# Being friends with a Trump supporter **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693 "2016-09-24T01:34:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/61 "2016-09-25T15:31:22Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But if there are tanks thundering down my street, mowing down my innocent neighbors, I’d like my friend and me to be on the same page with regard to all of this. You better believe if my friend shrugged this off because “hey, ain’t my street, ain’t my neighbors, they probably did something to deserve it, duh”, I would cut them off. Not enough sports and beer in the world could make me ignore something like that. I don’t think my Trump supporting friends and family would support this, either. And, once again, it’s not about beer and sports. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/62 "2016-09-25T15:32:00Z")
At some point, not-caring about politics becomes a privileged, insular position. Many people don’t have the option, and it’s not real attractive in those that do. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/63 "2016-09-25T15:33:09Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Just don’t use your fuzzy logic and hatred of Trump to make the illogical leap that YES your “friend” is ACTUALLY for bringing back the KKK (unless the dude actually says as much). > > PS. This goes for pretty much any politician and or any “controversial” position. Is it that much of leap to view my “friend” as someone aligning himself with the KKK if he is voting for a candidate who is demonstrably supported by the KKK and whose supporters share similar views to white supremacists? He may never put on a white hood, or burn a cross, or openly discriminate against a racial minority, but he’s enabling and emboldening those who do. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/64 "2016-09-25T15:35:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t think my Trump supporting friends and family would support this, either. And, once again, it’s not about beer and sports. But would they actively oppose it? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/65 "2016-09-25T15:35:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is it that much of leap to view my “friend” as someone aligning himself with the KKK if he is voting for a candidate who is demonstrably supported by the KKK and whose supporters share similar views to white supremacists? > > He may never put on a white hood, or burn a cross, or openly discriminate against a racial minority, but he’s enabling and emboldening those who do. And there are plenty of conservatives that could probably say the same sorta thing about Hillary/Hillary “supporters” and certain positions that they as conservatives find vile as doggy poop. But you missed my main point. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/66 "2016-09-25T15:39:13Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t think my Trump supporting friends and family would support this, either. If you rarely talk to people about the implications and consequences of political matters, it’s hard to say what someone “would” support. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/67 "2016-09-25T15:39:17Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > But would they actively oppose it? I believe so, yes. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/68 "2016-09-25T15:41:55Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Maybe they do. Maybe they haven’t thought about it. Maybe they (or you) is just mistaken or under-informed. Whichever, if you rarely talk to people about the implications and consequences of political matters, you can’t really say, can you. Yes, it’s all possible. I feel I know them well enough outside of explicit political talk and how they act in their personal and community lives to be comfortable in assuming otherwise. That’s why they’re my friends. I do believe 100% that they are good people. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/69 "2016-09-25T15:46:40Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > And there are plenty of conservatives that could probably say the same sorta thing about Hillary/Hillary “supporters” and certain positions that they as conservatives find vile as doggy poop. > > But you missed my main point. I hope your point isn’t to suggest there is some sort of moral equivalence between an email server decision and outright appeal to bigotry and ignorance. I defend the right and judgement of any/all conservatives to not cast their vote for HRC in this election. I question their values if they consider casting a vote for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/70 "2016-09-25T15:47:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I believe so, yes. Not if they vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/71 "2016-09-25T15:54:16Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Not if they vote for him. Believe what you want. There’s no point in discussing this, I see. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/72 "2016-09-25T16:01:32Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I’m starting to feel like one’s definition of “friend” is going to determine whether politics is a dividing line. > > IMHO, a friend is someone I’d feel comfortable talking just about anything with. Including my opinions about current events. We may not always agree, but I would not feel like I’d have to censor myself when I’m around them. If I don’t have that level of comfort with someone, we are just acquaintances, not friends. > > But I guess some people form relationships around activities (like drinking beer and watching sports), and as long as they have those activities to share together, it’s all good. > > I don’t know. I can’t imagine calling a person a friend if I can’t ever rant about things going on around me without them arguing that I’m wrong or that I’ve been suckered by the lame stream media. Or if I can’t bring them around my friends and family because they are inclined to say something that will cause offense. I don’t think that’s me being close-minded. It’s just me choosing to devote my social energies towards people I can be myself around. There are different types of people. One type takes this junk far too seriously. Trump is a boor. The Clintons are corrupt. With the populace we have there is going to be a people who get their information from propagandists or comedians and make a vote based on that. Calling them pedophiles isn’t going to change any minds. I like Iron Mike’s approach. [https://youtu.be/aG8xMrRPFdc](https://youtu.be/aG8xMrRPFdc) See, these people can agree to disagree and than go on with their day. