Do you have a trusted friend from another political party that you actually listen too?

2016-09-26T08:44:16-04:00

Healthy debate can be stimulating, but all to often we find ourselves associating with others that share the same opinion. Who here as a friend or family member that they love / hate conversing with that has an opposing opinion?

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Sep 26 at 2016 9:04 AM

2016-09-26T09:04:58-04:00

Interesting question COL Lee Flemming I actually try to listen to every view, because it helps to see how others look at things. Sometimes seeing the other side of the issue can soften or harden your stance. When the debate is intelligent- always worth it.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 26 at 2016 9:07 AM

2016-09-26T09:07:26-04:00

Yes. I think it's more about different views on topics than about political affiliation. Most people agree on a bunch of stuff whether Republican or Democrat. Individual topics however can really get people's blood boiling. Religion, Racism, Abortion, and anything to do with foreign affairs.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Sep 26 at 2016 9:33 AM

2016-09-26T09:33:23-04:00

We do love our confirmation bias. Life seems so much simpler and happier if we only associate with views that agree with what we already believe. Enter news organizations like Fox News on the right and MSNBC on the left. It can be hard to overcome.

But yes, I do know several people who think very differently than I do and speak with them regularly. One that I normally work with, one that I serve on a non-profit board with, etc.

Response by SSG Tom Pike made Sep 26 at 2016 9:45 AM

2016-09-26T09:45:08-04:00

I have friends and relatives of all political persuasions. Debating with facts, and even the occasionaly joke, are fine. As long as they keep the personal attacks on me out of the discussion. Keep the debate on the policies. So none of the "you're stupid if you vote for XYZ".

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Sep 26 at 2016 10:36 AM

2016-09-26T10:36:38-04:00

COL Lee Flemming, I have a few trusted friends whose perspective is different than mine in virtually all respects. I believe that I would be short changing myself of friendships and of hearing different perspectives otherwise.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Sep 26 at 2016 10:47 AM

2016-09-26T10:47:31-04:00

I'd better listen to my wife!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2016 11:13 AM

2016-09-26T11:13:24-04:00

Sure do. I have found that the best foundation for friends who disagree politically is military service. I don't have to agree with them, but I can at least respect them and their opinion due to their service.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 26 at 2016 1:16 PM

2016-09-26T13:16:25-04:00

I have only a few "trusted friends" and our trust has nothing to do with politics. I have many acquaintances from all bands of the political spectrum and I tend to listen more to those from opposing sides. I go crazy living in an echo chamber, but love being challenged. Sadly, few of my acquaintances share my love. They hate being challenged and many "unfriend" me for the practice.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2016 3:01 PM

2016-09-26T15:01:03-04:00

Quite a few, but I have unfriended or blocked many in the run up to this election from both parties. I value healthy and educated discourse, but have no desire to waste my time talking to the true-believer zealot types of either wing.

Response by SGT Christopher Clarke made Sep 26 at 2016 3:04 PM

2016-09-26T15:04:27-04:00

Yep......but I tell them their opinion is wrong and they should learn to agree with my side-:) Just kidding...!! It's always good hearing the opposite viewpoint.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Sep 26 at 2016 3:39 PM

2016-09-26T15:39:42-04:00

I used to have one and we'd get into the most heated debates. Between us, things have always remained civil. Unfortunately, I had to cut ties with him because his like-minded friends weren't of the civil nature and I couldn't deal with them taking control of our debates and railroading all the arguments to support their cause.

Response by PFC Jim Wheeler made Sep 27 at 2016 4:01 AM

2016-09-27T04:01:39-04:00

I don't talk politics too much, outside of basic generalisations.

It's very rare that either side of a debate will leave with a different opinion, and usually both sides just end up pissed off.

What I do believe though, is that voting is, and should always be, an entirely selfish act. That's why it's important for every citizen to vote. You should vote for the candidate who wants to push America towards whatever image you have for it, no one else's opinions should even matter.

That's why I don't like political parties, too much dogmatism surrounding them. I vote for the individual with the platform that I most agree with, and with the character to actually stick to those positions after being elected.

