It used to be just religion and politics

[red_harrington]

Now you can't talk about Brexit, and vaccination either without risk of alienating or even losing your friends.

I say this because I've just found out a good mate of mine isn't just anti-vax for covid, but he is anti-vaccination full stop, and none of his kids have any kind of vaccination at all

If I had added brexit & vaccination to the list of religion and politics then my view of him would not be skewed to the negative and things might be ok but now it's all changed

 

[LaPennaBianca]

Hate to break it to you, but Brexit is politics

 

[Sisyphus]

Now you can't talk about Brexit, and vaccination either without risk of alienating or even losing your friends.

I say this because I've just found out a good mate of mine isn't just anti-vax for covid, but he is anti-vaccination full stop, and none of his kids have any kind of vaccination at all

If I had added brexit & vaccination to the list of religion and politics then my view of him would not be skewed to the negative and things might be ok but now it's all changed

Sad isn't it? One thing that always surprised me was how vociferous the Continentals would argue over politics, before forgetting all animosity over a drink and game of cards. It's only since the 'B' word that politics has attained this level of intensity in the UK (for the vast majority of the population), but without the acceptance of the alternative viewpoint and consequent reconciliation.

 

[Anton_Berg]

Hate to break it to you, but Brexit is politics

I think the o/p is referring to party politics. Brexit divides all.

 

[Frozen Horse]

For some, vaccination appears to be about religion.

I don't really understand why, but some branches of religions appear to regard modern medicine with hostility.

However, we do seem to have lost some ability to live with disagreement. I don't know if it's a result of the internet and social media, but disagreement is often treated as something that needs to be battered, ridiculed and beaten down.

 

[red_harrington]

Hate to break it to you, but Brexit is politics

Hate to break it to you, but you've completely misunderstood the point of the thread

 

[Muttley]

For some, vaccination appears to be about religion.

I can sort of accept rejection of science as part of a deeply held religious conviction, I find it difficult to accept the anti vax stance when it is founded on either ignorance of science or bad science when people go down a rabbit hole of mis-information.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

I dont believe it's the issues, it's the fact we communicate remotely that has caused this.

 

[Colgates_shaving_foam]

I think brexit has cut so deep because we don't get chance to change it in 5yrs like an election.

Plus it really brought out the very worst in people who previously had hidden their racist xenophobic views.

I fell out with people and lost contact with others over it. Now they have shown their true colours I won't be looking to make up with them.

 

[LaPennaBianca]

Hate to break it to you, but you've completely misunderstood the point of the thread

I haven't though.

 

[homesickblues]

It seems like we are all much less willing to see another point of view and respect that we all have different opinions and feelings. Everyone thinks they are always right and struggle to put valid arguments and reasoned decisions forward.

 

[ThatFragranceGuy]

There are loads of things like this that will lose you friends and it will continue to grow

brexit has given people a taste for an us vs them debate and people hate to be on the losing side, we saw with trump that even when it was clearly over peope will not drop it. Stuff like QA Anon is ridiculous but people will believe anything and we saw with CoB that the thickos over here will adopt the same approach

however even something as simple as telling your friend that their new business opportunity is a pyramid scheme or that the stuff they are sharing is a crypto scam can get you instantly blocked these days

 

[changingman]

It's arguably the only positive to come out of the last 5 years - the ability to easily define those members of family and friends I will engage with in future and those I won't.

 

[Facefuzz]

Your still able to have a opinion on things without alienating people or losing friends.
If your mate does want vaccinating then he’s made his decision. You haven’t said if you’ve fell out with him?
But remember how we’re ruled. Divide and conquer. And it’s working

 

[The_Tiler]

However, we do seem to have lost some ability to live with disagreement. I don't know if it's a result of the internet and social media, but disagreement is often treated as something that needs to be battered, ridiculed and beaten down.

Sums this board up perfectly

 

[Erimus74]

For some, vaccination appears to be about religion.

I don't really understand why, but some branches of religions appear to regard modern medicine with hostility.

However, we do seem to have lost some ability to live with disagreement. I don't know if it's a result of the internet and social media, but disagreement is often treated as something that needs to be battered, ridiculed and beaten down.

Here, here, well put