Can it work if you have different viewpoints politically?

[Cherriesandstrawberries]

Hello - I’m after some advice. Met a guy and we’ve become friends but are intimate sometimes. We both agreed we’re not a match as we have very different political views. He’s much more versed in his views so I’d find it hard to debate with him as I’m just not as articulate or knowledgeable. I don’t feel bad about it, it’s just the truth.

We’ve decided just to not talk about politics and since then we’ve relaxed and still get on really well. We have many other things to talk about and we like each others company. Anyone else with anyone in this situation and it works still? I’m thinking it probably can’t long term but just interested…

It depends if you are capable of being tolerant of people with different political opinions to yourself?

Depends. I’d describe myself as centre left - liked Blair and like Starmer. I’ve worked with a lot of local conservatives and would describe most of them as centre right, and I got on well with them and valued their views (I thought David Cameron was ok enough until he ballsed everything up with that stupid bloody referendum. Thought Boris was a prick). I’d also rub along quite happily with lib dems and the greens. I don’t think I’d want a relationship with anyone who had either extreme left or right wing views, so certain types of conservative, Reform voters, the DUPers, and Socialist Workers, have views that emphatically don’t align with mine, so I would find myself very attracted to them.

I could never be with someone left wing. I find it difficult to be friends never mind partners.

It used to be left wing/right wing was mainly about economic policy. Nowadays, you can be economically left or right wing, AND socially liberal/progressive or socially conservative. It may be that you chime on social issues but not tax and spend, for example. Or it might be that he is much more socially conservative than you and you find some of his views intolerable. Personally I think being aligned along the progressive/conservative axis is probably easier to live with than the economic one.

I think of it this way. The tops of the mountains are how you vote. Someone has a different top, it's OK, you vote one way, I vote another. As long as that overlapping bit is covered. The overlapping bit is things like, 'women should have rights', 'people are as important as each other', 'cruelty is wrong', 'help people if you can'.

I'm a leftie but I am friends with Tories. The Tories I'm friends with are kind, helpful and compassionate. Now I vehemently disagree with their voting, but they can debate with me about why. Weaselly, two-faced, champagne socialists who'd sell the working class down the river? I couldn't be friends with them even if we vote the same way.

I dont think opposing views really matter. I think the problem is too many people are intollerant of others views - the world would be a better place if there was more tolerance.

Lets be honest no matter what your views are parliament wont change - the political parties won't change so where does that leave your opinions?

you know what they say about opinions - they're like arseholes - everyone has one but its always the other persons that stinks.