That moment when a stranger approaches you and starts talking about politics.
That's a great moment.
It is a moment that says "Hi. You look approachable today. Approachable enough that this random person felt comfortable to come talk about this uncomfortable topic with you. Congrats."
It is a rare moment that takes place within our everyday and usually takes us more than a little off-guard and maybe makes us feel a little more important that someone actually thinks we're worth talking to.
Maybe for you, it was at the grocery store last week as you (im)patiently waited in line with your Doritos; at a crosswalk before an absurdly long green light; at the gym acceptably minding your own business when an 82-year-old woman boldly asked how your day was.
For me, it was at the pool in the middle of a lifeguard shift when a since dubbed "Swimmer Man" stopped in the middle of his workout to inform me that "you know, sometimes it's just so annoying to come swim when these kids are here," in reference of course to the 30-odd swim-teamers crashing down the adjacent lanes.
This is not an uncommon complaint and I was not at all surprised to hear the 30-something say it. His acknowledgement of the mayhem that the locker room becomes upon swim team season was just another on the pile.
They're so noisy, they run all around and into everybody else, they throw their towels at each other and leave their trash on the benches...
"Yeah - they're all just in there sayin' how Trump's gonna make America great again."
Now, I will not go into great detail on how our conversation unfolded from here as I'd prefer to not make this a political article. What he decided to say to me was not what I found interesting. If I'm honest, I couldn't have cared less what his political persuasions were. What I was interested in was the fact that he decided at all to say anything to me, a total stranger, and, what's more, the fact that he felt it worth while enough to put his workout on hold in order to say it.
My reaction would not have been any different whether or not I'd agreed with his beliefs. Either way, I'd have smiled and nodded thoughtfully at what he had to say, telling him to have a nice day at the end of it all. I would not have tried to counter his argument or convert him. I recognize the futility in this. People have their opinions for a reason, no matter how good or bad they might be, and all you can do is throw your own opinion at them and see if it sticks, you can lead a horse to water and all that.
Swimmer Man put himself out on a limb and gave me the opportunity to cut him down.
Not too many people are willing to do that if they think there's a chance of them being rejected. And, unfortunately, there are quite a few people to prove them right who are willing to reject any opinion contrary to their own.
There's something oddly counterintuitive about that. We make such a deal of You have a voice! and Save the First Amendment but then we complain about how our neighbors don't believe in the same things we do.
We protest against censorship and then complain that the voices of everyone else who think something different are too loud.
We complain that more people aren't getting out to vote, but if those people are voting for the wrong in your humble and well-educated opinion candidate, do you really want them out there?
The answer is no even though it would be ideal for everyone to vote. The answer is no because we are selfish. We want only what we consider to be correct to be an option.
And then everyone wants a different option.
So you see the problem.
In my humble and well-educated opinion, I think this is exhausting. It is about as pointless as it could be to judge a person simply by the observation that no, they do not agree with you and yes, you are going to conflict.
Whoop-de-doo. Can't get along with everyone.
You do not have to like them. They are not asking you to be their new best friend. All you should do is be courteous, and even this you do not have to do. It is, however, a tiny show of human decency, a taste of the Golden Rule.
There aren't many Swimmer Men out there, those people who are willing to put themselves out in no-man's land and risk getting shot down.
But they for whatever reason thought it might pay off. They thought you looked like you might agree with them, share their sentiments. If they were wrong, whoops. Better luck next time, sorry to bother you, have a nice day. It's OK to let them know - Sorry, I actually don't think that's true but go for it. I'd like to hear what you have to say. Shots don't need to be fired. No one has done anything wrong. It is not a competition of truths because really, we've all got a different one.
It does not have to be a declaration of war. If anything, it's a little white flag and a handshake. Hey, how's your day going?
The next time someone decides to interrupt your everyday with their opinions, just remember that what they're really saying is "Hi. You look approachable. Congrats." All you have to say is, "Have a nice day."
