This came over me like a wave today...

[PCIntern]

during the past 37 years, I have found that I could and would have discussions about current events/politics with many many of my patients, mostly while we were waiting for the anesthesia to kick in, or for a glazed crown to come out of the oven and cool. But in the past three years, the number of these conversations has dwindled to a trickle...it is limited to my activists: Peace, civil rights, real politicos and politicians from State Government and City Hall, and a very few others with whom I have had real dialogue since Reagan ran and won in 1980. It is as though people are either talked-out or are afraid to discuss stuff which affects them and their families. this was not true in times gone by, and, I will state, many conversations showed how at odds some were with me in terms of these issues, but that we could have an honest discussion.

Now it seems that very few, even those who possess congruent points of view to mine, want to talk about anything except what they've been binge-watching on Netflix or TeeVee/cable. The reason that I noticed this is that I had an in depth conversation about the Ferguson situation today and I realized how long its been since I'd talked politics at all. A real loss: the discussion were almost always stimulating.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. I have a theory, the right is so vicious, so full of hate and violence that we all have

to look over our shoulders if we were to do something as simple as say something nice about Obama or Hillary.

The right are very dangerous people.

[PCIntern]

2. valid point...

I am troubled by this...nothing new but accentuated.

the actions of those Oklahoma students on that bus tell you a lot about our society these days...

[nruthie]

3. You are right about the right.

I am very careful about what I talk about anymore and with whom. It simply is not safe. Th country is insane.

[tridim]

4. Politics became toxic in my family a decade ago as a result of Faux Fucking Newz.

And as I posted earlier, my parents (R-always, Kansas) are completely fed up with Brownback and the GOP in general. They have voted Republican for 60 years.

I think hate media and the GOP have really screwed up here, they went WAY too far and now they are hemorrhaging loyal support.

[PCIntern]

5. They always seem to land on their feet...

always.

they lose an election and we have to kow-tow to them...remember spending two years waiting for Susan Collins to come around? she didn't. I thought WE had won that election...

[Nay]

6. Actually, I think it just might be disgust and fatigue, rather than fear. I'm sure I'm not the only

one tired of political discussions in general. For every polite and interesting conversation, you'll have 5 frothing at the mouth Fox News junkies. I just don't care to talk to people who make no sense. It's like going to the local insane asylum for some conversation.

[SheilaT]

7. I was raised in the time when it was not considered

polite to discuss politics or religion. Especially with someone I don't or just barely know.

[840high]

10. So was I. May I add money.

[steve2470]

13. same here nt

[Jenny Red Eye]

14. Same here. Verbatim from my father...

Never discuss politics or religion while drinking in a bar, if you want to keep your teeth.

[NightWatcher]

8. There is no intelligent debate anymore

The RW has been programmed by Faux and the RW hate talkers on the radio to demonize anyone who does not march lock step with them. It is impossible to debate someone who does not share your position.

Example: Climate Change

1: Boy, this winter has been a brutal one.
2: Yes, I never want to hear about 'global warming' again.
1: You know that when we are cold, the Southern Hemisphere is hot, and the global average temp continues to rise year after year?
2: Huh?
1: Australia has had a very hot season down there in the past few months
2: Huh?
1: I actually prefer the term 'global climate change'
2: But it snowed here, so that proves there ain't no global warming.
1: You know there's a difference between 'climate' and 'weather', right?
2: (long pause) You must be one of them commie liberals that thinks that Obama was born in the US.
1: Aw Geez, can I just pay for my Big Mac and go?

It's just safer and easier to talk about the stories on the magic picture box.

[PumpkinAle]

9. I miss talking real talking

with people, but I dare not open my mouth at work - I would ostracized in a flash. Recently watch the Dust Bowl documentary by Ken Burns and I really wanted to have a good conversation about it, but I only heard about reality tv in the break room.

Even with people I know fairly well they don't want to talk about what is happening in the country.

Sad, very sad.

[steve2470]

12. where I live, I always assume the other person (a stranger) is a right winger...

Granted, Orange County (FL) is purplish and Orlando is actually pretty blue, but the county to my north is red and the county to my east is also red.

By making that assumption, I'm usually right and I'm spared a lot of wasted time and tense exchanges. I rarely meet anyone who actually knows what's going on. I'm really grateful to the people, like you, who have the patience to engage the ones willing to be educated and enlightened. I don't have that patience.