Seriously, should I tell my young co-workers that they need to

[yy4me]

pay more attention to the world and less to the foolishness on TV?

I work in a very small company, only 7 employees. One is the owner, in his 50's, very business savvy and up to date on world and national affairs. I am a Senior who has had to go back to work because of the economic realities of retirement. I read, watch a little TV, do things that are interesting and within my means.

The other 5 are young people between the ages of 23 and 42. I like them all and each one is a hard worker. They are all bright and well spoken.

I don't want to be critical of them but each time we have any type of a group conversation, the topic of the latest junk TV program comes up and they continue to chat away about these junk shows. No problem with that but what does bother me is that none of them reads a newspaper or a weekly news magazine. And Horror of Horrors...none of them ever heard of Countdown!!! No news, no current affairs ever seems to concern them.

My point to them would be that it is in their best interest to keep abreast of world affairs Read, read, read. Someday they will all be lamenting the fact that they did not pay attention.

Should I express my thoughts on this like a meddling old granny or just chuckle as they talk about some sort of new ridiculous program? I am concerned.

[babylonsister]

1. Just tell them politics can beat any comedy or drama any day of

the week. Mission accomplished!

[annabanana]

2. You must know tham pretty well.... Pick a topic in the

news, a weighty one, that will directly affect one of them, or pertains to something you KNOW they're interested in..

Then ask them a question about it. If it is an answer they will be interested in hearing.. tell them which news program you saw it on... or which website you read it on...

gradually... They might just find out that there's things going on that they find interesting.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Same thing frustrates me at work

I wish I knew what to tell you. I end up avoiding my co-workers.

[Fresh_Start]

4. something like 85% of the country

tolerates politics instead of living for politics so they are extremely normal.

[kwyjibo]

5. You can't force people to pay attention to something they're not interested in.

However, if you mentioned that you wished they'd watch Countdown so you'd be able to join in on the What-Was-On-TV-Last-Night conversation, you may get some of them to play along.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Listen to what they say

I had a nice chat with a 43 year old coworker today. Found out what was on his mind in regards to the economy and presidential candidates. I know what issues he's interested in, and can talk to him more about it next time he feels like chatting.

[Ohio Joe]

7. My Opinion, No

I never discuss either politics or religion at work.

[DCKit]

8. "Bread and Circuses" n/t

[Subdivisions]

9. Hi yy4me. I have the same problem, but with the general

population rather than coworkers, but also them too when I've had them. I've always been aware that I care to be informed more than most people but I thought that would fade away as I got older. It hasn't. No matter where I go or to whom I speak, nothing but cluelessness. It'a all about TV or movies and celebrities or gossip about friends or family.

I would make it a point to ask people what they thought about this or that and they would either look at me like I had a penis growing out of neck or they would start spoutin' the faux news bullshit with an accent and vocabulary comparable to cousin Enis from Hogsmoke Holler.