I can't stand conversations that involve politics

[IronDragon1]

The problem that I find with most political conversations is that they don't even attempt to get to what politics as we know them are trying to do: improve the lot of people's lives.

Almost invariably it's just biased news gourmandizing based upon a pre-determined set of beliefs and not reason.

[tylerdurden]

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The problem that I find with most political conversations is that they don't even attempt to get to what politics as we know them are trying to do: improve the lot of people's lives.

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I'm not sure what "politics" are *trying* to do, but I'm pretty sure that what they actually do is *worsen* people's lives on the whole (obviously, *some* people's lives are improved).

A few things:

1. I used to hate when people talked about politics, but recently in an English class we write a lot about American wars so things are more interesting now, the more informed I am.

2. I don't know how old you are, but college students like myself or our generation are said to be apathetic towards current events. IMO I think it is important to be knowledgable about current events, but there is no need to know everything or know nothing.

3. Many people when they sit with others at a meal try and talk about neutral things like the weather, sometimes its good when people start mixing it up with each other.

[diebitter]

Hmm, I never like talking politics any more, cos it just seems petty.

I now accept politics machinations etc are well beyond my control as an individual, and to act individually to try and change things is either a waste of time, act of frustration, or for the extremists who do this, an act of disgusting violence.

There's so many more ways you can either be happier or better yourself or use your time than waste time on this, it seems a pretty trivial subject. I no longer read newspapers, for example, cos they are either not news (celebrity gossip, stupid speculation that doesn't serve any purpose other than scare/confuse/misdirect attetion), or they are full of political navel-gazing.

The only exception to this I think the previous poster touched on - good to know the historical perspectives on things, as this makes you better understand the culture and times we live in.

Politics is a huge sap on thinking time, there is science, art, music, philosophy, history, geography + travel, learning about other cultures etc that are all much more worthwhile and productive, IMHO.

Edit: For me, the big problem is I don't agree with any single party's manifesto/approaches/goals. I agree with one on 1 subject, another on another subject, and none of em on a third. I think most people feel this, too, and thus become disinterested, as no one party truly represents them.

[mackthefork]

It is okay for us man, there is not a lot of problems that absolutely need to be changed in the West, for some people 'disgusting acts of violence' are the only shot they have.

Mack

[diebitter]

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It is okay for us man, there is not a lot of problems that absolutely need to be changed in the West, for some people 'disgusting acts of violence' are the only shot they have.

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Is there a point here? - and I mean specifically about my statement on the disconnection I feel with moden politics and how much better you can spend your thinking time, not about the world and its problems in general, so don't babble on if there isn't one, okay?

[mackthefork]

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It is okay for us man, there is not a lot of problems that absolutely need to be changed in the West, for some people 'disgusting acts of violence' are the only shot they have.

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Is there a point here? - and I mean specifically about my statement on the disconnection I feel with moden politics and how much better you can spend your thinking time, not about the world and its problems in general, so don't babble on if there isn't one, okay?

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More that a lot of people feel the same as you do, because generally speaking life is pretty much okay here. Other people elsewhere in the world can't ignore the problems they have, and violent revolution is the only realistic option for them. It's easy for us to ignore other peoples problems, but if we contribute towards those problems they can easily become our own.

I think OOT is making you take things too personally, okay?

Have a good one.

Mack

[lastchance]

One thing I learned in the past year: Getting into a shouting match over a random topic that is meaningless is incredibly entertaining and fun, as long as you can talk enough about the subject, especially when neither of you will give in.

Ex: My friend thinks Obi-Wan is more awesome than Yoda. He is clearly wrong, and arguing about his wrongness is fun. But, I don't dislike him for thinking Obi-Wan is more awesome than Yoda, though I should. :P

[nicky g]

Well you've come to the right place.

Funnily enough, despite my penchant for this board, in real life I tend to avoid political conversations like the plague, except with very close friends and family.

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I find discussions about politics to be really annoying at any form of social gathering. It irritates me most of all at parties; I can't stand guys who somehow think the louder they talk, the more right they are. And the ones who try to impress chicks with their political knowledge and how passionate they are/how they think people who oppose them are idiots, are the actual idiots. Girls are not gonna hook up with a guy b/c of his political beliefs or how pretentious he is; in fact, most won't even talk to a guy like that. So, wtf? Thoughts on this?

And today at Thansgiving dinner there were a few political discussions where one guy somehow thought he could convince another he was wrong. These conversations seem so fruitless; no one is going to change their mind on the issue and if they do, they're not going to admit it.

I was wondering if any of you agree with me on this, or if you actually enjoy these political conversations.

Also, I do realize that this post may have come off as somewhat hostile to those of you who may actually do this, which was not the intent. I'm just curious about these conversations b/c they happen all the time and I just don't get it.

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I'm extremely curious. What do discuss at your parties, in terms of impressing women or otherwise? Given the choice, what would you talk to a strange woman about for 15-20 minutes at a party (besides the +EV HER?) Cars? Clothes? Reality TV? No thanks, no thanks, and no f'ing thanks. I'm not at all interested in the internet capabilities of a goddamned cell phone either.


I agree talking politics at a party is not likely to impress most women, but it's not a universal rule.