I know American politics can be entertaining. But how do people deal with the constant talk about what’s happening with Trump or what ever Biden said.
I also don’t need to hear a 10 minute lecture about someone not replacing the paper towels in the bathroom.
The standard “un un” can only get you so far. How do you cope? Or escape?
37 comments
My response is usually, “sorry, I’m not very knowledgeable on this subject”.
*Proceeds to have the meal of the day alone in the corner*
I usually tell people I don’t give a fuck about politics and they usually don’t talk about it with me 😂
I give them my point of view.
The weather. No matter what anyone else says, no matter what you are asked: make a statement about the weather.
“Can you believe what Biden just said?”
“Not just hot today but HUMID. Post typhoon is brutal.”
“You know trump is being set up right?”
“Looking like rain this evening glad I wore by boots!”
“Koreans always complain about comfort women but the real atrocity is how they encourage North Korea.”
“Did you know there were more foggy days on the coast of Fukushima year to date than there have ever been? Wow right?”
I work at home for myself
Change colleagues and work out a paper towel changing rota.
I completely feel you. Is it during lunch break or working hours? I used to say „I really need to finish this today“ or „I‘m getting a coffee“ and hope they can read between the lines aka 空気を読む
Ask them about themselves.
I haven’t hung around with fellow Americans for like 5 years as we are all tied down with families. However, there were always a few that would kill the mood talking about politics. I even found Canadian friends to be into U.S. politics.
Put a Canadian flag pin on your briefcase and laugh along with everyone else.
Man, my coworkers are cool as shit, and we only ever talk about fun stuff
Are your coworkers Americans?
https://preview.redd.it/6cm4eznravib1.jpeg?width=479&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e230c1d3772fd12509f050932c82fcfb095a7a4
やっぱりアメリカおかしいですね。何かダメだね。トランプさんの後で皆は落ち着くだっといいですね。
Not that I believe an ounce of it.
My coworkers are Japanese.
Don’t.
へええええええええええ
But idk, I have no American coworkers and the coworkers I do have never talk politics.
Wait, you guys have “***constant*** talk about what’s happening with Trump or what ever Biden said”?
Are Japanese people that interested and vocally outspoken about US politics in the workplace? Is this common?
I haven’t experienced this despite having several coworkers from the US. We’ve been together for more than a decade. We have small talk about it if something BIG happens state side, but nothing worthy of discussion, just small talk.
Huh. That’s weird.
寒いですねえ❄️
No, you underestimate the “un un”, or perhaps you have not interspersed enough “naruhodo”.
There is very little need to comprehend anything people who talk that much have to say, and this isn’t limited to people in Japan.
Tedious talkers are a global phenomenon. The best solution is to allow them to think they are being listened to long enough to plan your escape, and then tag in another target for their profuse speech.
Change the subject? “hey guys! Have you seen the Barbie movie yet?”
Nobody at my work place tends to talk about such things unless they are affecting business .
Foreign business partners and clients who come to visit sometimes do though. I usually just agree in a non-committal way, like “those are the breaks I guess” or “yeah I heard about that…” And let the topic fizzle out, at which point they will usually start talking about something else. I’m not about to argue with clients or partners. (It’s not Reddit after all).
If they’re giving strong opinions to uninterested people, in assuming they’re mostly not Japanese. They’ll learn eventually, if they survive long enough.
Ukraine is a possible exception since like many companies, mine encourages people to donate and matches all donations. Even then, we don’t talk about it, just donate what we can afford.
You could try the Glengarry Glen Ross approach:
“So you’re talking about what? You’re talking about…Biden and Trump…bitching about the paper towels, some broad you’re trying to screw, and so forth. Let’s talk about something important! Do you think I’m fucking with you? I am not fucking with you.”
I just woke up. Told my FIL good morning. He immediately went off about how Trump went to Maui to save the Hawaiians from the wildfire while Biden sat back and did nothing. I need to move out.
Japanese people rarely talk about politics. If they did it’s once in a blue moon because of some headline and that’s it. So, I’m going to assume that your colleagues aren’t Japanese which then leads to what it has to do with r/japanlife since it’s about how to deal with people instead
I wear earphones much of the time; I never respond in any way; I never initiate contact with the person in question and, if I am forced to, I make sure I am standing and on my way to another place when I initiate contact. It’s possible I’ve learned to pay less attention to the loudmouths than to other people, also.
My tactics work most of the time, but I *have* been defeated by one person whose near-pathologic need to blather loudly in mediocre English or broken Japanese to anyone nearby has led me to actively plan my day so I can always be in a different room for nearly 5 years now.
Just go “that’s what I’m sayin'” and then walk away
They just want to hear what they want to hear. Even if you say something and that is not the same opinion with them, they will heat up the argument.
Earphones.
Politics is a big nogo at my team. Quite surprised it’s handled differently at your company
Grab the wheel of the conversation and steer it in a wild direction.
​
“We had cheaper gas under Trump.”
​
*”Three towers collapsed in NYC on 9/11, didja know that?”*
​
“Well, with Biden, it feels like adults are back in control.”
​
*”The Federal Reserve is a private cooperation, money is backed by nothing”*
​
“That situation in Ukraine is…”
​
*”Aliens are actually Biblical demons.”*
​
​
Failing that, only discuss FORD (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams), and never RAPE (Religion, Abortion, Politics, Education.)
Hm, I never really had that problem before WFH.
At the last place, they mostly just spent the afternoon talking about the molecular structure of whatever it was that they had had for lunch, but it was easy to just tune it out.
As friendly as you can just say, “Come on mate, you know better than to talk about politics at work.” If they take it the wrong way add”..sorry I was always taught not to talk and religion and politics in bars or workplaces, they can often lead to a falling out.”
In any case, just lay thr ground work for the fact you’re not going to entertain the conversation for the sake of cordially as opposed to overt disagreement.
The other way would probably be to say you don’t follow whatever news they are talking about so much, so ” I don’t know.”
Wow, I’ve never had anyone bring up American politics to me besides my inlaws trying to practice their english. I tried to teach them my favorite phrase that I’ve invented “Same shit, different assholes” It was way over their heads.
My MIL political observation is Japan just does whatever America wants. I thought that was interesting.
I have coworkers ask me about American politics all the time. I’m from New Zealand 🤷♀️ the closest I ever got to America was a 2hr transit at Los Angeles airport…that was enough to make me never want to return 😂🤷♀️
Worked in Japan 5 plus years across multiple industries. Never have I come across these types of people. Please tell me what industry you’re in so I can avoid it.
Just say “I no speak americano”