Can you be friends with someone you disagree with politically?

[Digital Dinosaur]

Like others have said, it depends.

Disagreeing over whether taxes should go first to schools or repairing roads is one thing.

Disagreeing over whether some people are human and whether we should live in fascist theocratic state is another.

 

[Nox]

I'm a queer immigrant, so it really fucking depends

 

[TAJ]

A few years ago, it was something I'd maybe consider. Now it's a hard no. I wouldn't fuck a Republican, either. I consider it bestiality.

 

[Dmitriivanalexeipavel]

I think the better question is can you work with someone you disagree with politically, and through that become friends

 

[N64Controller]

I'm friends with canadian federalists. They can be ok people.

 

[sph3re]

This question always feels like someone is asking "can you be friends with someone who doesn't think transgenderism is real" or "can you be friends with someone who thinks affirmative action is a bad thing actually" instead of "can you be friends with someone who isn't a complete wingnut/moonbat"

The latter of which I would reply: yes. Yes, of course you can.

But I'm Canadian, so I've got a different perspective. From what I've seen, people over here aren't nearly as protective of the party they vote for as they do in America, aka, Canada's Pants. Yes, Florida is the penis. In America, it looks to me like they treat that shit like sports teams, something I find equally ludicrous (I don't watch sports). Like it's their creed or something.

So maybe it's different in America.

 

[DontHateTheBacon]

Politically? Yes.

morally? No.

 

[Nepenthe]

I can coexist with and be friendly towards Republicans; it's necessary living in the South. But to be legit friends with them, as in someone who I'd invite to hang out, or welcome them into my home, or someone who I'd vent to? No.

 

[J.Gusto]

Sure you can! It seems real life democrat and republican politicians can be friends, don't see why we can't as well.

 

[Lockheartilly9799]

It depends but it's doubtful. As a transwoman, my humanity matters and the GOP is cleared against that. You vote for the GOP or support them, you are not my friend. My humanity is not up for discussion.

 

[FusionNY]

I ain't white. I can't fuck with no Republicans.

 

[modestb]

I am work friends with someone is/was a Trump supporter. I don't know how virulent she was with all the maga shit as we generally steered very clear of politics but oddly enough the coronavirus seems to be the thing that has turned her away from him.

 

[-Tetsuo-]

Of course

 

[Xx 720]

Some people vote as their parents vote, it's kind of like a family thing. I don't get emotionally invested in politics like I did when I was young.

 

[DarthSpider]

Depends. People who are fully on board with the GOP as it stands now? No, definitely not.

 

[Marcus Aurelius]

It is a lazy response, but it really does depend on the specific issue. If I saw someone on social media being an asshole regarding BLM or something to that effect for example, well they would be cut off. If we have a basic disagreement on idealistic grounds, we can probably learn to just agree to disagree.

There are also more complicated situations like family. My family members sometimes show racist tendencies, particularly sitting down in front of the evening news, am I meant to just drop them out of my life? It really isn't that simple, but I can still disagree with them and be displeased with their attitudes, even as momentary as it is.

 

[Mekanos]

There are also more complicated situations like family. My family members sometimes show racist tendencies, particularly sitting down in front of the evening news, am I meant to just drop them out of my life? It really isn't that simple, but I can still disagree with them and be displeased with their attitudes, even as momentary as it is.

Click to shrink...

The thread is about friends, not family. To me a friend is someone I actively choose to spend time with for my own pleasure. So I wouldn't do that with someone who I think has a poisonous ideology.

Personally although I have pretty strong political disagreements with my parents (they're liberals, I'm a communist), they don't make me actively angry like I would guess a conservative family would, so there's that. My brother has begun embracing socialism as well though which is very heartening to see.

 

[Midas]

Not really. People to the right supports dehumanizing politics. How can I be friends with people like that?

Same things go for family. You don't pick your family and I have no intention spending any time with them if they turn out to be racists.

 

[Guts Of Thor]

Most of my friends are either right wing or completely don't give a shit about politics at all. I'm the only liberal in the group and so we just don't talk about politics.

 

[Smokeymicpot]

Yes, some of my best friends we don't share the same views. It's whatever.

