I think the simplest case is the one where you can painlessly walk away from a situation where an uncomfortable conflict could arise, but what it if was slightly harder? Let's say you are walking out of work at a job you love and chatting with your boss, who has never been anything but kind and professional to everyone around them, and you notice a confederate flag sticker on their car. Does this changes things?

That’s all we can do

Lay off the Twitter, Bi.

I don't see why it would change my love for my job, but I'd probably chit chat with the boss less, at least for a while.

Along the lines of my previous post, boss being nice and professional but has a confederate flag sticker on his car = fine, whatever. Don't care. Boss humiliating his subordinates during the weekly team meeting = not OK, you suck, stay away from me.

Also replace the confederate flag sticker with something more unambiguously evil like a swastika or a Phish sticker and that's a different story too

Confederate flag is a tricky one. They could just be a dumbass who really likes Pantera. But they could also be a neo-Nazi, so...

Living in Cincy my whole life has exposed me to a variety of political opinions, including the southern Confederate-loving variety. Plenty of MAGA people, too. I get along with everybody and just try to avoid sensitive topics.

A lot of this discussion seems to be framing the question so that it looks in a single direction (can you know that a person believes differently than you, and still treat them the way you would treat any other human being).

Of course the answer to that should be yes.

But the other side of the question is: do you have people in your life with whom you disagree politically, but with whom you can still have political discussions?

Because I think a lot of people’s solution to this is to never talk politics with people they know disagree with them….which is just another form of ideological bubble-making.

Being able to talk frankly about politics with somebody who you know who disagrees with you, and being able to hear them in turn, is a core component of understanding people beyond reductionist terms. It’s the most surefire way to avoid becoming the type of person who uses words like “libtards” or “MAGgots.” No poll or op-ed or argument on the Internet can replace it.

Getting along with people who you know disagree with you by not talking politics is good and healthy, and the most appropriate response most of the time.

But if it’s your only employed solution….if you do not have people in your life with whom you disagree politically, but with whom you can have robust political discussions….that is not any different than any other form of ideological bubble preservation.

I try to stay out of this sub-forum but I happened to open it today and see this post and felt compelled to say how great it is. Fantastic post, Jorge. This is exactly it. Well said.

Oof.

Spoiler: show

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Spoiler: show

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i never really talked politics at work. just no need to do so. my last job my boss brought up cavanaugh by name (no circumstances) and we both laughed. then he said, theres no way he could have assaulted someone it wasnt in his calendar. i had to look like a deer in headlights. i awkwardly paused and left his office. it was then i realized he was a full on maga.

current job while i believe most are liberals there have been a smattering of conservatives but again it isnt generally talked about. things like the economy, AI, davos and building robots are talked about more

as to the original question i judge people be other things other than politics but if you have a FJB decal on your car or maga-wear on i will generally ignore you in all but life saving situations

Who you callin’ a libtard?

I used to have an easier time talking to people on the politically opposite side. Lately I’ve found that pure MAGA people have a certain intensity and disregard of basic decency makes it harder to engage. I think young people are being radicalized by hateful online echo chambers. I’m scared to think of what a 25 year old alt-righter will become at age 75.

doug rr cannot

its complicated

So r u u wild man

I refuse to co-exist with people from the other side. Anytime I meet someone I disagree with, I commit murder and/or suicide