Guest Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Hi all Just wondering if anyone else is losing friends over George Bush. Its like we'll be having a nice conversation about whatever, and I'm thinking pls pls pls DON'T bring up some wacko right wing conservative pro-whatever thing but then it HAPPENS and its like the whole room goes silent and then everyone takes sides. I know I know, people shouldn't talk about sex, politics or religion, and as we all seem to get along on sex and religion, its just very frustration to hear a good friend say something nice about something, and someone else shoot it down because it isn't "towing the party line" and I don't know I feel like I might even be losing a super-Republican friend who is funny and hilarious and everything except for his friggin altar to GW Bush and Ann Coulter that drives a lot of people away, including me. Its one thing to say you don't agree with someone but lets be friends anyway, and another when you are accused of being a baby-killing traitor to the United States of America and godless "liberal" because you think finding a cure for Parkinson's is a good thing. Link to post Share on other sites
Tony T Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 It would be totally impossible to lose a REAL friend over George H. Bush. Friends don't just abandon you because of your opinion of a politician. If they did, they wouldn't be friends and they'd be pretty crazy. Given that many people are crazy, it might just be best to back off talking about Bush or his policies since there is very little good you can say about him and his administration. You can hardly believe anything that comes out of the White House and it's VERY obvious that most of his actions are timed for political expediency. His vice president is even worse. I get sick just thinking about them. I like to surround myself with intelligent, open-minded friends who get something out of listening to differing viewpoints. But I can certainly see how conversations about Bush could get very heated and stir emotions. Link to post Share on other sites
magichands Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 pls pls pls DON'T bring up some wacko right wing conservative pro-whatever thing One person's wacko right wing conservative thing is another person's balanced opinion. and godless "liberal" because you think finding a cure for Parkinson's is a good thing. Oh please...Georgie boy doesn't have a policy against finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. He just has a policy against "liberals" treating human embryos like commodities. I like to surround myself with intelligent, open-minded friends who get something out of listening to differing viewpoints. Welcome to LoveShack. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Hi all Just wondering if anyone else is losing friends over George Bush. Its like we'll be having a nice conversation about whatever, and I'm thinking pls pls pls DON'T bring up some wacko right wing conservative pro-whatever thing but then it HAPPENS and its like the whole room goes silent and then everyone takes sides. I know I know, people shouldn't talk about sex, politics or religion, and as we all seem to get along on sex and religion, its just very frustration to hear a good friend say something nice about something, and someone else shoot it down because it isn't "towing the party line" and I don't know I feel like I might even be losing a super-Republican friend who is funny and hilarious and everything except for his friggin altar to GW Bush and Ann Coulter that drives a lot of people away, including me. Its one thing to say you don't agree with someone but lets be friends anyway, and another when you are accused of being a baby-killing traitor to the United States of America and godless "liberal" because you think finding a cure for Parkinson's is a good thing. I'm conservative and have liberal friends whom I know would revile me if I 'came out' to them. Their political leanings don't bother me but they are deeply disturbed by anyone who is right leaning..... Is the problem with you or with your friend ? Do you want to end the friendship because you dont like their politics? Link to post Share on other sites
mental_traveller Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Have you tried saying you've no interest in talking politics, and asked them not to bring it up with you again? If they keep doing it, just raise your voice and whine, drown them out, swear at them, slap or shove them, say that they are incredibly dull and boring when they whine about politics all the time etc. If they still don't get the message then just don't go out with them again! Link to post Share on other sites
Adunaphel Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Not being a US resident, I never lost frieneds over George Bush, but I managed to lost a couple (and get into a number of arguments) over Silvio Berlusconi. It's not about whom you are voting. It's about respecting other people's views (on politics, or anything), your friends' wishes (I'd really appreciate if we could not discuss politics), respecting other people's opinions and wording your own thoughts in a civil, polite and respectful way. Link to post Share on other sites
stoopid_guy Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 You couldn't loose a true friend that way, at least one worth keeping. The key is being open-minded and having a sense of humor, no matter what direction you go. If they're not open-minded, and have no sense of humor, I wouldn't be friends with them for long anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
burning 4 revenge Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Oh, I thought this was a post from someone who actually knew George Bush and George Bush was doing bad things to ruin their friendship. Link to post Share on other sites
jerbear Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I have had friends who would not talk to me after a heated debate for weeks till after an election. It is great to have friends who stick around and have different views on life, politics and religion. It opens ones mind to new ideas. It might be hard but sometimes the opposing view has some validity. If the so call friends have agendas or really that bad then by all means let them go. Link to post Share on other sites
