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[Denver]

 Indeed. It's a definite trend on many of the sites that I frequent that there is a very radical liberal generation growing up in some areas - especially with teens in the hosting industry. (For Example here - there are other situations in other areas.)

The problem is these teens get it from the areas they grow up in and are exposed to - not from what they believe. It's not mainstream liberalism - it's a very socialistic thought process. I've gotten myself into discussions with many of them and there is a definite lack of facts and deep thought in their process. When you really start talking to them they don't seem to really know what they stand for. They grow up in this atmosphere and they accept it without asking.

It's the same with hollywood and their influence. Most current voters don't give a hoot about what some hotshot from hollywood has to say - the way it should be. However, a lot of kids look up to their actors and they here them spout off their radical (right, left, etc) and they adopt those thoughts without making their own choices. Clearly this isn't the way for every teen, but it's  fair to say there is a small trend simply because of the pursuit to be 'cool'.

That has always bothered me. I respect someone who holds to their beliefs no matter what they are. The people I don't respect are the venom-spewing individuals who go with the crowd/atmosphere (parties as well) and don't think for themselves. That's a very dangerous thing to do.

[confusedyouth]

 Denver- very good point, but the problem with our western society (And humanity in general) is it is made up of a VAST amount of followers and very few leaders. The majority of the population are the kind of people that will vote for whoever is more popular, regardless of where they stand on issues and what not. Case in point- Govenor Arnold in Kal-e-forn-ia. Even in Christianity, we are referred to as 'sheep'. Sheep are pretty dumb sometimes. Once i saw one fall into a hole, then the rest of the flock followed the sheep down there.

Anyways, people in general will become very confused when asked what they REALLY believe. After all, people are exposed to all these 'normal' idols in the media and society, and are expected to conform to such models. That being said, it makes any true independant thought all the rarer. Our thought processes at large have been influinced by society, and 'the areas they grow up in and are exposed to '.

When dealing with a topic such as this- it is hard to make any real generalizations when dealing with individuals, because so many are influinced by society. Their true beliefs become somewhat skewed under a curtain of propaganda and dogma.

[jahymewarrior]

 isnt it weird to think that in the 'free' countries....we probably have more propoganda than those that are not free and democratic? weird, huh?

[confusedyouth]

 That is just a matter of defining propaganda. We are exposed to opinion altering ads so much we dont even know it. But when was the last time you felt inclined to eat somewhere because you saw an ad? That is a Byproduct of the democratic system.

But in places like the former soviet union, or the peoples republic of china, the propaganda is much more direct. Its all relative.

[Denver]

 

Denver- very good point, but the problem with our western society (And humanity in general) is it is made up of a VAST amount of followers and very few leaders. The majority of the population are the kind of people that will vote for whoever is more popular, regardless of where they stand on issues and what not. Case in point- Govenor Arnold in Kal-e-forn-ia. Even in Christianity, we are referred to as 'sheep'. Sheep are pretty dumb sometimes. Once i saw one fall into a hole, then the rest of the flock followed the sheep down there.

Indeed, but in this case look who else was running...

Frankly, California has always been a bit different and I think that showed quite well during the last recall.

Take the Olympic ceremony tonight - this is a time where wars and such are put aside as much as possible. However, Katie Couric (which always makes her points known and she's 'always' right) had to make several comments about the war in Iraq.

However, I do think her comments were eclipsed by the bright faces of the guys on the soccer team. They now play the sport because they love it and not because Uday will torture them if they don't win.

[confusedyouth]

 Ah the olympics.. such a noble concept i must say.  A bit skewed in the modern age, what with drug doping and sweat shops making the olympic clothes and what not, but the basic concept is great. All countries in the world ideally competeing EQUALLY against each other. Its quite a nice concept.

Even in ancient greece, those who were fighting each other  put down their arms for a few days and celebrated the human form. It is an amazing concept, that largely the modern world has lived up to.

But at the end.. it is back to reality, whatever you choose to call it.