Handling friends with very different views?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is difficult to impossible for Liberals -- try tolerance. Other people are entitled to their own opinions.

Yes! Liberals should be tolerant of racists too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is difficult to impossible for Liberals -- try tolerance. Other people are entitled to their own opinions.

This is far form Liberals vs Conservatives. Please no comparison. Given a viable Conservative president elect or even Pence, then you can make this statement. Stop trying to pretend this is a liberal view problem. Considering you share this silly rationale I wouldn't engage in an educated political discussion with you because it would be pointless. Even his own conservative party wants nothing to do with him, they will secretly vote for Hillary before electing Trump. Tolerance and sitting back is not an option his this case. Long ago people tolerated Stalin and look where that lead us. OP, next time you are around them engage in a discussion about the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you have to "handle" your friends? Respect the difference in opinions and move on.

This!

If you start with the assumption that your views are just relevant to you and have no application to how others feel you will not have a problem. I don't feel that I am some sort of fountain of wisdom.

I have close friends who have major differences with me on politics and other issue. We don't view our opinions as infallible and once you adopt that attitude it removes a lot of friction.

OP, this +100
You need to be more open to others with different views and opinions and realize your views are meaningless beyond yourself.

I agree with this. It's easier to have friends with opposing views if you let go of the notion that you *know* the truth and have to educate people.

However, the problem is if you have a friend who does consider himself/herself a fountain of wisdom, infallible, and simply won't stop trying to tell you what to believe. It's not much different than cult-like religious types who are always trying to push their religion on you -- even when you have said that you just want to agree to disagree on that. I've known people like that politically. They think they have some moral imperative to show you the way (politically) and they won't let up.

At that point, you have to either limit contact or just altogether cut off the relationship.

Being open to other views and agreeing to disagree only works if both you and the friend at the very least are willing to not proselytize. That isn't always the case.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, OP. This is tough. You'll jsut have to get through the election by not talking about it. I would think, however, that it would limit how close you can be to them. For me, I could never get close to people who have no issue supporting a racist bigot. I also have a hard time with people who think me and my daughter shouldn't hav ethe right to choose. That's an affront to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is difficult to impossible for Liberals -- try tolerance. Other people are entitled to their own opinions.

Yes! Liberals should be tolerant of racists too!

No shit. This isn't being tolerant of Reagan or even Bush (responsible for death of hundreds of thousands), but Trump. I think that anyone stupid enough to support that man is too stupid to be my friend.