# Why do so many on the right think ending friendships over political differences is wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650 "2018-02-27T03:17:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BloodStalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/1 "2018-02-27T03:17:01Z")
I don’t understand. Why should I remain friends with someone who doesn’t believe that certain people don’t deserve the same rights as them or on someone who infringes on the role of minorities? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/2 "2018-02-27T03:23:53Z")
In 2010, it was republicans who were more upset about someone marrying outside the political party. > **[Really, Would You Let Your Daughter Marry a Democrat?](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/09/really-would-you-let-your-daughter-marry-a-democrat/262959/)** > > Americans have suddenly gotten suspicious of their children having interparty weddings. That's bad news for an already hyperpolarized nation. > [@](#): > > A pair of surveys asked Americans a more concrete question: in 1960, whether they would be “displeased” if their child married someone outside their political party, and, in 2010, would be “upset” if their child married someone of the other party. In 1960, about 5 percent of Americans expressed a negative reaction to party intermarriage; in 2010, about 40 percent did (Republicans about 50 percent, Democrats about 30 percent). That democratic figure has got to be quite a big higher now that Trump and Roy Moore are the face of the GOP though. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2018, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/3 "2018-02-27T03:40:47Z")
> [@BloodStalk](#): > > I don’t understand. Why should I remain friends with someone who doesn’t believe that certain people don’t deserve the same rights as them or on someone who infringes on the role of minorities? What exactly does each party or each ideology stand for? ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/4 "2018-02-27T03:48:31Z")
For what it’s worth, I’ve lost a friend over the Cheeto. It’s just not worth it. I think i could work past him sleeping with my wife easier than him sucking donald’s dick, ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/5 "2018-02-27T04:12:48Z")
Similarly, I have an acquaintance who committed suicide. Because of his deep throated support of Trump, and his calling Obama the N word, I feel upset about his suicide mostly because I won’t get to rub it in his face as Trump continues to fuck up. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/6 "2018-02-27T06:14:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Why do so many on the right think ending friendships over political differences is wrong? Because they don’t \*want \*friends, they want puppets, yes-men and victims. They want people who will suck up to them even while they or those they care about are being insulted, threatened or outright abused. Simply put, they want to treat other people in ways that would make them highly undesirable as friends completely aside from any political issues. Not coincidentally, they don’t get along well even with each other. They can dish out the abuse but they can’t take it. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/7 "2018-02-27T08:04:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Because they don’t \*want \*friends, they want puppets, yes-men and victims. The problem is that people ‘infected’ by certain political memes - on _both sides_ aren’t interested in a discussion. They have no use for facts or reality. On the conservative side, there are people who believe that any sort of objective report or university professor or _anything_ our civilization thinks is credible must be “fake news” if it disgrees with their view. They hold all these ridiculous ideas, like mass gun ownership makes people safer, that the 1% are rich because they mostly all earned it, that we should tear down whatever meager safety nets our society has and give the money to the military or the rich, that climate change is more fake news, and so on. On the liberal side, there are a bunch of people who believe because it would be nice if all people were equal, in both physical and mental abilities, it therefore must be true. Therefore, any difference in who has the good jobs that require demanding mental talents must be due to a conspiracy by straight white males to keep every other woman or minority down. Never mind the actual fact that many of these good jobs are disproportionately dominated by asians, who those cis white males have done a shitty job of oppressing it appears. Similarly, the liberal side has created a culture where it pays to be a victim. You can’t get any attention unless you’re the victim of something. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/8 "2018-02-27T08:45:54Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > On the liberal side, there are a bunch of people who believe because it would be nice if all people were equal, in both physical and mental abilities, it therefore must be true. Therefore, any difference in who has the good jobs that require demanding mental talents must be due to a conspiracy by straight white males to keep every other woman or minority down. Never mind the actual fact that many of these good jobs are disproportionately dominated by asians, who those cis white males have done a shitty job of oppressing it appears. Please, tell us more about how liberals are disconnected from reality by thinking that racism is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/10 "2018-02-27T09:15:23Z")
