Avoiding arguments politics at work...

April 14, 2009 3:13 AM

How do I avoid getting into discussions/arguments about U.S. politics at work?

I work for a Fortune 500 firm in the Midwest and have 1 direct report who's of a similar age to me (around 30-years old). We get along OK. The thing is we have diametrically opposing political views.

We always have had the quick 5-minute 1x/day discussion on sports/movies/life as would be expected when building a work relationship. Politics got thrown in there every once in a while too.

Nowadays when the topics turn to politics, the discussion seems to drag to the 30-40 minute range. Since we have such differing views, we seem to be trying to convince each other but never do.

The arguments are always respectful and friendly, but my problem is these are wasting time. I've been trying the "let's agree to disagree" line to bring an argument to an end when it's gone on too long, but I'd like to avoid them all together.

Since I've been trying to avoid these lately, I've noticed they usually start with my direct report coming to my desk and saying something like "did you see [political figure] on [cable news show] talking about [current event]?"

I just get suckered in. Bonus question: am I being manipulated by my direct report who knows this is an easy way to avoid work for 30-40 minutes?

posted by glenngulia to work & money (21 comments total)

Manipulated? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Avoid? I do it by baffling them with bullshit. A couple people at work pull that stuff with me, and I go on the offensive. It works out that I am usually slightly more informed than them (which isn't saying much). So for example, when the clowns were blaming Obama for the mortgage meltdown, I did a 5 minute treatise on Credit Default Swaps and they haven't bothered me since.

Wasting time? "Hey man, sorry, I have a ton of work to do. We'll catch up at lunch."
posted by gjc at 3:22 AM on April 14, 2009

"did you see [political figure] on [cable news show] talking about [current event]?"
[]"No, I didn't. Did you see historic sporting event?"
[]"Huh? Sorry. Bit tired after a big weekend. What did you get up to?"
[]"Musta missed that, Bob, but maybe we can talk about it over lunch. I'm up to here right now, and expecting a phone call from that important client, and I need to prepare for it. You don't mind, right?"
[]"No, I decided to take a break on politics for a while, just chill, you know. Did you catch any good games, documentaries, movies over the weekend?"
posted by b33j at 3:26 AM on April 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

"Yeah, I saw it, but if I start talking about that then neither of us will get any work done."

Then wink and go back to your keyboard or work documents.

One thing I learned early on about managing people is that you never take off the "boss hat". They're your employees first, and your friends second.
posted by DWRoelands at 3:54 AM on April 14, 2009 [4 favorites]

A co-worker often says "Oh, I don't talk about religion or politics at work. Those subjects are too personal."
posted by gnuls at 4:11 AM on April 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

Politics and religion at work. Two things which should be banned.
Here is how I stay out of their way:

Anytime either of these subjects is brought up near me, I just end the conversation with a "I don't discuss politics or religion at work." and then leave, or resume what I was doing.
No goodbye's or see you later's, I just end the conversation cold.

People now don't try to talk to me about those things and I don't have to walk away from them.
Slightly rude yes, but better and more productive than listening to it
posted by whoda at 4:12 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Three words: change the subject. You don't need to even say "I don't want to talk about it," you just have to start talking about something else. They'll either get the picture or they won't, but deflecting things this way is actually pretty easy once you get used to doing it.
posted by valkyryn at 4:26 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Your direct report is indeed trying to waste time with you. But you are not being manipulated, in that it takes two to tango in this case. You are responsible for your own words. If you werent such a good dancer / debater - he wouldnt keep asking you to dance.

My suggestion is: get really boring.

"Did you see what x politician said about healthcare?" "Yes, you know I think that has to do with his background. That politician is from y, and y is an interesting place. i had a friend who visited y once, and they went to this steak house there, and they said it was one of the best steaks they ever had. their waitress was a big supporter of politician x, but whatever you might think of the people from y, they sure do have good steaks"
posted by Flood at 5:05 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Anytime politics comes up just stick to talking about the intricacies of government without any real partisan slant (ie Political Wrestlemania).

him: Did you see how Senator Blank did this thing that is totally not (liberal/conservative)?

you: Yes I did see that. Isn't it interesting how a bill becomes a law?

him: Umm, yeah its interesting. Ahh, I should get back to work.
posted by ian1977 at 5:32 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've been trying the "let's agree to disagree" line to bring an argument to an end when it's gone on too long

Do you like the conversations before they go too long? If yes, then just be honest. You say the problem is the wasted time, so just look at your watch after X minutes, say "Ok, we're not going to solve this here, and I've got to get back to work. We'll pick it back up another time if you like." Then pick it up another time if you like.

If you'd rather not have the conversations at all, just smile and hold up your hand to stop them at the first approach and say, "You know I love talking politics, but now's not a good time. Maybe later." They'll get the message after a few times. I can totally relate to being suckered into political discussions; I hate it when it happens at work and extricate myself as soon as possible. You really just have to stop yourself at the start.
posted by mediareport at 5:50 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Just state that you are busy and are being not being paid to discuss politics. Be lighthearted about it so he's not offended.

