I'm so sad, I'm loosing freinds over politics - I need liberal freinds.

[Chicago Democrat]

I live in the Red Red burbs. I have a group of freinds and we play games on Sunday night (D&D, please don't laugh). We've been doing it like 15 or 20 years.I have known these people a long time and I have always thought of them as freinds. They are not too political or well read news wise.

Basically I am the only liberal, and the only one who keeps up on news. I'm kindof a news junkie. I got in trouble arguing about politics during the election. I stormed out. So we made a rule no politics. Then we got in argument about religion. I stormed out. So we made a rule no religion. I have tried very hard to avoid incindiary topics.

Well you know how, most people who don't read news have like no clue what's going on in the world. It makes it really difficult to talk about ANYTHING. Because all the news is so scary and any bad news is deemed political. Like last night.

I read the Salon article about Oil. Freaked me out. To me this story about the Oil situation in the next fifties years IS NOT A POLITICAL ARTICLE. CERTAINLY not liberal. Please check it out.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/05/14/kunstler/index_np.html

Basically says the world is fucked.Oil is running out and there's very little that can be done. If anything this is akin to a Martian invasion... ie not political.

I try to summarize this crazy scenario and my 'freinds' are yelling at me telling me to "shut up" and forcing me to leave. I am so depressed.

Its like there is one group who knows what's going on and another that denies anything is wrong and screams at anyone who says otherwise. I'm so depressed. I would drink if I drank.

[catzies]

1. In the same boat here with my Ren Faire - going friends.

We (about 15 - 20 of us) get dressed up and go to the Ren Faire every year for the past 10 years.

They're all BushBots. We've set up the same rules as you re: talking points & what's acceptable. I just can't go along with that anymore, because nothing stops them from bringing that stuff up - but I'm proscribed in my retorts.

This Saturday was the first time I didn't go. I just didn't want to spend the day with them. Ever again.

I'm depressed too, and feeling kinda isolated & alone, & maybe a little ostracized.

Whatever.

[Hugin]

5. "nothing stops them from bringing that stuff up"

There's exactly the problem. They try to regulate us, but,
they don't follow their own rules.

[Chicago Democrat]

6. Oh Catsies (Hugs)

What do you do at the Ren faires, tell about the good times.


(Hugs, crys)

[catzies]

18. Hug for you too - thanks, Chicago Democrat

:hug:

The guys dress up as Scotsmen, Bravehart-era. They all look grat in their matching kilts. The wimminfolk (like me) go as wenches. It's a drunken, debauched day of revelry, with swordplay thrown in for fun.
Or at least it was.
:/

[JohnnyBoots]

28. Why not

go by yourself and try and make new friends with the same interests at the fair if it is still running?

[Kerrytravelers]

10. That's funny. I never figured a rethug would have fun at a Ren faire.

History isn't their strong point. I guess the subordination of women and the poor and the ruling by the church through an annointed king is what turns them on. Makes them feel closer to our current America.


Are all Ren faires overrun by the thugs? Eww.... I've been surrounded by fools!






Psssttt. Do they know there might be pegans there?

[catzies]

26. No, not Faire-folks in general, just my so-called friends. Because we

live in "Reagan Country," and they all drank the Kool-Aid.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

11. Well we're just gonna have to have a central coast DU get together

My pal, Cleita is only another hour north of you (I think you're in SB..right?)

[catzies]

16. I work in SB County but live in Ventura County

AKA "Bakersfield by the Sea." :D

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. LOL...hey..then you're even closer to me :)

and I love taking the coast to your neck of the woods!

[Chicago Democrat]

12. Its funny... They are all different... Republicans ALL Different

They all would love a Rennaisance Faire...


Let me describe some of these people

T. Basically likes war, nonreligious, loves money, whores, Las Vegas, mafia movies, and very likable in many ways, a pig in many ways mostly very ignorant and parrots Republican talking points.Loves to argue and press my buttons.

P. A physics teacher, hates children, hates his job, overweight, spends all day playing online games like City of Heroes. Doesn't believe in global warming, oil crisis, pollution or that anything is wrong at all even though he teaches science. Thinks we will invent our way out of all problems, likes Star Trek. Votes Republican, in fear of a corrupting world. My oldest freind of 40 years now (met as kids) Loves to argue.

