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How do you handle your friends who are political and economic idiots?

S

soccerballtux

Lifer
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
Click to expand...

This seems more to apply to family than friends. Some members of the family when it comes to politics are simply parrots reading line for line what they hear on FOX news. I am a blunt person unfortunately and usually just say "you believe that crap?" to them, then go on to debunk what they said line by line. When they hear someone actually backing what they say with facts they usually back down and STFU about politics.

Classic example, talking to my mom about Barack Obama, she goes "he'll just tax and spend!", to which I reply "is that better than the current administration's 'borrow and spend' policy that has thrown this nation into the biggest national debt ever seen?", to which she gets stumped and quits talking.
 
We look to others for support and attention because of our own sad emotional needs. We hate ourselves so we look outside for love and affection and feel that only when others think as we do. People who are different might not like us and that brings up our inner lack of foundation.

When you love yourself you have understanding that transcends this need for support. He who loves himself is a cornucopia who can feed the world. He who willingly goes up on the cross to forgive can awaken the dead. All the love you are seeking, all the longing for it, disappears when the dam of the ego breaks and the heart shines through.
 
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
We look to others for support and attention because of our own sad emotional needs. We hate ourselves so we look outside for love and affection and feel that only when others think as we do. People who are different might not like us and that brings up our inner lack of foundation.

When you love yourself you have understanding that transcends this need for support. He who loves himself is a cornucopia who can feed the world. He who willingly goes up on the cross to forgive can awaken the dead. All the love you are seeking, all the longing for it, disappears when the dam of the ego breaks and the heart shines through.
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Why do you have to derail every thread into one about masturbation?

 
I like my friends for the things we have in common, rather than dislike them for the areas we differ.

And I find it interesting that the OP refers to people who don't agree with him as closed-minded.
 
Originally posted by: shinerburke
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
We look to others for support and attention because of our own sad emotional needs. We hate ourselves so we look outside for love and affection and feel that only when others think as we do. People who are different might not like us and that brings up our inner lack of foundation.

When you love yourself you have understanding that transcends this need for support. He who loves himself is a cornucopia who can feed the world. He who willingly goes up on the cross to forgive can awaken the dead. All the love you are seeking, all the longing for it, disappears when the dam of the ego breaks and the heart shines through.
Click to expand...

Why do you have to derail every thread into one about masturbation?
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I think you did that.
 
Based on your comment from ( LINK )...

I can't imagine they're so retarded that they would rather elect a military pushover (Obama) when the cost would be millions of American lives, literally.
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...when you say idiot I assume you're talking about yourself.
 
Originally posted by: shinerburke
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
We look to others for support and attention because of our own sad emotional needs. We hate ourselves so we look outside for love and affection and feel that only when others think as we do. People who are different might not like us and that brings up our inner lack of foundation.

When you love yourself you have understanding that transcends this need for support. He who loves himself is a cornucopia who can feed the world. He who willingly goes up on the cross to forgive can awaken the dead. All the love you are seeking, all the longing for it, disappears when the dam of the ego breaks and the heart shines through.
Click to expand...

Why do you have to derail every thread into one about masturbation?
Click to expand...

I find his insights comical at least, sort of like that crazy homeless guy who's still living life in his shroom/pot/acid haze of the 60's and spouts the same sort of faux psycho babble and huggy bear nonsense outside of the Starbucks I frequent on my way to work. I make sure I skip the morning latte and give the guy a couple of bucks every week in exchange for the entertainment value.

Moonie, you don't hang outside any of the Starbucks in downtown Minneapolis on a regular basis by chance, eh?
 
Originally posted by: BoberFett
I like my friends for the things we have in common, rather than dislike them for the areas we differ.

And I find it interesting that the OP refers to people who don't agree with him as closed-minded.
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Yes, very interesting. Illuminating even.
 
A question that should be answered by social scientists if you want a scientific answer. Its is after all, within the realm of scientific experiment design.

And if this is basically a one on one interaction, its more in the area of Psychology, if its a group dynamics thing, call for a Sociologist.

If its P&N, just call them an idiot and be done with its. Or you can try to reason with them, but it seldom seems to work.

Or we can try the Moonbeam method, love the idiot. Which seems to works as well as reasoning with the idiot.

Or there is the Truman Capote method slightly on of context. But when Truman found himself on a plane next to a boring person, he tried to figure out what life experiences made them so
boring. And then they became fascinating.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
Click to expand...

so everyone that does not think the same way you do is closed-minded and you have stopped caring for them?

so... "freedom and all that, as long as you agree with me?"

sounds like you are the closed-minded one.

though, I agree somewhat, people that have no ability to learn about a topic and form their own opinion annoy the heck out of me. This is why i respect both sides of the table, if they are willing to engage in a debate of ideas and facts, and not in name calling. i enjoy sparing with some in P&N that back their arguments without resorting to name calling and insults, others in p&n always go directly to this and deserve no respect from either side.
 
Originally posted by: herm0016
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
Click to expand...

so everyone that does not think the same way you do is closed-minded and you have stopped caring for them?

so... "freedom and all that, as long as you agree with me?"

sounds like you are the closed-minded one.
Click to expand...

So not giving credence and acknowledgement to retarded political views that are easily refutable with solid evidence and no vague handwaving that the left loves, which the other person refuses to listen to, is being close minded? Because that's what I'm talking about, we have these discussions and it basically comes down to them saying "Well I think the free market doesn't work", referencing things like Bear-Stearns, and having nothing to back their opinion up; but then ignoring that B-S wouldn't have even happened if it weren't for lending regulations from the government in the first place.

