Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

Say you have to go out to do some shopping, find a bar & stay there as long as possible :)

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

As an American, I welcome open political discourse, even from those who disagree with me. Given the opportunity to have a rational debate with no demagoguery, name-calling, or vitriol, I personally welcome it.

I believe that my opinions and beliefs are only strong if they can stand up to being tested. If I refuse to allow my beliefs to be challenged, how will I know if they are correct?

Many times, through discussion and debate, I have discovered new facts and questioned the beliefs with which I grew up. I have even changed my position on certain things because of points made by others.

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

Totally agree - but what do you do when faced with views as above - that Obama is a Muslim terrorist plant?

Somethings I can agree to disagree- listen, debate and like you, learn, adjust, sometimes change my mind as new facts are explained to me ... but in cases like this...

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

I did say rational debate. :) You can't debate with extremism.

In most of those cases, there are multiple fallacies (most likely argumentum ad ignoratiam) that can be pointed out. When you do this, you get, usually, in return is a helping of demagoguery, name-calling, and vitriol- the same stuff I try to avoid. That's when you know its not a rational debate, and you tell the fellow to nick off.

Politely, of course...

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

I heard some advice once, maybe from Bart Simpson?

Something like; never argue with people less intelligent than you. They will drag you down to their level & then win because they are used to arguing at that level.

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

Easy done when it is strangers - just go and leave them to it.

My problem is these are relatives I've known a long time and that I am actually very fond of... and then they come out with stuff like that.
I didn't argue as I was so shocked and knew it would be the end...

Does anyone else know people close to them who believe that stuff.:eek::confused::eek:

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

I would have some difficulty with that, Odile. Think I would tell them never mind what I might believe or what they might believe, I just didn't want that kind of discussion in my house, or even to discuss any politics at all.

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

As a former restaurant manager, I used to tell my bar guests that there's two things you don't discuss over drinks- politics and religion. Just remove "over drinks" and substitute "at family gatherings" and it should allow you to change the subject.

Re: Americans: Foreigners who want to talk politics - boring, annoying or harmless?
 

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's campaign was showing signs of meltdown on Friday when her entire campaign team in New Hampshire quit.

Minor obstacles; I expect she will recover :rolleyes: