I avoid it because I know too many people who normally are very interesting and intelligent; people I enjoy talking with, most of the time, who seem to turn int

I avoid it because I know too many people who normally are very interesting and intelligent; people I enjoy talking with, most of the time, who seem to turn into raving lunatics whenever their pet political topic is brought up. now, it's quite possible that I'm the politically crazy one here... but that's not my point. My point is that political conversations, at least for me, simply aren't productive or interesting. this is a realm governed by unpleasant emotions and group identity.