How well would we get along in person?

Especially those of us who are former political gamer warriors?

To be honest, I think we'd get along just fine, especially after a few beers at a pub, once we removed the anonymity of the interwebz.

Thoughts?

Anonyminity drives animosity.

So likely perfectly fine. We would just talk about video games or something. I don't even talk about politics outside the internet.

Pretty much the same here. I like to talk about video games and movies, not gonna bring up politics as it serves no purpose outside social media.

Fine, I don't have personal problems with people, realize everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, and stick to common ground. Not trying to change people or dismiss people who aren't like me.

Here's an example I guess:

There's friction with one of my friends lately. I'm not sure what's gotten into him, he used to be very easy going and up for anything, and happy go lucky. Lately he's started getting irritated about all types of things that go on in daily life, such as complaining about the music kids listen to, complaining about graffiti, and arguing for very tough punishments on young people who are "disrespectful" in his eyes. It's like he's not tolerating a lot of stuff that wouldn't even be on his radar before.

At the same time he's started pushing the envelope socially about different things and felt upset when other people didn't tolerate it. Not like they got upset or anything, but in one situation at work someone took him aside and said a blue joke didn't make them feel comfortable (very religious upbringing) and was being nice about it and trying to get along, but then he walks away being upset that someone had a problem with it because it was just a joke. This is just with a random coworker. But it's like he got a chip on his shoulder about something all of a sudden. He'll single out and tease people until they become uncomfortable and then be upset that they're uncomfortable. And it seems like that's the purpose, like he's testing people to see if they'll accept him, because he takes it very personally when they don't. He's like "What's up their a**?" He's also extremely touchy if someone teased him about something. For example if you make a joke about his mother, then all of a sudden he's like that's disrespectful and people shouldn't do that.

I'm not going to ditch my friend because of this, that doesn't make sense. People change all the time anyway. He changed to being this way for whatever reason where he's become very interested in busting balls and maybe one day he'll poke the wrong person and get a mouth full of chiclets. But it's really weird that someone grown is acting like this, isn't this something people work out when they're kids?

On one hand he wants to be tolerated but on the other hand he's getting very strong opinions and feelings about what he doesn't tolerate. Like very strong anger and taking things very personally.

Anyway not every single interaction is like this but it's really often now and it's something I put up with. I don't really understand it though and I don't want to play psychologist to try to figure it out. If he pulls that with me I'll play along but it just feels like I'm being patient until it's over. I'm fine with busting balls among friends but not to the point where I'm driving people away and thinking "those who stick around are alright, those who don't need to get their head on right"

Apart from that we still have personal talks and get along about a lot of things, and I just hope he figures out whatever's going on so that he can enjoy life instead of always being upset about something, or thinking this person has something against him and all that stuff eating away at him. I try to be understanding and supportive and hope he figures this stuff out.

So generally I get along with people even if there's some differences. I can still connect with people like that. I am generally very easy going. But I can have a better time around people who appreciate getting along back, picking up on social cues and responding in a graceful way.

Personally, I can get along with people just fine and you guys are no exception. The question is: who would give me that benefit and not carry the salt over from my shitposting banter.

If I can see myself getting along with anyone specifically, I can see myself getting along with people like @last_lap, @Macutchi, @Pedro and @lamprey263.

I like a lot of people here, it's why I stay. Well, one reason anyway.

About Sarge, no beef here. We have very similar tastes in music. Not the rap, though.

Anyway, if he weren't so obv. about ban dodging, I wouldn't give him such a hard time.

Hypothetical tips for everyone. No more posting shitty political commentators and other crappy videos. No more using "lol" or "lolz". Sorry all sergeants, I know it's hard to change, but that's what it takes, hypothetically.

@DEVILinIRON: Oh I guess that's why I haven't seen him around, I didn't know he was banned.

Yeah, probably. It's very rare for me to meet someone I can't get along with.

For better or worse I have the capacity to get along with just about anyone. I think society needs a broad spectrum of views and ideas and opinions--"we contain multitudes" and "it takes all kinds" comes to mind--and I try to keep that in mind.

