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Politics and Friends

BoneheadNW

BoneheadNW

Active member
One of Cityboy's posts got me to thinking :confused2:: Can two people who completely disagree politically (i.e. 180 degree differences) still be friends? I am fortunate that my wife, her family, and my family all pretty much agree politically, but I have heard horror stories of people whose relatives' political beliefs are so drastically different to their own that all they do is argue.

What do you think?
Bonehead
 
Yes and No. I've been able to retain friendships with some radically left wing types despite my right of Attilla the Hun leanings, and I've also seen friendships disolve due to those same differences.

I think there are some folks who can be radically different on some views, but still at the end of the debate, they can walk away friends without hard feelings. There are others who harbor resentment and just can't let go of the differences. When people of either side can't let go, that is when the friendships fall apart.

On this forum we have non-religious folks, some devout Christians, Jews, and at least a few Muslims that I know of. Some choose to stay out of the Debate & Discussion area specifically so they can remain friends.
 
B_Skurka said:
Some choose to stay out of the Debate & Discussion area specifically so they can remain friends.
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This brings up another question: These people that stay out of the D and D area- just because they are not in the discussion, if they completely disagree with someone that is posting, how is it that they can remain friends with the poster? In other words, you don't have to debate to disagree and if you disagree, how can you be friends with someone politically opposite to you?

By the way, while you (Bob) are a "bit to the right", you (oh God this compliment will come back to haunt me!) seem to be a caring individual (misled but caring) that does not dislike someone because of their race, creed, etc. Why, you aren't even mad at us for trashing your house!
Bonehead
 
My best friend in the world is politically very liberal, and I am, well... not.

We maintain our friendship by just not getting into politics with one another.
We have plenty of other (:5boobs: :17875::boobies::17875::string: :biker: :2gunsfiri :drive2: :alc: :5boobs: ) stuff to talk about.
 
I can’t agree with those on my side of the fence, so I can’t afford to fall out with those on the other side.
[FONT=&quot]Anyway while I stay friends I have some hope of getting them to come around to my way of thinking, wishful thinking probably, but I am an optimist after all.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I am a better debater over a drink, well I think so[/FONT][FONT=&quot] :burp:[/FONT]
 
I think it all depends on the maturity of the individuals... I have no problem speaking with someone and even being freinds with them even if I think they are politicaly(or otherwise) and idiot:pat: ... If I disagree with a freind on a subject, we just try not to talk about it, it keeps things simpler that way... Now, on the other hand I have lost touch with a couple of people over the years that were so enthraled in their beliefs that they tried to change mine and we just stopped talking.. I really dont miss them because each discussion turned into an argument or a counseling session.. Some people tend to be very childish in this area and I really dont miss speaking to them...
 
OFF TOPIC
BoneheadNW said:
Why, you aren't even mad at us for trashing your house!
Bonehead
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You apparently missed my last post in the thread. I really appreciated DaveNay's efforts there to bulldoze the area and prepare it for seeding grass. I've owned that property for 16 years and never could get a decent lawn to grow. Just proof that there is a silver lining in every storm cloud.
 
Of course they can remain friends. I've told the story before of my union membership, steward service and terms as an elected officer; and now I am a manager in the same company. I was one of the few conservative/libertarian elected officers. As you would expect, most of the other elected officials were pretty much avowed leftists. Many of them allowed political differences to create hostilities, while others agreed to disagree and enjoyed drinks and otherwise good company. I am still friends with our local president and several of the stewards; though we do not have drinks together anymore. We still respect each other and that smooths out many of the bumps in management and labor relations.

A message board presents additional challenges because it is easy to misconstrue someones meaning or to have your meaning misconstrued, even with all the little smilies we have available. Add in the fact that we have members from different countries who, while speaking fluent English, utilize a different dialect. Add in cultural, regional and political differences and you have a potentially volitile mix. What may seem like a harmless observation to one may turn out to be insulting to another, and then the next thing you know, the snark monster rears its ugly head and the discussion spirals out of control.

