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 MOTH
Wild Woman
Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 23,431
Loc: In the jungle
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 Do your political views cause strife with friends/family? 
#3149884 - 09/17/04 09:07 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I know these two guys who are friends, but today was ugly. They started screaming at one another about the political situation, and lots of hurtful words were exchanged and both of them are very upset, refusing to respect the other persons view. I just think it's terrible that they allowed the discussion to get so out of hand to the point where now their friendship is affected so negatively.
It also reminds me of when my husband got goaded into a political discussion with my dad and my dad went all nuts on him. That was a bad day because me and my mom started crying due to the fact that my dad wouldn't STFU and stop yelling at my husband. My dad has a wretched temper and he can't control himself in arguements and doesn't even try to, just is really cruel when he tries to get a "point" across.
So I think it sucks how politics have the power to harm relationships if you aren't careful.
What do you think?
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silversoul7
Chill the FuckOut!
Registered: 10/10/02
Posts: 27,301
Loc: mndfreeze's puppet army
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family? [Re: MOTH]
#3149918 - 09/17/04 09:19 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've been kinda quiet with my family about my changing political views. They don't know I'm a libertarian now. They raised me to be liberal, and I still am when it comes to social issues, but I've become much more conservative on fiscal policy. I used to have lots of political discussions with my dad, but I've slowed down on that ever since I realized that once he's cornered, he'll dismiss the issue as stupid and walk away. As for my friends, I have some friends who are Republicans and some who are Democrats, but none of them are libertarian like me, so it makes for some interesting discussions with both sides. With my Republican friends, I can debate our foreign policy and social issues, and with my more liberal friends, I can debate about gun control and the merits of capitalism vs. socialism. With my friends, the debates never turn ugly. Usually, they just end with us agreeing to disagree.
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"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."--Voltaire
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Stein
Stranger
Registered: 07/02/03
Posts: 35,129
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family? [Re: MOTH]
#3149925 - 09/17/04 09:21 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I refuse to talk politics at work or with family. To me, those beliefs are personal and are better off kept that way. Except here, where you can have an honest exchange without pulling fists. Heaven for bid anyone should pull fists with, the ever boastful, 7 foot 5 350lb kott, we'd all be liberals then.
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 Divided_Sky
Ten ThousandThings
Registered: 11/02/03
Posts: 3,171
Loc: The Shining Void
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: MOTH]
#3149933 - 09/17/04 09:24 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Absolutely, esp. when people take politics too seriously and stop seeing each other as human beings. It's one thing to rationaly discuss issues, but it is another thing altogether when you believe so strongly in political reality that it causes you and others around you pain.
I'm on this board alot because I feel like my point of view doesn't get represented much, but I am trying to get away from it because it is often a useless ego game and is not particularly healthy. At one point I thought I was going to major in political science but came to the decision that being involved in perpetual fighting and argueing is not a happy or rewarding thing to do with one's life.
More and more I find NOT reading or watching the news and being informed makes my life seem much more clear and pure. Most of my freinds are finding this too and stepping away from politics.
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MOTH
Wild Woman
Registered: 06/06/03
Posts: 23,431
Loc: In the jungle
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: Divided_Sky]
#3149978 - 09/17/04 09:40 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Divided_Sky said:
...I thought I was going to major in political science but came to the decision that being involved in perpetual fighting and argueing is not a happy or rewarding thing to do with one's life.
More and more I find NOT reading or watching the news and being informed makes my life seem much more clear and pure. Most of my freinds are finding this too and stepping away from politics.
I briefly thought about majoring in Political Science but I know I couldn't cope with the negativity. I used to be really obsessed with politics and watching the news almost 24/7, but I realized that it was just making me upset and so I haven't seen a single news program in over three months now. And I don't even miss it. 
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unbeliever
Yo Daddy!
