[tat45]

Speaking from personal experience only, I work with people who are on the other side of the fence from me politically. We manage to have conversations on political matters without it boiling over into contempt and dislike. Probably the fact that it is a workplace and we all want to keep our jobs serves to keep a lid on it.

I find it far easier to depersonalize someone who I don't see in the flesh on a daily basis.

[tomjen3]

Are you sure about the contempt and dislike? When I hear somebody say something stupid at work I won't necessarily say anything, or say what I think, but I will change my like/dislike of that person.

[kbutler]

Like, for instance, if they make a comment that sounds like anyone who disagrees with them politically is stupid?

If your only interaction with them is the disagreement, it's far easier to assume they "are stupid" rather than just "have a different opinion."

[clock_tower]

I think he's explicitly saying _expressed_ contempt and dislike: "Probably the fact that it is a workplace and we all want to keep our jobs serves to keep a lid on it."