Brainwashing starts at home \ stacker news ~Politics_And

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1872 sats \ 28 comments \ @SimpleStacker 16 Jan Politics_And_Law

Because of the LA wildfires, my kids have been doing school remotely, and thus I had a chance to listen in on my son's fifth grade class discussion on presidents. And of course, Donald Trump came up.

What then proceeded fascinated me because it didn't seem natural to me that kids this age should have such strong opinions about politics. Here's a sampling of what was said, by the kids:

"I can't believe he got elected"

"Isn't he a convicted criminal?"

"The people who voted for him are stupid"

"They probably didn't graduate preschool"

To the teacher's credit, she pushed back and said there were many reasons people would vote for Trump.

But it's kinda scary to me how early these kids are getting brainwashed into thinking a certain way about something they don't yet have the capacity to fully understand. And it reminds me that the brainwashing isn't just happening in the schools: the parents themselves must think this way.

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169 sats \ 6 replies \ @elvismercury 16 Jan

I read about a poll that for many years was given to elementary students where they asked the kids who was going to win the Presidency. The results of this poll turned out to be hugely predictive of election results, not (obviously) because the kids were political geniuses, but because kids' opinions are a good proxy for what their parents' beliefs are.

I'd venture to guess that there's less of this brainwashing than there used to be.

And of course, one person's "brainwashing" is another person's "cultural transmission." It is, after all, pretty remarkable that Christians overwhelmingly have Christian parents, Muslims Muslim parents, etc.

84 sats \ 0 replies \ @k00b 16 Jan

This reminds me that one of the big winners in the recent election's prediction markets conducted polls asking people who their neighbors would vote for: #757791.

108 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker OP 16 Jan

And of course, one person's "brainwashing" is another person's "cultural transmission." It is, after all, pretty remarkable that Christians overwhelmingly have Christian parents, Muslims Muslim parents, etc.

I'll push back against this a little bit.

To me, I'd call it brainwashing if the message that's communicated is more of an unthinking, us against them, variety, which is what I think the 5th graders were presenting.

If it's a more fully fleshed out worldview that's been communicated, like "this is why we believe what we believe", or "these are our values", then that's what I'd call cultural transmission of the non-brainwashing variety.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @elvismercury 16 Jan

Fair.

27 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bit_Alb 16 Jan

And of course, one person's "brainwashing" is another person's "cultural transmission."

I agree that what some call "brainwashing" could also be seen as "cultural transmission." It's natural for parents to pass down their beliefs, intentionally or not. That’s how cultures, traditions, and even biases persist across generations.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Msd0457890 16h

That is very true, when I was little I heard many things over and over again and many times I believed them, just by hearing them.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 17 Jan

Kids are like tofu.

80 sats \ 4 replies \ @denlillaapan 16 Jan

I wouldn't call it brainwashing; this is just kids repeating back to eachother words and phrases they've heard adults and TV broadcast say.

Very little meaning or deliberate thought to it

30 sats \ 2 replies \ @Signal312 16 Jan

I don't know about that.

Even if they put very little thought into it...there can be lots of emotion.

I'd say that many people with TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome - who get REALLY REALLY upset about Trump, haven't put much thought into it. But they're still dangerously high-strung about it.

Case in point - a relative of mine got REALLY upset, kicking over chairs in the house, when Trump was elected. This was NOT because of reasoned thought about Trump. It was just because of constant CNN watching.

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @denlillaapan 16 Jan

Yeah yeah, but this relative or yours isn't in middle school, no?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Signal312 16 Jan

True. Older.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 17 Jan

Echo chamber maybe

57 sats \ 5 replies \ @kepford 16 Jan

If you read what I write here you might think that my kids have very strong opinions on politics. You would be wrong. I agree with you that what you witnessed doesn't seem natural. Its not healthy. It reminds me of a religion. It has so many of the same markers. These poor kids are being brainwashed. Some will snap out of it but many will not.

29 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 16 Jan

When I say "strong opinions on politics" I mean who to vote for or not vote for. They have very clear eyes when it comes to the state but seem to not give a flip about Trump or Biden as it should be. They are more focused on their own goals and I think if you asked them about Trump or Biden they would tell you some funny things. Not much emotion and zero fear.

When they were younger they would have no clue. Its wild to me how progressive parents seem to just fill their kids with fear of the other team.

62 sats \ 3 replies \ @SimpleStacker OP 16 Jan

Exactly. It's unnatural and weird. I don't see my kids feeling that strongly about anything

30 sats \ 2 replies \ @kepford 16 Jan

I'm happy when my kids mock or laugh about political figures. If they are actually worried I'm doing something wrong.

56 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker OP 16 Jan

Haha when I told my 8th grade daughter about Strauss-Howe's theory on generational cycles and the 4th turning, she became genuinely frightened because I said the current generation is likely going to be the crisis generation

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford 16 Jan

Ha! I still haven't read the 4th turning book stuff. I've heard it so much I feel like I don't need to :)

30 sats \ 2 replies \ @Shugard 16 Jan

But it's kinda scary to me how early these kids are getting brainwashed into thinking a certain way about something they don't yet have the capacity to fully understand.

That's what I fight every day at school! Not the stupidity of the parents, but the stupidity of parents spreading bullshit left right and center. These poor kids are often victims of ill-informed parents!

Hang in there! Never give up, because the other side never sleeps.

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker OP 16 Jan

I'm just glad the teacher pushed back and didn't stay silent or join in the bashing. Makes me trust her judgment more.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @Shugard 16 Jan

She seems to be a good one! Usually my colleagues are supporting all of the narratives and bullshit the kids tell them.

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @LowK3y19 16 Jan

Ya most of it is what is being repeated by their parents

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Bit_Alb 16 Jan

I think kids simply repeat what they hear at home, on TV, or on YouTube. No one is brainwashing them. However, adults should be more mindful of their kids and the things they are exposed to.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 17 Jan

Gotta be a bit more mindful and selective for themselves first. A bit of curation is in order.

30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 16 Jan

It took over Team Good vs Team Bad from religion. My mom remembers being a kid and thinking her non-Catholic school mates were going to hell for being on the wrong side.

There's something deeply ingrained in us about needing to be on the "right" side and that gets communicated to our kids.

36 sats \ 0 replies \ @SimpleStacker OP 16 Jan

There's something deeply ingrained in us about needing to be on the "right" side and that gets communicated to our kids.

Yes I don't think humans can ever not be religious, in some way or another. At least, not on average.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @SatoshiNakanodo 17 Jan

Kids are smarter than we give them credit for.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @PictureRoom 17 Jan

It's hard for me to not consider how light has played a role in this (Jack Kruse rabbit hole).