Witnessed a conversation between two conservatives at work today.

[milestogo]

The conversation started off about kids and schools, and since I don't have children I didn't jump in.

Pregnant mother of 3 school aged children starts talking about how she is so glad her children are not in public school because of the brainwashing. At her children's religious school they have correct teaching about gender and none of this nonsense about trans and gay people.

Father of 3 teenagers said his kids went to a government school (I guess that means public school) but that if they came home with any of that crap he'd sure straighten them out.

Then the conversation moves to the protests against school shootings. They wouldn't let kids get away with walking out in protest in a private school. The "government" schools are crazy because some of them allowed students to protest against the same rights the government gives them... gun rights. Its so confusing to the kids.

And these rehearsals for a mass shooting are just stupid anyway. They scare the kids. What they really need is teachers who are trained to respond to these incidents with the right kind of weapon.

And then there's all this nonsense about the AR15. Its just a rifle, its no big deal. Mom of 3 says they're going to get a "family gun" as soon as they can afford it, maybe an AR15 since those might be taken away.

Some people say that the second amendment was meant for militias carrying muskets. Well times change. If the first amendment can be extended to carry today's social media, then the second amendment rights should be extended to all the kinds of weapons that exist today and in the future. People should have the right to own and carry any kind of weapon they want, and as many as they want, wherever they want.

I didn't say anything, I just listened. I have to work with these people so I thought it better to keep quiet. I felt like the world was flipped upside down.

[Angry Dragon]

1. Shaking my head

[rurallib]

2. I wonder how you can work with them

[MLAA]

3. Sorry you have to work with such ignorance😬

[pnwmom]

4. I would have been tempted to ask pregnant mother how she knew there weren't any

gay people associated with her children's school.

She'd answer: Because her church doesn't believe in that.

And I'd say: Well, neither does our church, and my father went to religious schools his whole life.

(Pause).

And he was gay.

And he wasn't the only one there who was gay.

You know, you probably have gay people in your extended family. You just don't know it . . . yet.

[FakeNoose]

11. That would have caused the poor woman's brain to explode

It's probably better not to confront people you have to work with every day. They could just as easily go to the boss with complaints behind your back. Then somebody else ends up with your job. I've seen it happen.

[pnwmom]

15. I think there are ways to say things in person that aren't confrontational.

For instance, by using "I" statements. Not judging the other person. Just pointing out how the truth in your life. And by ending a conversation if you hit a brick wall.

I was reading about a school district in TX that suspended a teacher because, after she was asked, she'd told the kids in the class she had a wife.

Some parent had complained.

I was wishing I could explain to that parent that there are other adults in that elementary school, teachers, administrators, parents, who are gay. And that their own child could be playing at recess with the child of a gay parent. (Even if only 3% of people are gay, in a school with 400 parents, about 12 of them would be gay, or about two per grade.)

I honestly think it has never occurred to some of these people. If they're sure they don't know any gay people, then gay people must be hiding from them.

[rock]

5. You are wise not to argue

With the ignorant.

[mitch96]

9. Yup, they just bring you down to their level and

they beat you with experience!!
m

[smirkymonkey]

6. A "government" school?

And a pregnant mom of three talking about buying an AR-15? My god, where in the country do you work? I would be horrified if I had heard such a conversation, but where I live even if people thought like that they would keep their mouths shut.

[milestogo]

13. This is Madison WI

which is very liberal, and the majority in my workplace vote Democratic. Both of these people live in different communities - one a suburb the other rural.

The man is ex-military and grew up in a red state. She is Catholic. This was the first time they conversed as far as I know.

Lots of people think like this - its just a shock to hear it. Its hard to imagine a pregnant mom with 3 young children who isn't worried about school shootings.

[smirkymonkey]

14. Wow. I have just never heard anyone call a public school called a government school and

the thought of a pregnant mother of 3 contemplating buying an AR-15 is just something I can't get my mind around. I guess people like this are everywhere, but it's still shocking to hear them. I am sure there are even people like this in my very blue neck of the woods, but they just aren't very vocal in the workplace.

[milestogo]

17. These were kindred spirits talking freely.

If I had responded it would have been a completely different conversation. So I guess this is reflective of the way they think. Kids are being brainwashed in "government" schools... Betsy DeVos would be proud.

[bobbieinok]

29. This has been RW term for some yrs. 'Government' is menacing, scary vs 'public' ie belongs to me

[cwydro]

7. These things never happened to me at any job.

We were too busy working I guess.

All these political rants that go on at DUers jobs...it amazes me.

My condolences.

[Skittles]

26. newsflash

at some jobs, people can talk and work at the same time

[doc03]

8. I live in the tri-state area of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania

you think you have it bad. A sane person here has nearly no one you can talk to.

[Ohiogal]

18. I know what you mean!

Hillrod country! But not ALL of us! 😁

[Boomerproud]

23. Amen Ohiogal. I feel extremely lonely-even in my own family much less in the workplace.

[CurtEastPoint]

10. I would have said, 'Shouldn't you two be working instead of chatting?'

[sarisataka]

12. Wow, how long did you have to listen to this?

I feel so sorry for you

[Ilsa]

16. I would have to ask them,

"Grenades? I can have grenades? What about an Apache helicopter? Can I have a nuclear submarine? What about nuclear bombs and missles? We can let just anyone have possession of WMD, right? Maybe novochoks? Ricin?"

