Do any of you have friends were otherwise you get along very well across a wide variety of situations, topics, interests etc… But, they continuously try to fight about political topics whereby if you kind of deflect, change the subject, politely listen to them they continue to ratchet up the rhetoric doing anything to get you to engage and fight about it? What is the goal of that behavior.
Luckily I do not. Not sure what the goal would be. I guess they just want to somehow feel like they “showed you the light”.
Those aren’t friends, they are called assholes.
Do any of you have friends were otherwise you get along very well across a wide variety of situations, topics, interests etc… But, they continuously try to fight about political topics whereby if you kind of deflect, change the subject, politely listen to them they continue to ratchet up the rhetoric doing anything to get you to engage and fight about it? .
Um, no.
Yeah there is a little of that ‘showing the light’ in there for sure.
I very seldom discuss politics or religion with friends, relatives or neighbors. That’s what the L.R. is for. 
Yeah same with me. I’d say a good 90% of my political conversations are here.
The L.R. is a bit of a place to blow off steam. Most people who personally know me would be shocked that I had political/religious/social opinions.
I’d guess most of us are in a similar situation.
I don’t know how healthy that is.
“I don’t know how healthy that is.”
At least this way none of my friends or neighbors want to punch me.
While I also avoid the political discussions on here as I’m generally not so well-informed and therefore not one who should be arguing about politics the main forum is essentially my only social outlet for triathlon. I’m very passionate about the sport and spend a lot of my time training, but I never mention it in public or social situations. Other than my family and one or two training partners I think I’ve only talked about it with my roommates (have to justify my constant showering and making a mess).
There’s a difference, I think, about not inflicting conversation on people because they’re not interested in the topic, and not engaging people in discussion because we’re afraid of disagreement.
I’d say a good 90% of my political conversations are here.
I’d say the worst 90% of my political conversations are here.
There’s a difference, I think, about not inflicting conversation on people because they’re not interested in the topic, and not engaging people in discussion because we’re afraid of disagreement.
You’re right, politics and triathlon are two very different things. I would say that triathlon fulfills the first part of that only while politics meets both criteria. The amount of people who don’t realize this is at times astounding.
I don’t know any liberals.
That’s a decent point. But most people have at least a passing interest in politics, while very few have any interest in triathlon. (Probably fewer than have an interest in Crossfit, and how much do you love hearing about your co-worker’s latest exploit in the box?) I still say that most people avoid discussion of politics because of a fear of disagreement and it’s consequences. If you’re genuinely refraining from political discussion because you recognize that your friends/co-workers/acquaintances just aren’t interested in politics at all, you get a pass.
Serious question because I think there are a lot of folks perhaps like this. Is there a litmus test when you meet someone? If they are liberal (and I’m not talking insane liberal but say someone who is fairly moderate but may tend to vote democrat for one reason or another) can you not be friends with them. That is partially what I might think is up as well. I have known these folks for a while and have had a lot of fun with them across a wide variety of situations but it appears that they are ‘digging’. I literally have a wide variety of friends across the spectrum and it really doesn’t bother me unless they are aggressively trying to recruit me or whatever.
And ALSO, people *should *have an interest in things like politics and religion. It’s fine if you’re not interested in the least in the latest triathlon training methods. If you’re not interested at all in how your country is governed, you’re kind of a lout.
You’re probably right that a fear of disagreement is the main reason. Political beliefs can be such a polarizing thing especially in a place like the U.S. where there are just two sides, which, I think, can make it into a sort of us vs. them type environment. For obvious reasons that can be very dangerous to risk with people you either are forced to cooperate with in the workplace or people who you would like to spend time with outside of it.
I know of liberal people but they are not my close circle of friends. I can exist with them on a superficial level but not as a close friend.
Life is too short to spend time with people that annoy the shit out of you.