Interview with Spencer

The conversation covers the speaker's identification as a Democrat with liberal views and how political beliefs are intertwined with personal identity. There is a discussion on polarized perspectives between Democrats and Republicans, with concerns about harmful biases and the impact on relationships. The speaker expresses frustration and difficulty in communicating with those holding opposing political views, citing challenges in having mature conversations and feeling attacked. Personal experiences with family members are shared to illustrate the strain political differences can have on relationships. The speaker expresses reluctance to be close friends with strong Republican supporters due to current political climate and radicalization. They also highlight the increasing social distance between individuals with differing political views and question the other side's understanding of facts and reality. Frustration and discomfort in conversations with opposing views are evident, with I feel like like are you are you good with like participating in the process? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's good. So how do you describe your political views? I would describe my political views as I mean, I identify as a Democrat. My views are more on the liberal side. Okay, that's good. So would you say your political beliefs are an important part of your identity? I think they are a part of my identity because these what these values that we're fighting for are eventually going to affect our lives. So I think in that sense, it is a part of my identity because it's really I value like advocacy a lot. Um, but I wouldn't say it's my my entire identity, you know? Yeah. Yeah. But it definitely is a part of it. Okay. So when you say it matters, like, affect their life, like, what do you mean by that? Can you like, you know, talk about like specifics? Yeah. Well, I mean, like certain I mean, for example, the administration that the United States is under right now, it definitely does put a lot of populations in danger. And I think it's affecting people's lives in that way. And therefore, it is affecting my life. And yeah, it's it are our life is pretty much governed by the administration we're under. So yeah, I think. Okay. Yeah. So how do you describe your like, how do you describe people who identify as conservative or like Republican? How do you view these people? Yeah, I think they're within that party. There are I mean, obviously, the parties have become very polarized. I think there's there's a spectrum. I think people who are Republican. Some people do have good morals. But then there's the extreme side where it's not really even about politics anymore. It's about upholding your own biases and trying to pick certain things about administration that matches your biases. And I think that's when it becomes dangerous. And when it harms people. Okay. Do you feel like the other side, like the Republican Party, they understand people like you, like they, they know where you're going to? Um, I think, like I said, um, because of especially now how polarized it's become. Um, there, I think a lot of people who have conversations about their political identity becomes very, um, polarized. Yeah, because, um, because they don't, I'm not generalizing, but I feel like some people in the Republican Party, um, they want to, they don't even want to hear what your opinions are. And they just want to enforce their own political opinions on you without understanding where I'm coming from. Does that make sense? Do you mean the general voters or like, do you mean the, uh, the lawmakers or do you mean like the, the radical voters or, you know, uh, just like general, you know? Yeah. I mean, I would say both. I think, um, lawmakers are the top of that. Um, but it all comes down to the voters at the end of the day and how, how they vote. And it's all like a domino effect, but yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Uh, so do you think your, uh, disagreements are mainly about politics or about deeper values? I think if I'm having a mature conversation with someone who's also mature, I think it, it can be just about policies and strictly what is going, what laws are going to make this country better. But I think a lot of people, um, it really is deep under, they have this like facade where it's like, Oh, I'm talking about policies, but deep under it's about more than that. And it's, yeah, they're moral. And it's even like comes to the point where like upholding their racist values and stuff like that and hiding it under a policy. Yeah. So you think like they're biased to begin with and it's very hard to change like the fact that they're biased and they're going to like pretend they're like, uh, you know, objective, but they're not actually. Yeah. Sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, with, yeah, certain extremists on the Republican Party. Yeah. Okay. Uh, okay. Sounds good. So do you ever feel like, uh, people on the other side are not just wrong, but fundamentally flawed in some ways? Um, I think the people in the Republican Party who, um, again, uphold these harmful, um, beliefs. Sorry, can you ask the question again? Yeah. Yeah. So do you think like these people who disagree with you or on the other side, do you think they're, uh, like, do you ever feel like they're not just wrong, but also like they're like flawed in some way? Like there's something like more. Yeah. I mean, I would, I think it comes to a point where if you're not advocating for the better good of people, it's a question of your, your morals and your character. And I think that's when it comes to a point where, oh, maybe this is like a bigger, deep