Freethought & Rationalism Archive

uprise · 05-28-2002, 03:51 PM

I'm 15, and to be perfectly honest, most teens have not a clue of anything when it comes to testimony, arguments, or preaching. Some seem so sure of themselves; yet how can they when they have never known anything but the comfort of their own home? I know that I still need to discover my true self, and at times I stubbornly say I know everything and I am secure with who I am. But that's not true at all, and I am open to admit it. Most of the time kids my age don't even know themselves.

Daydreamer · 05-28-2002, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Samhain:
<strong>

I think the largest problem this has to do with is education. How many high schools do you know in which philosophy is even a selectible elective course? I remember my high school incorporated it the last year I went, but it never was actualized since there weren't any students signing up besides a handful of others and myself. The desire to know or explore and question the "Big Questions" in life is really not there. More high school kids are worried about their girl/boyfriends, how much they're going to drink on the weekend, what the next dance is coming up, whether or not so-and-so likes them, etc. etc. When one enters into many colleges the scene changes some, and more responsibility is lumped on them, but still, the amount of people who fall into a different type of their high school activities stays around the same level. I'd say that maturity, for most, doesn't come until about their third year into college, some earlier, some later, but that seems to be the mean. Education still doesn't count up high for many students, it's just a means to an end, which, I feel, is sad. The desire to know must be there, and the opportunities to learn as well. A good way to express this would be to see how many kids would go to college willingly if they didn't have to in order to get a decent job nowadays. I'd estimate very few in our society.

Going back to the original problem, I'd say that high school is the place to start educating these young adults in certain areas more, things which will help them question more, because by the time they get into college, the desire to learn is diminished greatly, and it becomes hard for such a mind to start questioning their present ideas, as many see them to not really "matter" since they hold that it is an absolute truth, regardless of who questions it.</strong>

I concur - my HS had a philsophy course, which I took, and that help me immensly in learning to consider the Great God Debate myself. Hell, one of the few reasons I came out as well as I did was the fact that at least half my teachers (all AP/IB) had won awards for their job, or were young and up and coming in that respect.

I think the main problem is that in some districts, my home Orange County for one, the School Board contains a few fundies who would like nothing more than to bring the public school system crashing around their knees so they could go back to religious private schooling.

sullster · 05-29-2002, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenny:
<strong>I'm 15, and to be perfectly honest, most teens have not a clue of anything when it comes to testimony, arguments, or preaching. Some seem so sure of themselves; yet how can they when they have never known anything but the comfort of their own home? I know that I still need to discover my true self, and at times I stubbornly say I know everything and I am secure with who I am. But that's not true at all, and I am open to admit it. Most of the time kids my age don't even know themselves.</strong>

Don't worry. All which you are going through is normal and necessary.
I am impressed with your writing and self expression for someone your age. Keep up the good work. Always try to see different sides of issues and be critical of things that seem to easily explain everything.
Don't forget to enjoy being so young.

uprise · 05-30-2002, 02:08 PM

I look around me and see a world of carelessness, and I wish I could be like that. I don't understand how kids/teens/people my age can have no thoughts of religion, or politics, or anything in the adult-world.

Ron Singh · 05-30-2002, 09:49 PM

Enrious,

I resemble that remark! The time that I have lived should bare no account to my integrity. Oh well, I still say stupid things, many times. Perhaps the best thing you could do is set me straight, or better yet, convert me to your atheist cult

!

I have learned a great deal over the last few months that I have posted here, mostly due to the opposition. Faithfully, I depend on you atheists to incinerate my fallicious beliefs, as a purge from what is the random mix of truths and falsities that is my brain.

I insist you not dismiss me, but digress me. Over the summer I plan on reading a dozen or so theological, atheist, and philosophical books as well as take some classes over the summer in the local community college to further expand my horizons.

Be open minded, I will convert you yet! <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

~Your friendly neighborhood 15 yr old Sikh!