[procon]

19. Applaud and say, "Great skit, what club are you guys playing at?" Walk away chuckling. nt

[yardwork]

20. A "family gun?" OMG.

[appalachiablue]

21. They're talking about others 'brainwashed & govt. schools'?

In Madison, WI of all places, heaven help us. This nation has gone so far Right in the last 40 years it's hard to fathom.

[milestogo]

24. Two out of three votes in Madison are for Democrats.

And there are a lot of very liberal Democrats, as well as people to the left of Democrats. So its not moving to the right at all.

Most big cities are reliably Democratic, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of Republicans there too. These two individuals live outside of Madison so their views are pretty predictable for their location.

[appalachiablue]

25. Thank you, what a relief. Yep, major cities are reliably Blue still, thank heaven.

[Demit]

28. Big cities are reliably Democratic, as you say, but boy are there neanderthals too.

Philadelphia PA, for example. Even in a liberal neighborhood close to downtown, where people are relatively savvy, you've got your throwbacks.

[milestogo]

35. I was talking to someone in my neighborhood as he was moving out.

It was the only time I ever spoke to him. He said he was sick and tired of Madison, so he was moving to a small town 30 miles away. He claimed that Madison ruined his marriage. Said he was sick and tired of being called racist and homophobic for standing up for what he believes in.

And said he had worked in State Government (Madison is the State capitol) for the last 10 years. I didn't let on that I was a liberal (since he was leaving town on account of people like me). But I really got a sense of how persecuted Republicans feel when they are not in the majority. Being in this environment didn't change him at all - it just made him defensive and angry.

But I think working in Wisconsin State Government, with its intense partisanship, would be pretty hard for anyone to take.

[sinkingfeeling]

22. I think I would have said, "When did the family dog get replaced by a family gun?"

[RhodeIslandOne]

27. Nonsense about gay and transgender....

Do you work in a big company? Do you think they’d “shut down” any nonsense about working with a gay person?

I work part time for a contractor associated with a big bank and it sounds like these two would be triggered if they saw their diversity outreach programs.

[Initech]

32. I find it hilarious when they call us "snowflakes".

And when they tell us to go back to our safe spaces. Really there is no one on this planet that is more triggered than the straight, white, conservative American male. Want proof? Just ask them how they feel about Colin Kaepernick.

[milestogo]

36. Its a huge company.

This conversation was not directed against anyone else working there, it was just two people talking about how they raise their kids. There is no HR person in our local office, though, so sometimes people are a little freer with voicing their opinions then they ought to be.

I occasionally get into political discussions - but only with people I already know are liberals.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Scary shit!

[Initech]

31. I was at a bar the other day and heard a similar conversation.

These two guys were talking about the marchers on Saturday and they were saying that they couldn't believe that these kids were marching to have their rights taken away. No, dumbasses, because no protest in history has ever been because people wanted fewer rights. If that's the take away you got from Saturday, you're part of the problem.

[misanthrope]

33. Welcome to Alabama

You can go any number of places at any time and find the same conversation. Most of the time it inserts itself into your daily comings and goings, trips to the grocery store, restaurant visits, social and family occasions, et cetera.

[SonofDonald]

34. They are everywhere

I live in Washington state in the Puget Sound, a very liberal area.

I'm an officer in a National Service Organization, we have Friday night dinners and tonight I was the greeter.

There were three men who were passing around a stapled 3 or 4 piece printed out paper that had at its top "Muslims are terrorists".

They are older than my age at 59 and are War Veterans, not one of these men ever faced a terrorist or Muslim in their service to our country, then they sat down and discussed the paper all night.

We don't talk about politics, religion or race or creed in our organization, but there are a few that do and it seems that's all they talk about on Fridays, I never participate in the conversations as I'm a liberal and it disgusts me.

Other nights it's been Obama or Hillary, I don't sit with or engage these folks at all, many have been members longer than I have, much longer.

I joined a service organization and works with veterans, the disabled and children including Boy Scouts, I keep my mouth shut and do what I came to do, I'm liked by everyone as next year I take over running the organizations local chapter.

But it irks me that although our by-laws explicitly state our position on what's acceptable by our members I can't rock that boat.

So I keep my mouth shut and help those that I can.

But I'm pissed that I can't say something.

[ecstatic]

37. I don't want to step on any toes, but the more I hear from them

with regard to loving trump, attacking the Parkland shooting victims, etc., the more I'm seriously wondering if trumpism is some sort of mental illness. I'm NOT bashing mental illness in general (I personally have experienced depression and anxiety). But to get back to my point, on Twitter, so many of them attacking the student victims and talking about SUPPORTING the remaining Laura Ingraham advertisers (and boycotting the companies who dropped her). I just don't get it. What TF is wrong with them? They are really really sick, vile people IMO.

[OhioBlue]

38. "Government Schools" must be a Fox News thing.... framing....

The term "Government School" makes you think of a place where students are indoctrinated by the Government. The term "Public School" makes you think of a place where students are supported by the community. There are forces on the right that are against public education. They see it as socialism and think that any institution in which capitalism and profits aren't included is somehow nefarious and doomed to fail. Some are ideological, and some are just grifters looking to make a buck from tax dollars.

Libertarian, Fox News commentator, John Stossel:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/02/let-call-our-public-schools-what-really-are-government-schools.html

[milestogo]

39. The thing that crossed my mind when I heard that expression was state-sponsored Olympics

as they have in China or they did have in East Germany. Kids are taken away from the parents and raised by the state for the purpose of winning a medal and bringing glory to their country.

Today was the first day I heard "government school".