Why is discussing politics taboo?

[Scuba]

Why is discussing politics taboo? In the workplace, I can understand. Elsewhere, no.

When I was growing up this was not the case, but we have somehow made discussion of politics off-limits (I violate this taboo every day, much to the shock of people around me).

One of our bloggers today mentioned it's taboo in the bar where he hangs.

This is wrong, and part of what's wrong with this country.

[Gaedel]

1. Old social custom

It is bad form to argue religion or politics in what was meant to be a pleasant social gathering.

[MrScorpio]

2. Because, it threatens to challenge someone's system of belief

And creates the possibility of it being held up to scrutiny.

For some people, their facades are all they have.

Besides, everyone is entitled to their own facade, and for the sake of harmony, perhaps it would be better just to leave them with it intact...


Especially, if they're not trying to force feed you with it.

[WillParkinson]

3. I refuse to discuss politics with people in the 'real world'...

It leads to idiocy and stupidity more often than not. I have no desire to argue with people. They are as entitled to their beliefs as I am (no matter how wrong they may be.)

[LWolf]

4. When I was growing up, politics and religion were off-topic

conversations in general settings; they were reserved for political and religious settings. A "live and let live" philosophy that did not try to smack others in the face with personal opinions and beliefs.

I still hold to that philosophy.

I think it began to disappear when religious and political discussions began their ascendance in the media, offering up propaganda, slogans, and judgments for mass consumption. The rise of the ditto-heads, and the fall of independent thinking.

[rucky]

5. I wish it were that way.

I'd rather hang out at you blogger's bar than one full of Beckholes.

[pipi_k]

6. Politics is a subject that often can't be discussed

with an expectation of reason and sanity.


In a world where people get murdered during arguments over whether the macaroni has cooked too long, whose sports team is the "best", who "stole" whose parking space, and whether a property line is 2 inches too far over on one side or another, we're going to add the potentially nuclear topic of politics?

And I can especially understand why it would be banned in a bar, where all it takes for a fight to break out is for one idiot to to think that another idiot looked at him "the wrong way".


Of course, if people enjoy stirring up mayhem and making life (and events) unpleasant for themselves and others, then full steam ahead.... Life is hard enough without pot-stirrers, and I refuse to discuss politics in real life where physical assault is always a possibility.

[elocs]

7. This is a simple concept and I'm surprised you need to ask about it.

We live in a very polarized nation, but with most people of differing views who can coexist, get along and get things done which would not be possible with politics being brought up all the time. In fact, with the people with whom I interact daily politics rarely comes up at all unless things direct it there.

I have a dear friend who is like a father to me. He is in his 70s and I doubt he will live many more years. He would do anything for me as I would for him. He also is a very conservative Republican. We could have knock-down, drag out fights about politics all the time, but why? That would be absolutely stupid. We both know each other's beliefs and we simply avoid discussing politics.

Unless you were to patronize a bar where discussing politics is part of its atmosphere, then it should be easy to understand why it would be taboo. Why would I go to a sports bar and talk about politics, pissing off and getting people worked up who simply came to enjoy a game or watch a race?

Since you violate the accepted taboo about discussing politics then I imagine you are quite the popular person. Although my guess would be that those with whom you discuss politics and who disagree with you are as completely convinced that they are as correct in their views as you are in yours. You might consider them to be close-minded, but they are likely to consider you to be exactly the same.

[JNelson6563]

8. Too many become very uncivil at first sign of disagreement.

Take a look around DU friend, notice how decidedly UNcivil things can become if different viewpoints are offered. There is a reason certain topics get their own forum, I'm hoping that will soon be expanded to include another topic or two. While the topics themselves are important enough to merit discussion, there are certain issues that some folks just get batshit crazy when discussing, to the point where hysterics take over and civility is nowhere in sight.

Julie