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BoldonLad

Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
Location
South Tyneside
If you had an 11 year old son you’d understand.
My wife queued at Asda on Christmas Eve to pick up a bottle for my son’s stocking.
It’s a huge thing at the moment. Kids are so easily manipulated by marketing.

So called adults are fairly adept at being manipulated too IMHO ;)

I have past the "parenthood" stage now, and, into "grandparent hood".

The main thing I have learned is not to be too quick to criticise other peoples parenting decisions. Not all all of mine worked out as expected, or, even consistently. ;)

At present, I have two grandsons of similar age (12 and 13). I obtained debit cards for each, and, give them weekly "pocket money", on the cards. I gave them both the same advice, and, bought both of them the same educational material on money. Things may change, but, at present, the outcomes are very different.
 
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winjim

Welcome yourself into the new modern crisis
I think that the last 24hrs should have reminded us that we do need to be aware of what's happening in the realm of social media influences and check what our children are viewing.

But yeah, we shouldn't criticise children for doing things that adults do *all the time*. We buy expensive tat, we use comfort food to soothe our emotions, we watch rubbish on the telly. Yet often we seem to want to hold our children up to higher standards. Let them have the thing.
 

BoldonLad

Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
Location
South Tyneside
I think that the last 24hrs should have reminded us that we do need to be aware of what's happening in the realm of social media influences and check what our children are viewing.

But yeah, we shouldn't criticise children for doing things that adults do *all the time*. We buy expensive tat, we use comfort food to soothe our emotions, we watch rubbish on the telly. Yet often we seem to want to hold our children up to higher standards. Let them have the thing.

I have clearly missed something, give me a clue, please. ;)
 

AndyRM

Elder Goth
Everyone of us at one time or another will have paid over the odds for something because it was branded or it was trendy, whether it's clothes, bike stuff, or a bottle of water. Heck, there will be people on CC who have spent £4k on a bike when £2k would have done. I can't see how anyone could begrudge an 11 year old getting a lot of pleasure from a £2 gift even if it is overpriced and overhyped.

Yep.

One thing I queued for and cost me £30 IIRC is Mastodon's 'Live At The Aragon' LP, which is a World Record Store Day Exclusive.

By the time I'd got home, there were copies online for many, many times that.

I wish I hadn't bothered to be honest. It's a shite recording. I guess there's a certain cachet in having something that's fairly unique? More unique is my LP of Ophidian 1's "Desolation" LP, they only pressed 200 of those, and it cost me £20. I've got some really rare NIN stuff too, but if I wanted to fleece a collector (which I wouldn't) it would take me more time than I'm prepared to commit to finding them.

There's a whole debate about the value of stuff and consumerism to be had I reckon. Which is going to be largely based on perception and actual worth. Tricky to unpick. But I reckon if it's a thing someone takes pleasure from and the means to afford it are there, then get your thing and enjoy it. Don't box it away in an air controlled room in the hope it might be your retirement fund.
 

winjim

Welcome yourself into the new modern crisis
I have clearly missed something, give me a clue, please. ;)

Where to start? If I told you straight up you wouldn't believe me, it's like the plot of a 1970s detective show. I'm assuming you know who Greta Thunberg is, have you heard of Andrew Tate?
 

mudsticks

Squire
I think that the last 24hrs should have reminded us that we do need to be aware of what's happening in the realm of social media influences and check what our children are viewing.

But yeah, we shouldn't criticise children for doing things that adults do *all the time*. We buy expensive tat, we use comfort food to soothe our emotions, we watch rubbish on the telly. Yet often we seem to want to hold our children up to higher standards. Let them have the thing.

For sure, at least it's a fairly low budget lesson for them in how the actual 'things' themselves rarely live up to the hype, or give lasting satisfaction .

That it's the excitement that is so exciting in itself - it's the 'feeling' of being part of something of the moment, however asinine the 'thing' is
.

Whether that's Warhammer, football strips, the latest trainers or gaming craze, Pokémon,or any other 'gang' or subculture that they want to be recognised as being a part of - by having invested time or money in it.

Parenting outcomes are a massive lottery in so many ways, environment and example set can help a lot.

But there's plenty of kids from ostensibly 'good' starts that end up in bad places.
And vice versa..

Of course 'adults' still do these things , it's just some of the groups and identifiers they ally with could broadly be judged helpful or unhelpful, and have longer reaching consequences

Juries still out on whether being a member of NACA is useful or not.
But I'd say in general I've learnt quite a lot about human nature, and politics from hanging out with a bunch of politically interested* cyclists.

