# Hosting a friend on election day-- how not to kill each other? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 30, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308 "2016-09-30T20:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/1 "2016-09-30T20:14:02Z")
One of my (and to a lesser extent, **oft wears hats** ’) friends is coming to visit us soon. The friend and I have very different political views; **hats** ’ views tend to line up with mine. This friend is going to be here…on _election day_. How do we not all kill each other? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/2 "2016-09-30T20:24:36Z")
What time? Because Slate is planning to call states as the outcome is clear and won’t wait until after the polls close. By the time your friend gets there, it may all be over. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/3 "2016-09-30T20:26:55Z")
Witnesses. Have people over for Chili Night, get a bunch of straw boater hats, have two TVs set up (one for each demo’s favorite cable news source - NO volume, CC only, play music or something else). Maybe have people vote on the chili or mac and cheese or something. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/4 "2016-09-30T20:35:23Z")
Just remember that it will soon be over and all of the discourse of the past few months will sound childish and silly. So just shake hands, congratulate those who picked the winner, or offer condolences to the losing side. Then jump up and down and shout “IN YOUR FACE LOSER! WE WON - YOU LOST!” Or maybe leave that part out. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/5 "2016-09-30T20:55:10Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Witnesses. Have people over for Chili Night, get a bunch of straw boater hats, have two TVs set up (one for each demo’s favorite cable news source - NO volume, CC only, play music or something else). Maybe have people vote on the chili or mac and cheese or something. I like this idea a lot. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/6 "2016-09-30T21:39:58Z")
I like all these ideas so far! Keep 'em coming! > [@RealityChuck](#): > > What time? Because Slate is planning to call states as the outcome is clear and won’t wait until after the polls close. By the time your friend gets there, it may all be over. He’ll be staying with us for the whole week, probably. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/7 "2016-09-30T22:58:58Z")
Don’t do what two of my buddies did in 2000. Taking a shot for each state called for their candidate. I think they each took a couple on Florida…it was a long night. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/8 "2016-09-30T23:04:09Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > This friend is going to be here…on _election day_. > How do we not all kill each other? Blender drinks… he gets the one with the Xanax. From there, let the games begin! Is there an AMTRAK station near you? Can you pre-purchase tickets? Do either of you have handcuffs? I have it on VERY good authority that the center support poles at the ends of the benches are VERY sturdy. Flip a coin for who has to de-pants him [before the train leaves the station](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tvXfD9mdKg)… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/9 "2016-09-30T23:25:42Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > One of my (and to a lesser extent, **oft wears hats** ’) friends is coming to visit us soon. The friend and I have very different political views; **hats** ’ views tend to line up with mine. > > This friend is going to be here…on _election day_. > How do we not all kill each other? Make sure you don’t get all upset and curse out your friend when Hillary wins. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/10 "2016-10-01T01:44:50Z")
**Make Tuesday Night Movie Night!** :D:D:D:D:D:D Yaaaay! ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/11 "2016-10-01T01:53:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Make sure you don’t get all upset and curse out your friend when Hillary wins. Do you _read_ my posts? I’m much more worried about us breaking out into song and dance when Hillary wins. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/12 "2016-10-01T04:31:57Z")
Initiate **The Drink** , early. It’s all meaningless, anyway. Might as well have some fun. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/13 "2016-10-01T13:44:51Z")
I had an idea! Spend the evening at the rock climbing gym. Whenever our favored candidate takes a state, we have to do a route. Whenever our favored candidate takes a swing stake, we have to do a more difficult route than what we’d usually attempt. That should get us all good and tired by the end, way too tired to fight. And if not, hey, the gym has a punching bag! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/14 "2016-10-01T13:49:23Z")
I have no intention of watching anything related to the election. I’ll have voted at least a month ago by then. I completely fail to understand how people think this is a real-time spectator sport. The next day you two can go buy a newspaper and read it over breakfast out. Loser pays. Conversation over. Easy OTOH, if your friend wants to be a political junkie that day simply invite them to stay somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/15 "2016-10-01T16:00:06Z")
There are additional ways to answer a question from someone else. That is not to answer at all! So yes, no, or no answer. And so far as disagreements, you can agree to disagree! (Respect the views of the other person even though they are WRONG!.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/16 "2016-10-01T17:19:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have no intention of watching anything related to the election. I’ll have voted at least a month ago by then. I completely fail to understand how people think this is a real-time spectator sport. > > The next day you two can go buy a newspaper and read it over breakfast out. Loser pays. Conversation over. > > Easy > > OTOH, if your friend wants to be a political junkie that day simply invite them to stay somewhere else. Normally, I enjoy checking up on the returns, to see how things are going. But I don’t normally watch the pundit coverage or anything. This year, I may be too terrified to look until the next morning. Mostly, I was worried about seeing that Hillary won and not being able to contain my joyous relief. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/17 "2016-10-02T15:45:46Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Initiate **The Drink** , early. > > It’s all meaningless, anyway. Might as well have some fun. …and writing **[COLOR=“Red”]Trump Voter[/COLOR]** …across his forehead in Sharpie when he passes out is probably to be avoided. Probably. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/18 "2016-10-03T07:18:03Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Do you _read_ my posts? I’m much more worried about us breaking out into song and dance when Hillary wins. Really? I thought Americans were pretty much split 50/50 on the election so I had an even chance of guessing right. Where did I go wrong in my assumption? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/19 "2016-10-03T07:25:13Z")
Make it a rule for the night that you can only cheer for the candidate you didn’t vote for. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308/20 "2016-10-03T11:36:23Z")
> [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](#): > > How do we not all kill each other? Don’t discuss politics or the election? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosting-a-friend-on-election-day-how-not-to-kill-each-other/767308.md?page=2)