Are people under 25 only conservative because their parents were?

[John Dibble]

Many are, but to say that all of them are only because their parents are is painting with a brush that's a bit too large. Tons of situations might result in someone with non-conservative parents becoming conservative - for instance some young person might convert to a new religion and their politics might change accordingly.

[John Dibble]

Why ARE so many people under 25 conservative though?  Conservatives stand against everything the new generation is about.

Who exactly decides what the new generation is about?

[John Dibble]

Why ARE so many people under 25 conservative though?  Conservatives stand against everything the new generation is about.

Who exactly decides what the new generation is about?

The new generation of course.

And is this 'new generation' is one collective mass who just up and sets a bunch of standards in writingv or a large group of individuals that have the right to their own views and opinions without actually having a set standard?

[John Dibble]

Why ARE so many people under 25 conservative though?  Conservatives stand against everything the new generation is about.

Who exactly decides what the new generation is about?

The new generation of course.

And is this 'new generation' is one collective mass who just up and sets a bunch of standards in writingv or a large group of individuals that have the right to their own views and opinions without actually having a set standard?

Sorry, by referring to the 'new generation', I am referring to those crazy kids and their 'equal opportunities' and 'marriage rights' mumbo-jumbo.

So you're not actually referring to the new generation, just a subgroup within it that you agree with?

[John Dibble]

Well, it's really a 'subgroup' within the new generation that I disagree with .  I'd like to think those in the young adult group aren't as hateful to deny gays marriage rights.

Which is all fine and dandy, but what is your exact basis for dictating what the new generation is about?

[John Dibble]

Well, it's really a 'subgroup' within the new generation that I disagree with .  I'd like to think those in the young adult group aren't as hateful to deny gays marriage rights.

Which is all fine and dandy, but what is your exact basis for dictating what the new generation is about?

It's what I think it's about - being more receptive and kinder to those being taken advantage of/unfairly treated, and rectifying mistakes made by the 'old generation'.  Like ceasing the practice of acting on faith/emotion rather than reason (though every generation is guilty of this).

I guess I should post "I think" into every post I make, even though I think that's a given seeing as they're my posts and writing.

I just think it's presumptuous to project your ideals onto such a broad and diverse group, that's all. I don't necessarily disagree with your ideas though.

[John Dibble]

Many are, but to say that all of them are only because their parents are is painting with a brush that's a bit too large. Tons of situations might result in someone with non-conservative parents becoming conservative - for instance some young person might convert to a new religion and their politics might change accordingly.

I think that's kind of obvious.  I don't think anyone honestly believes that EVERY conservative under 25 is conservative ONLY because their parents were.

It's probably not the only reason, but it's probably the main reason that got them into that kind of thinking.

"Probably"? What exactly do you base this probability on? Science or mere supposition? Extending your logic to it's natural conclusion, people only become any political ideology because of their parent's ideology, conservative or not. Are liberals under 25 only liberal because their parents were liberal?

[John Dibble]

Nope, and I'm offended by the assertion that all parents think alike.of).

Well, I don't believe I ever implied that.  My father votes democratic (though has fairly conservative social and economic leanings) while my mother is a God-fearing conservative (who gets hammered every night and never goes to church).

My mom is a moderate liberal, my dad is a moderate conservative, my brother is (or was) a mainstream conservative, I am a mainstream liberal.  Your "parental socialization" theory in no way explains the partisan makeup of my family.

There are exceptions to every rule or theory.

What exactly is your basis for this theory? As far as I can tell you don't really have much in the way of solid evidence to back it up, in which case your idea isn't even a theory. At best it would be a hypothesis.

[John Dibble]

Nope, and I'm offended by the assertion that all parents think alike.of).

Well, I don't believe I ever implied that.  My father votes democratic (though has fairly conservative social and economic leanings) while my mother is a God-fearing conservative (who gets hammered every night and never goes to church).

My mom is a moderate liberal, my dad is a moderate conservative, my brother is (or was) a mainstream conservative, I am a mainstream liberal.  Your "parental socialization" theory in no way explains the partisan makeup of my family.

There are exceptions to every rule or theory.

What exactly is your basis for this theory? As far as I can tell you don't really have much in the way of solid evidence to back it up, in which case your idea isn't even a theory. At best it would be a hypothesis.

The basis is how exactly can anyone young be conservative after living through the Clinton and Bush administrations.

So just because you fail to understand how someone might think differently than you, you blame it on the parents without any scientific basis whatsoever? Seems pretty hypocritical for someone who said we should act on reason rather than faith and emotion.

[John Dibble]

Maybe it should have been "Are people under 25 only conservative because they are weak of mind and can't think for themselves?" then.

Oh, so now the idea is that young people who don't think like you are weak minded and can't think for themselves? Do you have some scientific basis for this line of thought, or are you just letting your emotions decide for you because you can't understand why someone would think differently than yourself?

[John Dibble]

Maybe it should have been "Are people under 25 only conservative because they are weak of mind and can't think for themselves?" then.

Oh, so now the idea is that young people who don't think like you are weak minded and can't think for themselves? Do you have some scientific basis for this line of thought, or are you just letting your emotions decide for you because you can't understand why someone would think differently than yourself?

Yeah essentially.  Glad you are reacting so emotionally to an sarcastic internet forum post meant to rile people up.

How am I supposed to know it's sarcastic? It's not like I can hear your tone of voice. This is the internet - in case you haven't noticed there's a lot of idiots on it and given that you're new here I don't know your sense of humor yet.

Besides, I'm not really that emotional about it. I typically ask for the basis of unfounded arguments as it's often easier to get someone to destroy their own argument than to destroy it yourself.