 

[ComradeYork]

I'm willing to be friends with liberals, but I'm not going to tolerate someone being a conservative in this day and age.

 

[Cocolina]

My friends span hardcore socialists to moderate conservatives so I guess as a whole we lean more to the left. I dont know any hardcore conservatives outside old geezers you meet in the pub.

 

[Deleted member 44129]

5 years ago, yes. Not today. There's a "war" going on.

 

[Persephone]

imagine being friends with tories. embarrassing

 

[fanboi]

Yes of course, but also of course, it depends. If they run far right talking points that go against my moral beliefs then I would not be able to. Same if they are far left.

 

[-COOLIO-]

yes.

two good people can see the world completely differently just due to circumstance and upbringing. as long as i feel your heart is in the right place we can probably be friends.

 

[LogicAirForce]

Recently got into a pretty big, heated argument at work about this very subject. My coworker essentially believes that not being friends with someone because of their political stance, or saying things like "Trump fans can fuck off", makes you just as hateful and oppressive as they are. And that if there is a politician that is extremely bigoted, to the point of wanting to strip away the rights of those in a vulnerable group, but you like their tax plan then voting for them is just fine. Because,according to her, all you need to do to absolve yourself of guilt is to specify that you don't agree with their bigoted policies.

She is basically a fascist in liberal clothing and I absolutley could not be friends with someone like her. Hell, I'm a pretty hardcore Leftist and can barely tolerate Liberals.

 

[Rotobit]

I'd be perfectly polite and co-operative with someone with opposing views to me, so long as they weren't outwardly extreme.

But I have a high bar for defining friendship (probably too high) and I don't think I could forge that sort of connection with someone that believes I myself, my other friends, and people I respect, don't deserve to be treated well and be given rights.

There can be exceptions - I can understand folks who voted for Brexit because they were ignorant - but I'd only respect them if they acknowledged the mistake in hindsight. If they're still beating that drum, nah.

 

[Messofanego]

I think to an extent, yes. I have a few friends who are Republicans, and I obviously disagree with them. But it doesn't mean well instantly stop being friends.

However, even being a supporter of the GOP is hard to not care about. It really shows that we disagree fundamentally on policies that can hurt or help millions of human beings.

It also means supporting an incredibly racist, corrupt and authoritarian president. I don't really have the same respect for someone who thinks Trump is great, even if they're friends.


Your opinion?

Click to shrink...

Are you part of the group they disagree about?

For example, I couldn't have an islamophobic or racist friend. How would that even work? Only unless if I'm considered "one of the good ones" e.g. model minority which fits in with its own kind of racism.

 

[Village]

Depends on the disagreement.

 

[Menthuss]

Your political leaning is fundamentally based on how you look at the world and what consider you important. I'd say being friends is possible if your respective positions in the political spectrum aren't too far apart, though you would probably still clash on certain subjects and idea. It would also depend how tolerant you and others are of opposing viewpoints. If someone is preaching to you about how great fascism is however and how [insert ethnic group here] is ruining their country, then you probably shouldn't be friends with them.

 

[Rosebud]

Depends.

I can't be friends with someone who supports our president (Bolsonaro) because it means they support a homophobic, racist, sexist man. Why would I want to be around them?

 

[Zojirushi]

Disagreement on certain topics is fine and can be interesting even. Flatout supporting racist parties, that person can fuck off to the moon.

 

[baron doggystyle von woof]

Sure. Unless the friend is irrational and hates facts.

It is possible to be anti-immigration and not be racist. Or be anti-abortion but also understand that we as a people need to take care of every child until they grow up.

 

[Tpallidum]

Found out I got a super centrist friend. We reconnected after a long time. It's frustrating trying to explain that Trump is a fascist and is way worse than Biden. He'll agree that Trump is terrible. But he always comes back with Biden is the same but opposite. Says he's voting for Trump because he lives in California and his vote doesn't matter because CA will pick Biden.

Also I can't use any "mainstream news" piece to argue anything because "they're all controlled by the same entity."

