to ask if you've unfriended people because of politics?

[IceGreenTea]

For example, you have friends who strongly support a leader you cannot stand?

Do you think, if they think what he's doing is ok, then they're not the kind of people you think they are.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

No I have never unfriended anyone on FB because of their political views. I either enjoy reading the replys, comment myself or make a mental note to ask them next time I met them. They're my friends for a reason and it's never been their politics.

[AmyInTheBoonies]

I have cut one friend off who basically spammed me with pro Brexit and Trump texts for months. He knew I am against both so it just felt totally out of order to keep on about it. Almost like bullying me in the end. I didn't handle it in a very mature way - I just blocked him on Fb and phone.

[Corialanusburt]

I don't know any overt Trump supporters but I do know a couple of people who now that he's in, have decided that the 'liberal left' whoever they are, are evil and that Trump has some sort of pure nobility due to the fact that he lies open,y rather than being hypocritical. Aaargh!!

[Trying2bgd]

I have not but recently both on FB and RL I have really really wanted to....

[SingingInTheRainstorm]

I can't remember the name of the party, they're a bit like the BNP & have rallies in towns that aren't all indigenous English. Is it Britain First or something like that?
I appreciate we love in a democracy & people had the right to choose Brexit & GE. I will distance myself from anyone who can't hold a conversation, everyone has views, but if you can't back them up. Like during the Brexit I get the label 'Remoaner' when I have never said 'Oh you voted out you've ruined my/DC's lives. What's that? You expect free movement within the EU but not the other way round. Catch yourself on!' I keep tight lipped pretty much.
I had an acquaintance who was waffling on about UKIP before the GE. She had no other reason to vote for them, other than my Mum & Dad are. My family votes one way and I vote a different way. Said person is in their 30's & still hasn't had the umbilical cord cut yet though. I've never known anyone so self entitled and unorganised. So it isn't a big surprise.
I distance myself from anyone that gets my blood boiling in general. I found when I used FB, there'd be accounts that you had, just purely out of disbelief this person is an adult or human.
Life is so much easier if you clear your life of people you're not overly attached too and in reality all you have in common is you went to the same school, have DC a similar age, or whatever.
It's better to have friends of better value, which works both ways, than have friends that you have to go out of your way to even talk too. A bit like a previous post, who are needy, never satisfied. Who get through best friends and/or men like there's always a replacement.

[ExplodedCloud]

By and large I've filtered out the racism before they get to FB and defriended them in RL. My red lines are racism & homophobia and I cannot placate that in RL.

[Lifegavemelemons]

I unfriended a few brexiters - but only because they posted messages I thought were racist.

I realise that people use FB for very different reasons. Some people want to have political debates, some use it to connect to friends and chill out.

I don't use it for debate and arguments- it's my chill out space- I won't share it with people who'se opinions I find morally reprehensible.

[Livelovebehappy]

No. Because that would be narrow minded and shallow. I judge my friends on loyalty, love and generosity of mind and soul. If I had a friend who disconnected with me just because of my political views, then I wouldn't want her as a friend anyway.

[Stonewash]

I think perhaps social media exacerbates any divides among us. It can be very tempting to surround ourselves only with those who back up what we already believe, so we end up in a political bubble.

[Flowerfae]

I've unfriended someone who does actually live in the US and did actually vote for Trump ..I accept his choice of who to vote for.. but I do not want to be told repeatedly how Trump is a 'great guy'.
I had shown that video to him in response to this BS about Trump being a 'great guy', the video which is going around Facebook of Trump saying something to Melania, she was smiling then he said something and her face dropped and she looked down at the ground. First he kept saying 'I don't need to see any video!' (denial? much?) then he said 'there's no way of knowing what they were talking about and he could of been telling her there had been a threat against him..' and he's 'not an abuser'. Trump is a bully at the least, if he treats his wife like he does in public, what is he like in private? and that's not even 10% of what is wrong with Trump.

[HoneyDragon]

No never. Particularly as I know one person who I am 'friends' with on Facebook has voted entirely differently to what you'd think from her Facebook statuses and profession. Voting is a personal matter. I know plenty of people who's political stances have changed over the years.

I dont think political and values are linked anymore, not like they used to be, it's certainly eroded almost entirely in the last fifty years. This makes me sad .... I'm not sure how it can be changed.

