Please help me to read this English sentence:

[snbzk]

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

I don’t understand what this “politically uninformed” in this passage below means.
It’s obvious that high school students don’t know much about politics, but this sentence doesn’t seem to mean that.

"Not knowing much about politics" is the only thing "politically uninformed" can mean. More context would help, but it seems the sentence is saying that it's difficult to persuade high school students to join a particular group because they don't know enough about politics (among other reasons).

[ColinHowell]

Originally Posted by snbzk

"Not knowing much about politics" is the only thing "politically uninformed" can mean. More context would help, but it seems the sentence is saying that it's difficult to persuade high school students to join a particular group because they don't know enough about politics (among other reasons).

Well, Google found the quote and its source for me, so you now have all the context you need. It appears in the entry for angst in the book 100 Words to Make You Sound Smart. That book took it from an article in The Nation which I also found online; the quote appears in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom of this page.

And yeah, it sounds like your explanation is correct. I think the author specifically means that the students are ignorant of how politics works in the real world. That fits the general theme of the article, which is about politically organizing high school students so that they can have more control over their own lives.

[Koir]

Originally Posted by snbzk

I think he was predicting that the thread would be closed by a moderator, but I have no idea why. You don't need to do anything about it.

No, that wasn't my meaning, snbzk. You were being optimistic that if Yuri changed the first post to say her first question had been answered, people would go to the last post to comment on the current topic. I was being pessimistic for no real reason beyond not thinking highly of people who reply to the first post in a long thread.

I do *not* want this thread closed. Not at all.

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean.
What should I do?
Should I close this thread and make a new thread?

Help, Koir, snbzk…
In easy English, please…

DougLewis was making a silly joke about the current topic being discussed, nothing else.

And now back to the current topic:

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

Can I ask another question here?

I don’t understand what this “politically uninformed” in this passage below means.
It’s obvious that high school students don’t know much about politics, but this sentence doesn’t seem to mean that.
Please tell me.

'Organizing high school students is extremely difficult. Apart from being an impermanent base, they are inexperienced and often politically uninformed. Their disconnectedness and isolation – easily caricatured as pouty alienation or angst – are rooted in the realities of their lives.'

Thank you.

"Politically uninformed" means that the group being discussed (high school students) generally don't concern themselves with all aspects of politics in today's world. It's something that doesn't specifically interest them, so when other people try to get their opinion or organize them into groups depending on political beliefs, it's difficult or even impossible in some cases. As a result, they appear as an easily dismissed group (politically speaking) concerned more with baseless feelings of anger and depression.

[snbzk]

Originally Posted by Koir

No, that wasn't my meaning, snbzk.

I was referring to DougLewis' post there.

[DougLewis]

'Organizing high school students is extremely difficult. Apart from being an impermanent base, they are inexperienced and often politically uninformed. Their disconnectedness and isolation – easily caricatured as pouty alienation or angst – are rooted in the realities of their lives.'

When I read this, my understanding of the point is:

It is a complaint about students being difficult to organize into "influence groups."

Several possible reasons are given.

- They flow through the system quickly - preventing a core group from bonding into an association with possible political influencial powers.

- They lack understanding of the powers that can be achieved using political group "single voice."

- Because they are isolated and not organized - they are disconnected from a main body.

- The perception of them by others is they are sullen and angry individuals.

- They are focused entirely upon their own personal interests, (not interested in forming a collective).
---------------------------------------------------------------
The silly post.

An introduction of mirth into study can make the exercise more interesting.

Some one had a question about "luck."

Creatively, I thought, I offered several lines or "ditty" which illustrated many uses of the word "luck" as it would be used in normal conversation. Sometimes this can assist in a person "getting it" more easily.

It seems my good intention may not have been.

I apologize if I offended anyone.

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by snbzk

I think he was predicting that the thread would be closed by a moderator, but I have no idea why. You don't need to do anything about it.

Thank you, snbzk.
I will just edit my first post.

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by ColinHowell

Well, Google found the quote and its source for me, so you now have all the context you need. It appears in the entry for angst in the book 100 Words to Make You Sound Smart. That book took it from an article in The Nation which I also found online; the quote appears in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom of this page.

Hi, ColinHowell.
Yes, I’m studying English with the book now. (Angst is the third word in the book. I have 97 new words after this.)
I didn’t think you need the whole paragraph to know what “politically uninformed” means. I’m sorry!

Originally Posted by snbzk

"Not knowing much about politics" is the only thing "politically uninformed" can mean. More context would help, but it seems the sentence is saying that it's difficult to persuade high school students to join a particular group because they don't know enough about politics (among other reasons).