The problem with whoda's suggestion of rudely blowing him off is that he'll respond is if you just rudely blew him off.
posted by malp at 5:56 AM on April 14, 2009

Him: "did you see [political figure] on [cable news show] talking about [current event]?"
You: "No."
Him: "Well, he said [blah blah blah blah]..."
You: "Hm."
Him: "Can you believe he'd say that?"
You: "Guess so."

...etc. The gist here being that keeping your side of the conversation determinedly monosyllabic will end it fairly quickly. Few people will go on for that long in the face of nothing but "Hm."
posted by rusty at 6:08 AM on April 14, 2009

If your objective is actually to prevent the conversations, you could just completely capitulate to his or her point of view.

If you know that he or she wouldn't be willing to continue the conversation after work hours, you could say, "We can continue this but it has to be by going and getting a beer after hours this evening," or by making some other reasonable offer that you know wouldn't be accepted.
posted by XMLicious at 6:18 AM on April 14, 2009

"You know, I prefer not to discuss politics, it gets too ugly."

Worked at work and with family.. it doesn't have to be rude, just explain that you don't want to end up in an uncomfortable or strained situation. If they don't understand that, then its their problem and if they keep coming back at you, explain it again. Don't get yourself suckered into a 30-40 minute conversation with your boss that can get adversarial. Even when they seem friendly these discussions leave bruises.
posted by MattScully at 6:22 AM on April 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

I just get suckered in.

Stop falling for this. Next time, just laugh and say "I'm not talking about politics anymore." The laugh is important. If the other person pushes, laugh more and repeat.

"Nope, not doing it. Hey, how about them Yankees?"

And if they keep going...

"Hey, did you see that Watchmen movie yet?"

And if they keep going...

"What did you think of the huge swinging blue dick?"

Eventually they'll catch on and give up. Keep laughing and do NOT falter.
posted by rokusan at 6:40 AM on April 14, 2009

There's a classic trifecta of things to not discuss in polite company: religion, politics, and sex. I'm sure throwing one of the other two into the mix might derail his attempts and clue him in to how inappropriate it may be to have a long conversational tangent at work.
posted by mikeh at 7:23 AM on April 14, 2009

Take a lesson from the Republicans--it's all about defining terms and framing the discussion and whatnot. If you move far enough, to the left or the right or the crazy, people will stop talking to you about politics.

"did you see [political figure] on [cable news show] talking about [current event]?"

L: Did you know [cable network] is owned by [conglomerate]? That's why they never talk about [big-business issue].
R: [Political figure]? But he voted in favor of the current budget! That socialist is trying to take my guns away!
C: [Cable news show]? Those guys are trying to brainwash you! [Talking head] is some kind of outer space lizard man, like in Soul Caliber, or the works of David Icke, or that tv miniseries V. Not the Thomas Pynchon V, though.
posted by box at 8:12 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Lots of great suggestions - I'm sorry I arrived at this thread so late.

In general, I've avoided long-winded political discussions by either A: knowing more than the other guy (not difficult, though I do tend to stay well-informed) or B: changing the subject, which has already been mentioned. I also like the 'Wag the Dog' approach - see the movie to know what I'm talking about (in a few words, distracting one from the bigger issue by making much ado about nothing).
posted by chrisinseoul at 9:27 AM on April 14, 2009

Thanks, all. The consensus seems to be focused around a changing-the-subject approach. I'll do my best!
posted by glenngulia at 9:30 AM on April 14, 2009

I think you have Bested one that can easily backfire. If they really are trying to get out of work then telling a long dull story does that for them easily, they don't have to do a thing. While you're going all Grandpa Simpson talking about onions in your belt, they're thinking about their significant other and what they're going to do on the weekend. (Or what a knob they think their manager is.)

Keep it short. Deflect and dismiss with simple, short responses. If it doesn't work after the second one go straight to "Lets get back to work, Ken." This will end the conversation and make it known that you think Ken is trying to screw off and he should watch his ass.
posted by Ookseer at 11:31 AM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

If this person is your direct report, it should be easy enough to turn the conversation back to work.

Them: "Did you see [political figure] on [cable news show] talking about [current event]?"
You: "Nope. But how's that [report, project, research, etc.] going that I asked you to work on?"
posted by geeky at 12:47 PM on April 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

The consensus seems to be focused around a changing-the-subject approach.

Minor point, but no. Some answers focused around a changing the subject approach, but a larger number offered a variant of "tell him you're busy and don't have time to discuss politics" or "I don't discuss politics at work" (with some offering two or three together). You should choose whatever strategy you prefer, of course, but don't call what happened here a consensus pointing toward your preferred answer when it's clearly not.
posted by mediareport at 5:36 PM on April 14, 2009 [1 favorite]