Festival survey
Survey | This is for everyone
Please share your views on the Topical Talk Festival.
The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes.
Survey not working? Follow this link: https://economistfoundation.typeform.com/wrap-up-survey
The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes.
Survey not working? Follow this link: https://economistfoundation.typeform.com/wrap-up-survey
Comments (11)
Hello there, do you think that teenagers should vote? In my opinion, I think the UK should not lower the voting age to sixteen. In fact I think the UK should do the opposite and raise the age for it. First off let me disprove any argument from people saying oh some teens are smarter than adults. I’m not talking about those teens, I'm talking about teens like my brother which are most teens. So fair warning to all teens who don't do this, no offense. First of all teens are known to act on emotion rather than real logic. For example, my brother punched a hole in a locker. Now he didn't do this because he had to, he did it because he was angry and did it and broke his hand. Second off they use lets just say they use the feel good thing ok. And those things infect how they make choices so imagine many people who are on those things voting it would probably change a lot of presidents.lastly teens are gullible they don't know who what when why and where of politics. So you know who they are going to get their advice from that's right, their phone and the news but here's the thing 80%-90% of teens or young people can't tell apart fake news from real news if you served them it on a platter that says this is not real. They would still take a bite and say it tasted good . But that's why I think we should raise the voting age.
I disagree because if we don't allow trust in some people the world will always be unwilling to trust others. And if the teenagers vote for the wrong person because they were influenced by social media ,they are going to go through the consequences(if that person elected is bad) because of the decision that they made. This gives teenager responsibility over their own actions but also let them have more freedom over their own country because in the future they are the ones paying their own bills and living by themselves as the next generation.
The survey was interesting because it asked me a lot of questions we had treated during this festival. It was easy and interesting. When I was asked me how I felt about the news, I said curious because my name is curious_ science. Another reason is that I got to know all about the news and know how to prepare my self for any thing coming . I really loved when they asked me what my favorite topic during the festival is and I answered International Aid because it gave a full idea about aid; what it is all about and how far it had helped victims from flood and war particularly. I wished the questions were a bit tasking so I could employ a skill I recently developed during the festival which is the problem solving skill. I would have racked my brain all though the questions where ok👍 so I think that is why I loved it.
I agree because... i loved it too and it was really talking about topics
Well, thank you topical talk for this survey. I was able to share my opinions about the Festival, because the others were having problems so they had to do another topic. It was like an interview about the festival topics and how I felt about news stories I have heard. I got to say which topic was my favorite and least favorite and the reasons I like them and don't really like them. My favorite was International Aid; it is my favorite because I like learning about interactions between strong and struggling countries. My least favorite was The Winter Games: talent or technology, because there were indigenous sports in the past, and they didn't use technology even though athletes got seriously hurt. In spite of this people participated in games, and their performances were enjoyed. in conclusion, today, why bother so much about technology.
I am glad that I was able to express myself by saying what I learnt and the topics that gave me hard time some people, like me, taught that topical talk would not be able to ask us so much questions. they asked us the topics that gave us hard time thinking about them. it gave us hard time because it helped us think out side the box. this helped increase our understanding of certain global issues. I like it when people ask me questions about a particular lesson or topic we have treated. this helps me to tell them the problems or things I don't understand, so it will be explained properly. in other words, I say when you have a topic to treat, you should have room for people to ask questions. this will help them get along.`
Well, this has been an amazing season with many brilliant and amazing topics and yes, we all had this topic or topics that gave us some certain setbacks or discouraged us and I want to share that my least favourite topic was "NATO: friends forever" because sincerely, I did not really know anything about it and the more I researched, the more I got confused, but reading other people's amazing comments helped me get one star and I know that people might say one star is not a big deal, but well, it is for me. I also got to understand the topic more than some people in my class later on and I am really proud of myself and anytime I receive a star, I get motivated to the fullest. Then my favourite topic was "lowering the voting age" and I really feel that if all teens or children could see some amazing comments, then they will believe in themselves more and know that they are not just tiny overlooked people, but we are actually the leaders of tomorrow. Lastly, to all those on the leader board and the winning school, congratulations and thank you because you guys wrote very amazing comments and you really deserve all the stars. Also, you guys are like my mini role models. And to my amazing host and professionals, thank you and wow, you guys are so amazing and it will really be fun and amazing to be a topical talker and grow up, have a job or even give birth and maybe be called to talk to some topical talkers that you know were one like you. This memory and lessons will forever stay with me and guide me. Thank you so much for also boosting my character and skills, I'm grateful.
I thought that this survey was quite interesting because it asked us for our opinion on what topical talk is doing. I think that topical talk is doing a great job in what they are doing because not only are they telling us about the news, it is letting us join in and give our opinions on news stories.