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/73 "2016-09-25T16:06:46Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Is it that much of leap to view my “friend” as someone aligning himself with the KKK if he is voting for a candidate who is demonstrably supported by the KKK and whose supporters share similar views to white supremacists? > > He may never put on a white hood, or burn a cross, or openly discriminate against a racial minority, but he’s enabling and emboldening those who do. That’s like condemning Clinton supporters because of the riots in urban areas that vote overwhelmingly democrat. Several of which were jumping people and even tried to drag a reporter into a fire. What does that behavior represent? Should all Clinton supporters be painted with that same broad brush? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/74 "2016-09-25T16:49:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t think my Trump supporting friends and family would support this, either. And, once again, it’s not about beer and sports. If the topic came up in conversation and you heard your friends say a variation of “not my street, not my neighbors, they probably did something to deserve it”, would this be enough for you to cut them off? Or would you continue to hang out with them because it’s just politics and it doesn’t matter? > [@Peremensoe](#): > > At some point, not-caring about politics becomes a privileged, insular position. Many people don’t have the option, and it’s not real attractive in those that do. Exactly. People who don’t care–who think all political parties and all presidential candidates are all the same, so why bother–are the same ones who wake up one morning, wondering when they became oppressed and who let it happen. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/75 "2016-09-25T17:03:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t think my Trump supporting friends and family would support this, either. And, once again, it’s not about beer and sports. Unfortunately, very few of us have been tested in this way. I don’t know what my friends would do if fascist shit came to town. I don’t even know what I would do. I just know what I hope I’d do. I hope I wouldn’t just sit there and say “Hey, it’s just politics.” ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/76 "2016-09-25T17:09:17Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > That’s like condemning Clinton supporters because of the riots in urban areas that vote overwhelmingly democrat. Several of which were jumping people and even tried to drag a reporter into a fire. What does that behavior represent? Should all Clinton supporters be painted with that same broad brush? Does Clinton welcome these people to her rallies and cheer them on when they act out? Does she excuse them? Because that’s what [Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/mar/14/donald-trump-legal-fees-protester-punched-video) does to his “bad apples”. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/77 "2016-09-25T17:16:06Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Does Clinton welcome these people to her rallies and cheer them on when they act out? Does she excuse them? > > Because that’s what [Trump](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/mar/14/donald-trump-legal-fees-protester-punched-video) does to his “bad apples”. That’s cause The Donald is trying to build a big tent! But I see your point. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/78 "2016-09-25T19:44:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > That sounds a tad bit dismissive to me. In the scheme of things, I don’t find politics all that important. It’s easy to ‘not find politics all that important’ when it’s just other people who’s lives are being destroyed by the politics your ‘friends’ support. I have a trans woman friend who had multiple situations in which she feared for her life at the hands of ‘good guy’ conservatives for doing terribly controversial stuff like stopping at a gas station to pee. I know a lot of gay couples who couldn’t get benefits or access to their partner in the hospital because they weren’t married, and who would get denied basic services if Trump’s ‘OK to discriminate’ laws get passed. I’ve got a black friend who has to worry about getting shot for a traffic stop that I’d consider a minor annoyance. I think all of these things are pretty important, things like ‘not dying’ are a little different than ‘should we rezone the old Elm Street neighborhood for commercial use?’. > [@](#): > > he’s the one person who I know will always be there for me when I really need him, and vice versa. I guess I don’t find it that important to need to rant about current events. I mean, I have to deal with conservatives and liberals alike in my day-to-day life; I don’t like talking politics, and I don’t like talking religion, and my friendships need not talk about either. Would he be there for you if you were telling him about how you were leaving your wife for you new husband because you realized you were gay? I kind of doubt it. How supportive would he be if you converted to Islam? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/79 "2016-09-25T20:18:48Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > It’s easy to ‘not find politics all that important’ when it’s just other people who’s lives are being destroyed by the politics your ‘friends’ support. I have a trans woman friend who had multiple situations in which she feared for her life at the hands of ‘good guy’ conservatives for doing terribly controversial stuff like stopping at a gas station to pee. I know a lot of gay couples who couldn’t get benefits or access to their partner in the hospital because they weren’t married, and who would get denied basic services if Trump’s ‘OK to discriminate’ laws get passed. I’ve got a black friend who has to worry about getting shot for a traffic stop that I’d consider a minor annoyance. > > I think all of these things are pretty important, things like ‘not dying’ are a little different than ‘should we rezone the old Elm Street neighborhood for commercial use?’. > > Would he be there for you if you were telling him about how you were leaving your wife for you new husband because you realized you were gay? I kind of doubt it. How supportive would he be if you converted to Islam? He absolutely positively would have no problem with that. He’s not a social conservative. He is absolutely not trans or homophobic in any way. He’s more in the anarchist fuck the system mold of Trump supporter. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693/80 "2016-09-25T20:47:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > He absolutely positively would have no problem with that. He’s not a social conservative. He is absolutely not trans or homophobic in any way. He’s more in the anarchist fuck the system mold of Trump supporter. So he’s in favour of the Somalian form of government? Perhaps it’s in your own interest to convince your friend to simply sit out this election. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-friends-with-a-trump-supporter/766693.md?page=5)