Ask Lemmy

Something to think about: a request to take politics off the discussion table is not an infringement on your friend's rights. What you're doing is offering a choice: keep talking about other stuff, which will likely make you want to talk with them more frequently, or keep talking about politics, which is draining and makes you less likely to want to talk to them.

There's definitely other people who they can talk politics to death with if they so choose. You don't have to accept that yourself if it's burning you out, unless the other party has literally nothing else to talk about and you want to retain their friendship.

There's a balance that can be struck here for a better relationship/better shooting the shit experience, but you have to take your own boundaries seriously (said the kettle).

The older I get, the more I understand that old "never discuss politics, religion, or money" adage. Obviously 'never' is too far, but in casual discourse too often these just lead to people feeling shittier after the discussion. Save 'em for when there's a real purpose behind it - supporting change or increasing understanding. Otherwise it's just bitching, and drains pretty quick.

Politics is definitely a piece of it. Social media has placed it in front of everything. And now, given the amount of threat and violence in it, people do two things.

In most real conversations people dance around speaking about anything political, lest they reveal themselves. And they’re wholly unwilling to move forward with this other person socially until they know their politics. As such, nothing happens.