Ask Amy: “Best of” column looks at political differences

Dear Readers: Every year I step away from my column for two weeks to work on other creative projects. (Anyone interested in my personal essays and photographs can subscribe to my free newsletter: amydickinson.substack.com).

I hope you enjoy these “Best Of” columns from 10 years ago. Today’s topic: Politics.

Dear Amy: The community I live in has many people who are so rabid and strident in their political positions that they can’t seem to shut up about it at a lunch or dinner party.

I feel strongly about issues that are important to me, too, but I do not enjoy listening to people ranting.

I recently had lunch with friends, and one woman, “Barbara,” launched into politics (as usual). When I pointed out that “friends who don’t talk politics stay friends,” Barbara laughed it off and continued her diatribe. At this point, I don’t think she can help herself. Is my only option to quit having lunch with Barbara and others like her?

— Fed Up

Dear Fed Up: If everyone in a group is engaged in a spirited discussion that is dominated by one topic, then you’d be wise to hop on board rather than try to dictate what people can discuss in your presence. You can try to control the conversation through diverting it to a topic you find interesting — just as “Barbara” is doing — but really the primary requirement in polite company is that people remain civil. If you find that an individual (or group) consistently rants about a predictable dominant topic that you aren’t interested in, and that every social gathering seems like a political conclave, then you’ll want to avoid this company, at least until after the November election. [July 2012]

Dear Amy: We are friends with an older couple who live down the street.

In all the years I’ve known them, we’ve never discussed politics. Maybe that was a good thing, because in the past few weeks a sign appeared in their yard for a candidate I cannot stand.

Without going into specifics, if this candidate should happen to win, I would seriously think about moving to another country.

I’m gay, and my neighbors know it. Prejudice against gay people is a plank in their candidate’s political platform.