Love and Politics

UsedToBeHusky

Can you make it work when your SO has an opposing viewpoint?

mister_universe

Probably easier to do than differences in religion, but not by much.

UsedToBeHusky

Probably easier to do than differences in religion, but not by much.

Yeah, you've got a point. I don't know how couples with different religions make it work.

MB_Positif

My college best friend has made it work for 9 years and they are polar opposites.

My husband and I share some similar views, but he's way more extreme and sometimes I want to stuff a sock in his mouth when he talks about it. *insert sweet smile here*

patrickblo13

It is tough but can work. You just can't talk politics to each other because we all know how well those conversations usually end up

Chief_Rocka

My husband and I share some similar views, but he's way more extreme and sometimes I want to stuff a sock in his mouth when he talks about it. *insert sweet smile here*

kinky

UsedToBeHusky

It is tough but can work. You just can't talk politics to each other because we all know how well those conversations usually end up

:laugh:

I usually don't talk politics with anyone... but he usually starts it.

MB_Positif

My husband and I share some similar views, but he's way more extreme and sometimes I want to stuff a sock in his mouth when he talks about it. *insert sweet smile here*

kinky

Hi Rock

ItsCasey

I can make it work with anyone who is intelligent and reasonable and well-informed and doesn't try to be the thought police. I think it's easier to be with someone who shares your views, but honestly, the most important thing to me is there is mutual respect for the fact that we don't come to our values by accident. If there is reason and thought and conviction behind what you believe and it does not bother you that I may believe differently on some things, then we're cool.

I could never date someone who blindly believes whatever he's told, however. Read. Think. Use your brain. Decide for yourself.

jmp463

I can make it work with anyone who is intelligent and reasonable and well-informed and doesn't try to be the thought police. I think it's easier to be with someone who shares your views, but honestly, the most important thing to me is there is mutual respect for the fact that we don't come to our values by accident. If there is reason and thought and conviction behind what you believe and it does not bother you that I may believe differently on some things, then we're cool.

I could never date someone who blindly believes whatever he's told, however. Read. Think. Use your brain. Decide for yourself.

100% Agree!!!

jonnythan

There's a balance between level of certainty/advocacy and level of experience or effort. For example, if you're going to be adamant about some particular viewpoint and advocate for it with some vigor, you'd better really know what you're talking about. I'm fine with someone who doesn't really know a lot about politics but more or less keeps shut about it. I'm also fine with someone who has very strong feelings about something, but really knows their ****. As long as you exercise a little intellectual honesty everything is generally fine.

WendyTerry420

I'd say that it depends on the amount passion behind the ideology. If someone has a set of principles that guides their ideology, then it's likely they have convictions to abide by their principles. If they have strong convictions, then they will likely be passionate about their views. My husband and I are like that, but our convictions are the same. We will disagree from time to time about "baby steps" policies, how we get from where we are to the policies we'd like to see, but our shared passion for invoking change is one of the reasons we fell in love. Activism has also been a shared activity over the years.

I've seen many couples where one person was passionate and the other was apathetic, and that seems to work out ok. I also remember a neighbor in 2004 that had both a Bush sign and a Kerry sign in the yard. They wound up divorcing.

Lisa1971

Thankfully, my husband and me share the same political viepoint!

RunWinterGarden

Not a chance.

_John_

I have trouble being around anyone who is on either extreme of the political spectrum in America.

That would be a definite dealbreaker for me.

willrun4bagels

I can make it work with anyone who is intelligent and reasonable and well-informed and doesn't try to be the thought police. I think it's easier to be with someone who shares your views, but honestly, the most important thing to me is there is mutual respect for the fact that we don't come to our values by accident. If there is reason and thought and conviction behind what you believe and it does not bother you that I may believe differently on some things, then we're cool.

I could never date someone who blindly believes whatever he's told, however. Read. Think. Use your brain. Decide for yourself.

This, 100%.

mister_universe

I have trouble being around anyone who is on either extreme of the political spectrum in America.

That would be a definite dealbreaker for me.

^a whole lotta this. My viewpoints are simply no longer represented by either side, and the middle is murky, too...all of which means I've thought about it a lot and probably couldn't tolerate for any long period anyone who didn't put some thought into their views.

Hornsby

Depends on how different the differences are and how many of them. 2 liberals not agreeing on a few points is one thing, but a super left side marrying a Tea Partier may not be the easiest relationship to be in....lol

wolverine66

When someone asks this question, I always point to James Carville and Mary Matalin.

thatonegirlwiththestuff

Opposing? Sure. So married to their ideals that it causes strain on a relationship? No.

_errata_

Good sex can solve lots of problems...