The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
[URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4511267.stm[/URL]
What was your goal when you were 16? If you were anything like me, it was to get drunk, laid, stoned, play football, watch porn, and all the other things I never did. Having the chance to help sway a general election never crossed my mind. Obviously it's important for people of that age to be aware of how important politics is, but 16 is far too young to have enough of a grasp on the economical and social implications of an electoral system.
What's more, society has gone rapidly downhill in the last few years. I think the town I live in is the perfect place to see where things have gone wrong. Eight years ago I would have been 16, and I was polite to people. All my mates were (and mostly still are) polite people, and everyone I knew was capable of being decent in some way, even if it was never all sunshine and lollipops. This includes all years above and below me at the scum-bucket school I went to.
On the bus the other day I saw a group of 'young adults' playing with a dead rat on a stick. It made me laugh at the time, but when you think about it, that's not funny. Someone, somewhere, wants to give people like them the right to vote. I argue they should be impaled on sticks instead, then eaten by rats. Of course, they could grow up to be worthwhile members of the Human race, but that's my point - when they grow up. How would you like to find yourself standing in the queue to vote, next to the Hooded Ratpack?
What was your goal when you were 16? If you were anything like me, it was to get drunk, laid, stoned, play football, watch porn, and all the other things I never did. Having the chance to help sway a general election never crossed my mind. Obviously it's important for people of that age to be aware of how important politics is, but 16 is far too young to have enough of a grasp on the economical and social implications of an electoral system.
What's more, society has gone rapidly downhill in the last few years. I think the town I live in is the perfect place to see where things have gone wrong. Eight years ago I would have been 16, and I was polite to people. All my mates were (and mostly still are) polite people, and everyone I knew was capable of being decent in some way, even if it was never all sunshine and lollipops. This includes all years above and below me at the scum-bucket school I went to.
On the bus the other day I saw a group of 'young adults' playing with a dead rat on a stick. It made me laugh at the time, but when you think about it, that's not funny. Someone, somewhere, wants to give people like them the right to vote. I argue they should be impaled on sticks instead, then eaten by rats. Of course, they could grow up to be worthwhile members of the Human race, but that's my point - when they grow up. How would you like to find yourself standing in the queue to vote, next to the Hooded Ratpack?
Page:
Looks at the number of spelling mistakes and grammar errors in my title. I should be barred.
The easy way to decide if this is a good thing or not is to look here.
The average age is about 16. Go into general chat and click on a few threads.
Then ask yourself if those people should be responsible for choosing who gets to tell us what's best for us for the next 5yrs.
The average age is about 16. Go into general chat and click on a few threads.
Then ask yourself if those people should be responsible for choosing who gets to tell us what's best for us for the next 5yrs.
That's just stupid. So people want sixteen year olds to vote so they keep interest with politics. How long will it be until these people decide children should have the chance to vote so they'll grow up caring about their country and the way it's run?
They use the example of sixteen year olds raising children as a reason to show their responsible enough. I think that just shows how irresponsible they are. If they can't be bothered to read about contraception, why would they care about election campaigns? I know that's a bit harsh and some may care about what's going on, but you've all seen the young mums out there.
And if they can do so much at sixteen, why not let them drink too?
They use the example of sixteen year olds raising children as a reason to show their responsible enough. I think that just shows how irresponsible they are. If they can't be bothered to read about contraception, why would they care about election campaigns? I know that's a bit harsh and some may care about what's going on, but you've all seen the young mums out there.
And if they can do so much at sixteen, why not let them drink too?
Vote Labour and get a free ringtone.
I'm not actually convinced the average 16 year old is any more retarded than the average adult.
Elections are swayed by the ignorant majority now, and they still will be if 16 year olds are allowed to vote. I fail to see how it really matters if they're allowed to vote or not.
Elections are swayed by the ignorant majority now, and they still will be if 16 year olds are allowed to vote. I fail to see how it really matters if they're allowed to vote or not.
SHEEPY wrote:
> A female friend of mine could vote in the last Scottish Parliament
> whilst I couldn't.
>
> She voted for the Scottish Socialists because " she liked their
> symbol, it was a star ".
> Another friend wasn't sure if he should vote for the Socialists or
> Tories.
>
> See, 18 year olds are stupid too.
This is a point I was going to make. A lot of my friends just don't care about the election they have a lot of other things to think about such as uni and work so they are not going to vote.
Just because 16 year olds may get the vote, doesn't mean that they are definatly going to vote. I suspect that most 16 year old won't give a damn and won't go out of their way to vote.
But there are some 16/17 year olds who are quite wise for their age and understand all the politics going on and these are the ones who are going to use their vote wisely.
I disagree with all this responsibility stuff. I can vote but I don't see it as a responsibility. If I wanted to vote, I'll vote for what I feel is right. If I don't want to vote I won't.
> A female friend of mine could vote in the last Scottish Parliament
> whilst I couldn't.
>
> She voted for the Scottish Socialists because " she liked their
> symbol, it was a star ".
> Another friend wasn't sure if he should vote for the Socialists or
> Tories.
>
> See, 18 year olds are stupid too.
This is a point I was going to make. A lot of my friends just don't care about the election they have a lot of other things to think about such as uni and work so they are not going to vote.
Just because 16 year olds may get the vote, doesn't mean that they are definatly going to vote. I suspect that most 16 year old won't give a damn and won't go out of their way to vote.
But there are some 16/17 year olds who are quite wise for their age and understand all the politics going on and these are the ones who are going to use their vote wisely.
I disagree with all this responsibility stuff. I can vote but I don't see it as a responsibility. If I wanted to vote, I'll vote for what I feel is right. If I don't want to vote I won't.
The voting age, like the driving age, should be raised - to 21.
My political views were very different, almost 3 years ago.
I.e, I had even less of a clue than I do now.
I.e, I had even less of a clue than I do now.
Hedfix wrote:
> Vote Labour and get a free ringtone.
Summed it up nicely.
On the same news page, there was a link to an interview on why a 17 year old wanted to vote - and proved his point well. Thing is, most 16-17's (and beyond) don't exactly share the same interest in policies as he does, and most of those votes will be wasted on an uninformed choice at best.
> Vote Labour and get a free ringtone.
Summed it up nicely.
On the same news page, there was a link to an interview on why a 17 year old wanted to vote - and proved his point well. Thing is, most 16-17's (and beyond) don't exactly share the same interest in policies as he does, and most of those votes will be wasted on an uninformed choice at best.
Democracy is all about the finding the mean average point of a large mass of ignorance (the electorate). Chucking more ignorance on the pile is not going to dramatically destabilise it. Having said that I'm not for lowering the age of suffrage.
Page: