Question

• bigdaddy2003

  

  I was talking amongst a group of people yesterday. There were a few people I was just meeting for the first time. Well anyways the election came up in conversation and I simply asked who these people were voting for and one said "well frankly it's none of your business." The question I have for you is two parts. Why do you think some consider it rude to ask who they are voting for and do you get offensive about it?
• Gblock

  I dont think its offensive but i know people who do
• sleeper

  

  I don't think its rude to tell people who you are going to vote for or to even ask.
• 2kool4skool

  

  People who bring up politics IRL are generally idiots looking for an argument. Especially awkward considering you just met them. I would have shut you down too.
• sleeper

  

  2kool4skool;1270846 wrote:People who bring up politics IRL are generally idiots looking for an argument. Especially awkward considering you just met them. I would have shut you down too.

  Why is politics taboo? There is a difference between looking for an argument and looking to exchange ideas and beliefs. Mostly people who don't want to talk about politics are the real idiots who just pull the lever for D or R depending on what their parents told them to do.
• Benny The Jet

  

  I don't have a problem with it, but do feel awkward at times discussing it. I'm really only now starting to get more and more into politics and learning different things. So when I start having conversations with others who know more than me about politics, I usually kind of stay quiet and listen to what they have to say vs. sounding like an un-educated dumby.
  I'm the same when when different religious views are brought up.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  sleeper;1270849 wrote:Why is politics taboo? There is a difference between looking for an argument and looking to exchange ideas and beliefs. Mostly people who don't want to talk about politics are the real idiots who just pull the lever for D or R depending on what their parents told them to do.

  This. I'm far from an idiot and it's not like I asked one of the females what their bra size was so I don't see how it's weird to ask them upon meeting them for the first time about their political beliefs. I guess that is just me though.
• fish82

  

  sleeper;1270849 wrote:Why is politics taboo? There is a difference between looking for an argument and looking to exchange ideas and beliefs. Mostly people who don't want to talk about politics are the real idiots who just pull the lever for D or R depending on what their parents told them to do.

  Agreed in principle. I just don't use it as an icebreaker.
• se-alum

  

  sleeper;1270849 wrote:Why is politics taboo? There is a difference between looking for an argument and looking to exchange ideas and beliefs. Mostly people who don't want to talk about politics are the real idiots who just pull the lever for D or R depending on what their parents told them to do.

  Exactly. My buddy is a high school government teacher, and he asked his seniors if they were Republican or Democrat. He then asked them why they were one or the other, only a couple had actual reasons outside of "because that's what my parents have always been".
• bigdaddy2003

  

  Yeah, I wouldn't use it as an icebreaker either. We started talking about politics probably 3 hours after we started hanging out.
• sleeper

  

  fish82;1270917 wrote:Agreed in principle. I just don't use it as an icebreaker.

  I personally love discussing politics with my friends. My favorite question is "Why are you voting for Barack Obama?" and most of them have the tired lines like "Romney wants to control a woman's body" or "Romney only cares about the rich", etc. Such a joke.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  sleeper;1270923 wrote:I personally love discussing politics with my friends. My favorite question is "Why are you voting for Barack Obama?" and most of them have the tired lines like "Romney wants to control a woman's body" or "Romney only cares about the rich", etc. Such a joke.

  Sounds like a few of my friends. The funniest story I have involves my dad's buddy. He stopped by yesterday and said Romney was to blame for ALL of the jobs leaving the country and that he shouldn't be elected because of how much damage he has already caused in the country. He also made a ridiculous charity statement but I can't remember what he said exactly.
• stlouiedipalma

  Remember, our votes are done by secret ballot. It's really nobody's business who you vote for and your accquaintences were perfectly OK in telling you so, but I always wonder that people who say this are secretly embarrassed to say who or what they voted for.
  
  Now, as for me, I don't have a problem telling folks how I voted or how I intend to vote. It's really a personal issue, but I never hesitate to tell people my position.
• sleeper

  

  I never hesitate either. I just tell them neither Obama or Romney because they are both wolves in sheep's clothing. I'm more aggressive towards the Obama supporters though because they tend to be the most ignorant; believing in fantasy rather than reality.
• stlouiedipalma

  sleeper;1271064 wrote:I never hesitate either. I just tell them neither Obama or Romney because they are both wolves in sheep's clothing. I'm more aggressive towards the Obama supporters though because they tend to be the most ignorant; believing in fantasy rather than reality.

  Fantasy is putting two wars and Medicare Part B on the credit card.
• O-Trap

  

  stlouiedipalma;1271286 wrote:Fantasy is putting two wars and Medicare Part B on the credit card.

  And knowing this, but still tacking the 2011 military intervention in Libya onto said credit card seems pretty fantastical too, wouldn't you agree?
• FatHobbit

  

  "Who are you going to vote for?" is a very similar question to "Do you believe Jesus Christ is your savior?" It's fairly safe to say that if you have a different opinion than the person who is asking, that you can expect them to try to change your answer. I'm not always in the mood for that.
• queencitybuckeye

  stlouiedipalma;1271286 wrote:Fantasy is putting two wars and Medicare Part B on the credit card.

  or having two years of 100% control of the government and not fixing any of the three.
• stlouiedipalma

  Or having the same 100% control for 6 of the previous 8 years and fucking things up so bad we almost wound up selling pencils on the street corner.
• Heretic

  

  FatHobbit;1273390 wrote:"Who are you going to vote for?" is a very similar question to "Do you believe Jesus Christ is your savior?" It's fairly safe to say that if you have a different opinion than the person who is asking, that you can expect them to try to change your answer. I'm not always in the mood for that.

  This. If I'm in a "chillin' out" mode with people, I'd rather not get involved in political conversation, because all you need is one politard in the crowd and suddenly "chillin' out" turns into "heated discussion" and...so much for fun. I'm stuck there drinking my beer a lot more quickly while staring directly at the TV and trying to block out everyone else.
• stlouiedipalma

  Well said
• O-Trap

  

  I've actually said something similar to people with whom I've agreed, simply because I didn't know whether or not everybody in the group did.
• queencitybuckeye

  stlouiedipalma;1273462 wrote:Or having the same 100% control for 6 of the previous 8 years

  Not a true statement, do you know why?
• Cleveland Buck

  

  A lot of people hate politics. They have been caught in between mindless, indoctrinated Republicans bickering with mindless, indoctrinated Democrats, spewing their media fed propaganda at each other, and just don't like the conflict. The state loves it though, because it leads people to believe they have a voice.
• believer

  

  Cleveland Buck;1274385 wrote:A lot of people hate politics. They have been caught in between mindless, indoctrinated Republicans bickering with mindless, indoctrinated Democrats, spewing their media fed propaganda at each other, and just don't like the conflict. The state loves it though, because it leads people to believe they have a voice.

  eh....It's still the best political system the worlds has ever known.