When choosing a topic for conversation, do you try to avoid the "Big Three" or are you comfortable with these subjects?

When referring to the "Big Three", I'm specifically talking about race, religion, and politics. My coworkers and I refer to them as that when we sit around and try to have an intellectual conversation now and again. If we do decide to talk about any one or all of these topics, we try to agree beforehand that we'll be civil about it and agree to disagree since these subjects can be controversial and prone to serious disagreements and even outright arguments due to differing opinions and feelings.

I was just wondering what others thoughts are on these subjects and how they're treated by people who choose to discuss them with others (not necessarily on Askville but with family, friends, relatives, coworkers, etc. ). Asked by Bluefreedom 39 months ago Similar questions: choosing topic conversation avoid Big comfortable subjects Society.

Similar questions: choosing topic conversation avoid Big comfortable subjects.

When I read this topic I had to smile. The Big Three... OK here we go, Race, isn't an issue until someone has an issue. And if all are the same race would be different, as if talking about women's rights with 2 males and 1 woman.It just doesn't turn out correctly.

I can't speak for another race, I have never had a problem being white, but you can't say that to anyone other than white.. make any sense? Religion, is a big controversial subject and I try not to ever talk about ones own. There is too many different beliefs.

Politics, it depends how many parties are sitting in the conversation, we do not talk about it at home, it causes us both to raise our voices and in the end not talking at all, there are not enough agreements beforehand, that can take away any ramifications of what was said. And no one agrees anyway. Were lucky to know we can disagree and still be together beside it.

Respect is the Key. And it means understanding that the others have, (as well as you do), the right to have an opinion, most of the times different than ours. I guess that's what makes life so rich!

Conversations become discussions, (sometimes with a bitter flavor) when we stand in our egos as owners of the absolute truth. We are not the General Managers of the Universe! To have the fortune of gathering around and sharing our thoughts and points of view should be considered as an oportunity to construct (not to destroy) relations.

And it requires (being confident) to be open, flexible, humble, kind with others and having a great dose of compassion, acceptance and, of course, RESPECT for yourself and for others....and, why not, a little sense of humor! With this perspective, no topic is sensitive anymore. It becomes a chance to enrich your points of view and change your and other's paradigms..

I jump right in a stomp all over those topics, *UNLESS* I am in a venue where they might get me in trouble at work. Generally I do politics and religion there, because I am surrounded by a bunch of like minded people, and it's fun baiting the republicans and thumpers.

Aren't we all equal?) that's pretty much MY big five. (My spouse works for the Soy Scouts of America, and they have the 2 G's, by the way... God and Gays) FOr me, here's the deal. The big five are, in my book, things for kids to kick around in college, in terms of discussion.

Heck, that's one of the best things college is for--the deep discussions of important questions. I would bet any thinking adult, by the time they're 23 or so (if not before), KNOWS what they think and why on these issues, and discussing the issues isn't going to change the way another adult thinks. I also work and live in places that the prevailing ideology is very different from my own.

If I don't want constant battle, I keep my head down and my mouth shut. Since I'm a cross-over on some issues, and since I have a VERY difficult time in seeing any issue as black or white--making me able to see both sides of an issue pretty clearly, I get along in both conservative and liberal environments. In general, my family and I line up on these issues--all except my brother-in-law, who had, actually changed HIS views significantly in this last couple of years, and whose meds (he has tourettes and a high level of OCB, with some problems with depression as well at times) are helping enormously.

We won't gang up on him, because he didn't used to be able to take a discussion objectively, and even refusing to discuss an issue used to push him into some disturbing behaviors. COmfort level? I know what I think about my personal big 5.

I've raised my kids to think intelligently and objectively and what they've come up with on their own pleases me. My spouse and I agree. Most folks wouldn't know my stance on lots of things, because I keep up with the news and the cross-over issues confuse the issue.(I have both positive and negative things to say, for example, about BOTH political candidates).

However, I also have a REALLY hard time remembering sources any more, and I'd MUCH rather bring along my kids, who are sharp young adults, and watch THEM in action! Sources: Personal experience NancyE's Recommendations The Last Man Who Knew Everything: Thomas Young, the Anonymous Genius Who Proved Newton Wrong and Deciphered the Rosetta Stone, Among Other Surprising Feats Amazon List Price: $15.00 Used from: $1.00 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) Wouldn't it be nice to KNOW you're right?.

I head right for them! Race, religion and politics are the big three? I always thought of sex, religion and politics as the big three.

Either way, those are the most important topics to discuss inorder to find out if someone is compatible.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.