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Cube dwellers: How daring are you about your political ideologies at work

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LynneSin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:07 AM
Original message
Cube dwellers: How daring are you about your political ideologies at work
Let's face it - I still see all sorts of "God Bless America" and American Flags all over the office place. I'm sure many of you DU Cube Dwellers see the same.

But how ballsy are you about showing off YOUR political ideologies? Could someone walk into your cube and say "Geez, I think she's a liberal"

ME?

I have a postcard of the William J Clinton Library hanging on my wall. I also wear a No War and March for Choice Buttons on my coat. Plus today I just put this guy on top of my monitor



(I have the 2000 version at home)
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GOPisEvil Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:09 AM
Response to Original message
1. With certain people, I am quite open about how I feel and think.
But, on the whole, I am guarded with my superiors because our new boss was appointed by Gov. Goodhair, and no sense making enemies.
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LynneSin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:11 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. You have an excuse
Fortunately my boss ISN'T governor Goodhair!!
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trogdor Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:27 AM
Response to Reply #1
17. It is not wise to be too open about one's politics at the office.
My opinion. I have a few friends with whom I can discuss this kind of stuff, but I generally keep it low-key.

I do have a "Jackasses" calendar on my cube wall (I wonder if anybody gets it) and my Dean for America coffee mug on my desk. Apart from that, I treat it as if it's nobody's business.
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Az Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:11 AM
Response to Original message
3. Quite open
I invite any and all to engage in discussion on the 2 taboo subects (religion and politics). For I truly believe that by letting them remain a taboo we allow ignorance and intolerance to fester and grow.
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dryan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:11 AM
Response to Original message
4. My office home
During the 1996 election cycle a co-worker made a remark about Democrats that I didn't like. Believe it or not, I found a joke card in a bookstore that has a photo of President Clinton but it looks like an autographed photo -- you know, that's for everything, Bill Clinton. So I got a cheapo frame and put it on my desk. Nobody said anything.

Now morphed 8 years later, my office looks like Democratic HQ. I have several bumper stickers and buttons pined to my wall.
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DarkPhenyx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:12 AM
Response to Original message
5. I don't dwell in a cube...
...but I'm not allowed to close my office door. Don't ask.

Anyway, I'm very "daring" as you put it. I have signs all over my walls screaming out my politics. My truck is genetically engineered to piss of the Right. My PC wallpaper is Bush in a Nazi uniform proclaiming that "Democracy is Boring". The RW types in my office are more than aware of my views, and know better than to say something political around me if they aren't looking for a two hour conversation.

Is it still daring and brave if you just don't give a rats ass about what they think?
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fudge stripe cookays Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:13 AM
Response to Original message
6. I have a Howard Dean bumper sticker on my bulletin board...
and "Bush or Chimp" pictures up there as well. I've annoyed some people, but also discovered at least one other silent Democrat among us.

I got nailed recently for being "too political," (in everyday speech, not in decorating), but they're not shutting me up.

I've also got Dean and "Texas Democrat" bumper stickers on my car in the parking lot, and everybody knows everybody here, so it's not like it's a big secret.
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Free_Thinking1 Donating Member (75 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:13 AM
Response to Original message
7. I don't really talk politics in the office
I don't think it is the place for it. I have my "God bless America and our troops" sign and an American flag at my cube but I don't see what that has to do with political affiliation.
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:15 AM
Response to Reply #7
9. Where do you consider to be the proper place for politics?
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Free_Thinking1 Donating Member (75 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:20 AM
Response to Reply #9
14. I talk politics among friends and family
But since I am a supervisor and am in charge of a large group, meaning there is a good chance someone has opposing political opinions, I don't like to discuss it. I don't want it to become an issue with promotions, evaluations, etc.
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THUNDER HANDS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:15 AM
Response to Original message
8. I don't talk about politics at all
The only time I came close was discussing medical malpractice lawsuits with some doctors.

But we got tons of flyers asking us to support caps on medical lawsuits. Obviously, as you'd imagine, the doctors were all for it.

Kinda hard to discuss politics here. Nobody I work with is that political - although I did hear the girl I work next to say that if Gore was president we probably wouldn't be going to Iraq. That made me smile that at least someone in my hospital has a brain.
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wysimdnwyg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:15 AM
Response to Original message
10. I have my DU buper sticker proudly displayed!
EVERYONE at my office knows I'm liberal.
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Screaming Lord Byron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:16 AM
Response to Original message
11. We do the old Canadian trick of bitching about the US
Edited on Wed Mar-24-04 09:23 AM by Screaming Lord Byron
(irony) to avoid discussing our own politics. Which is very useful, as I live in a very right-wing town and work in a very right-wing industry.
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TXlib Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:18 AM
Response to Original message
12. I readily attack my freeper colleagues when they display their ignorance.
I cross swords with 2-3 of them a day...

since I've come here, several other democrats and liberals have come out of the closet, and I know of 4 colleagues who voted for Bush in 2000 who won't be voting for him this year... at least 2 of those votes are directly because of me.
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Commie Pinko Dirtbag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:22 AM
Response to Reply #12
15. TXlib = Weapon of Moran Disruption (nt)
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kmla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:19 AM
Response to Original message
13. Not very.
Too many lemmings around here (the kind who vote republican because they wanna be like their friends and neighbors) and a bunch of Hillary-haters who are trying to be cynical because they think it makes them appear knowledgable. Mostly, though, it just makes them cynical. Spewing forth the Rush Limbaugh talking points of the day doesn't make you appear enlightened.:eyes:

So mainly, I don't engage people in political discussions at work. (Don't wrestle with a pig - you just end up getting dirty, and the pig starts to enjoy if after awhile if you do.)

