Friends from the “evil” side of politics?

[SomeRandom]

So this is probably moreso my curiosity as to the overall “climate” America has right now, as a drunken Aussie. But all are welcome to participate

So over the past few years I’ve heard increasing sentiments of folks from the US not being able to be friends with someone with the opposite political beliefs they hold or even cutting ties with said folks (usually with the context of rather extreme political beliefs, to be fair.)
Both sides seem disgruntled and even sound fed up and dejected by this polarisation.

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?
Does this make things a bit awkward?
Do you just avoid talking politics for the sake of a relationship?
Just curious.

Discuss as you please but I beg of you, be civil guys!

 

[Ella S.]

I live in the US, so I suppose this question is one that I can address.

There are people that I regularly communicate with outside of a professional context that consider me their friend. Most of them are liberals, a couple are conservative, one is a libertarian. I don't agree with any of those political ideologies, but we're motivated to find the common ground we can and agree to disagree when we can't.

In general, I don't have much of an interest in talking about politics. I see the subject as kind of silly. People are getting so wound up over things they have absolutely no control over. I'll talk about the ideal way I would prefer society to be structured if they ask me and I know they're mature enough to agree to disagree.

I see a lot of liberals in particular who have posted things like, "If you voted for Donald Trump, then lose my contact details." I haven't seen as many conservatives do this, maybe I just don't know enough of them, although I have seen conservative Christians cut out the "Democrats" from their lives to rid themselves of the temptation to sin (or something like that.) These are people that I try to avoid, because I don't need their drama in my life.

The people who are pushing for polarization are a minority. Not all conservatives are Trump supporters, not all liberals are dirtbag leftists. It is a sizable minority and it is growing, but most of the people who have converted to these forms of division are, so far, people that I would avoid regardless of their political beliefs, anyway, because I find them unpleasant or even dangerous to be around.

It's worth noting that the US is really big, so this answer might depend on where you live. I'm not comfortable giving away details about where I live and I'd rather nobody try to guess based on the details I've given out over the year, either. This is just my experience.

 

[exchemist]

So this is probably moreso my curiosity as to the overall “climate” America has right now, as a drunken Aussie. But all are welcome to participate

So over the past few years I’ve heard increasing sentiments of folks from the US not being able to be friends with someone with the opposite political beliefs they hold or even cutting ties with said folks (usually with the context of rather extreme political beliefs, to be fair.)
Both sides seem disgruntled and even sound fed up and dejected by this polarisation.

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?
Does this make things a bit awkward?
Do you just avoid talking politics for the sake of a relationship?
Just curious.

Discuss as you please but I beg of you, be civil guys!

In the UK the divisive issue is Brexit. I still have Brexitty friends, though I admit it does tend to colour my opinion of them, rather. There are the Brexitty Foxes round the corner, Brexitty Chris down the street, Brexitty Mark at the bike shop - and even Brexitty @Rival , here on the forum. (I also suspect my internet "crush" Charlotte will be Brexitty too, as she's in the Northeast.). With most of them, I've heard what they have to say on the subject and, now that Brexit is duly going pear-shaped, I keep quiet. Most of them are otherwise interesting and pleasant people to know (Chris can be a bit of a bore).

 

[Stevicus]

So this is probably moreso my curiosity as to the overall “climate” America has right now, as a drunken Aussie. But all are welcome to participate

So over the past few years I’ve heard increasing sentiments of folks from the US not being able to be friends with someone with the opposite political beliefs they hold or even cutting ties with said folks (usually with the context of rather extreme political beliefs, to be fair.)
Both sides seem disgruntled and even sound fed up and dejected by this polarisation.

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?
Does this make things a bit awkward?
Do you just avoid talking politics for the sake of a relationship?
Just curious.

Discuss as you please but I beg of you, be civil guys!

For most of my friends, our basis for friendship was never really politics, so it's easy to avoid discussing such issues. Part of that may be due to the fact that I grew up in a family where politics was constantly discussed and argued about - at least on my mom's side.

Also, since I consider my politics to be far-left, I can mostly take a detached and neutral stance as liberals and conservatives go at each other.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?

That very much depends on how one defines "friend" and "the aisle." But if we're talking about an informed or uninformable individual who embraces Trump, then no.

 

[SomeRandom]

That very much depends on how one defines "friend" and "the aisle," but if we're talking about an informed or uninformable individual who embraces Trump then no.

Can I ask why, if you don’t mind?
I’m merely curious, as an outsider

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Can I ask why, if you don’t mind?
I’m merely curious, as an outsider

And I'm curious about why you might need to ask. Would you maintain a friendship with an enthusiastic member of the Australia First Party?

 

[Rival]

I can do one better.

My boyfriend is a Catholic, Socialist, and a strong EU supporter. I'm far from being a Catholic, I'm a Disraeli Capitalist, and I voted Leave.

 

[SomeRandom]

And I'm curious about why you might need to ask. Would you maintain a friendship with an enthusiastic member of the Australia First Party?

Fair enough.
Do forgive me, US politics seem rather “seperate” from my own sometimes. If you get me?
Like the way politics is treated there seems rather foreign to me. Even as we treat politics with just as much fervour. It just seems different in the US right now. Does that make sense?

Not to say they’re entirely dissimilar, as you mention the Australia First Party, which incidentally bombed among even our conservative voters last election cycle. And our votes are legally mandated.

I honestly don’t know any supporters of the Australia First Party, let alone enthusiastic supporters. But if I understand the parallels you’re drawing correctly, I think I can hazard a guess as to your reasoning.