Registered: 05/22/04
Posts: 5,158
Loc: Gallifrey
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: MOTH]
#3150105 - 09/17/04 10:24 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm a hippy liberal and my dad is a dyed in the wool conservative. What do you think? heh. I feel bad for him kinda, my sister married a socialist. We get along pretty well though actually, we just have to avoid politics at all costs when we gather.
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Happiness is a warm gun...
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afoaf
CEO DBK?
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 32,665
Loc: Ripple's Heart
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: MOTH]
#3150151 - 09/17/04 10:47 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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it?s taught me how to talk differently to different people
about politics.
with my father, I can be acerbic, sarcastic and cutthroat.
with my mother, I have to be very gentle.
I try not to bring politics outside of non-partisan joking
with coworkers.
it?s good to know that people you?re prodding at least have
enough common decency not to try to tear the sign out of
your hand and rip it up...
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All I know is The Growery is a place where losers who get banned here go.
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Innvertigo
Vote Libertarian!!
Registered: 02/08/01
Posts: 16,296
Loc: Crackerville, Michigan U...
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family? [Re: MOTH]
#3155270 - 09/20/04 11:44 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
It also reminds me of when my husband got goaded into a political discussion with my dad and my dad went all nuts on him
I had to laugh because the first time I talked to my Father-in-law (when I was dating my current wife) the first words out of his mouth after the formal introduction was "So, ah, how do you feel about abortion?"
As you would guess he was on the opposite side of me, it got pretty heated and I thought for sure there was no way i'd ever be asked back there again because I didn't back down...pretty funny now that I look back at it.
I'm also not allowed to discuss politics at my friends house because he's a libbie and his dad and I got into a big (very civil) discussion of why the opposing side sucks. It was funny for me since he was a typical union guy and i'm more of a white collar worker (oil and water).
I've never lost friends over it though, when I sense that's starting to happen I usually just drop the subject, politics is not worth losing friends over. I'd know since 75% of my friends are libbies.
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America....FUCK YEAH!!!
Words of Wisdom: Individual Rights BEFORE Collective Rights
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson
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 Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!
Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 32,390
Loc: High pride!
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: MOTH]
#3155297 - 09/20/04 11:55 AM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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You political views are your spiritual views demonstrated. Both are very touchy subjects that reach to the core of an individual.
I try my best to spread love and good vibes as much as I can, so that?s why I don?t really like to discuss politics with people who have opposing view points. If I do, I try my best not to raise my voice or cut them off or let the discussion turn into an arguement.
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Mp3 of the month: ESB - Mushroom People
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newuser1492
Registered: 06/12/03
Posts: 3,104
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: MOTH]
#3155568 - 09/20/04 01:19 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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In general when I talk to people that are what would be considered neo-cons OR are actual Bush fan's not just Republicans it is almost impossible for me to have a rational discussion.
No matter how opposite a person's views are to mine I will listen to them and consider any facts or ideas they have. However when I speak with neo-cons or Bush fan's they act like rabid dogs whenever I espouse an ideology in opposition to theirs. They refuse to listen or even consider alternatives to their dogma.
I think it's important to discuss political and social ideas with friends/family. Too often I have asked a person why they are a Democrat/Republican and they respond, "Because my parents are."
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Divided_Sky
Ten ThousandThings
Registered: 11/02/03
Posts: 3,171
Loc: The Shining Void
Last seen: 12 years, 9 months
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Re: Do your political views cause strife with friends/family [Re: newuser1492]
#3156717 - 09/20/04 05:16 PM (16 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
cb9fl said:
In general when I talk to people that are what would be considered neo-cons OR are actual Bush fan's not just Republicans it is almost impossible for me to have a rational discussion.
No matter how opposite a person's views are to mine I will listen to them and consider any facts or ideas they have. However when I speak with neo-cons or Bush fan's they act like rabid dogs whenever I espouse an ideology in opposition to theirs. They refuse to listen or even consider alternatives to their dogma.
Sounds like every liberal I know.
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