Featured image adapted from MChe Lee on Unsplash, for illustration purposes only.
Recently, a netizen on Reddit asked for an explanation behind Singaporeans’ disinterest in politics.
Not only did the Original Poster (OP) emphasise the “life-changing” importance of learning politics, they also suggested implementing it as a taught subject in Singapore schools.
However, most netizens disapproved of this idea and claimed that politics is too complex.
In the post on r/askSingapore, the OP claimed to be a Secondary 3 student.
They stated that they are trying to “learn to see the grays” as they “see things in black and white”.
They added that they are also worried about the future.
Source: Apollo Toza on Pexels, for illustration purposes only
According to the OP, many of their classmates or people they have met are not interested in politics.
The student shared that they understood politics to be “very tiring, stressful and toxic”.
They also have the impression that sharing political views can “often lead to strained relationships” and “uncivilised conversations” which result in insults.
According to the student, their interest in politics only emerged as they grew older.
“I found it boring and difficult to understand,” they said.
“But when I grew older, I realised that not being interested in politics is a privilege.”
Describing politics as something that “literally impacts your life”, the student then asked why people would not want to be educated on it.
They stated that politics “should be taught in school” and made “compulsory”.
“It shouldn’t be from a biased view or resources, but based on facts, evidence and history,” the OP said.
While the student’s observation impressed netizens, most of them still disagreed with their idea of implementing political studies too early.
Commenters pointed out that learning politics requires skills such as critical analysis and cross-referencing, and most students need time to develop these.
They also noted that politics is slowly introduced to students in Singapore through social studies lessons.
Source: Reddit
Some added that younger students can be easily influenced and fall to propaganda without proper guidance.
Meanwhile, a few netizens told the student to not concern themselves too much with politics and enjoy life as a teen.
Source: Reddit
However, some advised the student to frame better questions in future conversations.
They noted that instead of jumping the gun and asking others about their “political views”, they can start by asking simple questions.
“They might not be political in having a view of who you should vote for. But they definitely have a view on how their life is currently like,” wrote one netizen.
Source: Reddit
Also read: Netizen questions preschool’s interpretation of S’pore flag where stars ‘changed position’
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Featured image adapted from MChe Lee on Unsplash, for illustration purposes only.