| It is a common belief of many people that politics | | | | themselves knowing a stranger deeply and only |
| and friendship cannot always go together. Just as | | | | realizing later on that they have opposing political |
| making new friends can be a tricky business, | | | | views. With the upcoming Australian Federal |
| mixing politics and friendship together can equally | | | | Election, many Australians will find themselves in |
| be tricky. During our first meeting with a potential | | | | many instances immersed in political discussions, |
| friend, we know that talking about politics is a | | | | but with the knowledge that their network of |
| no-no. Small talks are safe so long as we stick | | | | friends will be largely unaffected. |
| away from politics. Other taboo topics include | | | | While most people are not extremely passionate |
| religion and sexuality. These topics can spark | | | | about their political preferences, political opinions |
| passionate debate which can apparently result to | | | | can still potentially break up friendships and even |
| heated arguments if both sides cannot reconcile | | | | marriages, especially during the early stages. This |
| their views. All said, politics as a topic during initial | | | | is the real reason why it is generally accepted |
| stages of friendship could almost certainly bust a | | | | that politics should be avoided when talking with a |
| blooming friendship too soon. Is this always the | | | | stranger or a person you do not know well yet. |
| case? Is it always advisable that we should not | | | | For some cases, even close friends will opt not to |
| engage into topics of politics with someone we | | | | discuss politics. It is a fact that there are some |
| just met? Or is it okay to bring up politics with | | | | people who are not just tolerant of people with |
| the person you are planning to develop a good | | | | other views about politics. Thus, it is very |
| friendship and romance in the future? Can | | | | challenging to forge genuine friendships or love if |
| friendship develop between you and another | | | | one party has an opposite political belief. |
| person if you hate his or her political views? On | | | | In spite of this phenomenon, some people still |
| the other hand, is it always necessary to have | | | | managed to make successful marriages and |
| the same political views to attain full friendship? | | | | friendships even though both parties have |
| In many countries today, starting a political topic | | | | different views. Is there a secret for these |
| can create very intense argument to even result | | | | success stories? Successful friendships and |
| in violence, in some extreme cases. Hence, the | | | | marriages are possible even if two people have |
| advice to avoid a topic about politics with a | | | | opposing political beliefs so long as they are not |
| person you do not know still holds true in many | | | | very passionate in their respective views. Other |
| cases. In spite of this, it also is not always the rule | | | | cases use their opposing views to spice up their |
| at all times. Many friendships start at political | | | | marriage or friendship by constantly engaging in |
| conventions attended by persons with varying | | | | healthy debates. For this case, respect is high for |
| political views. You may be surrounded by | | | | both sides that even their political views cannot |
| thousands of good people who have extreme | | | | break their friendship apart. For most cases |
| political views, but you also stand a good chance | | | | though, good friends that do not share the same |
| of making new friendships as well as having a | | | | political belief simply avoid engaging in any political |
| great time discussing opposing political views. In it | | | | discussions altogether. |
| not uncommon for many people to find | | | | |