As always, this is just my 2 pennies.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2016 4:19 PM

2016-09-27T16:19:28-04:00

I do actually. We have discussions all the time, and they're always calm and polite. We have very different views, but I think we both enjoy debating issues, knowing neither one of us is going to start yelling/accusing the other of being something we're not.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2016 9:41 AM

2016-09-28T09:41:07-04:00

Being a registered Independent - almost everyone I converse with has opposing views on various issues. It's good to hear opposite views - regardless if I agree or disagree with the intent/outcome expectation.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2016 9:23 AM

2016-09-29T09:23:17-04:00

Well since this is an election year, I'm sure everyone has their Presidential Canadate they favor. So Political discussions are almost every where, with everyone having their two cents. So to be quiet honest, I really wish we had better qualified Canadates. Because between the two Canadates, things are looking bleak for the US. It's sad say, but I call it as I see it.

So generating open discussion is (in my mind) good a thing, it's like comparing notes about the Canadates on what you like and don't like. Because we all receive information differently and then inturpt that same information in relation to our personal experiences and beliefs. Does that make us bias? No, it make us human. We tend to relate to people and situations that we are familiar with. I tend to step out of my comfort zone to seek out different point of views and life experience. So I try to be transparent as possible when discussing Politic, Religion, and People(Ethnisities).

So what I am trying to say is as an Americans our differences are our greatest strength, so when you divide a county you essentially defeat a country. So let's not make that country be the United States of America....God bless America!!

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Sep 30 at 2016 2:46 PM

2016-09-30T14:46:19-04:00

yeah.... they are entitled to their opinion no matter how fuzzy-headed & illogical it may be.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Jun 24 at 2021 5:47 PM

2021-06-24T17:47:37-04:00

Of course, We disagree but it doesn't interfere with our friendship.
Sometimes he make a point with me and sometimes I score off of him.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2021 12:46 AM

2021-06-25T00:46:57-04:00

My hairdresser and squad-mate in tarp is right wing. She is crazy too as she shot a round of trap with a .410 revolver. That's why I like her. While we were just a collection of women who were class C and D shooters come a zone shoot or another shoot we could push the men who were AA shooters to their limits. Heaven forbid they get out shot by 5 women with 1 in a wheelchair and back-brace. Good times.

Response by SR Kenneth Beck made Jun 25 at 2021 9:20 AM

2021-06-25T09:20:51-04:00

The days when political opposites like Dr. Benjamin Spock and William F. Buckley Jr. can share family vacations, in Buckley’s sailboat are few and far between.
It’s difficult to have a conversation, when the other person is calling you vile names. A lot of social intercourse is hyperbola and slogans.

Response by SR Kenneth Beck made Jun 25 at 2021 9:30 AM

2021-06-25T09:30:49-04:00

My wife of 52 years, is a registered democrat, and I am a republican. I course I listen to her. If she finds my mind wandering, in her discourse she will quickly interject, “I then tore off my leg and threw it away”. That always brings me back into the conversation.

Response by Maj Wayne Crist made Jun 25 at 2021 11:44 AM

2021-06-25T11:44:05-04:00

Yes and even those I don't trust. it is important to know what the enemy is spouting. it is also important to check the facts on both sides. I have found it interesting that I can still be friends with people that don't share my beliefs, but many of them don't want to be friends with me.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2021 1:31 PM

2021-06-25T13:31:16-04:00

I find that people who have experienced more of the world (globally and domestically) tend to have strong opinions but also tend to be more tolerant of other viewpoints, at the same time. Echo chambers do not work very well, in practice. College campuses and small towns are very good examples of this.
To answer the question...I do not choose my friends based on their political affiliation, and I have several who are diametrically opposed to me politically. I still have very good friendships with them though. We just know that we will disagree on certain issues.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jun 25 at 2021 6:43 PM

2021-06-25T18:43:07-04:00

COL Lee Flemming Normally I try to stay away from politics with my friends unless I already know which party they belong to. No friendship is worth destroying over politics. I have seen it happen.