Conservatives think liberals have bad ideas. Liberals think conservatives are bad people. Simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/11 "2018-02-27T09:35:34Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives think liberals have bad ideas. Liberals think conservatives are bad people. > > Simple as that. We liberals are down with the “bad hombres.” That doesn’t make us bad people? Seriously,`I think there could be a kernel of truth to your pithy little characterization, but it’s not “simple as that.” . ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/12 "2018-02-27T09:41:33Z")
I believe it’s as simple as that because that’s what it boils down to in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/13 "2018-02-27T10:14:59Z")
Loser Donald calls liberals bad people, not people with bad ideas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/14 "2018-02-27T11:42:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives think liberals have bad ideas. Liberals think conservatives are bad people. > > Simple as that. Really? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/15 "2018-02-27T12:38:15Z")
I have friends of all political flavors. I have no problems us you disagree with me. All I ask is that if you want to promote your ideas you are articulate and consistent. Unthinkingly repeating bumper sticker slogans will get you removed. Disagreement is encouraged, stupidity is not. (Note: I do not consider bigotry or ignorance to be political positions. ) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/16 "2018-02-27T12:44:15Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives think liberals have bad ideas. Liberals think conservatives are bad people. Certain conservatives repeat this pithy phrase in order to portray liberals as bad people and never seem to notice the contradiction. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/17 "2018-02-27T12:58:22Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Conservatives think liberals have bad ideas. Liberals think conservatives are bad people. > > Simple as that. Nothing about people is as simple as that. This is juvenile thinking. People are very complicated. This kind of generalizing is wrong, harmful, and incredibly lazy. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/18 "2018-02-27T13:25:56Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Nothing about people is as simple as that. This is juvenile thinking. People are very complicated. This kind of generalizing is wrong, harmful, and incredibly lazy. Well, because this isn’t just about people “having ideas,” but rather how we choose to allocate resources as a society. Reducing something to such a simplistic, false equivalency shows that one really doesn’t want to recognize the foundations of one’s beliefs. When it comes to Trump, though, it isn’t about “liberal” or “conservative.” I can be friends with someone who honestly and consistently holds legitimate conservative beliefs. But someone who countenances Trump’s abject bullshit just isn’t intellectually honest. And, worse still, someone who actually falls for Trump’s abject bullshit–who believes it–really just lacks any critical thinking capacity. In either case, I would never be friends with such people in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/19 "2018-02-27T13:34:11Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Please, tell us more about how liberals are disconnected from reality by thinking that racism is bad. Please re-read **Samuela** ’s post which you are replying to. He did not say that liberals are disconnected from reality by thinking that racism is bad. He said that libs are disconnected from reality by seeing racism everywhere they look, and thinking that any and all differences between people are always the result of racist oppression by white males. And if you cannot see oppression everywhere, than a good politically-correct liberal will declare you a bigot, and he won’t be friends with you anymore. Even though you are right. 🙂 (I actually heard someone I know telling her high school aged son that he should not date Republicans) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/20 "2018-02-27T13:34:51Z")
I am reminded of [this](https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/the-date-from-hell/) article. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650/21 "2018-02-27T13:50:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I am reminded of [this](https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/the-date-from-hell/) article. That’s quite the list of ice-breakers she’s got there. She says she is a queer femme of color, so I suspect I wouldn’t be likely to be dating her, but number 4 on her list of “first date questions” is somewhat ambiguous. > [@](#): > > What are your thoughts on sex work? I am not sure how I should respond - “how much do you charge” and “do you offer a dental plan” both seem equally inappropriate. Regards, Shodan PS - I did manage to figure out that she probably wouldn’t react well if I asked her to go Dutch on the tab. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-on-the-right-think-ending-friendships-over-political-differences-is-wrong/809650.md?page=2)