Impolite Company

“It’s never a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t really know.”

While this is highly quotable material, I completely disagree with the assessment. Those are exactly the types of people you want to discuss religion and politics with. Think about it. If you know the people really well, you should already be familiar with their political and religious views, so what new information can be dredged up by having that discussion over and over again? My mother and I are on oppositional sides of the political debate, so much so that she refuses to talk politics with me (that’s her loss, but you get my point). You’re not changing anyone’s mind, they’re not changing yours, and you really just get mad with each other because of this actuality. So, that’s where strangers come in. Because they don’t know you intimately, it’s a conversation starter, a way to get into their brains, and also because they don’t know you from Adam, they won’t be as closed off to your ideas.

I will admit, though, that religion used to be a more volatile issue than it is now. For various reasons, at least in this country, the vast majority of citizens don’t go to church on a regular basis, and so don’t have a strong grasp of their supposed faith. So, when someone shows up who has a strong grip on his/her faith, we just nod along when we have no idea how it is even different from our own. Politics can still be a tough point for many people, especially around election time. Ever try going to a rally for the party you’re not affiliated with? You should try it sometime, and raise a few questions in private circles. See how quickly it takes you to get kicked out. Honestly, time it. It won’t take too long.

Strangers are a good sounding board for other things too. Let’s say you wrote a novel, and you need someone to edit it for you. Most times, someone with no connection to you whatsoever will do a better job of it because they’re not personally involved. Or, for instance, you want to make it as an actor. A stranger will tell you how badly you botched that one-act play you were in at the town barn last week. People close to you will just nod along and pretend you did a great job.

So, is it impolite to corner strangers at events and ask them these questions, or better yet, to email them based on their blog entries that you connected with, and ask them these questions? In the changing world in which we live, I think it’s not impolite to rely on strangers and their open opinions. In fact, I think it’s downright stupid not to utilize them as a resource. Just pray they don’t take it the wrong way and think you’re stalking them. Yeah, it happens.

Sam