Current Events > Would you be open to forming close friendships with people of opposing politics?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ran this poll on Board 261, and it purged yesterday when it reached 500. These were the results...

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Original Topic: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/261-politics/80316716

Liberals will say no. They love tearing our nation apart.

woof. this is going to get really ugly really fast.

If the relationship is defined by "politics!", it's a terrible relationship anyway.

I have a few friends that have very different politics to me.
I expressed to them once that I disagreed and what I think of their views.

We both made our stances clear, and that we're set in our ideals.
Nothing more needs to be or has been said.

No, I'm not interested in being friends with fascists.

If mostly about economic stuff and state vs federal and business vs government and actual politics, sure. But what people on the right often call politics is anti human rights, so no if that is where we disagree.

Probably, assuming they're otherwise agreeable.

If you asked me this 10 years ago, I'd say yes. Now though? Hell no. I can be cordial, but I couldn't have a close friendship with someone that still supports the GOP.

If it's economic issues, sure, possibly.

Social issues? Definitely not.

Do I want to be friends with people who are against the earth, the poor, LGBT, and women? No, no I don't.

Sure. I don't really talk about politics with my friends in the first place. As long as they keep it to themselves, I wouldn't care.

Yes because politics don't define my beliefs or who I am as a person.

Nobody's called anybody a Nazi yet in this thread. What's going on?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Question: does it?

socially, absolutely not. and since that's all what people care about, gonna say no.

and tbh right wingers acting like they can be friends with opposing views is not a dunk in their favor.

Sure I'm open to it but if it's going to be a major theme of our interactions then it's going to get annoying pretty quick and who wants to stick around an annoying person? I do still think people can have opposing views and agree not to discuss it since it's irrelevant to the friendship.

Oh, this is the part where right wingers act like the left are completely unreasonable and that politics is just the same as liking different TV shows or sports teams and not something that affects people's lives. The right say the most hateful and bigoted crap against the left, minorities, the LGBT+ community, and others while saying it's the left who should compromise and be friends with them. All the work is put on the left. They can't accept that people are reasonably pissed off at them and are fed up with all their bullshit.

Smokex288 posted...

Liberals will say no. They love tearing our nation apart.

You couldn't be close friends with a liberal, then?

I already do

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Yeah I mean I think there's a certain line. I'd have a hard time hanging out with an avowed klansman on one hand, but on the other I eliminate any possibility of influencing their beliefs if I shun them completely. If Daryl Davis has the courage to do it, why shouldn't I try also? Idk, it's tough.

Again I ask, which opposing politics?

To an extent yes. I believe segregation will force bigots to remain bigots since they will remain in echo chambers while showing compassion might change an ignorant views. Do not forget that a lot of prejudices are fear mongering coming from people in power.

I don't care to be around anyone who lives their life for politics regardless of what party they represent. You could have the exact opinion as me and if you're the type to comment political shit on a topic that has nothing to do with politics, I fucking hate you.

But otherwise yes, I have no problem with befriending someone with differing beliefs.

I can absolutely be friends with people who I disagree with on taxes, economics, and size of government. I am friends with people like that.

But socially conservative types. That's less likely. They often veer into anti-human rights territory.

Smokex288 posted...

Liberals will say no. They love tearing our nation apart.

@smokex288 how do you justify being friends with someone who feels its ok to mistreat others due to the color of their skin?

Yes, because I rarely, if ever, talk politics with my friends.

One of my best friends of over 20 years leans right, so yes.

I already do because even though some friends in my circle don't share the same political opinions, we are still adults.

It depends. Are we talking about a disagreement over how much to tax and how to spend said tax revenue? Sure. Problem is most of the modern right's politics boil down to "X group isn't human and doesn't deserve rights or protections" so if that's the disagreement then fuck no. I don't make friends with fascists.

I'm friends with people all over the political spectrum already

Idgaf

I'm friends with more than one actual murderer. I think I can handle people that vote differently

Can't be friends with someone that views minorities, gays, and transgenders below them.

BettyWhite posted...

I don't care to be around anyone who lives their life for politics regardless of what party they represent. You could have the exact opinion as me and if you're the type to comment political shit on a topic that has nothing to do with politics, I fucking hate you.

But otherwise yes, I have no problem with befriending someone with differing beliefs.

QFT

theAteam posted...

Sure I'm open to it but if it's going to be a major theme of our interactions then it's going to get annoying pretty quick and who wants to stick around an annoying person? I do still think people can have opposing views and agree not to discuss it since it's irrelevant to the friendship.

This

Tbh even if i agree with someone i dont want politics to be a frequent topic

Do they believe in low taxes and less business regulation? Or do they believe gay marriage should be abolished and that trans people are pedophiles?

Really depends what we mean by different politics.

Nope.

I used to have several Tory friends when I was younger, and thankfully they've all moved away from that (or the ones I still keep in contact with have at least) but I cannot associate with Tory supporters these days with how downright openly evil the Tory party is.

They have gone beyond selfish and "fuck you, got mine" to active wannabe fascist evil and doing their best to harm any anyone who isn't them - including their own supporters.

Right now? No, conservatives are all nuts.

pauIie posted...

socially, absolutely not. and since that's all what people care about, gonna say no.

and tbh right wingers acting like they can be friends with opposing views is not a dunk in their favor.

They're also full of shit. But I guess you can say you'll be friends with anyone when you define "politics" as "anything I don't like". Because then they can say "Sure I'd be friends with a LGBTQ person, but all they ever want to do is shove their politics down my throat!"

Nope. Depending on how different our views are, we can be friendly towards each other or even just friends, but definitely not "close" friends.

Didn't we already do this topic like.......a week ago?

Only if the reason that they're racist is because they've been to prison

I already have friendships with people with opposing politics

HANGtheDJ_86 posted...

Only if the reason that they're racist is because they've been to prison

Fucking what

Yes. Idgaf about gender, race, politics, etc. Most traits are independent of these factors, if someone is a good person worthy of my friendship then that's all there's to it.

xlr_big-coop posted...

Yes. Idgaf about gender, race, politics, etc. Most traits are independent of these factors, if someone is a good person worthy of my friendship then that's all there's to it.

Can they be a good person if they want to take away the rights of some people on the basis of gender or orientation?