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.

Tolerance can only go so far. I'll listen to differing views on the single market, or May vs Leadsom, or the benefits of capitalism. I'll debate the role of the welfare state or the banking crisis. I don't however feel the need to tolerate racism, sexism or homophobia no matter what the motivation behind them. It's one of the things I dislike about religion - you're homophobia is no more justifiable because daddy in the sky told you than it would be if you just decided "oh it's unnatural".

Plus there's a huge difference between tolerating something and being friends with it. If you want to vote Trump or May you can, it's a democracy. Just don't expect me to invite you into my home, because I won't.

• Your

I unfriended someone because they were posting loads of racist ignorant shit but they were only really an aquaintance. I wouldn't defriend someone say if we had differing opinions about Brexit or which political party they supported. I think that sometimes you just have to agree to disagree and move on.

Galiban how do you know who people voted for? I have always voted Labour /Lib Dem but unless Corbyn leaves I will be voting Tory at the next election. I haven't suddenly become racist or homophobic.

Apologies, Gabilan

If someone has a belief that harms other people - political or otherwise - yes, I'd fall out with them.

Most liberals have become incredibly intolerant people, as we see on this thread! Nonetheless they see themselves as very enlightened. I never discuss politics except with very closest friends, but liberals are always and continuously publically signalling their superior virtue in various rants on social media and sometimes real life.... On the rare occasion I have dared to disagree with them, however mildly or politiely, their liberal little faces become filled with hatred .

How do you define a liberal or indeed a non liberal?

I have an old friend with very different politics to me, but we get on fine by agreeing to differ. We mostly choose not to talk about politics and definitely never lecture one another.

However, I have a relative whose views I am increasingly struggling with (this person is on the more extreme end of the UKIP spectrum), and this relative constantly turns the conversation towards their political peeves, despite knowing that I feel very differently. I find this quite rude TBH, and am managing it by reducing my contact with this person.

60sname I don't directly ask people but I find it does sometimes come up in conversation or becomes clear from things they say. I do have friends who vote Conservative. We tend not to discuss politics. It's more specifically May I have a problem with, rather than Tories in general.

I too find at the moment that it's difficult to know who to vote for. None of the political parties really seem to represent my principles so I tend to vote for what I think is the least bad option.

Generally, if I find someone is kind and we have things in common, I don't stir the pot and get talking about politics. However, with my handful of close friends I do know that we have similar political beliefs because we have at some stage discussed them. Very often for me it's less about a specific party, more about people having the ability to see through propaganda and think critically.

Yes can someone please define liberal please

I think the vast majority of people i know in real life would laugh at the thought of me being a liberal

This is my liberal little face full of expectation that stripey will return with a clearer explanation of who she's talking about.

I'm happy to hear and engage with different views, as long as they are well informed and rational. I cut off contact with people who have racist/ xenophobic views, or post things that are factually wrong without doing even the most basic research and get angry when this is called out. I don't need stupid, lazy people in my life.

Not sure about the whole "virtue signalling" concept.

The liberals i know are very virtuous and want to change the world to make it better for people so they try to convince them. Not really "virtue signalling".

People who use that phrase i think maybe have some deep inner thoughts that arent so virtuous and so feel uncomfortable if others address certain issues. Just maybe.

I have friends from across the political spectrum and I respect their ideas and view points. What I will not stand for is ignorant, homophobic, sexist, racist hate speech based on nothing more than hate and fear.

I used to just unfollow the people who spouted it but I've decided that I really need to challenge them and try to unpick why they feel like that. It's the only way to help eradicate intolerance.

Brexit just made people less embarrassed about their extreme opinions. I've been really shocked by genuinely lovely people who have used really offensive, racist language quite openly.

I have unfollowed people on fb before now, because of their political ranting, and it was ranting, pure & simple. Nothing to do with who they supported, more to do with the way they did it, if you see what I mean.

I have friends from across the political spectrum and I respect their ideas and view points. What I will not stand for is ignorant, homophobic, sexist, racist hate speech based on nothing more than hate and fear. I used to just unfollow the people who spouted it but I've decided that I really need to challenge them and try to unpick why they feel like that. It's the only way to help eradicate intolerance.

So is it just politically-based homophobia etc you are eradicating or are you also unpicking religious-based sexism, ignorance etc.

That's quite a task, I should imagine, tackling centuries of sexist and homophobic and racist dogma.

You must have very tolerant friends!

My dad - so no

liberal
Adjective
Willing to accept or respect opinions or behaviour different from one's own; open to new ideas.

Gosh Smiffle what a horrible post. Any reason you felt the need to attack me?

I have deleted two people on Facebook due to them apparently taking Brexit & Trump election as carte blanche to stop hiding their racist opinions. I didn't realise they held these kind of opinions before and I'm not interested in being friends with anyone like that. One I had been friends with since high school, we had drifted apart over the years but sent each other Xmas cards etc, but some of the things that she's been writing and sharing really shocked me - I had NO IDEA that's what she thought. I'm not interested in maintaining any kind of relationship with a racist just because we sat next to each other in Yr 7 geography!

Nanny apologies you feel picked on; not my intention at all.

Your post claiming you unpick and challenge every intolerance you encounter suggested a far more robust personality.

I'm leaving this thread now, the intolerance displayed is utterly terrifying.

Nice flounce very "tolerant"

I'm not upset. I just don't understand being that snarky and judgmental to a total stranger.

My point was that homophobia, sexism, racism and bigotry are wrong, whatever the root of the attitude is. I'm just going to tell people it's not on from now on rather than stayed by quiet. I'm not going to be rude about it. If more people did it then there would be less intolerance.

I'm happy to debate politics with friends when it's the usual Tory/ labour stuff, but I have stopped talking to people for pushing their racist, sexist, homophobic beliefs before