Trekkie With a Phaser · 05-31-2002, 01:37 PM

If someone, regardless of their age, argues a point with me (be it religious or otherwise) I won't dismiss them out of hand. However, if they can't support their claim I will reject their argument as fallacious. That being said, I have experienced this age based prejudice in the past. It isn't a person's age that matters, it's their ability and willingness to think. I know that it's true that most people in my general age group (15-16) aren't able to support their arguments (either because of insufficient knowledge or because they are unwilling to think for themselves), but there is the occasional individual who knows what he or she is talking about and to dismiss them out of hand displays one's own stupidity.

On a side note, it was mentioned earlier in this thread that most teenagers act as if they know everything and refuse to listen and respect their elders who are clearly more experienced in the world. In my experience, one of the major causes of this is the way that some adults treat us. They act as if, based purely upon our age, it's impossible for us to know even the most insignificant fact about the world and that our own individual thoughts are in some way seriously flawed if we disagree with them. I believe in trading value for value; giving our elders respect simply because they're older than us, regardless of how they treat us, is not a trade. However, I recognize that most people don't have these kinds of preconceptions and, as such, I approach everyone with respect until I've gotten a feel for their personality, as I believe everyone should. Just my own personal viewpoint, of course.

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05-28-2002, 03:51 PM	#51
uprise Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	I'm 15, and to be perfectly honest, most teens have not a clue of anything when it comes to testimony, arguments, or preaching. Some seem so sure of themselves; yet how can they when they have never known anything but the comfort of their own home? I know that I still need to discover my true self, and at times I stubbornly say I know everything and I am secure with who I am. But that's not true at all, and I am open to admit it. Most of the time kids my age don't even know themselves.

05-30-2002, 02:08 PM	#54
uprise Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	I look around me and see a world of carelessness, and I wish I could be like that. I don't understand how kids/teens/people my age can have no thoughts of religion, or politics, or anything in the adult-world.

05-30-2002, 09:49 PM	#55
Ron Singh Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 163	Enrious, I resemble that remark! The time that I have lived should bare no account to my integrity. Oh well, I still say stupid things, many times. Perhaps the best thing you could do is set me straight, or better yet, convert me to your atheist cult ! I have learned a great deal over the last few months that I have posted here, mostly due to the opposition. Faithfully, I depend on you atheists to incinerate my fallicious beliefs, as a purge from what is the random mix of truths and falsities that is my brain. I insist you not dismiss me, but digress me. Over the summer I plan on reading a dozen or so theological, atheist, and philosophical books as well as take some classes over the summer in the local community college to further expand my horizons. Be open minded, I will convert you yet! <img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" /> ~Your friendly neighborhood 15 yr old Sikh!

05-31-2002, 01:37 PM	#56
Trekkie With a Phaser Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: California Posts: 62	If someone, regardless of their age, argues a point with me (be it religious or otherwise) I won't dismiss them out of hand. However, if they can't support their claim I will reject their argument as fallacious. That being said, I have experienced this age based prejudice in the past. It isn't a person's age that matters, it's their ability and willingness to think. I know that it's true that most people in my general age group (15-16) aren't able to support their arguments (either because of insufficient knowledge or because they are unwilling to think for themselves), but there is the occasional individual who knows what he or she is talking about and to dismiss them out of hand displays one's own stupidity. On a side note, it was mentioned earlier in this thread that most teenagers act as if they know everything and refuse to listen and respect their elders who are clearly more experienced in the world. In my experience, one of the major causes of this is the way that some adults treat us. They act as if, based purely upon our age, it's impossible for us to know even the most insignificant fact about the world and that our own individual thoughts are in some way seriously flawed if we disagree with them. I believe in trading value for value; giving our elders respect simply because they're older than us, regardless of how they treat us, is not a trade. However, I recognize that most people don't have these kinds of preconceptions and, as such, I approach everyone with respect until I've gotten a feel for their personality, as I believe everyone should. Just my own personal viewpoint, of course.

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