Do you talk about politics with friends?

I'm having a tough time not losing respect for one of my best friends these last few months.. Not because of his views but because of the BS articles and misinformation he uses for all of his arguments.

I've lost all respect for his political views and about half of the respect I had for his intelligence. I just can't help it.. I don't want to think he's an arse but he his.

Restraining myself and not responding or allowing myself to get baited is the only way we can hang out. Anyone else face this before?




If this gets moved to some political forum, the mods have gone mad.

Story Bud?

Never discuss religion or politics with friends.

Or abortion.

Friends for life will remain friends for life.

Mr. CooL ICE

Rarely. At most, it would be just passing comments.

One the other hand, one friend of mine is a dedicated socialist and fanboy of Joe Higgins, along with being anti-fluoride and a CT. Ginger too. I'm forever ripping the piss out of him because he is too easy a target not to.

Beefy78

I was home in the UK this weekend and all everyone wanted to speak about was BREXIT regardless of the number of facts in their possession. The family BBQ on Sunday was particularly painful.

I generally avoid these conversations where I can.

smash

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm having a tough time not losing respect for one of my best friends these last few months.. Not because of his views but because of the BS articles and misinformation he uses for all of his arguments.

Let me guess... is he a Sinn Feiner?

5rtytry56

smash wrote: »

Let me guess... is he a Sinn Feiner?

aka shinnerbot

beach_walker

Most friends are sound on it, but there's one I just avoid these topics like the plague with. He will start on quoting the same old stuff I've heard a thousand times from Naomi Klein and Thomas Piketty. Disagree in the slightest and he gets very angry. Like you can't have a civilised talk on any of this.

Duggy747

I don't do religion or politics much with my friends unless they force me to give an opinion, though it's healthy to have these conversations in a good constructive way.

But I do find myself more having to correct people because of sensational guff and misinformation they read that gets spread around Facebook. Critical thinking seems to be some kind obscure thought process that's frowned upon.

LuckyLloyd

I enjoy discussing politics with friends of varied backgrounds and perspectives. Disagreement and having perceptions challenged is a very healthy thing imo. It's always interesting to see how people source and value information and construct their positions. If you fail to do this, you'll end up in a bunker.

I have friends of mine in London who seem to actively surround themselves with people who see things the same way. That creates echo chambers and I find that over time such people become frustrated when their opinions are challenged and less able to argue their positions.

You have to keep sharp ultimately.

KomradeBishop

Not really. If I do, I try to just use socratic questioning - like I'm Louis Theroux :pac: - as it seems the best way not to piss anyone off, while still being able to mutually learn something

Even if it's just as simple as, learning how someone came to believe something, that doesn't make any sense - and seeing how they react to questions about its logical contradictions - sometimes that's a lot more interesting, than common views!

ancapailldorcha

I do. I just can't help myself.

osarusan

Friends?

zSparc

I never talk about politics. Waste of time and energy, pointless too.

Do not just talk about it - but also get involved in it with friends a lot. We did quite a lot during the "YES" campaign for the marriage referendum for example. So not only did we discuss the politics - but how to get involved and get out there and practice what we were preaching to each other. And I imagine we will do so again when any significant political moves on abortion come to pass too since someone mentioned that.

But I do not usually discuss or debate it with friends who I _disagree_ with unless they specifically seek me out to do so. Then I let the flood gates open and hit them with whatever I have in my arsenal on the subject in question. But I have rarely seen reason to be the instigator of such discussions.

smash

smash wrote: »

Let me guess... is he a Sinn Feiner?

Na, he's American.

RobertKK

I do. I have a big interest in politics and what is going on in the world.

I talk about most things.

The Randy Riverbeast

I try to avoid it. I used to go to college with 2 people who were otherwise nice, friendly people but we're also highly religious so it came out they were raging homophobes during the referendum.

FTA69

smash wrote: »

Let me guess... is he a Sinn Feiner?

As opposed to the leagues of geniuses in Ireland who vote for Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil because their parents did is it?