However, I will state my progressive/liberal opinion when asked in conversation...
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dryan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:23 AM
Response to Reply #13
16. Political Office decor
During the Florida Recount I went to Tallahassee and I also have several framed posters from that event. Everyone knows that I'm politically active. I collect political memorabilia also and people bring me things. This is not a secret in my office any longer. More people comment on the fact that most of my office equipment is purple than the political items any more! If they do comment about my political stuff, its to ask a question about how to vote for.
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pagerbear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:29 AM
Response to Original message
18. Printouts of This Modern World tacked on cube walls
One of which is about gay marriage.
As well as a Human Rights Campaign bumper sticker (OK, it's just an equals sign) and a rainbow puppy sticker.
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ret5hd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:34 AM
Response to Original message
19. 1st, i'll explain my (not typical) situation...
position: technical support for a manufacturing type shop, union member

office: small office (not cubicle) away from the "main" group of offices

I have an Amnesty International sticker on the window. I keep copies of The Nation and Harpers out for those interested in some reading material. I hung an anti-war poster (How To Spot Terra'ists) but was told to remove it.

My proudest work-related political story:

My manager was relating to me how he had "dropped the ball" on and mishandled a particular project and I told him "Well, we already know one thing for sure."
"What?" he asked.
"Well, as a working man and a republican, we know you're not that bright."
His jaw just kinda dropped, I laughed, he laughed, and we walked off.

As I said, I'm represented by a union. Do not try this at your job.
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kmla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:46 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. Damn - wish I could say that to a few people around here...
n/t
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blondeatlast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:50 AM
Response to Original message
21. I work for city government, so it's pretty low key, but all but the
newbie in the office agree pretty strongly that the Chimp in Chief must go.

We do discuss it; national politics is not off-limits.

OTOH, we're too damn busy (3 new library branches opening in the next year!) to spend much time discussing anything!
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vi5 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:53 AM
Response to Original message
22. Not at all...
I get annoyed when I see it in other people's cubes (although usually it's only conservatives so that could have something to do with it), so I try to not do it myself. Nobody would ever know that I was a liberal unless it came up in conversation (which it never does and likely never would).
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Bertha Venation Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:56 AM
Response to Original message
23. Oh, extremely outspoken!
I work on a floor that's about 60% Republican. I'm not the only Democrat but I'm the only one who wears it on my sleeve. For example, I'm not taking down my "Dean for America" bumper sticker until I have a Kerry one; I display the U.S., CA, rainbow flags prominently; another bumper sticker in plain sight reads "The Federal Marriage Amendment: Yes, let's write second-class citizenship into the Constitution!" And I have a photo of that beautiful elderly lesbian couple on their wedding day, and under it I printed the word "MARRIED" -- that too is prominently displayed.

Out, loud, liberal, and DAMNED if I'm going back in.
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felonious thunk Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:57 AM
Response to Original message
24. I have four decorations in my cube
A Kerry sign
A Kennedy/Johnson bumper sticker
A Harry Truman bumper sticker
A small Phillies batting helmet
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NuckinFutz Donating Member (852 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:59 AM
Response to Original message
25. I'm relatively open...
I have a Kucinich bumper sticker pinned to the back wall, along with some 'Actual Quote' and 'This Modern World' comics I printed off from Workinforchange. I also have an email of Bush/Cheney'04 possible slogans, my favorite of which is "Thanks for not paying attention!". On my desk, I have a few 'Progressive Vision' flyers for the Kucinich campaign and a daily Presidential (mis)Speak calendar.

I don't usually start political conversations, but have no problem adding my two cents when the subject arises, or someone asks me about my views.

I work as a contractor for the Commonwealth of PA, in a state building, and nobody has asked me to remove any of my politically oriented items
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Blue-Jay Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 09:59 AM
Response to Original message
26. I've got plenty of stuff!
DU Bumper sticker
A picture of the "Moran" guy
A Tom Tomorrow entitled "Interesting Things We Have Learned From Republican Lately"
One of those fake war propoganda featuring Cheney dressed as a marine vowing to watch our soldiers backs from his secure undisclosed location.
A "Bush Sucks" button. (Thank you, mopinko!)

It's kinda funny. I almost never get nasty comments on my "decorations". Maybe I'll put some more inflammatory stuff up.
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supernova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Mar-24-04 10:01 AM
Response to Original message
27. Talk yes
I talk about my politics if the topic comes up among peers. I don't enagage the higher ups though; I don't engage them in anything that isn't work related anyway.

As for my work area, nondecorated. But I'm an office minimalist anyway. I might have some artistic calendar but that's it.
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