[dovesong]

Yes. I think your politics reflect your personality. I'm not friends with any Tories. Wouldn't unfriend someone on Facebook for it but I also can't be friends with them. I think voting Tory is indicative of a personality that I just can't get on with because they don't prioritise other people enough. It's important to me that my friends care about social justice, the poor, the vulnerable etc.

[wendigo]

I tend to use FB just to connect with people. I used to sometimes post political or religious posts but it caused tension with my friends who thought differently so I stopped. I am not ashamed of my faith or politics but I feel that I don't need to post about them much. I would hate to lose friends because we disagree on things. I like that you can unfollow someone on FB/make them an acquaintance without having to block or unfriend them.

[lizzieoak]

Periodically I stop following one of my sibs' feeds as he's prettt far off to the right. Racist about some groups, probably homophobic. I don't need that stuff in my face.

[Smiffle]

Interested to know if anyone would 'unfriend' because of deeply held opposing religious beliefs? Or different sexual preferences?

Do you think that's different to disliking someone because of political belief and if so, why?

Are you all bringing up your kids to be so intolerant and to rid their lives of diversity of opinion and belief at the click of a button?

This thread genuinely scares me. What a worrying society we have become if we refuse to tolerate those with differing beliefs in our lives.

[ARumWithAView]

Interested to know if anyone would 'unfriend' because of deeply held opposing religious beliefs? Or different sexual preferences?

Do you think that's different to disliking someone because of political belief and if so, why?

You make it sound like 'political beliefs' exist in some abstract area, distinct from religion and sexual orientation. There's 'political beliefs' like 'I don't much like Theresa May' or 'Corbyn should bugger off'. We can probably have a civil debate about that.

But what about people supporting political parties and/or individual politicians who actively discriminate against religious or ethnic groups (all XX should register with the government, all YY should be banned from entry, all ZZ should wear a yellow star)? What about politicians who believe homosexuality is a sin or curable sickness? What about politicians who seek to ban both abortion and easy access to contraception?

Are you being super-lovely and celebrating diversity if you tolerate those who support this? Or are you just being complicit and complacent?

[IceGreenTea]

Do you think that's different to disliking someone because of political belief and if so, why?

YES. What ARumWithAView said.

[SpareASquare]

Yes, I have. Those who voted for and support Trump are just not people I share values with. I know this so I unfriended, quietly, without fuss. No biggie.

[birdybirdywoofwoof]

I posted a Trump thing (negative obv) and someone replied with an incoherent rant back - the crux I think may have been 'he's fine'. I haven't de-friended him yet but he's definitely in the spreadsheet of doom.

[NightWanderer]

I've muted two friends who are pro-Trump. One kept posting things like just because I voted Trump doesn't make me a racist and it's fine for people to disagree on politics etc BUT I really feel she must be racist to support that man. He's a hateful human being and I cannot understand how anyone can justify voting for him. I don't want to be friends with bigots. I don't want to have to read anti-refugee rants on my Facebook feed.

[NightWanderer]

I also defriended someone who is anti-Trump because I couldn't stand her hysterical ranting anymore either. I didn't really like her anyway but she's a coworker, so when she posted that if anyone doesn't want to read my posts anymore feel free to defriend me, I leapt at the chance.

[Mindtrope]

I am no contact with my sister because of her religious beliefs.

[Oblomov17]

No. I struggle to understand why you would need to. Why were you friends with them in the first place if they were such idiots?

I probably wouldn't fall out with anyone over politics, because my views are quite middle.

I didn't know who to vote for because I didn't want to vote for any of them: I think they are all idiots and find most of them so vile they make my skin crawl.

[Mindtrope]

My OH doesn't speak to his SIL because of politics.

[malificent7]

I have an Americsn friend on FB who goted for trump. She is hispanic so obviously not racist.
She did complain about the vitriol directed at her. I didnt defriend. Even though i am a leftie, i still respect her pov. I expect she just hated Clinton.
I also have a very Tory friend who voted leave. I havnt defriended ger although our relatiinship has cooled after sge told me she didnt believe in equality. Of fourse we cant all be equal completely but i felt she was defending her party's drive to create massive inequality.