 | The community has an abundance of creative and original ideas. And our kids have political talent. This leads to fascinating experiments. Here is one: The Verbal Shit Statistics |
The political strength of the far right makes a crucial difference to the way we live.
Here's why. We believe everything in this world is interconnected and interdependent.
The climate and our future, economy and politics, science and health - they're global issues.
Society, democracy, equal rights, education. Truly everything that matters in life.
The climate and our future, economy and politics, science and health - they're global issues.
Society, democracy, equal rights, education. Truly everything that matters in life.
 | We cooperate across borders. The far right wants to close them. They feel threatened by diversity. We feel threatened without it. We have reason to care. |
In 2016, we realized: We have tools to predict election outcomes!
It was the Brexit referendum in June 2016, followed by the US, electing Donald
Trump into office in November. Two historic events with global ramifications.
Trump into office in November. Two historic events with global ramifications.
What we observed then: An overdose of nationalism changes search patterns.
For the first time, large numbers of families started looking for Global Natives
- not in far away places - but in their own vicinity. We asked them why.
They said: "There's so much xenophobia around us now, we feel isolated!"
They longed for open-minded company to raise their kids.
With better conversations, with more empathy, with wider horizons.
For the first time, large numbers of families started looking for Global Natives
- not in far away places - but in their own vicinity. We asked them why.
They said: "There's so much xenophobia around us now, we feel isolated!"
They longed for open-minded company to raise their kids.
With better conversations, with more empathy, with wider horizons.
We started to experiment and tried to make predictions for upcoming national elections,
based on such search patterns. The results were mind-blowing. This really worked!
And then one of our members decided to embark on an experiment with the same goal.
based on such search patterns. The results were mind-blowing. This really worked!
And then one of our members decided to embark on an experiment with the same goal.
The second tool: The Verbal Shit Statistics
 | When Michael Moore, back in October 2016, predicted that Hillary Clinton would lose the election, he had done something incredibly smart. |
Richard is a maths professor in Manchester, he is the father of two sons and two daughters.
Pushed by his kids (it was their idea) and assisted by his brother, a behavioural scientist,
he started a new Global Natives tribe just before Xmas 2018: The Verbal Shit Stats.
Richard's kids (13, 16, 17 and 19 years old at the time) were fascinated by Moore's
indirect approach. It clearly had an advantage over established opinion poll strategies.
Their idea was: Let's not ask the parents. Let's listen to their kids.
Pushed by his kids (it was their idea) and assisted by his brother, a behavioural scientist,
he started a new Global Natives tribe just before Xmas 2018: The Verbal Shit Stats.
Richard's kids (13, 16, 17 and 19 years old at the time) were fascinated by Moore's
indirect approach. It clearly had an advantage over established opinion poll strategies.
Their idea was: Let's not ask the parents. Let's listen to their kids.
| Now, every Monday, over 17,000 teenagers worldwide count swear words. |
"Fucking" is the term most frequently used to describe an unwanted human being.
So, in English, that term might be used for fucking foreigners, fucking unemployed,
fucking bitches, fucking homeless, fucking poof, fucking retard, etc.
In German, for instance, it is the prefix "Scheiss-", as in Scheiss Ausländer etc.
Sounds nasty, sure. But it is part of daily life.
So, in English, that term might be used for fucking foreigners, fucking unemployed,
fucking bitches, fucking homeless, fucking poof, fucking retard, etc.
In German, for instance, it is the prefix "Scheiss-", as in Scheiss Ausländer etc.
Sounds nasty, sure. But it is part of daily life.
 | Every language has its equivalent. And there is no point in not spelling it |
To be clear: The focus isn't on dirty language, it's on dehumanizing language.
Which is in daily use everywhere, including schools, school yards and school buses
- all the places where kids repeat and pass on what they hear from their parents.
- all the places where kids repeat and pass on what they hear from their parents.
However, the frequency of the use of "fucking" has distinct ups and downs:
It rises considerably in the weeks before an election, in keeping with political propaganda.
More than anything else, it mirrors the language of the far right.
It rises considerably in the weeks before an election, in keeping with political propaganda.
More than anything else, it mirrors the language of the far right.
| For over four years by now, a rising number of teens have counted just how often they hear "fucking" (or their own country's equivalent) within a set timeframe every Monday, and they have entered the count into the tribe's verbal shit statistics. They do this on Mondays, because after the weekend, use of this kind of language tends to be strongest. And, lo and behold, Richard makes precise predictions based on these numbers! |  |
The power of language - for better or worse
Just as Michael Moore listened to the neighbours, Richard's experiment focuses on the kids'
peers. Kids repeat what they hear when the family sits around the dinner table. Or the telly.
It shapes their attitude. It shapes their language.
peers. Kids repeat what they hear when the family sits around the dinner table. Or the telly.
It shapes their attitude. It shapes their language.
When they hear racist and misogynistic remarks, when xenophobic and homophobic opinions prevail, when dad feels that the unemployed need a stronger hand and mum believes that vaccines are devil's work, when both are sure that parliament is a bunch of incompetent dimwits, that there is no such thing as man made climate change and Brussels is to blame for absolutely everything ... then kids want to tell others about it. In the same language.
This means: Measuring such language in countable terms lets us measure exclusion.
Want some examples?
Want some examples?
| A "fucking foreigner" isn't just someone from abroad. He's unwanted here. Does a seven-year-old, calling his neighbour a "fucking poofter", really know what he's saying? What about the teenager who calls his teacher a "fucking bitch"? There are refugees at the railway station. To some kids, they are "dirty fucking parasites". And what about this eleven-year-old girl demanding that fucking climate activists should be shot? |
So this is powerful. How do we use it?
As a platform, we don't get involved in politics.
But we certainly aim to empower the next generation to become better politicians.
They need to be able to understand and interpret wisely, to analyse with insight.
Predictions for elections are a cool side effect, their accuracy proves a point.
The stats help to comprehend how divisive language changes a society.
But we certainly aim to empower the next generation to become better politicians.
They need to be able to understand and interpret wisely, to analyse with insight.
Predictions for elections are a cool side effect, their accuracy proves a point.
The stats help to comprehend how divisive language changes a society.
1.) This teaches young people first-hand what language does to the mind.
In the family, amongst peers. And how words translate into action.
In the family, amongst peers. And how words translate into action.
2.) It helps them to understand the dynamics of political rhetoric.
It helps to realize its power over malleable minds.
It helps to realize its power over malleable minds.
3.) We never use our predictive powers for purposes outside the community.
But: Anticipating political swings allows us to address issues in time.
We, as a community, want to have our ear on society's heartbeat.
It helps to create better conversations, and to act more than to react.
But: Anticipating political swings allows us to address issues in time.
We, as a community, want to have our ear on society's heartbeat.
It helps to create better conversations, and to act more than to react.
