Originally Posted by
Trsnrtr
This is why one should never talk about politics to cycling friends OR strangers. The main thing we have in common is cycling and considering that it's basically a 50/50 split politically in this country (USA), that means that 50% of the people are going to get pissed off.
One time, I had a Sierra Club enthusiast get pissed at me for my laxidaisical attitude about some issues he was adamant about. When I asked him why, he said I was a cyclist and was living the righteous life as he saw it and therefore should agree with him. I pointed out to him that no one asked me my opinions about the environment, gun control, abortion rights, sexual rights, religion, politics, etc. when I bought my bikes. All the salesman ever wanted to see was the color of my money.
Assuming that everyone you know who rides a bike thinks the same way as you (rhetorical you) is naive at best.
It is a good place to find common ground in shared passions though and probably wise to keep to non controversial topics. My daughter and her Fiancé are on the opposite political spectrum as my wife and I , go figure. She is very bright and has solid reasons that are well articulated on why she feels as she does
and it is important that I accept, though disagree, with her in a similarly patient way.
Bottom line, it takes a lifetime to get to where one is philosophically and it is rather insane and presumptuous to assume ones argument will change that viewpoint.