I've known this group of people for 10 years now and we always find a way to hang out at least once a year. I've been to all their weddings and we have a messenger chat that is extremely active. Most of the time we are just talking about our hobbies and day to day lives, but also we have a tendency to bring up politics. I do wanna preface this by saying that they aren't straight up reactionaries. They didn't like Trump. But they lean conservative in that they don't want the government telling them what they can and can't do, and have a hate boner for internet mob justice.

Recently it feels like the only thing I do is respond to the articles posted about cancel culture, preteen hormone blockers in trans children, mask mandates, etc, etc. I am the only leftist and not only do I just feel like I'm alienating the group by always pushing back against their ideas, but also its just exhausting and feels like a chore. I dont want my primary interaction with these guys to be "Well actually the research says this about gender identity....."

At the same time, I just can't let it go when they say things that are just objectively wrong or against my principles. For example, after AOC posted the video talking about her trauma and how she was scared for her life during the capitol riot, my buddy without watching the video, quoted part of a Washington post article about. He was mad that she described a plain clothed police officer as white, and claimed that she was actually showcasing her anti-white racism. He also said AOC was lying and engaging in bad faith to progress her political agenda. My head just about exploded and I went off on him.

I want to offer a left perspective to the group so that they have an idea what socialist politics actually are and push the overton window of the whole group left, but I feel like I might be getting really close to completely disengaging. I just can't spend an hour of my day arguing about this shit every time an article is posted.

Does anyone else struggle with this type of thing?

Edit: Literally as I posted, this was sent in the chat: https://quillette.com/2021/03/18/the-campaign-of-lies-against-journalist-jesse-singal-and-why-it-matters

I feel like its directed at my responses and if I dont read it and agree with him I'm part of the problem.

    • S4ck [none/use name]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I dont mean disengaging with them as friends, but just disengaging from the political discussion because I dont want me arguing with them to be the bulk of our relationship.

      • SpeedAnimal [none/use name]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Your relationship is with reactionaries which you are deliberately avoiding because it's easier to ignore shitty and harmful views than have to put up with finding new people to hang out with.

        I feel like its directed at my responses and if I dont read it and agree with him I’m part of the problem.

        They're not your friends.