My cubicle is in a small aisle with two others. The girl that sits next to me, between me and a guy, asked us what the word is for someone who's not conservative and not liberal. I told her, "Moderate." She said, "No, that's not it."
I told her, "I'm a moderate. I hold some views that some consider conservative, and some consider liberal. For example, I'm all for our right to keep and bear arms."
The guy on her other side asked sharply, "Why?"
Me: "'Why?'"
Him: "Yeah, I asked first."
Me: "Well, because it's in our Constitution, that's why."
Him: "NO, it doesn't say that, it says..."
Me: "I know, it says 'militia.' But if you're going to use that argument, then you need to go by their definition of 'militia.' Last I heard, that was MEN who were aged 16 to 45. Are you saying WOMEN shouldn't have the right to carry guns?"
All this time, we're talking over this young girl (she's only 19), getting louder and louder. I laughed before we could go any further and said, "See why I don't discuss things like this at work?" which effectively ended the "discussion." We've chosen not to bring it up again, because we usually get along just fine otherwise.
(Just wanted to add, the definition of "militia" I cited in the conversation is something I read some time ago. I'm not entirely sure of its validity, however.)
I told her, "I'm a moderate. I hold some views that some consider conservative, and some consider liberal. For example, I'm all for our right to keep and bear arms."
The guy on her other side asked sharply, "Why?"
Me: "'Why?'"
Him: "Yeah, I asked first."
Me: "Well, because it's in our Constitution, that's why."
Him: "NO, it doesn't say that, it says..."
Me: "I know, it says 'militia.' But if you're going to use that argument, then you need to go by their definition of 'militia.' Last I heard, that was MEN who were aged 16 to 45. Are you saying WOMEN shouldn't have the right to carry guns?"
All this time, we're talking over this young girl (she's only 19), getting louder and louder. I laughed before we could go any further and said, "See why I don't discuss things like this at work?" which effectively ended the "discussion." We've chosen not to bring it up again, because we usually get along just fine otherwise.
(Just wanted to add, the definition of "militia" I cited in the conversation is something I read some time ago. I'm not entirely sure of its validity, however.)