american politeness requires that we not talk about politics
Is that really a thing?
People who talk about politics and religion at work tend to get hated at best and fired at worst.
People who talk about politics and religion on social media risk getting lectures from relatives and losing friends.
So yeah, people do not talk about politics and religion in America a lot of the time.
Honestly, the only reason my mother-in-law and I have maintained a really good relationship over the decades is because we just don't talk about religion or politics. My wife and I are pretty much on the opposite side of the map from her on both. So we just don't talk about it rather than become enemies. Maybe that's not the right way to go about things, but it's saved a lot of stress where we don't need it.
Isn't that the same everywhere?
I have no idea. I was just explaining to the person above why we don't talk about it much.
And these days, with MAGA fanatics, there's also the possibility of actual physical harm.
the possibility of actual physical harm
Not only physical harm but social, economic, career and mental harm. They will definitely hurt you because the truth hurts their feelings.
No, but it's getting more and more so here (Sweden) too with the ongoing polarization.
we just don’t talk about it rather than become enemies.
She surely won't worry when they cart you and your wife off to Gitmo because you probably had it coming to you.
Would it be better if we ruin our relationship with my wife's elderly mother? What would it achieve? Do you think she would vote differently? How would that improve anyone's life in any way?
In my experience, yes. Mainly because for as long as I’ve been alive, if you have a dissenting opinion people tend to get very heated.
Obviously we still have political protesters and things like that but nowadays things are so divided politically that it is typically a topic that you would avoid in everyday conversation. If you were to bring up anything political with your coworker at a get together after hours for example and you find that you are on opposite ends of the political spectrum it could make it very difficult to work together at best and potentially endanger you at worst.
Is that really a thing?
People who talk about politics and religion at work tend to get hated at best and fired at worst.
People who talk about politics and religion on social media risk getting lectures from relatives and losing friends.
So yeah, people do not talk about politics and religion in America a lot of the time.
Honestly, the only reason my mother-in-law and I have maintained a really good relationship over the decades is because we just don't talk about religion or politics. My wife and I are pretty much on the opposite side of the map from her on both. So we just don't talk about it rather than become enemies. Maybe that's not the right way to go about things, but it's saved a lot of stress where we don't need it.
Isn't that the same everywhere?
I have no idea. I was just explaining to the person above why we don't talk about it much.
And these days, with MAGA fanatics, there's also the possibility of actual physical harm.
Not only physical harm but social, economic, career and mental harm. They will definitely hurt you because the truth hurts their feelings.
No, but it's getting more and more so here (Sweden) too with the ongoing polarization.
She surely won't worry when they cart you and your wife off to Gitmo because you probably had it coming to you.
Would it be better if we ruin our relationship with my wife's elderly mother? What would it achieve? Do you think she would vote differently? How would that improve anyone's life in any way?
In my experience, yes. Mainly because for as long as I’ve been alive, if you have a dissenting opinion people tend to get very heated.
Obviously we still have political protesters and things like that but nowadays things are so divided politically that it is typically a topic that you would avoid in everyday conversation. If you were to bring up anything political with your coworker at a get together after hours for example and you find that you are on opposite ends of the political spectrum it could make it very difficult to work together at best and potentially endanger you at worst.
American politeness? No
that and religion are no no's.
i googled it and found lots of treatises on the subject
It's more of a thing so you aren't constantly fighting with your family.