To think Facebook friends should keep their political views to themselves?

[AmanApolitico]

I have loads of FB friends who I've never met in RL; many of us belong to a group set up for people in our line of work and some have become FB friends outside the group. Within the professional group some are in a position where they have a budget and are able to offer us work.

However, given the recent political cicrs, quite a lot of them like to make their views known in no uncertain terms.

I think it's really tactless because although I may disagree strongly with them, I don't want to get into a heated debate on FB or with someone who holds the purse strings in terms of my work.

I just can't believe people are so tactless to flaunt their politics on FB when they may offend other people who aren't just 'friends' they are also professionals in the same line of work.

Perhaps you shouldn’t be friends with people who aren’t actually friends then!

I just ignore most politics on fb.

How dare people you want to make money out of hold opinions? CFs one and all.

do what truly smart people do and don’t mix FB and work.

They can post what they like, if you don’t like it you have the option to delete, block or unfolow.

@Petiteprince- you misunderstand. I am not 'making money' out of these people directly. They are employed by companies and they commission freelancers, I am one of many other people belonging to a group with them. They can allocate some work now and then, it's not their own money I'm receiving.

Of course there is the option to block, unfollow, delete etc but that would also mean I was cutting my nose off to spite my face if in a week's time, they put a shout out for someone to do some work.

I just think they are pretty silly to have political rants when they have no idea who they may offend, when there is a professional/ friend overlap.

Why is it tactless? FB is a social setting, someone sharing a political view is no different from someone saying the same thing over dinner. You can choose to debate or not to engage - and if they are FB friends only, then it's quite likely that what you say won't change their opinion, so just ignore.
If you want a professional social network, use linkedin.

Yes, they have a right to air their opinions. Whether it makes for a sensible career decision is another matter entirely 😁

Surely they'd put any shout outs on the group of everyone rather than personal status though? I'd make a point of saying you're only going to be friends on there with very limited family and close friends and not blur the lines personally.

I would probably steer clear of discussing politics at work, so I do see why you’d wonder if they were being a bit foolhardy posting political views on a professional group. That’s why (when I used to WoH) I always preferred LinkedIn. FB isn’t great for work stuff ime.

But, if I were you I’d just ignore it. Do not get into a public discussion about it or you’re being even sillier than they are.

FB is not for professional use, LinkedIn is.
They can say what they like (within reason) on their social media pages.

What? You have FB “friends” you’ve never met in real life?

I agree but I know some people like to put their views across at any opportunity (as is their right!)

It makes bad business sense though imo.

My parents ran a business and always impressed upon me that you don't make people uncomfortable by banging on about your politics (or religion) that's not to say you deny your beliefs if asked. Even then though if it's not relevant why antagonise people unnecessarily?

It's a lesson im trying to pass on to my kids. Life is not a political debate to be won. Our relationships need common ground and nurturing or we'll have no community left to vote about.

Easy, don't mix work-people with real-life proper friends on FB!

I've never understood why some people seem to include: a) work-colleagues and professional contacts b) people they have never met, never mind who they aren't actual friends with. Bonkers

I have a business and make my political views known on Facebook.
I am of the opinion that people who find my opinions can helpfully choose to not use ny services. I'm good at what I do and couldn't give a fuck if my opinions offend you or not.

You’re very much in the wrong about this but everyone else has put it far more succinctly than I would

I think the issue is that you’re using Facebook for work and personal reasons. It doesn’t work. Keep Facebook purely for friends and then you can debate them all you like!

I just think they are pretty silly to have political rants when they have no idea who they may offend, when there is a professional/ friend overlap

On the whole, people are pretty thoughtless about what they post on social media.

But in this case, I'm not sure what the issue is - are you concerned for them potentially alienating potential business contacts (in which case, thats altruistic of you, but put it from your mind) or are you frustrated that you have to restrain yourself from challenging things you disagree with in case you lose opportunities (in which case, step away from the keyboard) or are you concerned you'll end up working with someone you know you strongly disagree with (in which case, consider how much your beliefs mean to you)?

YABU, people can write whatever they like on their own Facebook page.

You are free to delete them.

I’d rather see political opinions (even I disagreed with them) than “omg u ok hun pm me babs xxx” vaguebooking nonsense, MLM crap, countless pictures of peoples nights out/dinner/kids, etc.

I agree with Send that you have no need to worry about what other people are doing. Let them get on with it.

If they are silly enough to offend you enough with their political opinions that you decide to leave their group/unfriend them, then that is their choice - they will be left with a smaller pool of people to choose from when they need to allocate work.

If you are in fact not offended enough to leave or debate, then that's up to you.

You can't expect people not to say something you disagree with on FB. It's pretty much the whole point of FB for some people, as far as I can see!

YABU - I had a man come onto my fb and tell me my post was "attracting far more attention than my political ones" as if I must really notice that people "like" my fun posts more. I don't give a shiny shit and told him so. I'm not going to pretend things that matter to me don't because other people don't want to read about it. Just don't read it if you don't want your own views to be challenged. Or, better still, actually voice your own views to counter theirs. My feeling is you don't feel as strongly about politics as they do, so why should they cater for you on their own page?

Delete them, hide them, or tolerate them then. If you don't like it that's your look out, they can put what they want on their profile.

What Send said.

Either you're offended enough on your own behalf to stick to your own principles and not get any work from them, or you're not.

They can be as 'offensive' as they like with their political opinions - as you're not their boss, you don't need to worry about how they choose to mix business and personal on their FB feeds.

What on earth haha. They can air whatever views they want on their own Facebook! Don't like it, unfriend them.