When Opinions Come Between Friends

Have you ever started talking with a friend about your political views and before you know it, you're having a screaming match? This usually makes you realize that there are some topics you just can't discuss with certain people.

People often take their beliefs and values very seriously. Sometimes so much so that if you try to disagree with them, even in a civilized way, they could blow up at you. There are many reasons why this could happen and even more reasons to avoid being that person.

An argument that someone takes too personally can really end a friendship. But there are ways to prevent this. First, you want to avoid being that person. As I said, everyone has opinions and beliefs and you can hold onto these while discussing it with someone with an opposing view. This is healthy discussion. Putting yourself in the other side's shoes can help you understand others. You might even find that you agree with some of the viewpoints of the other side. Or it might just help you reaffirm your views. The important thing to remember is that you should never get carried away to the point where you resent your friend just for having a different opinion.

So keeping your mind open is the first way to avoid these senseless conflicts. You also want to respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Many issues in life don't have one right answer. If they did, there would be no argument at all. So even if you think, you are right and your friend is wrong, you have to take a step back and realize that they have the right to an opinion. Furthermore, they might be right. Though, more than likely with any good debate, each side has its good points and they both have weak ones.

Finally, it is important to keep arguments on topic. Despite how wildly you disagree on something, it is usually when you start to take the argument personally when problems arise. It's healthy to discuss different opinions but even if you were passionate about the discussion, you have to let that go and move on.

This seems simple enough. These are generally good ideas to keep in mind when debating anything anyway. But what do you do when your friend doesn't use the same tactics for debate? Some people, when debating with someone they know, resort to personal attacks. This can be hurtful and harsh and if this is the case, you should tell your friend how you feel and chances are, they will see the error in their ways and you can move on.

Others like to instigate and this is the source of much arguing. It sounds ridiculous and sometimes it's hard to acknowledge that your good friend is one of these people but if they constantly bring up a topic that they know makes sparks fly, then they just like the drama. In the end, these are people who you probably don't want to be friends with anyway.

Another option is to avoid those topics altogether. There are certain things that just get people riled up- plain and simply. This tends to be political discussions or religious beliefs. If you have had the experience of getting into a serious fight with your friend over whether Democrats are better than Republicans, the best thing to do is avoid this topic with them. You know how it will end up and it's best to prevent any serious fights if you can.

If you truly value your friendship with someone, then you won't let differing opinions get between you. Though it might be frustrating to have someone drag your opinions through the mud, you have to keep in mind that it is just a different viewpoint and that it doesn't have anything to do with your friendship. If you keep your debates friendly, they can be very fulfilling and interesting to discuss. But remember, the strongest arguments come from those who can acknowledge the other side's point of view.