Can Democrats and Republicans Date? When Politics Gets Personal · Dating to Win · Radar

When Politics Becomes Identity2:10 – 4:53

2:10

When I was growing up, I honestly didn't know whether my parents were Republicans or Democrats.

2:16

I didn't know who they voted for.

2:18

They didn't come home wearing hats.

2:20

They didn't have us put up political signs all over the front yard of the house.

2:24

And they didn't turn every family dinner into a political debate.

2:28

Back then, voting was personal.

2:30

Voting was private.

2:31

It was respected.

2:33

You could live next door to someone for 20 or more years and never know who they voted for.

2:39

You could be friends with someone, work with someone, or go to church and sit in the pew with someone every week and never know who they voted for.

2:47

You could even marry someone without agreeing on every political issue.

2:52

People have political opinions, but politics wasn't necessarily their entire personality.

2:58

Today, it feels different.

2:59

Politics has moved out of the voting booth and into most every part of our lives.

3:05

It's in our televisions.

3:06

It's in our phones.

3:07

It's in our social media feeds.

3:09

It's at the dinner table.

3:11

It's at our workplace.

3:12

And now it's taken over our dating profiles.

3:15

For decades, political parties, campaign strategists, television networks, radio hosts, and social media companies have learned that conflict gets attention.

3:25

Anger keeps people watching, fear keeps people clicking, and outrage keeps people coming back.

3:32

both political sides constantly tell us that the other side is simply wrong they tell us that the other side is dangerous or that the other side is evil or that the other side is destroying the country and after hearing that message every day many of us have bought into it we no longer disagree with people we dislike them we no longer debate their ideas we start to question their character And we sometimes assume that everyone who voted for that person may think exactly the same way.

4:03

But that's simply not true.

4:05

Two people can vote for the same candidate for completely different reasons.

When Politics Becomes Identity2:10 – 4:53

2:10

When I was growing up, I honestly didn't know whether my parents were Republicans or Democrats.

2:16

I didn't know who they voted for.

2:18

They didn't come home wearing hats.

2:20

They didn't have us put up political signs all over the front yard of the house.

2:24

And they didn't turn every family dinner into a political debate.

2:28

Back then, voting was personal.

2:30

Voting was private.

2:31

It was respected.

2:33

You could live next door to someone for 20 or more years and never know who they voted for.

2:39

You could be friends with someone, work with someone, or go to church and sit in the pew with someone every week and never know who they voted for.

2:47

You could even marry someone without agreeing on every political issue.

2:52

People have political opinions, but politics wasn't necessarily their entire personality.

2:58

Today, it feels different.

2:59

Politics has moved out of the voting booth and into most every part of our lives.

3:05

It's in our televisions.

3:06

It's in our phones.

3:07

It's in our social media feeds.

3:09

It's at the dinner table.

3:11

It's at our workplace.

3:12

And now it's taken over our dating profiles.

3:15

For decades, political parties, campaign strategists, television networks, radio hosts, and social media companies have learned that conflict gets attention.

3:25

Anger keeps people watching, fear keeps people clicking, and outrage keeps people coming back.

3:32

both political sides constantly tell us that the other side is simply wrong they tell us that the other side is dangerous or that the other side is evil or that the other side is destroying the country and after hearing that message every day many of us have bought into it we no longer disagree with people we dislike them we no longer debate their ideas we start to question their character And we sometimes assume that everyone who voted for that person may think exactly the same way.

4:03

But that's simply not true.

4:05

Two people can vote for the same candidate for completely different reasons.