That’s fair. I was just curious for an insider’s opinion, is all

 

[crossfire]

I'm not afraid to talk to those whose minds have been overcome by greed, hatred, or delusion who propagate lies and try to shut down opposing dialog or voting by nefarious means. (Which is what I deem as generally evil politics.)

 

[crossfire]

I really do admire Australia for having mandatory voting. I think that mandatory voting would solve a lot of problems surrounding politics here.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

So this is probably moreso my curiosity as to the overall “climate” America has right now, as a drunken Aussie. But all are welcome to participate

So over the past few years I’ve heard increasing sentiments of folks from the US not being able to be friends with someone with the opposite political beliefs they hold or even cutting ties with said folks (usually with the context of rather extreme political beliefs, to be fair.)
Both sides seem disgruntled and even sound fed up and dejected by this polarisation.

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?
Does this make things a bit awkward?
Do you just avoid talking politics for the sake of a relationship?
Just curious.

Discuss as you please but I beg of you, be civil guys!

I have friends on the right side of the political spectrum, but where I draw the line is the COVID denialist convoy, Ottawa occupation & blockades. I've cut ties with anyone I know who supported that nonsense.

 

[PureX]

Yes, but it has become more difficult over the years. It seems the "trigger" subjects keep expanding. And the diatribes that happen once triggered are more vitriolic and entrenched. Causing me to try and avoid them even in good humor.

Whatever is happening on the "right" it's becoming more and more cultlike. Not just the Trumpism, but the mean-spirited greed and selfishness that worships business in all it's forms and then blames the government (democrats, of course) for absolutely everything they see or hear about that they don't personally like.

When people fall into cults they become quite 'robotic' in their thoughts and actions. It makes friendship with them feel shallow and one-sided. Like trying to be friends with a machine. And it's sad to see your friend slowly disappearing into some robotic ideology that can't acknowledge anything beyond itself.

 

[Father Heathen]

I've always tried to avoid family reunions, never kept in touch, etc. but the "MAGA" nonsense has given me a guilt-free justification for doing so.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Fair enough.
Do forgive me, US politics seem rather “seperate” from my own sometimes. If you get me?

A couple of points:

1. There is absolutely nothing to forgive.
2. Australia has had its share right wing xenophobic and homophobic extremism, so I don't understand what you find so alien about U.S. politics. On the contrary, I would expect just the opposite.

By the way, you say that my question is fair, but I'm not at all sure that you've answered it.

 

[Revoltingest]

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?

Many.
As a libertarian, nearly everyone is on the "other side".
Even though were on the same side of some issues.

Does this make things a bit awkward?

Only in that I avoid political discussions with
some people, eg, my socialist sister-in-law.

Discuss as you please but I beg of you, be civil guys!

Fool !!!!
You just inviting snark.

 

[Revoltingest]

When people fall into cults they become quite 'robotic' in their thoughts and actions. It makes friendship with them feel shallow and one-sided. Like trying to be friends with a machine. And it's sad to see your friend slowly disappearing into some robotic ideology that can't acknowledge anything beyond itself.

Like some posters (who shall remain nameless)
who blame everything, including the weather,
on capitalism. Or atheism.

 

[RestlessSoul]

In the UK the divisive issue is Brexit. I still have Brexitty friends, though I admit it does tend to colour my opinion of them, rather. There are the Brexitty Foxes round the corner, Brexitty Chris down the street, Brexitty Mark at the bike shop - and even Brexitty @Rival , here on the forum. (I also suspect my internet "crush" Charlotte will be Brexitty too, as she's in the Northeast.). With most of them, I've heard what they have to say on the subject and, now that Brexit is duly going pear-shaped, I keep quiet. Most of them are otherwise interesting and pleasant people to know (Chris can be a bit of a bore).

My Brexit voting friends and acquaintances have gone a bit quiet lately. And I don't see much mileage in gloating, seeing as we're all paying the price, and probably will be for decades to come. Well, not me, I doubt I have decades to come.

Anyway, if I see Nigel Farage in the street, I'll be reaching for a milkshake.

 

[Debater Slayer]

So do you guys have any friends from the other side of the aisle, so to speak?

Yes. I don't believe we choose what convinces us. I also believe deeply held beliefs are primarily (but not exclusively) a function of one's upbringing, culture, and experiences.

Since my beliefs are quite uncommon where I live, I have gotten used to being friends with people who have other beliefs, which can be polarly opposite to mine. Where I draw the line depends on how I assess the person's intentions, openness to change or discussion, and acceptance of me and my views.

I used to be a fundamentalist Muslim with extremely homophobic, sexist, and intolerant beliefs, and the non-Muslims who befriended me helped me to change. I always keep this in mind when I'm contemplating whether I should cut someone off for particularly unethical beliefs.

Does this make things a bit awkward?

Only if I have to hide my beliefs for safety concerns, in which case I don't consider that person a genuine friend to begin with but rather a mere acquaintance. With people I actually consider friends, our differences rarely make anything awkward, since we recognize said differences and don't press them for no reason.

Do you just avoid talking politics for the sake of a relationship?

Sometimes, but that often has to do with respecting that they or I might dislike discussing politics in some contexts rather than categorically. I wouldn't befriend someone whose beliefs I found unethical or harmful to others if I didn't know they would be open to discussion in the first place, even if they would only be open to that in limited situations.

When someone's views directly or indirectly lead to action that harms people I care about, that's when I try to make them aware of this if we consider each other friends. I would hope they would do the same if my views resulted in harm to them or people they cared about.

 

[Estro Felino]

There are so many Italian dems I would go out with.
Especially P. Majorino.