*plus those one or two who nobly persist here despite being baffled as to why anyone wants to talk about politics in the first place.

Anyway back to the subject of the thread.

And talking of tribes..

Screenshot_20221230-094357.png
 

winjim

Welcome yourself into the new modern crisis
A brief synopsis for anyone who hasn't been following along.

https://www.councilestatemedia.uk/2022/12/obviously-youre-aware-by-now-that.html?m=1

Probably deserves its own thread tbh. It's being discussed on the climate change one but there's so much more to it than that. And we laugh, but there are real victims here, both directly and as a result of the popularisation and legitimisation of violent misogyny.

It is funny though.
 

mudsticks

Squire
A brief synopsis for anyone who hasn't been following along.

https://www.councilestatemedia.uk/2022/12/obviously-youre-aware-by-now-that.html?m=1

Probably deserves its own thread tbh. It's being discussed on the climate change one but there's so much more to it than that. And we laugh, but there are real victims here, both directly and as a result of the popularisation and legitimisation of violent misogyny.

It is funny though.
It is funny because it's such a massive self own .

But I think there's also a risk of driving more feeble minded traffic in the direction of Taint.

Most youngsters want someone to follow or look up to.

On the bright girls side we of course have the likes of Thunberg - a positive force for good

But for the slightly lost adolescent boy (or man child) then having all these 'macho' posturing 'look at all my cars and cigars' types to suck them in isn't a healthy situation, it needs challenging .

The fact that he (and many like him) have come to wider attention, is probably a good thing, on balance., their awfulness is exposed - and can be called out for what it is.

There seems to be a real lack of awareness around incel / misogynistic / violent pornography and rape culture online, and in real life - even among parents and carers who have responsibility - thats worrying - I don't think there's any excuse for burying your head in the sand and pretending it's not there .

You can't have useful conversation, and or counter those messages if you don't know those messages are out there in the first place.
 

qigong chimp

Settler of gobby hash.
I can't see how anyone could begrudge an 11 year old getting a lot of pleasure from a £2 gift even if it is overpriced and overhyped.

I can't see how anyone could imagine the concerning issue is the 'pleasure' of a child.
What would be objectionable about an 11 year old getting a lot of pleasure from a £2 gift that isn't overpriced and overhyped?
 

mudsticks

Squire
Screenshot_20221230-111546.png


I can't see how anyone could imagine the concerning issue is the 'pleasure' of a child.
What would be objectionable about an 11 year old getting a lot of pleasure from a £2 gift that isn't overpriced and overhyped?
Just wondering, have you actually gone through the pleasure and pains of actually raising actualkids.??

I don't know , you may have done, but tbh you come across as someone (doubtless a bit like me pre-kids)

- long on high ideals - short on the realities.

For a counterpoint try 'sad beige' on insta

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkjphKJLJvU/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=


Very humouressly takes the p*ss out of the 'aesthetic' parenting trend, where no clashing colours, tacky plastic, or joy in silly trends are allowed..

Although sad beige in itself it's a trend too of course.

Even my friends who do in fact home school their kids, wear cross backed linen aprons for crafts, and who carve spoons out of beech logs find it very hilarious.
 

BoldonLad

Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
Location
South Tyneside
Where to start? If I told you straight up you wouldn't believe me, it's like the plot of a 1970s detective show. I'm assuming you know who Greta Thunberg is, have you heard of Andrew Tate?

Yes - to Greta

No - to Andrew Tate

I did see your earlier references to Tate, but, didn't follow it up. I will do so. Thank you ;)
 

BoldonLad

Old man on a bike. Not a member of a clique.
Location
South Tyneside
Where to start? If I told you straight up you wouldn't believe me, it's like the plot of a 1970s detective show. I'm assuming you know who Greta Thunberg is, have you heard of Andrew Tate?

OK. I have looked up and read the links.

I shan't be subscribing.

However, inevitably, I have have increased (only by 1, but, every little helps) the number of "hits" on his rubbish, which (falsely) in my view indicates his supposed popularity.
 

winjim

Welcome yourself into the new modern crisis
OK. I have looked up and read the links.

I shan't be subscribing.

However, inevitably, I have have increased (only by 1, but, every little helps) the number of "hits" on his rubbish, which (falsely) in my view indicates his supposed popularity.
He's supposedly the most searched for person of 2022 but I wonder if a lot of that is parents and teachers who've never heard of him, checking on what the kids are watching and being influenced by, and then exclaiming 'Oh Jesus Christ no.'
 
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