politediscourse

(if you’re a democrat substitute “2017” for “2015” and “Trump” for “Obama”)

It’s the summer of 2015 and your attending a small party at a friend of a friend’s place, chatting with group of people who are foreign nationals from Turkey. At one point the conversation turns to Obama and they begin criticizing him for all of the despicable reasons and actions you despise him for. Do you;

1. Join in the conversation sharing with kindred spirits all the supporting evidence about what a reprehensible and dangerous criminal he is.
2. Rip them a new A**hole for how their President Erdogan's maniacal racist and fascist policies has brought their country to the brink or chaos.
3. Quietly excuse yourself from the conversation.
4. Or What?

JW

I would remind them that they are guests in our country and request that they behave as guests or leave the country. Thereafter, I would walk away from them.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Best response I have seen for this question.

politediscourse

Very well. But why? They are guests in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and they are sharing opinions which you are in complete agreement with?

Kevyn

It is always interesting to get the perspective of people from outside the country. Americans essentially live in a fishbowl few can name the leaders of ten foreign nations or understand their form of government. Listening to how others view us may bring us more knowledge about ourselves. The opportunity to travel outside the nation is even more enlightening.

JW

The country used to pride itself on manners and consideration as well. Insulting your host is not only bad form, it is childish and socially destructive. It says far more about you than what you say about your host.

Free speech, like all freedoms, comes with offsetting responsibilities and consequences for ignoring them. Without observance of the responsibilities, the freedom becomes an illusion. When speech is weaponized, as in any directed insult, communication ceases and talk devolves into gibberish, likely to be followed by serious consequences, the least of which is an end to cordiality.