opinions always matter? There's no coming-of-age time for the holding of opinions.

I daresay they do.  But that's teenagers and/or wannabe rebels for you.  SG likes ranting about how the youth of today believe that society owes them everything and it's all theirs for the asking, and he's not wrong.

I really do agree with that. Sometimes it seems like it's just there for the taking-or deserting...in education especially; most people at school take their education completely for granted-- they don't realize that free education is a right they're entitled to only because we live in a fair and diplomatic state.

[Mr. Blonde]

No one's saying that you aren't allowed to have opinions. It's just that you seem to think your opinions are huge new revelations and that you're uber special for having them. But meh, it doesn't bother me. Keep on truckin', or whatever it is you kids do these days.

[Truckarella]

 

[alice j]

No one's saying that you aren't allowed to have opinions. It's just that you seem to think your opinions are huge new revelations and that you're uber special for having them. But meh, it doesn't bother me. Keep on truckin', or whatever it is you kids do these days.

I don't mean to come off like that. It's not like I sit about going, how can I phrase this so my internal smugness shines through? And despite common belief I don't think I'm heaps special for having opinions and beliefs. It's just that, when I type something it's not just a whim...so if someone contradicts me or, in true fadeaway style, simply tells me I'm 'full of shit', then yes, I'm going to keep discussing it. Like anyone would. I like discussing things...it's interesting. I honestly didn't realize that it was upsetting people.

Sorry-- you're probably the wrong person to be telling this to, since it doesn't actually bug you. It's just that you said something coherent that I could rail against.