Advice on dealing w/ a Repub college roommate?

[Michigander4Dean]

He's not like a crazed maniac. He has said though that he likes Bush.

[Deja Q]

1. Duct tape?

I'd recommend against the plastic wrap, however...

[tjwmason]

2. What sort of dealing?

My advice would be, if you get on with him become friends - if you don't then find a good polite way of living together.

If he wants to talk politics with you, then do so - if he doesn't then don't.

[Michigander4Dean]

3. By 'dealing with' I meant living with. | nt

[tjwmason]

6. Is there a problem? n/t

[Michigander4Dean]

29. No, but I'm worried one might develop | nt

[Doctor_J]

4. Tell him the Army needs him

Smirk's Excellent Adventure is about to escalate. Uncle Dumbya wants him to sacrifice.

[DanCa]

5. Find common intrests and avoid politics

if he's not a religious fundie you two have a good chance at getting along.

[mac56]

7. Some of my best friends are people I disagree with on politics.

Stay open, give it a chance. He's more than just politics, and so are you.

[Nikia]

8. Depending on his temperment

You may want to avoid talking much about politics if your differences would cause him to be highly emotional in a negative way. On the otherhand, if you both can leave political discussions as simply an intellectual discussion of ideas without anything being taken personally, you could have fun talking about politics. You can feel this one out. If you have to live with someone though, there is no point at them being hostile for towards you for unecessary reasons.

[LaurenG]

9. that is one sick roomy

who, knowing what he's done could like him and still be considered a reasonable person? Duct tape, yes I agree with duct tape.

[GirlinContempt]

10. If he's not a crazed maniac

Don't open that crazed maniac box by starting out trying to 'deal' with him as if he was a toxic waste spill.
Deal with him the way you deal with every other human being.

[left is right]

11. Sage advice

I would only add that as politely as possible, should he spew obvious lies/talking points to point him to the truth. But the key word is politely because rudeness on your part will only give other people permission to not listen to your point of view. The goal is to seize the teachable moment and enlighten roommate with the hopes of helping him to eventually think for himself.

[GirlinContempt]

27. See, I hate that assumption/attitude

I hate it when its directed at me, and I hate it when people direct it at others.
"Think for himself"
Just cause I don't agree with you, or you don't agree with me, doesn't mean I/you don't think for my/yourself. It means that the person in question thinks differently. Period.

[JimmyJazz]

12. Don't talk politics.

Seriously. You can't debate these people - all they have to offer is bumper sticker catchphrases. If they had any sort of ability to read and analyze, they wouldn't be Republicans.

If you try to discuss politics, he will probably spew such stupid statements as "freedom isn't free" "kerry is a flip flopper" and my favorite: "Saddam is a weapon of mass destruction" <---- my favorite only because everyone knows Saddam is the one and only evil dictator in the history of the world :eyes:

Anyway, my parents are both Republicans and so is my brother. Trust me, I know. It's best to avoid the topic.

[NYC Liberal]

13. I know some Republicans.

If he's not a batshit crazy right-winger, then it should be OK. The Republicans I know, we usually just joke around with each other about politics and don't even waste our breath arguing 'cuz we're not gonna change each other's minds.

[SoCalDem]

14. Concentrate on things you have in common, and keep politics OUT of it

There is no law that says you have to be best pals with your dorm roommmate..In fact a bit of distance is a GOOD thing sometimes.. If you get along generally, and later become friends, your sphere of influence might bring him along.. If you alienate him from the get-go, it will be a very long year ..

[ghostsofgiants]

15. How about this...

Treat him like any other human being. If he's not a "crazed maniac" then there's no reason to "deal with" him.

The lack of general respect I see here sometimes drives me insane.

If politics happens to come up, don't become a crazed maniac yourself and neither will he. Being a conservative or a Republican doesn't necessarily make someone a bad person it just means they have a different (sometimes drastically different) worldview than you. That's something that I've noticed a lot of people tend to forget.

That's part of the reason shit's so fucked up, that rather than treating them like humans, Dems treating someone they disagree with politically as something they need to "deal with".

I've said this before: If you happen to be discussing politics, rather than trying to just win the argument, just state your case, bring facts to the forefront.

So just avoid politics if it's really that problematic, and if the subject arises, stay civil and treat him like a human being rather than something that needs to be dealt with.

[JimmyJazz]

17. FTR:

:loveya:

[ghostsofgiants]

18. So...

I take it you agree? :P

[Orsino]

16. It plays the Air America on its radio...

...or it gets the hose again.

