Do you discuss politics at work?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

And if so, when did you begin discussing it there?

For me, it was after the stolen election of 2000. I simply couldn't keep quiet any longer. Do you believe it is necessary considering the state of the country? I do, and I really don't care who doesn't agree with me. I respect all who have an opinion... although I really don't like the ignorant opinions of most republicans. Also, has it affected your work relationships? For me, yes, it has, but I believe I am arguing for the good of the country so I risk making a few mad. I also believe it can serve to wake them up out of their stupor. Your thoughts?

[snot]

1. Agreed. Though I admit

I discuss politics at work only with those I know agree with me.

But these days, the only ones that don't are zombies anyway. (I don't bother with the guy whose office walls are covered with Bush pics.)

[sepulveda]

3. opposite for me

i greatly enjoy discussing politics with people who have starkly different views, even moreso at work.

it's fun, and you learn things, and hopefully get better at seeing other perspectives.

one thing i am certain of is that there are plenty of zombies on all sides (there is way more diversity than just dem or repub) and plenty of well informed people as well.

i enjoy political discussion.

[snot]

22. good for you. pls help me by telling me,

if you had any fruitful discussion with anyone who actually still has multiple, framed pics of bush on their office walls in 2008, what did you each say and how did that go?

[sepulveda]

29. i don't know

anybody who has multiple framed pictures of ANYBODY on their office walls.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Yes of course. I discuss it because it's part of our freedom of speech (I am guessing) here?

As a result, I found out who's active, who's not, who thinks what, etc.

[drmeow]

12. Actually, an employer can legal bar employees

from talking about or expressing political viewpoints in the work place. It is the state that cannot restrict speech. What happens when the employer is the state, I don't know.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

31. Employers in this country can mistreat employees freely and it's not called mistreatment.

Scary place, the U.S. :argh:

[lonestarnot]

4. Yes daily. How do you like your pie?

[Initech]

5. Sometimes.

Thankfully the people I go to lunch with are mostly democratic and we generally share the same viewpoints. There's only a couple of die-hard repukes that I know of. We get along fine, though, as long as religion and/or politics dont come up.

[man4allcats]

6. Typically I don't, but

the situation has gotten so ridiculous that even the Republicans I work with bring it up. I live in Texas (Houston) and work with a lot of graduates of Texas A&M University (it doesn't get much redder than that), and most but not all of them defend the ReThugs to the bitter end. Contrary to all those Aggie jokes, they are not stupid; they are just fucked in the head. In any case, when they bring it up I let them know that Bushco is a problem that Democrats (Pelosi and Reid) as well as Republicans have failed to address. Too bad Kucinich won't be our nominee. I'd love to see Bush and Cheney and a few others swinging from ropes.

[MaryCeleste]

7. Hell no

But then again I'm a civil servant

[JackBeck]

8. Yes, I'm the "go-to guy".

I even get calls from co-workers off the clock to see what I'm thinking when anything big goes down.

When I bartended, I used my position as kind of a bully pulpit, to try and educate the community about things that were going on.

[man4allcats]

9. Hear, hear!

Thank God for bartenders! There would be no real knowledge without them.

[OwnedByFerrets]

10. Everyone at work knows that I am a flaming librul....

LOL....even though the owner voted for Monkeyboy twice. Ive heard rumors that he now admits that was a mistake, but just not to me.:rofl:

[lupinella]

11. Definitely!

I always have!
I work one full and three part-time jobs. One of my great joys is discussing both politics and religion at work. I am lucky enough to be in a field where people tend to be open to views opposite their own. I'm an yellow-dog-democrat-atheist who is able to count among her friends several republicans and a slew of people from varied religions: Mormon, Southern Baptist, Jewish, Buddhist and Wicca, to name a few. We may disagree and debate passionately, but I believe these are good people at heart. They feel the same about me. I do believe some of their choices are reprehensible, but because we have an open dialogue it allows me to explain my stance and give them facts to support my rationale. As my one friend, with whom I am diametrically opposed on most things, has said, it is a joy that we work in a place where a Kucinich fan and a Huckabee supporter can be friends.

[orleans]

24. i don't see how you can stand it

the part:
"I do believe some of their choices are reprehensible"

i mean, doesn't that start to run off on your concept of the entire person?

if you feel they are making "reprehensible" choices then how can you possibly respect them? and how do you like someone you can't respect?

i don't see how you can do it.

[FlyingSquirrel]

13. I have little choice....

I drive my pickup to work. People take it as an open invitation to discuss politics with me.



Oh crap, my tabs are expired!

:yoiks:

[B Calm]

17. It would be a hoot to drive that truck down in Georgia..

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

23. Your tabs are expired!? So is your right tail light

Just kidding :)

[B Calm]

14. I usually don't bring it up, the right-wingers come to me. I love slapping

them around a little and making them look like the fools that they are!

[mike_c]

15. I work in an environment more liberal than most folks dream of...

...and politics is always fair game, although most of the folks I work with are of similar mind to me, so it's more a matter of rolling our eyes and just agreeing, most of the time. I do not believe I even know any republicans at my workplace-- I know there must be some, but I never encounter their politics. We tend to span the political spectrum from liberal to far left. It's a nice work environment. If the conservative death squads ever come in America, most of the people I know will have to flee.

[Warpy]

16. I was always pretty careful at work.

I never discussed any of it unless I was asked a direct question.

People knew I was a news junkie and a lefty, but that's about as far as it went.

[margotb822]

18. I try not to

But, conservatives abound at my work (in the military). So, I have to speak up once they get going on their conservative lying tirades. I subject myself to the "commie terrorist" retorts, but when I challenge them to an actual discussion, they've got nothing.

[murielm99]

19. I used to discuss politics.

I am winding my job down right now and turning it over to someone else. More of my time will be spent on grassroots politics as I retire from full-time employment.

When I was teaching, I found that nearly all the teachers were Democrats. A few of them discussed politics with other teachers. It never entered my classroom, because this is a red area. All the students knew my politics anyway, because of my bumper stickers.

When I worked as a librarian, my boss, and later my employees were all republicans. We talked about politics sometimes, but were always respectful of each other.

I think things have changed over the last few years. I have stayed away from discussing politics, because I have seen too many people arguing. I think some of them had a hard time working together and staying professional after having a political argument. They seemed wary of each other. This country has become too polarized for people to discuss political differences sanely, even in some of the best work environments.

My brother has a few years before he can retire. He does not dare discuss politics at work. His boss is a bushbot. He does things to get back at anyone who disagrees with him. Even though they are union, his boss has a way of doing things that are hard to prove.

We all need our livelihoods. If politics jeopardizes the livelihood, then it is best to leave it at home.

[casus belli]

20. I have a personal rule against it...

but that doesn't mean I allow others to make ridiculous statements unchallenged.

edit: for grammatical error

[Jed Dilligan]

21. Working for the government

In a sense it's the only thing we discuss.

[WillowTree]

25. No way - No how

Work is work. The last thing I need is to get into confrontational political discussions with my co-workers. I avoid it as if it was contagious.

[AngryOldDem]

26. I do, IF I can have an intelligent discussion.

Where I work, that happens maybe once every month or so.

[LWolf]

27. Rarely.

I don't discuss politics with my students, although they are all eager to hear my political views. I tell them quite bluntly that they should be informing themselves and defining their own positions, not basing their political views on the opinions of those around them, and that, as an authority figure in their lives, it would be unethical for me to try to influence that process, outside of teaching them to find information, and to think.

Since the bulk of my professional day is spent with them, not with other adults, there is not much opportunity to talk politics. I do have parents who will bring politics up now and then. I listen, and mostly remain neutral, except for NCLB.

As far as my colleagues go...we don't have much time to "chat." When we are together, time is short and the tasks are long. So far, the closest we've come to a political discussion is in a team meeting, where our math teacher mentioned he had them calculating the odds for HRC and Obama.

We do, a couple of times a year, have an "after the staff meeting" association meeting where our associations ballot recommendations are discussed. All local stuff.

[Dorian Gray]

28. No!

But I work from home, and there is nobody here but me!

(In the past, when I was a teacher, I would discuss political events without really expressing my personal inclinations.)

[slackmaster]

30. Only in a very limited manner with a few people I consider more trustworthy than most

It can really cause problems if you butt heads with people at work over any non work-related subject.

Politics and religion are the two most dangerous things you can bring up.

[Echo In Light]

32. Yes, very, and often.

[blues90]

33. I did and it's what I feel got me fired

I wouldn't advise talking politics at work because you never know what the result can be .

I would suggest you find another place other than work .

[AlCzervik]

34. when i worked at an office---no, now that i work out of my house and have clients---no.

[ileus]

35. Everyday, for several years....96 I suppose when I started at my job.

Before that I don't think there was much political talk. Now we discuss some event everyday...Two Obama supporters and 4 McCain supporters.

[idovoodoo]

36. Yes since 1981. Vociferously. I can do that because I own the whole fucking company.

HAHAHAHA


True!