down issue with your own character. Okay. Sounds good. So, so you think you're actually like, okay, okay. Okay. How do you feel when talking to someone who strongly disagree with you politically? Um, I think it can be frustrating. Um, very frustrating because in my own experience, it's having a politically charged conversation. Um, it sometimes evolves into kind of like an argument because they're not under, they're not seeing your side of you and you're not even attempting to. And it kind of makes, sometimes makes me feel like I'm, they don't care about any of what I'm actually trying to communicate. They just want to, to attack you. Yeah. Yeah. Like they don't care what we have to say. Yeah. I feel like I am some, in some cases I feel like I am being attacked. Um, and they're trying to push, like, this is, this is my way. This is the right way. And you have to follow. Okay. Sometimes the dynamics I encounter. Okay. So these, do these conversations ever become frustrating at times or just answer the question? Yeah, definitely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When you're, it's definitely frustrating when you're trying to have a mature conversation and they're just not hearing you. Okay. It's like they're, it's one ear out the other. It's like they're not, nothing that you would say is going to change how they feel. Okay. And that's really frustrating. It wouldn't, it wouldn't be a constructive conversation. No. Because nothing, like, because you're not going to change each other's minds and, you know. Yeah. And at the end of the day, it's going to be more frustration. Yeah. And I'm not generalizing. I think I've had, I have had mature conversations with people in the Republican Party. Yeah. But a lot of those instances, it has become an argument. Resulting like a meaningless. Okay. Thank you. So, so for a relationship impact, like do you think that personal, like political differences today affect like friendships or relationships? Definitely because I think, I'm using the current state of the United States as an example. Yeah. Like when it comes to people are in danger and people, this can have effects across generations. I think that's when it can start to affect relationships because if it's not just a question about your politics, your political views anymore, it's a question about your character and about how you perceive people. Yeah. And I think that is when it comes to the point where it affects relationships. Okay. So definitely. Okay. Do you have an example of, you know. You know, I just have, well my dad's side, very, very religious. And I'm not saying that because of their, I mean they do have a lot of conservative views, specifically regarding Trump. And it comes to the point where I'm at a holiday with them on Thanksgiving and they're wearing propaganda about their political views about like, oh, Donald Trump won. You know, it comes to a point where it's not. Backwards. It's like, okay, I'm in. Yeah. Yeah. That's tough. So would you feel comfortable being close friends with someone who strongly supports the Republican Party? I think I would if I knew. Actually, no. I don't. I think in this current state of the country, I don't. I honestly don't think I would because. Yeah. Yeah. That's fine. You just don't feel like, because the difference is simply too vast. It's hard to be friends because, you know, you're wanting to like, they're the arguments or whatever. Yeah. Especially under this Republican administration. They're so radicalized. It's very hard to avoid. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So for social, do you think people today are becoming more socially distant from those with different political views? Or from those with different political views? I would definitely say yes. I think, again, with the amount of like polarization that's happening between parties. Yeah. It is affecting how, sorry, I forgot your question. Oh, do you think like people today are, like, dude, I scrolled away. Wait, let me find. No, it's okay. I just, I want to make sure I have the right answer. No, it's fine. Whatever. Oh, okay. Okay. I have a, like, I just switched, like, questions. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. All right. So, yeah. Do you think people on the other side are generally well-informed or not really? I think there are a few people that are, like, well, no. I think the majority of Republicans who support specifically Donald Trump in this administration are not because they're not seeing the harm that's being done. I think that's really dangerous. So, yeah. Okay. Okay. So, have you feel like people from the other side or parties just don't understand basic facts or reality? In some cases, yes, because I think they, because of their beliefs that are so, like, deeply rooted in their identity, it's hard to, it's hard to really, it's hard to really change that and see past that. So, I think, I think yes. