base talk Can You be Genuine Friends with Someone of Differing Politics?

[Mark!]

I thought relationship was above political views, but I was wrong. A married couple I knew were complete opposites and ended up getting a divorce. I feel like your political view aligns with your morality and personal beliefs, so having to tolerate someone who is a complete opposite would be like a self-inflicting punishment of some sorts.

[Polgg48]

if they dont butthurt that wont accept any interest outside of their side, then they supposedly have no problem chatting with my boring centrist ass and be civil. 

 

genuine? yes im good with either side even on politic topics all day or not at all

[4Real]

I cannot.

[Ash12345]

Yes, but I would still have to feel like they should be reasonably open minded and want a positive outcome for everyone. If it's just a case of having different information influencing them on how to achieve that positive outcome, that's ok. So there might be a few people that have political views that are too extreme for me to tolerate but I would say that with the majority of people I would be ok with the difference of opinion. We'd probably still be able to find common ground on a lot of issues even if we disagree on some things. It also depends on how political someone is, a lot of people might've supported politicians or policies I disagree with but they'll be relatively apolitical so it doesn't have to come up in our interactions. Of course it is nice to have people that you *do* agree with on a lot of political issues so you can vent and refine your perspectives with them, but you can also have friendships where politics don't come into play. For romantic relationships though, I think there would need to be a decently high degree of overlap in political views because you have to make life decisions together and politics can affect that.

[Phaunzie]

Somewhat,  sometimes it works out and other times it doesn't.

[kandicha]

yes, if they are respectful of women, POC, lgbt, etc, and they're open-minded to willing to hearing other views, i don't mind.

[AvadaKedavra]

It the person is not too extremist. 
I cant stand commies-tankies glamorizing authoritarian regimes or obssesed trumpsters with hateful views.  

Edited May 19, 2023 by AvadaKedavra

[Velvet Night]

To an extent, yes. I don’t need to have the exact same political beliefs as someone for us to be friends, but we do need to have values, morals, and worldviews that align on a fundamental level, which only leaves so much wiggle room. 

[Theshigo Washidu]

It depends on the type of politics.

 

I have some friends who "don't agree with LGBT", but they're not of the homophobic, transphobic type.

[DamianSolo]

Yes, it's something I had to make peace with. A person can still be a friend, being there for and supporting you while being of a different political belief. And that's not to say that you have to agree with each other, because you don't, but it's realizing that you could still have a genuine friendship with that person.

 

That said, I'm very selective—even still. Naturally, I tend to gravitate towards left-wing people. I live in Louisiana, though, so it's natural I'd be surrounded by a lot of people who are right-wing and I can't be totally dismissive of some people if we still, ultimately, get along really well and share common interests. As long as they're intelligent (for a ring-winger), sensible and generally still a good person, I can make peace with that.

[LustSpell]

I cannot abide and talk to anyone on the right-wing of things. If you are a Republican in 2023 to me, our friendship is dead. That means you don't care or okay with fascism, taking away civil liberties from women and LGBT+, and making decisions to make living harder for everyone because of the "good 'ol days." No.

 

This also applies to people who say they're leftist but use right-winged talking points, like a few significant loud asses on this site.

Edited May 19, 2023 by LustSpell

[Communion]

I think you just have to look at coworkers, for even if you like them, even the ones you really like are through the social convenience of having to be at the same place for 8 hours a day. And thus, you don't question if you would or wouldn't *seek* out spending time with this person. And being confronted with their politics often clarifies that.

 

I can't consider us friends if knowing your politics would make me want to avoid spending time with you. 

[LatinFreak]

not if they are to either extreme....

Edited May 21, 2023 by LatinFreak

[RunUpDoneUp]

Yes but they definitely do not respect you.

 

Also, broadening political horizons is something politicians and business men do(you know, the most untrustworthy men on the planet. )

 

Some politics are objectively bad; those that are anti-freedom(conservatism's favorite target is freedom,) anti-human(another conservative requirement) and anti-environment(oops, look another conservative pillar.)

 

I guess conservatives and conservatism is just the go to for bad politics I guess.

 

The left has some terrible politics too though: we have our wokescolds(people who believe identity and truth align more than it actually does,) sjwers/the people who do nothing but "tsk, tsk" others, even when they engage honestly and the average twitter lefty(people who think anti-white racism doesn't exist and that men can't be oppressed because the ***** is a shield or something idk.)

 

 

All in all, friendships usually form before you know what people believe fully in the first place. Growing up, I was friends with people I shouldn't have. As an adult I've laregly corrected that(family still exists and those lot you got to see.)

 

Now I ask general questions that get me the gist of someone: whether they care about people and their safety or not.

Edited May 21, 2023 by RunUpDoneUp

[Quiqui4eva]

Depends on just how far apart on the spectrum they are

[Namie-Knowles]

If I was an ignorant White person or a self hating POC like Canadace Owens or a self hating gay like Christian Walker, then yes.

 

 

But me as a person right now? Yeah no. I don't give a **** if I lived in the hickest town in America. I wouldn't have one irl friend that literally supports the people who would string me up for sport. I refuse to ever devalue myself or my morals to talk with some random person for a few hours a day. The only way you could ever make me do so is if they were the last other human on Earth. Other than that I'd make friends online and build up my paper in any way possible to move from the area. PERIODT

[terrorblade]

only with the npc ones

[John Slayne]

On 5/18/2023 at 10:11 PM, cockatoo said:

It really depends on what the different views are and how different they are.

 

Like I have friends who are full on Marxists and people who are dead centrists. I don't think I could be friends with anyone who was properly right wing though.

yeah basically this. can't stand conservatives, i can be civil with them if need to (for example at work), but i wouldn't call them my friends.

[Chaos Angel]

Yes, absolutely. Though it would be preferable if they can back their beliefs with solid arguments.

[popmusicisdead]

yes. unlike Twitter, you can't just block people who disagree with you and create a echo chamber in the real world 

[GraceRandolph]

3 hours ago, popmusicisdead said:

yes. unlike Twitter, you can't just block people who disagree with you and create a echo chamber in the real world 

Who said you’re creating an echo chamber? At the end of the day most people only have a few close friends, it makes sense for your inner circle to share your values. I think a lot of these “friendships” between people with polar opposite political views are mostly surface level. 

[Galaxy]

Friendly, sure. Friends, no

[Scarlett Witch]

Your political views (particularly in the states) are a reflection of your morals. If a "friend" is morally reprehensible, then no. I cannot be friends with someone who would wish or vote harm on another human being simply for being different, unique, or a minority. That would be absolutely insane lol

[Alldeezy]

I don't really ask or care.

 

My ex bf was a commumist and when Ukraine war happened I said you can't still be one and he still supports Russia so we ended things. Still his friend idc what my friends support but I won't date anyone like that anymore. But it's not like I'm gonna go on a date and talk politics bc im not interested in it.

[Dessy]

Depends on the views in question. Disagreeing on taxes is whatever. Disagreeing on whether or not gays should have rights is alarming.