Seriously, though, just try to be a good roommate. You have enough to do with your studies, and don't need a domestic war to distract you.

[Dude_CalmDown]

19. Convince him to enlist. When he doesn't get him stoned out of his mind...

...then duct tape his arms behind his back, shave his hair & eyebrows. Get a permanent marker and draw cheetah spots all over his head & face. Write "I hate girls who like to have sex" on his forehead with the permanent marker. Then strip him naked, stuff his underwear in his mouth and drop him off in front of the "popular" sorority house honking the horn on a really cold night.

[Beware the Beast Man]

20. Just try not to bring up politics, if possible.

I had co-workers who were Bush supporters, but otherwise decent people (they weren't Freeper-types, just misguided). If you have to live with the guy, it's probably best not to inflict any wounds, unless you have a calm political exchange with him.

on edit- I'm not a political separatist type. Some folks are, and it's irritating.

[stlsaxman]

21. Set the TV to c-span and break the knob, set the radio to AAR and

do the same. oh and flush the remote down the toilet.

but seriously, he might turn out to be a nice guy. he may "like" Bush because he doesn't know better. hey i have a couple of friends that are like that.

[Ladyhawk]

22. Ignore him as much as possible?

:shrug:

I was probably insufferable as a college roommate. I ran across a picture of myself holding a gun (model gun I'd made) and a Confederate flag.

I only had the Confederate flag as a reminder of the Civil War and the battlefields I had seen on a trip back east, but STILL! I wasn't aware that anyone would be offended by my gun and Confederate flag fetish. :D

God, what an ass! :D

[PittPoliSci]

23. tell him to enlist.

the call him a chicken nonstop until he does or looks for a new roommate.

[LoZoccolo]

24. Be wary of him trying to get you depressed.

It might be a plot by him to get all A's on his report card!

[Arkana]

25. My roommate freshman year said that too, but only cause his father

worked for Giuliani and Bloomberg as comptroller for NYC. He wasn't really rabid about it or anything.

[tanyev]

26. Leave copies of liberal magazines lying out so he can read them

when you're not around.

[Floogeldy]

28. I've got three words for you:

Fiddle back spider.

;)

[RedCloud]

30. You will overcome!

Most repugs have been denied virtually any form of counter thought. His brain will get stimulated.

My rotcee roomie, not only switched pretty quickly, he quit the ROTC! And became "cured". Have fun! You shall triumph!

Then you will understand why repugs hate college. It gives their kids more ideas.

Just be cool. He shall imitate or vegetate!

[1gobluedem]

31. Ask him to take this Phil Ochs song to a College Republicans meeting

...and see what they say:

"Is There Anybody Here
By Phil Ochs



Is there anybody here who'd like to change his clothes into a uniform,
Is there anybody here who thinks they're only serving in a raging storm.
Is there anybody here with glory in their eyes,
loyal to the end, whose duty is to die,
I want to see him, I want to wish him luck,
I wanna shake his hand, wanna call his name,
Pin a medal on the man.

Is there anybody here who'd like to wrap a flag around an early grave,
Is there anybody here who thinks they're standing taller on a battle wave.
Is there anybody here like to do his part, soldier to the world and a hero to his heart,
I want to see him, I want to wish him luck,
I wanna shake his hand, wanna call his name,
Pin a medal on the man.

Is there anybody here proud of the parade,
who'd like to give a cheer and show they're not afraid.
I'd like like to ask him what he's trying to defend,
I'd like to ask him what he thinks he's gonna win.
Is there anybody here who thinks that following orders takes away the blame
Is there anybody here who'd wouldn't mind a murder by another name
Is there anybody here whose pride is on the line, with the honor of the brave and the courage of the blind,
I want to see him, I want to wish him luck,
I wanna shake his hand, gonna call his name,
Pin a medal on the man.
Medal on the man."

[La Lioness Priyanka]

32. if he isnt maniacal

just dont start political conversations with him...dont try to convert him

live and let live

[Felix Mala]

33. Make sure he's not really dead, but walking or has been given drugs...

[Left Is Write]

34. I was one of very, very, very few people on my dorm floor...

who voted Mondale in 1984. I had some buttons for a Senatorial candidate sitting on top of my dresser; one of the girls on my floor saw them and let out a huge gasp and kind of recoiled.

"You know she's a... Democrat, don't you?"

:eyes: