Your grandmother would always tell you it’s not polite to discuss religion and politics in a social setting. As years have gone by and with the rise of social media, that tried-and-true policy has fallen to the wayside leaving a wide open battlefield of misunderstanding and chaos. Sometimes it is just best to get along with everyone, no matter what their political affiliation. If you find yourself struggling with this, maybe a few of these pointers will help you keep friends and family without causing unnecessary drama and tension.
See the Person, Not the Position
If you enjoy someone’s company, but clash politically, let those views melt away and focus on the person not the position. It shouldn’t matter how someone voted in the last election if you enjoy spending time with them. Make it a personal goal to keep politics off the table and if the conversation starts heading that way, casually make a joke about how you aren’t going down that rabbit hole and steer the interaction elsewhere. Don’t see the other person as a threat to you or your views. You’ll spend more time having fun with your friend or family member and less frustration and time spending holding your tongue.
Potato, Potahto
Similarly, there’s the classic tactic of just agreeing to disagree. You might not always see eye to eye, but it doesn’t really matter. You don’t need to change everyone’s view who doesn’t see it as you do. Let democracy do its job and make your voice heard in your voting actions. If you stop trying to convince someone of something they don’t want to believe in, you’ll find it a lot easier just accepting it for what it is and focusing on other aspects of your relationship together.
Experiment
Maybe as a change of approach, try seeing it from their side or point of view. Is there something you are missing that could bring some clarity? Usually, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, so go searching for it. It’s also okay to agree with some aspects of a political affiliation and not all of them. Maybe try saying something nice about the opposite party or side and see if it changes your way of thinking. You might even surprise yourself with how seeing it from an altered vantage can make all the difference.
Beware Social Media
The battleground of social media has gotten way out of control. People can post anything they want whether it’s true or false, misleading or incorrect and it’s led to a lot of confusion and misinformation. When it comes to politics and social media, it’s best to not even go anywhere near it. Do not get caught up in the comments section, it’s nothing but toxic waste floating around. Try not to engage and you’ll find yourself living a much happier life.
There are plenty of productive ways to support your views, try not getting too involved in them with family and friends and keep them on the sunnier side of life. Everyone will get along better and that just makes happiness and peace for all.