This question’s on my mind because my coworker today mentioned they would vote for Trump if they could (mind you this is 2023, in Canada). I don’t generally have the talking points or the desire to fight about it, so I just deflected the conversation. But I often wish I was more strong-willed and could try to figure out why someone believes what they do and, if it’s invalid, then convince them otherwise.
Thus, I’m curious what you all would say or what you’ve done in the past!
OP said coworker, which I think most people missed. If you’re privileged enough to quit your job over a coworker’s political opinion, more power to you, I guess. I think that’s letting the fascists win, since you’ve literally ceded ground. But I believe OP is looking for constructive solutions to discuss politics with a coworker to preserve the relationship, likely both for their sanity at work and because there’s other things about the person they like.
I wasn’t advocating that a person should quit. But there’s a far cry between the people I’m polite to because I see them at work everyday vs the people I’ll invest emotional energy in, converse with about more than the day’s weather. It’s really hard that OP has emotionally invested in a person who listens to bad people. That divide–where OP wants to put attention and conversation–is what I was trying to highlight. Have rational, honest conversations–if it’s safe to do so.