I think we have achieved a pretty decent balance at FF, which is unusual for message boards. I like the fact that we are not over-moderated like many boards, nor out of control with rudeness like others. That's why I keep coming back despite some of you wankers. :whistle: :yankchain: :respect:
 
A slight tangent, but it seems that many of my friends who have the same take on things like healthcare, defense, etc. as me, are also of the very opposite party as me. Go figure.
 
There are some people who have the inability to abstract their political and moral beliefs separate from the realities of their physical life. When you loose that ability, you start to behave like the Cindy Sheehans and Michael Moors of the world. People like that are impossible to maintain a friendship with because nothing exists in life for them with the exception of trying to convert you to their idealogoy, and there is no room for anything else. I have similar problems with radical religious people of any faith. If all you can provide to me is a bible-thumping sermon about how I live my life completely wrong, then there is no possibility of us remaining friends.
 
Spiffy1 said:
A slight tangent, but it seems that many of my friends who have the same take on things like healthcare, defense, etc. as me, are also of the very opposite party as me. Go figure.
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I have said it before....the two party system we have created here in the U.S. is complete and utter BULLSHIT. There is no possible way whatsoever to divide the people of this country into only two categories.
 
DaveNay said:
here is no possible way whatsoever to divide the people of this country into only two categories.
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  1. MY WAY
  2. the WRONG way
Dave, you are such a pessimist. I just proved it IS possible to divide the people into only two categories. :horsepoop:
 
B_Skurka said:
  1. MY WAY
  2. the WRONG way
Dave, you are such a pessimist. I just proved it IS possible to divide the people into only two categories. :horsepoop:
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Bob, I think all that pus in your foot has gone to your head!:pat:
Bone
 
DaveNay said:
People like that are impossible to maintain a friendship with because nothing exists in life for them with the exception of trying to convert you to their idealogoy, and there is no room for anything else.
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I guess, but I have some friends with far differing stances and we argue topics and never change each other's mind. Arguing or debating is good and healthy. Your opinion may not change, but you may gain insight into where the other people are coming from. Like this forum! Without this, I would never have realized how some of the politics came about south of the border...:yankchain::whistle:
 
DaveNay said:
I have said it before....the two party system we have created here in the U.S. is complete and utter BULLSHIT. There is no possible way whatsoever to divide the people of this country into only two categories.
Click to expand...

No doubt, unfortunately it seems theres no way of undoing it in the monetarily driven world of elections these days.:(

I've always said I'd vote for a 3rd party president someday in hopes that a 3rd party win might shake up the Big2 a little, but never have; such candidates ussually seem all fired up on one specific issue, even at that, I don't remember a real contender since Perot....and he went squirrelly halfway through the race anyway.

On the other hand per Gatorboy's signature [actually, a rather old joke, but still funny] there are exactly 10 types of people..........:hide: I better get something done other than typing anyway.
 
B_Skurka said:
Wasn't there a cat named puss in boots?
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Think I'm missing something, but there sure was....of course, don't forget about her brother cat "peter pan". :yankchain:

On that I know I have to get something done....
 
DaveNay said:
I have said it before....the two party system we have created here in the U.S. is complete and utter BULLSHIT. There is no possible way whatsoever to divide the people of this country into only two categories.
Click to expand...

But it is good for forcing people to pick sides. If you have too many different factions then it isvery difficult to get anything done. IMO, the US system is much better than the multi-party system of Canada. Minority governments are ineffective and are tied to fragile alliances with their supporting parties.

Your other points about how people get too caught up in politics is bang on. You just can't take it too seriously when it comes to friends. I have lots of liberal friends and they dish it out and take it as well as I do.
 
Respect, compassionate dettachment, and tolerance.

Respect for people's beliefs.

Compassionate dettachment when engaging in debates/discussions.

Tolerance.......when they... DON'T GET IT RIGHT!!!



;)
 
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