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This seems strange to me. I’m sure I’m friends with people who want to abolish the IRS (American tax agency) or folks who perhaps want to privatize other agenci

This seems strange to me. I’m sure I’m friends with people who want to abolish the IRS (American tax agency) or folks who perhaps want to privatize other agencies like Social Security (American “pension” system) or folks who send their kids to charter schools. I couldn’t imagine ending a friendship over this.

Loughla 5y ago
So for me, it came down to the individual view. I have dumped friends for 'other' political views. But they didn't tend to be related to agencies, like you list. They're the personal ones. People who don't believe gays should be allowed to be married by the state. People who don't believe women or minorities should be allowed to vote. People who believe all immigrants come here to kill/steal/crime whatever. The difference is when it's an institution (private versus public schools for example), that's pretty easy to disagree over. One side does not believe the other is inherently evil and a 'lesser' person. When it's about individual rights, and an attack on you as a person, and your inherent rights as an individual, that is almost impossible to overcome.
- icecap12 5y ago
  > The difference is when it's an institution (private versus public schools for example), that's pretty easy to disagree over. One side does not believe the other is inherently evil and a 'lesser' person. When it's about individual rights, and an attack on you as a person, and your inherent rights as an individual, that is almost impossible to overcome. I think you articulated it far better than me. Certain things I could hardly care what another person says or thinks on the matter. But on certain issues or rights if there's a fundamental disagreement, I find the opposing position not just in direct opposition, but in a way actively working to undermine my position. I can't be friends with someone when there's such a basic difference in values; if we don't agree on that, there might not be much else we agree on.
  - jdavis703 5y ago
    Sure, I too won’t be friends who don’t want me or my friends to exist in society. But this kind of bigotry is rarely presented as “abolishment.” The only thing I can think of is folks who think that various Offices of Civil Rights should be abolished — but this is a fairly uncommon culture war talking point in this century.
andrew_ 5y ago
I've ended friendships with people that could not be civil over our idealogical differences, despite my indifference about the differences. Many get sucked up into what's online and let it lead them offline. It's sad.
notreallyserio 5y ago
I’d end a friendship if they were posting Proud Boys/GOP/QAnon memes, or otherwise racist content. I may even end a friendship if they promote abolishing the IRS because that wouldn’t do anything and is thus pretty stupid (it’s not like the government would stop taxing). But the rest is pretty tame and reasonable people can disagree.

Loughla 5y ago

So for me, it came down to the individual view. I have dumped friends for 'other' political views. But they didn't tend to be related to agencies, like you list. They're the personal ones. People who don't believe gays should be allowed to be married by the state. People who don't believe women or minorities should be allowed to vote. People who believe all immigrants come here to kill/steal/crime whatever. The difference is when it's an institution (private versus public schools for example), that's pretty easy to disagree over. One side does not believe the other is inherently evil and a 'lesser' person. When it's about individual rights, and an attack on you as a person, and your inherent rights as an individual, that is almost impossible to overcome.

icecap12 5y ago
> The difference is when it's an institution (private versus public schools for example), that's pretty easy to disagree over. One side does not believe the other is inherently evil and a 'lesser' person. When it's about individual rights, and an attack on you as a person, and your inherent rights as an individual, that is almost impossible to overcome. I think you articulated it far better than me. Certain things I could hardly care what another person says or thinks on the matter. But on certain issues or rights if there's a fundamental disagreement, I find the opposing position not just in direct opposition, but in a way actively working to undermine my position. I can't be friends with someone when there's such a basic difference in values; if we don't agree on that, there might not be much else we agree on.
- jdavis703 5y ago
  Sure, I too won’t be friends who don’t want me or my friends to exist in society. But this kind of bigotry is rarely presented as “abolishment.” The only thing I can think of is folks who think that various Offices of Civil Rights should be abolished — but this is a fairly uncommon culture war talking point in this century.

andrew_ 5y ago

I've ended friendships with people that could not be civil over our idealogical differences, despite my indifference about the differences. Many get sucked up into what's online and let it lead them offline. It's sad.

notreallyserio 5y ago

I’d end a friendship if they were posting Proud Boys/GOP/QAnon memes, or otherwise racist content. I may even end a friendship if they promote abolishing the IRS because that wouldn’t do anything and is thus pretty stupid (it’s not like the government would stop taxing). But the rest is pretty tame and reasonable people can disagree.