Originally Posted by Koir

"Politically uninformed" means that the group being discussed (high school students) generally don't concern themselves with all aspects of politics in today's world. It's something that doesn't specifically interest them, so when other people try to get their opinion or organize them into groups depending on political beliefs, it's difficult or even impossible in some cases. As a result, they appear as an easily dismissed group (politically speaking) concerned more with baseless feelings of anger and depression.

Thank you, snbzk, Koir.
I see. “Politically uninformed” means they don’t know much about politics.

This is the whole passage.
Can this passage mention about stay-at-home children?

“Organizing high school students is extremely difficult. Apart from being an impermanent base (students graduate), they are inexperienced and often politically uninformed…. Their disconnectedness and isolation – easily caricatured as pouty alienation or angst – are rooted in the realities of their lives: their lack of mobility, frequent lack of access to people who share their concerns and passions, and relative lack of personal and political power.”
– Liza Featherstone, “Hot-Wiring High School,” The Nation, June, 1999

[YuriTokoro]

Originally Posted by DougLewis

When I read this, my understanding of the point is:

It is a complaint about students being difficult to organize into "influence groups."

Several possible reasons are given.

- They flow through the system quickly - preventing a core group from bonding into an association with possible political influencial powers.

Sorry, I don’t understand “They flow through the system quickly” and “a core group”

- They lack understanding of the powers that can be achieved using political group "single voice."

What’s “single voice”?

- Because they are isolated and not organized - they are disconnected from a main body.

Sorry! But what’s a main body?

- The perception of them by others is they are sullen and angry individuals.

I understand this! And I agree with you!!

- They are focused entirely upon their own personal interests, (not interested in forming a collective).

You mean they are not interested in uniting, don’t you?

The silly post.

An introduction of mirth into study can make the exercise more interesting.

Some one had a question about "luck."

Creatively, I thought, I offered several lines or "ditty" which illustrated many uses of the word "luck" as it would be used in normal conversation. Sometimes this can assist in a person "getting it" more easily.

It seems my good intention may not have been.

I apologize if I offended anyone.

I don’t understand what you mean enough, but I think you mean your post about “luck”, and I haven’t answered it.
I’m so sorry. I read it, but I didn’t know what I should have written because many people had answered it and I didn’t want to answer them with the same sentences. I don’t have variations of expressions.
I think that’s why snbzk suggested me to edit my first post.
I’m sorry.

[DougLewis]

Originally Posted by YuriTokoro

Sorry, I don’t understand “They flow through the system quickly” and “a core group”

They come and go quickly through the school system.
A core group is the stable center of a group - the few who are found within an organized group, the ones that keep it together)

"Core", comes from the inner part of a fruit such as an apple - it contains the seeds. Example "Apple core."

What’s “single voice”?
Many people saying the same thing.

Sorry! But what’s a main body?
A body can be used to describe many people in a group or a single persons "body." It can be used to describe any large gathering.

A body is a collection of many parts which make a whole.

Examples

"A large body of water, can be a lake or ocean."
"A large body of work, can be a very big study with documentation"

You mean they are not interested in uniting, don’t you? (Yes)

I don’t understand what you mean enough, but I think you mean your post about “luck”, and I haven’t answered it.
I’m so sorry. I read it, but I didn’t know what I should have written because many people had answered it and I didn’t want to answer them with the same sentences. I don’t have variations of expressions.
I think that’s why snbzk suggested me to edit my first post.
I’m sorry.

Hi YuriTokoro

There is no need to be sorry. My signature tries to explain why.

There are many times when the translations of words are understood but because of idioms and "expressions" used in all languages, recognition of context and comprehension can be easily lost if explanation is not provided.

I try to assist with practical use of English language, meaning the common form and uses rather than the technical aspects.

I try to provide common English expressions - these usually work well in causing people to ask for explanation. Explanation is a good chance to increase understanding.

Questions are the name of the game. It is bewildering.. words can often be used as questions as an example - "Really?"

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by DougLewis

I try to assist with practical use of English language, meaning the common form and uses rather than the technical aspects.

I try to provide common English expressions - these usually work well in causing people to ask for explanation. Explanation is a good chance to increase understanding.

Questions are the name of the game. It is bewildering.. words can often be used as questions as an example - "Really?"

The problem is Doug, is that your less funny and more utterly confusing to people for whom English isn't a first language. Play on words are all very well, but only when you've got a complete grasp of English and can see the merit in them. Otherwise it just makes things difficult for learners and smacks more of 'showing off' than teaching. I mean, it takes ME a moment or two to follow some of the things you write, never mind someone who's still learning the language. And before you apologize for being 'offensive', it's not; it's just a wonder why, as a native speaker and a teacher, you don't phrase things more simply. Seriously, "preventing a core group from bonding into an association with possible political influencial powers" is such an awkward, over-complicated sentence.