My republican friend freaked out on me this morning

[Politics_Guy25]

So,

We have been online buds. Anyway, he was in a bit of a mood this morning and I think I kind of exacerbated it. What I said to him was "you seem to really have a non-idealistic view of the world. You have a harsh outlook on life."

Well, anyway, he freaked out, said he was deeply offended, and said he was never ever going to come online again because of what I said to him.

I was just trying to challenge him a little bit politically and he freaked out.

He's been a good friend to me. Was I the wrong one here? Should I apologize in a e-mail, should I just let him come to me or should I drop him altogether.

I should say that he calls black people the N word, hates President Obama, thinks the democrats are all communists, and has accused me numerous times of being a naieve fool for being a Democrat and STRONG supporter of President Obama. He listens to Rush Limbaugh daily and is a huge Hannity/Limbaugh fan. He seems to have zero respect for my political beliefs.

I just stuck with him because I don't have many friends and was a bit desperate for a friend. This wasn't a romantic thing or anything. Don't think that. He has been good to me outside of the political realm.

What do you think of it all?

[EOTE]

1. I'd work on finding another online friend.

I know friends aren't disposable, but I'd have a hard time being friends with anyone that used the N word. I lost a High School friend for that very reason. Friends are important, but you shouldn't change who you are because of one.

[Politics_Guy25]

3. Yeah-I reconnected with some high school friends recently

who actually live near me and aren't so conservative. Maybe I should work on forming better times with them rather than worrying about this guy.

Thanks dawg and EOTE.

I should say that he freaks out at me if we don't talk for 5 hours online every day. I've kind of been weaning him off a bit slowly of that. Maybe he's ticked I cut him down a little. I don't know.

[EOTE]

4. That sounds like a good idea.

I spend the bulk of my day at the desk, so I probably spend too much time online as it is. But, having gone to 3 different high schools in 3 different states, a number of my high school friends I can only chat with regularly online. I definitely understand the attraction, instant messaging can be extremely convenient and fun.

Either way, you don't owe him anything. If he acts like an ass, don't chat with him until he shapes up. And spending more time with friends outside of the ether (I.E., in the real world) is always a good thing. Just a shame it's so damned cold out.

[dawg]

2. Dude, be friends with us!

It's ok to have conservative friends, but the guy you're talking about sounds unstable and rude.

[Skittles]

5. sounds like a garden-variety nutty repuke to me

[Moondog]

6. Normally I'd say find another friend, but

since that might not be ideal, I'd say not to discuss politics, ever again, with this guy.

My grandmother, and I am 60 years old, used to impress on her grandchildren that "well brought-up people do _not_ discuss religion or politics in polite company." The older I get, the more I realize how wise this her advice was.

Still, start looking for another person to pal around with.

[Xithras]

7. I was going to say....

The post I was about to make: "One of my best and oldest friends is a genuine, card carrying teabagger. We both know where we stand politically, so we just don't talk about politics. Ever."

But then I got to this line of your post: "he calls black people the N word...and has accused me numerous times of being a naieve fool...He seems to have zero respect for my political beliefs"

And that's where I changed my mind. This person has poor respect for others in general, and no respect for you. He isn't a friend, he's a conversational partner that you tolerate for company. A FRIEND would respect you, and your beliefs, even if he didn't agree with them. The fact that your friend would insult you over them suggests to me that he isn't a friend at all.

Oh, and I don't abide racists in any form. I cut my own mother out of my life because of her racism. There's no way I'd put up with it from a "friend".

[muffin1]

8. I'm with everyone else here.

Drop him. The N-word, no respect for your beliefs, Limbaugh/Hannity...I don't know how you've done it this long.

[Politics_Guy25]

9. I sent him a e-mail

apologizing and asking to agree to disagree. Didn't grovel or anything. We'll see. If he cares enough, he'll reply and we can take it from there. If not, I won't be sorry to no longer be his friend that's for sure.

[Blue-Jay]

10. Fuck that guy.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

11. unstable and racist

get rid of him.

[Dappleganger]

12. Who are you kidding?

Sweetie, you set yourself up for that fall. ;)

[Politics_Guy25]

13. Yeah lol

This is what happens when one gets desperate. Anyway, we just talked and everything is all right. He's just someone I'll keep around so that I don't get lonely.