It's worse because he has a bit of an ego. He used to be a twitch streamer until he got perma banned. I think he had a small following so when he argues he gets on his soapbox and just goes.

He's def a little crazy. I haven't talked to him in a while and idk if I want to

 

[fontguy]

Yes: Capitalism has problems but I don't think socialism is the answer.
No: All lives matter.

 

[ps3ud0]

I'm friends with someone who is a Brexiteer and voted Tories because Labour is considered to be anti-Semitic so wouldn't vote for them but somehow was ok with the Tories opposed to just voting for any other party.

He probably thinks I have very strong liberal left wing views and overly keen to argue them. I wouldn't be out of line in thinking he's casually racist...

Yeah our friendship is literally held together by our mutual love of cinema and as person I know he would always have my back and be there. It's tough thing to reconcile.

ps3ud0 8)

 

[Osahi]

Depends. Extreme right racists can fuck of. If you align yourself with a party like that, you're just a terrible human being and I don't want to be friends with you.

But someone on the right of spectrum or holding non-extreme conservative views can be a friend, sure. We might have some heated arguments though.

 

[chimpsteaks]

I'm extremely left leaning and my best friend is a Trump supporter. He's a law professor at a well respected university so it's weird to know that there are intelligent people who support the other side. We always disagree on politics and I don't know how he can't see that this guy is a dumbass

 

[skeezx]

i can have a beer with about anyone along as they're not shouting racist epithets/qanon conspiracies/ect every few minutes

Though bonafide "friends" I dunno if I ever had one that was staunchly conservative

 

[Tygre]

With Liberals and Anarchists, sure. With Conservatives, no way.

 

[Kain]

No problem with that. We just don't discuss politics and that's it.

 

[shnurgleton]

Depends. Are you a boring tie wearing small government republican, or are you a Trump worshipping cultist qanon follower?

 

[andymcc]

I'm extremely left leaning and my best friend is a Trump supporter. He's a law professor at a well respected university so it's weird to know that there are intelligent people who support the other side. We always disagree on politics and I don't know how he can't see that this guy is a dumbass

Click to shrink...

damn it must suck to have a racist best friend

 

[Red Arremer]

It depends I guess? I disagree with liberals politically but it's easier to be friends with them than with people who'd rather see me dead because of the minorities I belong to (aka conservatives).

 

[Raiden]

Over here yes, because even right wing parties are considered left by Republican standards.

Could I be friends in America with a Republican Anno 2016? Hell no. Before that I would say it depends.

Trump has zero redeeming qualities.

 

[Budi]

Definitely. One thing that makes it possible is not having absolutely ridiculous two party system. So somebody voting different party than me, doesn't instantly make them a monster in my eyes. And of course there's disagreements while supporting the same party too. I've noticed a tendency in US politics (or just in ERA?) to instantly jump accusing someone of being a Trumper/republican when they don't agree on something.

Of course there are some things that I can find to be non-negotiable. But then it's probably gone to extremes and is not just political.

Edit: Someone being hardcore Trumper is non-negotiable. I can tolerate stupidity, but when it's incredibly harmful then I don't.

 

[Rendering...]

I'm glad there's a "we'd be 'friends'" option in the poll. If our core values don't align, we can't have a truly authentic friendship. I'm a humanist and a materialist. It's difficult for me to respect or identify with people who aren't in touch with our basic reality, and aren't guided by empathy.

If we disagree on finance or foreign policy, of course we can be friends. If you're pretty religious but we don't really talk about it, we can probably be friends. If you think LGBTQ people aren't equal and valid, or that science doesn't work, or that psychics and the stars can tell us important information that we should use to guide our lives, nope. I'll never be able to shake the conviction that some part of you is a dumb asshole.

And this almost goes without saying, but if you think Trump is more admirable and effective as a man and a leader than Obama, you're a tool.

 

[AzorAhai]

Yes obviously. At least here in France, there is a wide spectrum of political opinions. You can also hate the guts of someone voting the same way you do.

If this means "can you be friends with American Republicans", then it is probably getting a bit more difficult.

 

[Vish]

Yes, but only if politics doesn't run their life and they aren't extremist about it.