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sloppyjaloppy · 03-14-2008, 05:09 AM

So I have an interesting situation on my hands and I thought I would ask here on tilted for some input.
In the last year or so I've started to become a fair bit more aware, both of myself as well as the world around me. I would not say by any means that I have even begun to comprehend the way everything works, but compared to this time last year I feel I've come along way. Unfortunately in doing so, however, I seem to have developed a largely cynical view on society and the way people live and interact. I have seen firsthand the effects of bigotry, intolerance and social conditioning that lead to negative effects and injustice for many people. (sorry if this is long winded, I'll get to my point eventually)

Im now 21, my father died when I was 17, and I have a younger brother and sister, now aged 12 and 15 respectively. While my role in the family has not been that of a father figure, I still feel that I play an important role in shaping the lives of my siblings. My mother has done an amazing job in raising all of us (i also have an older sister aged 24), but I feel like I have some sort of responsibility to my siblings to make them aware now, of the same things it has taken a long time for me to work out.

I still haven't formed my opinions entirely on contentious issues like socialized gender roles, native rights, materialism and many others, but I have a fairly solid grasp of what I feel is right and wrong. I can see that my brother and sister are largely unaware of these concepts, and my question is this: Is it appropriate for me to engage with them on these ideas, and help them to (hopefully) form opinions that are beneficial to their development, or should I butt out and let them figure it out eventually themselves the way I have?

If the answer is yes, can anyone suggest appropriate methods to broach the topics with them in a non-threatening way? (My 12 year old brother would not be very comfortable talking with me about the patriarchy and womens rights, for example)

Thanks for your patience if you managed to read everything.

03-14-2008, 05:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
sloppyjaloppy Upright	Need help with guiding siblings So I have an interesting situation on my hands and I thought I would ask here on tilted for some input. In the last year or so I've started to become a fair bit more aware, both of myself as well as the world around me. I would not say by any means that I have even begun to comprehend the way everything works, but compared to this time last year I feel I've come along way. Unfortunately in doing so, however, I seem to have developed a largely cynical view on society and the way people live and interact. I have seen firsthand the effects of bigotry, intolerance and social conditioning that lead to negative effects and injustice for many people. (sorry if this is long winded, I'll get to my point eventually) Im now 21, my father died when I was 17, and I have a younger brother and sister, now aged 12 and 15 respectively. While my role in the family has not been that of a father figure, I still feel that I play an important role in shaping the lives of my siblings. My mother has done an amazing job in raising all of us (i also have an older sister aged 24), but I feel like I have some sort of responsibility to my siblings to make them aware now, of the same things it has taken a long time for me to work out. I still haven't formed my opinions entirely on contentious issues like socialized gender roles, native rights, materialism and many others, but I have a fairly solid grasp of what I feel is right and wrong. I can see that my brother and sister are largely unaware of these concepts, and my question is this: Is it appropriate for me to engage with them on these ideas, and help them to (hopefully) form opinions that are beneficial to their development, or should I butt out and let them figure it out eventually themselves the way I have? If the answer is yes, can anyone suggest appropriate methods to broach the topics with them in a non-threatening way? (My 12 year old brother would not be very comfortable talking with me about the patriarchy and womens rights, for example) Thanks for your patience if you managed to read everything.