The only exception would be obtuse contrarians or folks that enjoy antagonizing folks, but I think that compulsion tends to get curbed when you have to meet people face to face.

Pretty much.

I can talk politics with people as long as they're not total idiots, and even then I will just ask them why they have the opinions they have in an effort to help themselves think their way out of it (sadly it doesn't really work).

But yeah I generally avoid political talk in public, or I try to be overly civil about it.

Sargent and I got along very well in the other boards but he was too much of a contrarian, troll, and fanatic when it came to politics to really deserve anything other than condemnation. I was never really sure if he actually believed in the cause he supported, or he just liked to upset people.

I'm not happy he was banned and I would be glad to have him back, but I understand why he isn't here.

The irony is if he toned it down a bit, he and I would likely agree on a lot of the more objective, non-cultural stuff.

Not to take this to a racist place, but is your friend a white male?

I see this trend in a lot of my peers (I am a white dude). The pendulum is swinging in a direction where white men are going to be the same as everyone else (or, phrased more optimistically, everyone else will be the same as white men) and they don't like the idea of not being on top of the heap.

One of the ways they cling to the dated ways is to exert their privilege by a.) lashing out at people they don't approve of, and b.) getting defensive when they are treated the same or called on it.

On the individual scale, it's annoying and can test friendships. On a larger scale, it results in this "DEI" backlash that has us taking down acknowledgements to medal of honor recipients.

@mrbojangles25: Yeah.

I really don't know what to make of all that. We go way back and I never knew him to care about any of that. But I guess now it's hard to find people who don't talk about it. I don't really talk politics with this guy and it hasn't come up, or if it has then I just noped out of the conversation, so I really don't know where he stands on that stuff.

Him and one of my other friends (that's how I heard about someone taking him aside) got some job somewhere else and I don't know everyone he hangs out with now. I'm not really going to dig and try to find out. I just hope whatever it is passes because sometimes my eyes are about to roll out of their sockets. Everyone has their differences, it's just turning into a slightly antagonistic personality and it kinda sucks. I wonder if there's anyone who does appreciate that personality in the other people he hangs out with now or if he's just going to end up irritating everyone and pushing people away not being aware of why? That other friend who works with him keeps telling me of some new way he was irritating like every day now. Definitely in my interactions sometimes it seems like he's fishing for a reaction and it's very childish. Anyway I don't abandon people so easily. Maybe I'm annoying in some ways too, who knows. I don't think it's malicious, but it's not endearing either.

I found a lot of people did abandon longtime friendships over some political stuff before, people who really were tight, and it seemed kind of sad. I mean at the end of the day who you vote for and your reasons are your own business and IRL I keep it that way. Some people didn't and it's fragmenting social circles and that doesn't seem like a great thing. To me it never mattered before and that doesn't change with me now. Same with religion.

I mean... so long as no one goes... "I'll have a water" while at a bar or a pub instead of a delicious alcoholic beverage... extreme suspect.

Yup, and even now on this board, I dont view any user by their political views.

I view them by their gaming preferences or conduct. In your case, I see you as the guy who nicely and politely asks me to upgrade my GPU. :) (As opposed to the one who is being rude about it)

Hell, the only reason I even post in THAT thread in the first place is because OTHER people in my medical circles bring up medical news to me.

Edit: I've even forgotten the political leanings of most folks anyways. As it just isnt relevant.

i don't post in that stickied politics / culture wars thread and never really contributed to the political board. only time i remember doing is when i got modded for calling someone a c*nt. when he pulled me up on it i told horgen c*nt is a compliment in my native country. he asked if i was australian. i laughed.

but that's about it. it's not for me. as long as your real life identity isn't built around the political views you post on here i think i'd get on well with you. because some who post in that thread can be insufferable c*nts. i think that's vague enough to not get modded.

i'd defo go for a pint with most of the sw lounge regulars. after sinking a few there'd probably be some english vs scottish bantz with cup. ghost would be fun, if not just to prove he is real and isnt an elaborate creation of conan. jayden's never steered me wrong with his movie recommendations. meeting most users would be fun when you've been on these boards as long as we have

Unless someone is an ass, in which case I ignore them, I can get along with anyone and have a beer.