G. A lobbyist for the metal industry. Wealthy. Hoarder collector.Doesnt discuss politics. Not sure who he votes for. Enforces the 'no controversial talk rule" Wouldn't mind if it werent enforced one sidedly .

S. A Creationist. Never would know it. Anti Gay. Loves animals. A sweet girl mostly. Insane ideas, but I still love her.

That's four of them, the other four are equally different. I think I'm the only Kerry voter of the 9. I still have affection for them and wish things were different.

Maybe I can put this energy into art or something.

[NoSheep]

19. That's one thng we do. We make our own political satire art.

Beats the hell out of grabbing a gun and shooting yourself in the head!
:cry:

[Lowell]

21. You need new friends, friend

I too have encountered this problem. I always prided myself on having intelligent friends. But the past couple elections have shown me that many of them are not nearly as smart as I thought. I don't avoid politics anymore, but I do avoid rabid right wingnuts. There is no reasoning with them.

What is that saying? If you argue with an idiot you just lower yourself to their level. It just doesn't pay to try to make sense to the senseless.

[Kerrytravelers]

24. After reading your summary of your friends above, I stand by my earlier

post. Find new friends. You have a death nut who loves war, a science teacher who hates kids and doesn't believe science, an industrial lobbiest, and a homophobe- and that's only the half you described.

Get new friends. Fast.

You truly are the company you keep. This little motto helps me when I'm deciding if a person is someone I want to be friends with or not. You can't chose you family, but you can choose your friends. Another old ditty that bares some truth. You choose who you are friends with.

[deadparrot]

2. I'm in the same boat.

Well, things haven't quite boiled to that point yet, but I understand. I live in red suburbs, and I went to a Catholic HS dominated by neocons and Fristians.

It's probably not healthy, but my friends and I don't really discuss politics. We know where we differ, and most of the time we just leave it be.

[NoSheep]

3. It must be very difficult for a repuke to admit they are wrong. Look at

all the blood on their hands. I don't know how they could face it. :eyes: I feel your pain Chicago Democrat. I want to mow my family down for their stupidity. And the younger ones are popping out babies left and right into a hideous world they we're too damn dumb to not have a hand in creating. They're lunatics. Yes...it is very important to be with folks that know what you know. Get hugs. Cry together. Plot strategies and even have fun every once in a while. A good liberal community is what we all need. DU is great. But sometimes you need a good warm physical hug from a like minded ally. Here's the best I can do for now.
:hug:

[Chicago Democrat]

9. Mega HUGS

Thank you so much.

:hug:

[Lucky Luciano]

4. With the girl I have been dating

She is so sheltered because of her wealthy upbringing that she is all about the conservatives. I challenged her on several topics of major concern....

When she knew nothing about these topics, I told her she has no right to be a conservative or a liberal. One needs more information before they subscribe to one of the sides!

She clearly hated taxing the rich though! She stand to inherit a $12M house from her grandma and probably does not want to have to sell it to pay the taxes!

[Chicago Democrat]

14. That is it! Really if they KNEW the truth...

they would naturally be better.

That helps a little. Mainly its the information.


Wow...

Gotta write letters to editor..

Posts...

[Kerrytravelers]

7. You need to find new friends. Seriously.

If you've been playing D&D for over 10 years, you guys are more than teenagers. If they have no idea that there is an oil crisis, I'm concerned for their collective intelligences... especially if they think a world oil crisis is only political.

If arguments break out that cause you to strom out... on multiple occassions... that isn't a mature relationship. Telling you to "shut up?" What is that? No friends I've ever had past the age of 17 told me to shut up and remained my friend. This kind of behavior doesn't need to continue.

I don't know these people, so my judgement is soley from the post here. However, it seems to me they simply haven't grown up yet.

There are all kinds of places to meet intelligent, like-minded people who are mature enopugh to care about the world they live in. Look into the local Dem clubs, try organizations that tend to gather like-minded people, such as the Sierra Club. This is just a start. There are all kinds of meet-ups and other organizations that draw "our" kind of person.