magichands Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Oh, I thought this was a post from someone who actually knew George Bush and George Bush was doing bad things to ruin their friendship. Hahaha! Link to post Share on other sites
lizzielou Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I agree with Tony. I love listening to different sides of social or political arguments, but I take it more just like I am soaking everything in like a sponge. One thing I can say is that my boyfriend is definitely liberal (I'm just in the center), and he can get on a soap box sometimes. I made a deal with him (after playing devil's advocate 52 times) that until he can be all ears to his opponents (i.e. read conservative books) then I don't want to hear anything he has to say. To me, his arguments are useless if he doesn't stay informed as to his foes' opinions on things. Also, I often tease him that he's all talk and no action. Does your friend actually DO something about what he/she believes in? Maybe that will help them take out their frustrations. Link to post Share on other sites
westernxer Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I avoid befriending people who are really into politics, no matter which side they're on. Link to post Share on other sites
Almost Posted October 31, 2006 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I have friends who are more conservative than I am, and voted for Bush and other republicans sometimes, but no one who is truely a religious right winger. It would be really hard to stay friends with someone like that. I vote for some moderate to liberal republicans and libertarians sometimes, so I'm not super left wing either. But I can't stand the religious right. I'm a Red Sox fan and I actually have some friends who are Yankee fans, so it is kind of a similar situation. We have a lot in common and like to hang out until the topic turns to Red Sox - Yankees. But we have learned to be diplomatic and discuss things in terms of being baseball fans and avoid the vitriol of Red Sox-Yankees taunting when we are hanging out together. Sometimes it's fun to talk smack but usually it ends up going overboard and people getting angry for real. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I think I'd have a hard time being good friends with people whose values differed greatly from mine. I wouldn't shun them, but one of the important elements in intimacy is shared experience/values, etc. and you can only go so far in sharing with someone whose values are extremely different from your own IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites
iron_m Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Hi all and I'm thinking pls pls pls DON'T bring up some wacko right wing conservative pro-whatever thing this pictures you (in my mind) as an intolerant liberal. I am a (very) tolerant liberal. I probably agree with you in a lot of things (stem cell research being one of them),BUT NOT in the way you label people with different opinions. It is not Bush that is ruining your friendship (he is doing far worse things, but not this). It is you and your friends that do not respect each other. Link to post Share on other sites
SmoochieFace Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 My GF was a Bush supporter but I schooled her correctly. Amazing what education can do for someone. Now if we could educate all those redstaters... Link to post Share on other sites
BruiserKC Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 I think I'd have a hard time being good friends with people whose values differed greatly from mine. I wouldn't shun them, but one of the important elements in intimacy is shared experience/values, etc. and you can only go so far in sharing with someone whose values are extremely different from your own IMHO. Let me state here I'm a registered independent/libertarian. I probably lean somewhat to the conservative side. I think Bush has made some mistakes but he's trying to do the right thing. He's defending the Constitution against an enemy that wants us dead. Now...why can't we all respect each other's viewpoints? I have a couple of friends that are extremely liberal and we can have solid, intelligent discussions without hating each other and we come away understanding each other's POV. It can be done...but it seems that these days all people want to do is just shout down the other side if their view doesn't jive with yours. It's being lazy. As for the person who started the thread...far be it from me to want to clobber him...but why are you upset about wanting your views being respected and you automatically are qualifying your friend's views as wacko right-wing? You just dismissed the opinion the way I send my son to his room when he is doing something wrong. It seems you don't want to be his friend bad enough to even look at his stance. I'm not saying you have to agree, but when you don't even want to consider what he has to say you're doing the same thing you accused him of doing. Link to post Share on other sites
PussInHeels Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I'm a bit of a socialist, and I guess if you think liberals are bad, then I would be like Skeletor. (Although I don't understand...politicians are much nastier than average people you meet and converse with). So I'm pretty used to avoiding political conversations with friends that I know would take it personally. It's cool to have someone you can debate with in a civil manner. But if you can't do this with a friend, then let it go. You're wasting breath anyways. Are you unable to be friends with someone with beliefs radically opposed to yours? Is your friend unable? If the answer to either of these is yes, then perhaps the friendship is doing more harm than good. However, if you two can look past your differences, just know your limits. You don't have any control over your friend's feelings, but you can keep your anger in check and stop the conversation before things become an argument (I do this with my mother all the time ) Link to post Share on other sites
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