I will pass on the beer though.

I prefer water in ANY situation.

I’m sure there’s a few people here that I’d get along with and probably others I would not.

I pretty much agree with this. The people that make politics their identity are absolutely insufferable people. I can tell how miserable many of them are in their personal lives and I don't care to be around that kind of energy.

System Warriors aka the actual geeks that have fun on this site are much cooler and fun to be around.

The people who bring their politics to System Wars.

It sucks every time I get hyped for a game, and the people who made politics their identity are already ruining discussion. No discussion on mechanics, gameplay pacing or anything of that kind... just culture wars. 💀

@Maroxad: It's okay to be political and I tend to brush an isolated political reference to the side when it comes to SW, but the issue is when this shit spirals out of control and then SW becomes a political war zone.

That's when it becomes insufferable; otherwise be political without it consuming your identity. At least some people get that, and can still have fun the way Gamespot is intended.

People that are chronically posting in those sanctioned political threads are among the most pathetic users on this entire website. You can tell just how miserable they are over their privileged lives and it's just laughable.

Water is fine, I drink it, but sometimes an ice cold beer hits the spot.

Here, hear! Water ftw!

yeah it's a sad state of affairs. game discussion on sw is dead. you're lucky if you can find a gameplay related thread full stop. even if you do, maybe half a handful of posts.

meanwhile culture war related threads on sw, if they dont get locked early, five pages plus. still pitiful compared to what it used to be like, but the threads that grew big used to be game related, now they're nearly all political related

@Macutchi: Yup.

I am so glad none of the threads I created devolved to culture wars crap. I am glkad people stuck to gaming in them :)

@Maroxad: @Macutchi: 100%. I like to view 'em as Political Crackheads. Politics is their addiction. They can't go on 5 minutes without their next political hit. It's an addiction and it deteriorates their mental health just like any other abused drug.

I always questioned the well being of people who try to derail gaming topics with politics and culture wars.

Unless it makes sense for that specific discussion, which in 99% of convos it doesnt.

When many people jumped to the conclusions that Mashiro Sakurai was talking about politics with his recent statements, rather than just differing game design philosophies. I just facepalmed so hard.

@Maroxad: Gaming, sports, entertainment, you name it and they bring up politics.

These are all good responses. I generally will discuss politics with folks at times, and remain friends if we disagree. But that's because I'm actually able to agree to disagree. I dont think a friendship is worth jeopardizing over it.

Being political is not the beef much of us have here, the beef is among those that habitually make non-political things, political, and shoving it down our throats. There is also a very real observation among those that make politics their identities and how they become miserable and hard to be around when all they end up doing is complain how unfair their privileged lives are, and then expect others to be miserable with them.

Having awareness of the political landscape and exercising one's right to vote is quintessential, but there's a fine line when it becomes the poison to one's mental health and they try to pull everyone else down with them.

Being a high school teacher for the past nearly 15 years has taught me that I can get along with anyone.

I would probably get along with most people. People act different on the internet.

Probably not well. Online, I'm forced to interact with guys. In real life, I mostly hang out with women. In high school, I had 14 girls as friends only 2 guy friends. So yeah...

As a dude, I mostly hang out with women in my personal life. It's been an honor to be included and trusted like that among female crowds. I think you'd fit in.

I will take 1940s pep pills and fist fight you all in public

@jaydan: I will readily admit that on occasion I need to just tell myself "ok bud, thats enough internet political discussion for you."

@mojito1988: Yeah man, teachers have some thick skin. Especially those who teach adolescents.

My grade actually caused 3 student teachers (all 3 female) to reconsider their career choice lol.

Probably alright, would imagine.

And honestly, that's your inner conscience begging you to stop feeding yourself the political poison. Honestly it will benefit everyone that's been washed away in politics to admit it has had a negative effect on their mental health, and to get back in touch with the wellbeing of oneself and community.

I find that if you have a decent sense of humor and you do not take things personally you do a lot better in the teaching profession.