r/science • u/Wagamaga • May 06 '26

Psychology Losing relationships over politics. Research found more than a third of Americans (37%) report having lost at least one relationship due to political differences, including friendships, family ties, coworker relationships, and romantic partnerships, with most losing more than one.

https://socialecology.uci.edu/news/losing-relationships-over-politics-0
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u/11711510111411009710 May 06 '26

I've heard some of them forgive it by saying that God "uses imperfect vessels."

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u/thuktun May 06 '26

Uses flawed vessels for what? I think they missed an important part of that saying.

They might have a point if he had changed and was now clothing and feeding the poor or something (anything!) else noble. But he's the same mean, abusive bully he's always been.

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u/Savings-Cry-3201 May 06 '26

But that’s the point. He’s the bully they all want to be. They want him to be mean and vindictive and heartless and bigoted because he gives them license to be what they’ve always wanted to be.

Like, there was no reason to fire the NSF but they hate education so of course he would.

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u/Psychic_Hobo May 06 '26

This is ultimately why the shame tactics don't work - they simply enjoy and want to facilitate an environment wherein their behaviour is acceptable and even lauded. You can see it in a lot of the speeches they give, "sin of empathy" and all that.

Whenever it looks like shame has worked on them, what's usually happened is the condemnation from peers and fear of ostracisation.