Political friends; Do you have good friends from opposite political partys? and how does that usually play out

Question

when politics permeates a conversation?

Answer as you wish, Thx.

Too tough to choose, I'm going to put this one to a vote, thanks for all the responses.

Answer 1

Yeah I do, it usually leads to heated conversations! Its fun

Answer 2

Yes, I do. I am moderate, an Independent (as I claim no political party) and yet I have friends that vary from ultra-conservative to ultra-liberal, and every position in between.
The only time I have a problem with anyone's opinions is if they're uninformed. For example, I have an ultra-liberal friend, who is very anti-Bush, and very much against the war in Iraq. Whenever I try to ask him why he's so anti-Bush, he either brings up Fahrenheit 9/11 (yeah, that's a GREAT factual piece of work there!) or just says "Bush sucks." So I ask him why he thinks that, I want to hear good reasons. And he has nothing, just that Bush sucks, and so does the war. I ask him about sources; he has none. He doesn't watch the news, or read the paper, and he refuses to listen to what soldiers who have FOUGHT in Iraq have said, he refuses to look at any of the links I send him that have a more moderate perspective, and yet I'm the ignorant one.
Most of the rest of my friends are a bit more intelligent about it than he is, though, and we just discuss it, and agree to disagree. My husband, for example, is pro-choice. I am most definitely not, though for political reasons (compromise!) I believe abortion should stay legal. On everything else, though, he tends to lean more to the right than I do. Except on same-sex marriage, though I'm more tolerant on the idea of our kids (should we have them) ever admitting to being something other than straight, he agrees with same-sex marriage, and I do not. I think they should have civil unions or commitment ceremonies, simply because the right thing to do when you live in a country full of people with different beliefs, is compromise. Each group give a little, and take a little.
But as I said, I have no problem with people who believe differently from me, so long as they're respectful of my opinions, and they're informed. This goes for my friends as well.

Answer 3

Absolutely. But we rarely talk politics.

But if they say stuff like 'Bush is evil', I chide them on the childishness of such namecalling. I try to get them to clarify what they are talking about, not the stock parrotting of some Kosmonutsak or some DU-dumbshit.

I have to use the phrases, "Oh, come on, do you really believe that?" and "Does that make any sense?" far too often. But when you hear the constant panoply of lies and smears and idiocies - AWOL, War for Oil, NRA is putting guns in criminals' hands, oil companies are greedy and gouging us, Israel is evil, etc. - you can't let that kind of stupidity pass uncontested.

For once, just one single time, I'd like to hear them open a discussion like: Do you think the current welfare policy is the right way of helping people? Is the UN living up to its mission statement? What is our proper role in the world, and what should we do to achieve that?

But I won't hold my breath.

The problem is that they rely too much on their feelings instead of logic, reason and evidence, and they are more seeking to have their feelings reaffirmed and validated, rather than having a reasonable discussion to seek a deeper truth. More's the pity.

Answer 4

I have friends that definitely differ...but only one or two that I can actually discuss politics with without someone getting offended. I think its fantastic when people with opposing ideologies can have an intellectual discussion. How could both not learn something? People who can't have an intellectual discussion and not get offended aren't the most informed people, I'm afraid. I find that people who get angry and walk away often have no answer...even though that can be kind of fun sometimes :)

I have talked with lots of people on this site...some are full of bitterness...some are honestly looking to learn..those are the best...especially when I can learn from them as well.
And, often I find that there isn't that much of a difference...I think most people fall in them middle anyway.

Answer 5

I have good friends from opposite parties/beliefs... politically spiritually etc... and as long as we both feel that the other's politics are well founded and not ignorant, we get along fine... i even dated a religious republican for a while... but that didn't work out, and that was perhaps some of the problem... not to mention, her oppinions were founded on spin and hear-say as opposed to well reflected ideals...

I seem to be one of the few hard-core liberals who loves the conservatives... we need them, if this world were run by libs.. it would collapse.. and if it were run by cons... it would implode...

So long as my friends and i don't get into it we get along fine... and when we're drinking, sometimes we get into it for fun...

I think i like it better now in the south, surrounded by people af all diff. beliefs, than i did in NYC where nearly everyone believed the same things i did... i was jaded, and completely blind-sided when bush won... but seeing both sides, you get a richer understanding of everything... (but cons are still wrong about everything :) )

Answer 6

I have friends from all sides of politics (notice I didn't say 'both sides, some people get caught up and forget there are more than Republicans and Democrats out there).

Since they are friends, it's easier to discuss politics for me, because I like them for reasons other than their stance on the war, abortion, ect. With a stranger, you don't care if you like him or not, so you'll get into a fight over it. I find my conversations usually end with jokes and poking fun at each other instead of all of us mad that we can't change each other's minds.

Answer 7

My wife's parents and I have different viewpoints on politics, but oddly enough, we have the same viewpoint on the problems in society. When we discuss the issues without naming a political party, we are close to being in agreement. But when one of us mentions the party, the conversation seems to go downhill from there. I respect them and, as such, I am generally the one that just shuts up and listens. I have to live with their daughter, afterall.

Answer 8

One of my best friends is a liberal Democrat (he works at a big city newspaper - imagine that?) - and was in my wedding... is a good friend and always will be - we were roommates in college. We rarely talk politics, as we know we can't and won't ever change each other's minds...

I have relatives who are democrats, we just respect each other and agree to disagree. They are always spouting off about what is on the network news, as if that is gospel...

You have to live and let live, I rarely will try to evangelize my point of view... I hate to let anyone get away with lies and crap on Yahoo Answers, because they are not asking questions, just posting recycled liberal misinformation, and I feel that I have to challenge that... I like to discuss lots of things... the liberals on here like to play fast and loose with the truth and the rules, so I have to give it to them with both barrels...

Answer 9

My wife is liberal. She's not a flame throwing neocommie like some of the people on this site but she is liberal. I understand that she has a right to her views and she understands that I have a right to my views. We have a happy marriage because we understand and respect that each others personal views and try and keep them out of everyday conversation. We just can't watch the news together.

Answer 10

Im an Old Labour Socialist, i have a friend who is a devout Thatcherite

We get on, aslong as we never discuss politics. The last time we did, we nearly came to blows

Answer 11

I have good friends with political "labels" all over the board. Our conversations are sometimes heated, but we always agree that the needless killing of the wars are wrong. It doesn't matter what you label yourself, it is easy to see what is obviously right and wrong. I think the problem with people who take these labels too seriously is that they do not even think for themselves anymore.