Its election time again and there is a whirl wind of political conversations going on everywhere. One of the great things about living in the United States of America is that we have the freedom of speech. We can express our opinion pretty much wherever and whenever we so choose.
Now, I tend to avoid talking politics like it is the Black Death. This is especially true when I am around people that I don’t know well or others who have conflicting views. But even when I toe the line during election season, I always run into that one person who thinks their point of view is the right one and I need to agree with them.
Short of boldly steering the conversation in a different direction, what is one to do when this predicament develops? How do you avoid conflict?
There are many ways that you can respectfully avoid being sucked into a political conversation. When someone brings up the topic just simply say, “I value your opinion, you seem very passionate about it.” This helps you to be engaged in the topic by responding to their comment without having to voice your own. The compliment at the end might score you a smile too! I will caution you though; this tactic only works if you are good at biting your tongue!
If you have trouble keeping your opinion to yourself, simply excuse yourself and get out of the room. No one wants their social function to be ruined by two guests arguing about politics.
However, if you enjoy talking politics, a good way to keep the conversation civil is by respectfully and openly stating your point of view. Try to point out certain similarities you have so they don’t feel like you are attacking their point of view. Hey, if James Carville and Mary Matalin (google them, trust me) can stay together, surely you can survive a party.
Remember, if all else fails, merely excuse yourself to the restroom or to grab some food. In order to keep political conversations positive you should stay respectful, polite and take everyone’s thoughts and feelings into consideration. As with any controversial topic, think before you speak.
How do you keep everyone smiling during a political season? Leave us a comment and let us know!
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