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Do you ever feel, like, uncomfortable, frustrated, or even angry just talking to the other side? Yes. In many, in many instances, I have felt, it has, it's mainly to do with how, the dynamic of the conversation, because it just, I feel like it escalates so quickly. And then, again, it becomes, like, it's not even a two-sided conversation. It's just someone pushing harmful beliefs on me. And I think that's, you know. Okay. And you can't really respond to that because it's just like. No, it's almost not. Because they're not trying to talk to you. Yeah, it comes to a point where it's not worth my energy if I'm trying to communicate something and they're not even going to listen or even consider the possibility that they might be wrong. Okay. And you're saying, like, that happens, like, very often, like, with the people you know. I would say, yes, specifically with my, my. Family? My family, yeah, my dad. Okay. Dad died just because of how, I think it has a lot to do with how they were raised. And I think they, yeah, they will not even hear, hear out another side. Really? They just, they think they're, they're right and no one's going to change that. Okay. You have to add to this, but just a follow-up question. Like, are you close, like, when you say your dad's son, you mean, like, do you have, like, do you have, like, cousins or, like, uncles? Yeah. Like, like, more than your dad? Yeah, no, actually my dad isn't, doesn't have conservative views. Oh, okay, okay. But my, his brothers, my uncle. Okay. Have those, those family members specifically. Uh-huh. Have those, those views. And I can occasionally, like, see even my dad and my uncle. Uh-huh. Arguing. Argue because of beliefs, especially as someone, a part of the LGBTQ community. Like, as a gay person, it, it comes to a point where my dad is arguing for, for me and for my, my identity. Yeah. And the other side, um, I know a lot, I'm not, I'm not saying all conservatives are, you know, like, homophobic, but I think a lot, a lot of views like that, traditionalist views, um, tend to align more towards that. Very good. Yeah. So it's not even an argument about politics anymore. It's an argument about his son, me. Really? Okay. Yeah, I think that's, yeah. Wow. Yeah. That's, that's tough. I don't know about that. I know. Uh, yeah. Okay, so do you feel like the conservatives, like, sometimes they don't understand, like, they don't really understand what it means to be a good person? In some sense, yeah. Um, with certain people that I've talked to who are very conservative, it, it feels like their moral compass is just completely, completely wrong. Wrong. And it's concerning, honestly. It's concerning. Yeah, but they're, they can't see the harm that this, um, that their beliefs can cause. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because we live in a democracy and our, like, action has, like, consequences, right? So you think, like, for example, if, like, you know, because, like, uh, Trump is, like, elected, so you think they're responsible for, you know, uh, the administration and they might cause, like, more harm in the future. Yeah. Um, and they don't even, like, they might not even realize that, like, they're doing it. Mm-hmm. Okay. Yeah, uh, so do you think, uh, political disagreements today are more about politics or about how we see each other as people? I think it starts with politics and de-escalates into, um, you being attacked, um, and you, um, it, it starts to come to a point where, again, like I said, it's not about politics anymore. Mm-hmm. It's about, um, upholding these harmful beliefs and, and, yeah, I think that is when it's very harmful. Sorry, I know I said that a bunch of times, but. Yeah, yeah, it's fine, it's fine. Some of the questions might be a little bit, like, um, empty. No, it's not. Yeah. So, uh, um, okay, so do you, uh, do you think liberals sometimes contribute to this, uh, division or polarization as well? Um, yeah, I think, um, as a, as a liberal myself, I think there are extremists on, on either side. Mm-hmm. I think people leaning towards, um, well, people that have democratic or liberal beliefs, um, have a better moral compass. That's something that's, something, um, that is a question, but I think, um, it, yeah, I think with both parties, it, both sides are contributing to the polarization. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's not just limited to the Republican Party. Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Uh, just a few last questions. Mm-hmm. If that's fine. Yeah. Uh, do you think people today feel equally comfortable expressing their political views? No. I think today people are more hesitant to express their political views because of how, how polarized it's become. Um, and I think it's almost, it's almost to the point where I'm in, I have to, I don't know, like, if I, you want to talk about your own political identity, you need to be very aware of who's in the room because it might, um. Trigger someone? Yeah, it might, it might become a bigger argument and it can definitely, um, harm relationships and I think that is becoming more prevalent today. Mm, I see. Yeah. So, um, do you think politics has become more about identity than ideas? Um, I think it's always been a part of your identity because if you are supporting a party, there has to be something that you agree with, that you're on the same page with, and I think that in turn is a part of your identity, um, because you're trying to vote for someone who will uphold values that you support and that you're passionate about and I think all of those values are a part of your identity. Okay. Uh, just one last question. Uh, do you think people today are disagreeing with ideas or are you starting to reject each other as people? Um, I think, yes, it, I think some conversations are about ideas. Um, others are about the person as a whole, um, and about, you know, I'm, I'm just like bringing up examples how, I don't know, like someone, someone like looks at someone and they're like, oh, I know they're like a liberal or something, you know, those stereotypes, those harmful stereotypes can also, um, it's not even about the ideas, it's just about how they look, you know, that's enough. I see. Oh, they fit this certain mold, you know, that's the part they fall under and that's in turn your, your attacking their identity. I see. Yeah. Yeah, uh, I think that's, that's all I have. Thank you. Of course. Thanks so much. Okay.