Some things that topical talk are doing great at are,
•Including us children in conversations
•Letting us give our opinions
•Getting achievements as classes for good arguments
Some things that they may need to improve are,
•There should be rewards for being at the top of the leaderboard
•They should give out stars more regularly for really good comments
•Let us comment at least 3 times a day
In conclusion I think that topical talk is doing a really great job with letting children have a say in what they think about the news. Maybe they could work on a few things but if not it is a great way for children to learn and be more responsible in their future. They also give children an understanding in what is going on in the world.
Honestly, the best part about this festival is that it actually forces us to slow down and think. In a world where our news feeds are just a non-stop blur of 10-second clips and 'rage-bait' headlines, having a space to actually dive into global issues is a breath of fresh air. Honestly, the coolest part about this festival wasn't just the 'big topics' themselves, but seeing how much more sense the world makes when we actually stop to talk about it. We're so used to getting our news in 10-second bursts of chaos, so having a space to actually deconstruct things-like how AI is changing our jobs or why the climate crisis is so messy to solve-is a total game-changer.
My big takeaway? Being 'smart' isn't about having all the right answers immediately; it's about being brave enough to admit the world is complicated and staying curious anyway. It's easy to stay in an echo chamber where everyone agrees with you, but real growth happens in these 'grey areas.' Let's keep this energy going and actually listen to each other instead of just waiting for our turn to speak. The future looks a lot less scary when you're actually looking it in the eye.
The survey was extremely interesting; it took me 10 minutes to finish it. I have said every single thing that I leaned and gained in the Topical Talk festival also I shared my feelings and opinions.
These 2 months were wonderful. For me, I was leaning something new every day such as skills like creativity, problem-solving, listening and speaking also I did not like politics at all but with the help of the Topical Talk, I became concerned by politics (mostly about alliances and lowering the voting age).
The best Topic was lowering the voting age. This is because I and many young Topical Talkers (Senior and Junior) face and experience the problem which is being ignored in the elections and not having enough democracy on social media.
For me, the topic which I was not interested in was the topic that was talking about the international Aids. Honestly, my brain was not accepting it. I did not understand the topic, and I could not manage to generate marvelous, creative and innovative ideas to write comments.
I had great mood when I took a star and when I took a 3-star comment, I become over the moon. From 2 weeks, I was in the bus of the school going to home. I decided to write a comment in the NATO topic. For me, it was extremely magnificent and unbelievable. While I was eating my dinner at the same day, I saw that my comment took three stars. When I saw that, I shouted in my house, "I knew that my idea would work." I was so happy.
Thanks, Topical Talk for making us happy all the time!
The Topical Talk Festival is an amazing way to explore the world beyond school. not just about reading the news,it is about thinking for yourself, sharing ideas, and seeing different perspectives. The debates, quizzes, and activities make learning interactive and fun, helping you understand real-world issues in a way that actually feels meaningful.
One of the best parts is how it builds confidence and communication skills. Writing opinions, joining discussions, and debating ideas pushes you to explain your thoughts clearly and listen to others. Over time, you start feeling more comfortable sharing your views and backing them up with evidence — a skill that’s useful not just in school, but in life.
What makes the festival truly special is the global connection. You meet students from other countries, hear their perspectives, and realize that issues like climate change, technology, or social problems affect people differently around the world. It encourages open mindedness and empathy, and by the end, you feel inspired, more aware of the world, and proud of the ideas you shared.
This was a very good survey in my opinion. Thank you for encouraging me a lot to know that I am not just some tiny teen, but I have a powerful voice and I am actually a leader of tomorrow and pushing me to my best. I also just want to share that I always wanted to become a gynaecologist and obstetrician but most people always discouraged me and said I won't make it because it is one of the hardest courses in the world but this hub gave me a lot of confidence and improved my initiative. I feel so grown up now and I'm so capable enough to vote, have an alliance, help in international aid and get involved in a lot of sport and sincerely, this is a lesson and memory I will never forget and when I grow up, my children must hear of this. A lot might say that I'm not even on the leader board and don't have up to 23 stars or more but I'm really proud of my achievements and cannot wait for next time. : )
In today's society, it's super important for students and young scholars to get involved in discussions that prompt critical thinking and knowledge about our world. Whether it be sports, politics, or culture, the discussions hosted throughout this year's Festival have fostered interactions among diverse perspectives and backgrounds. In my personal experience, by reading what others commented and immersing myself in an open-minded mindset, I've learned more about myself than before. The skills I have developed are what I will take away and apply to post-secondary and extracurricular activities. However, aside from the abilities and connections this amazing Festival brings, I believe that replying to other comments and professionals shouldn't be counted in the daily comment count. My reason for this suggestion comes from my experience with replying to justify my responses. I had to weigh which comments were more relevant to respond to, rather than engaging fully with my peers. Aside from this, the Festival fulfills the task of connecting people globally and rewarding star responses. It was amazing! Thank you for such a great experience. To many more Festivals!
That's some thoughtful feedback, thank you