Neowin.net

Selling politics to today's youth is no easy task. But while Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative leader, flails in a search for youth- orientated policies, it seems Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, is trying to talk to the kids in language they understand.

Mr Watson uses his "blog", or online diary, to make a direct appeal, telling teenagers that "politics is cool, m'kay?" and they should "cut it with the bling bling and do something for the community, man".

He illustrates his idea of how the young feel, saying: "Nobody ever seems to do anything for The Kids! All the decisions are made by suits, man. That's so lame!!!"

View: The Blog
News source: FT

But it looks like he is missing the mark. "He's trying to be hip, but failing miserably," says James Towers, 16. "He's mixing up what seems to be Gangsta rap with text messaging and internet abbreviations. He even uses the word 'dude', nobody's said that since the 1980s."

Mr Watson, 36, said the posting was ironic. "Not many teens read the site . . but those that do know it's a big joke." This may be borne out by a note at the bottom: "WARNING: Getting involved in politics may cause premature ageing and a sudden loss of friends." www.tom-watson.co.uk/teens

And for the record, here's the entire text...

Teens!

We know that you're too busy fighting off your biological urges and being l33t hax0rs to Get Involved, but politics is cool, m'kay?

Nobody ever seems to do anything for The Kids! All the decisions are made by suits, man. That's so lame!!! We know you think of yourselves as responsible citizens, but what you wanna do is turn that thought into an action, dudes.

Get involved - to the extreme!

The BBC politics for kids/teens site is, like, totally wacked! Ditto for the Parliament education site, which even has a section for younger yoof. Fanta-stick!

YoungGov is totally the business for having your say, and there are even wicked Youth Parliament sites for the UK, Scotland and Europe.

(Hey, chill with the anti-Europe vibes already! You totally won't be able to wear the word 'fcuk' on your shirt anymore if we break our connection with France, y'dig? ROFFLE!)

So, cut it with the bling bling and do something for the community, man. Join in and take action with any of the groovy sites we've listed, or just drop Tom a line for a quiet rap by the electronic e-mail. Tom's well-up on the Interwebnet, and he won't harsh your buzz or dis you down the line.

WARNING: Getting involved in politics may cause premature ageing and a sudden loss of friends.