Best of luck to you. Walking away from people we may think are our friends isn't always the easiest thing. I have done it, however, and when looking back, I know these people weren't my friends, just someone who filled up space in my life but who dragged me down.

[Chicago Democrat]

8. Thank you so much for the tough advise...

I'm going to try. I need to get back making art. I love the art crowd. Thank you so very much.

(i am a mess today)

[crispini]

13. I live in Dallas, Texas.

And ALL of my friends are Democrats. You just have to find them.

Best thing you can do? Volunteer to help out at the Democratic Party in your county, join a Democratic club, etc. We have SO much fun getting together and talking about the things that really matters to us. And we work together too, we blockwalk and hold fundraisers and stuff like that and we have a GREAT time doing it.

It may take you a few tries, but it's not too hard to find Democratic liberal friends! :P

[Chicago Democrat]

15. ok thanks

L) -Liberal Smile

[NoSheep]

20. Hang in there! n/t

[patricia92243]

22. That is one of the things that DU is here for. Talk politics in this

world, play QUIETLY with your friends in that world.

[Chicago Democrat]

25. I realise that... Its their game, I'm a minority. I just was trying to

share some disturbing news and its very threatening and upsetting to them. I need to either shut up or leave. Its such a shame we can't even talk to one and other anymore.

[patricia92243]

30. You are very, very fortunate to have friends to share with for 15-20 years

When you are here at DU, you do not talk on and on about D&D.

When you are with your friends, do not talk on and on about current events.

There is a time and place for everything.

You do not have to give up either your friends or your politics - just keep them in their separate places in your life.

Best of luck to you. (I hope you win at D&D) :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Sounds like you need a meet-up for liberals who dungeon. :^)

[undeterred]

27. I grew up in those very burbs and I couldn't stand to live there now

:hug: I'm sure you're not the only one.

[xmas74]

29. Same here.

I have my groups of PTA parents, HeadStart fundraisers (ironic that most of them are neocons, dontyathink?), soccer moms, tball coaches, park beautification, historical society and many others where I am the only liberal. Good thing that I have a couple of friends who live about two hours from me for some sanity.
And trying to find more libs in my area-it's been pretty hard to do. My county went 70% for Bush in the last election.

[Kerrytravelers]

32. Neocons in HeadStart, park beautification and the historical society?

That's funny. The very things they hate? Are you sure it isn't a calculated take down, like the attempt with the Sierra Club? :P ;)

[xmas74]

33. Might be.

They tend to vote against every project in the historical society and for park beautifications. They never show up to any events. And at HeadStart they are more RR-they bitch about why there is no prayer in school. One neocon that showed up at a community HeadStart meeting bitched about the meal budget, stating that the kids could easily live off of bologna and white bread. He came in w/ a grocery list of how much it would cost for a month if they bought the groceries from Walmart, Aldis and the local 1/2 price bakery (where some of the bread is already stale). He wanted to know why they got breakfast there, why they got fruit and veggies and why they got milk.
He really did crunch all the numbers.

[Kerrytravelers]

35. I was just kidding orginally. Maybe I was on to something.

I contact anyone that plays on our team that could look into these organizations and see what if there really is something going on.

Hum... scary thought.

[Maat]

31. This is going to sound funny ... but I believe that in the last six months

I have totally switched my friends.

I became involved in my local Democracy for America, and made many friends.

I joined my local Church of Religious Science, a church who welcomes all, and filled with progressive folks, and I made friends.

I joined a Unitarian-Universalist church, and made friends (all progressive).

I joined PFLAG, and made many progressive friends.

I've made a few friends via the democraticunderground.com.

Suddenly, I confine my conversations with neighbors/old-friends to pleasantries, and don't really hang around them that much.

I'm much happier.

[Redneck Socialist]

34. That's funny, not funny ha - ha...

but funny interesting. For me at least, not so much for you I guess. I still game, but my group with one exception is all liberals. I guess I'm fortunate all my close friends share my political beliefs.

As to those who counsel you to dump your friends, ignore them. Long term friends are a treasure whose value far transcends that of mere politics. Also, as I'm sure you're aware, finding a good gaming group if far from easy. So my advice is let your friends wallow in their ignorance but continue to enjoy them for who they are.