Being open-minded doesn't require to you acknowledge wrong viewpoints; that's just absurdity. It requires you to acknowledge viewpoints which cannot be proven or disproven. I have no problem doing this. What I do have a problem with is other people being even more close-minded than me-- not acknowledging my viewpoint, which has facts which disproves their viewpoint. And THEN having the nerve to call me close minded. Lol. I rest assured knowing my welfare taxes go to people like this.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux

So not giving credence and acknowledgement to retarded political views that are easily refutable with solid evidence and no vague handwaving that the left loves, which the other person refuses to listen to, is being close minded? Because that's what I'm talking about, we have these discussions and it basically comes down to them saying "Well I think the free market doesn't work", referencing things like Bear-Stearns; but then ignoring that B-S wouldn't have even happened if it weren't for lending regulations from the government in the first place.
Click to expand...

you did read the last paragraph of my post right? the part about being annoyed by people that can't form their own opinions and revert the the hand waving?
 
Do you stop being friends with people who know nothing about professional sports? Or stamp collecting? I don't pick my friends based on their areas of knowledge. My family have wide political views and we argue a lot on holiday dinners, mostly in fun, sometimes heated, but differences in political opinion do not overshadow the familial relationship.
 
i try to surround myself with people who have differing views and levels of understanding on life and politics. There have been people who I have found to be very ignorant of political and economic ideas, but still have some very insightful ideas to provide. You really have to think hard to try and understand; this, of course, is a good thing. If by idiots you mean people who disagree with you, if you are alienating people because of this, you are a very shrewd person. It is always nice to talk about topics with people who agree with you, but it is even better to talk with the ones who don't. It really makes you think about your own views and question them. Thats not to say that they have to change, but the more you question them the more you will ensure yourself or adapt. I feel views on life and politics should be changing and adapting, much like science. The older we get and the more we talk about it the more we learn.
 
Originally posted by: jonks
Do you stop being friends with people who know nothing about professional sports? Or stamp collecting? I don't pick my friends based on their areas of knowledge. My family have wide political views and we argue a lot on holiday dinners, mostly in fun, sometimes heated, but differences in political opinion do not overshadow the familial relationship.
Click to expand...

Hm interesting. Sports does not make a difference in the ability of Americans to raise a family.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
Click to expand...

Friendship should transcend political opinions. Friendship is about acceptance.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Originally posted by: jonks
Do you stop being friends with people who know nothing about professional sports? Or stamp collecting? I don't pick my friends based on their areas of knowledge. My family have wide political views and we argue a lot on holiday dinners, mostly in fun, sometimes heated, but differences in political opinion do not overshadow the familial relationship.
Click to expand...

Hm interesting. Sports does not make a difference in the ability of Americans to raise a family.
Click to expand...

And politics does?

How about economics? Knowing all of the economic theories and other economic data help you raise a family? Really?

 
Originally posted by: yuppiejr
Originally posted by: shinerburke
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
We look to others for support and attention because of our own sad emotional needs. We hate ourselves so we look outside for love and affection and feel that only when others think as we do. People who are different might not like us and that brings up our inner lack of foundation.

When you love yourself you have understanding that transcends this need for support. He who loves himself is a cornucopia who can feed the world. He who willingly goes up on the cross to forgive can awaken the dead. All the love you are seeking, all the longing for it, disappears when the dam of the ego breaks and the heart shines through.
Click to expand...

Why do you have to derail every thread into one about masturbation?
Click to expand...

I find his insights comical at least, sort of like that crazy homeless guy who's still living life in his shroom/pot/acid haze of the 60's and spouts the same sort of faux psycho babble and huggy bear nonsense outside of the Starbucks I frequent on my way to work. I make sure I skip the morning latte and give the guy a couple of bucks every week in exchange for the entertainment value.

Moonie, you don't hang outside any of the Starbucks in downtown Minneapolis on a regular basis by chance, eh?
Click to expand...

Nope, to enter my turf you will need to suffer. The real comedy, of course, and obvious from your put-downs, is that it's what you hope to inflict on me. You don't suppose, do you, that you hope your close-minded, uninformed babble irritates me enough to stop caring about you? Hehe, but never mind about me. I don't really matter. God has forgiven you. Address your hate to Him.
 
My uncle is hard core Democrat. He landscaped his yard and I let him plant vegetables in my back yard. We have a sharecropping operation. He likes to farm and I like to eat.

I do not let politics get in the way of friendships. I dont have to agree with everything a person I know. Besides, if that was the way of things everyone would be a biggot! You cant hide from everyone that disagrees with you.
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Do you keep them, or does the relationship deteriorate after enough of their close-minded, uninformed babble irritates you enough to stop caring about them?

Knowing what's going on in the world and the economy makes the rest of life difficult.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, did you ever consider asking your friends?

AHHHH BURN.

(and don't you think it's strange for the same guy who said electing Obama will cost millions of lives to be complaining about hand waving?)
 
Originally posted by: soccerballtux
Originally posted by: jonks
Do you stop being friends with people who know nothing about professional sports? Or stamp collecting? I don't pick my friends based on their areas of knowledge. My family have wide political views and we argue a lot on holiday dinners, mostly in fun, sometimes heated, but differences in political opinion do not overshadow the familial relationship.
Click to expand...

Hm interesting. Sports does not make a difference in the ability of Americans to raise a family.
Click to expand...

Huh? Growing up I didn't have any discussions in my family about professional sports or politics or economics. Those just weren't things we sat around the dinner table and talked about. We all grew up just fine.
 
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