[sunshowers]

Speaking as an Indian, what's really going on is that everyone in India has lost hope in their political decisions actually impacting their lives in ways that they wish. So politics is a pretty low-stakes discussion in India, like sports teams.

In America we haven't quite lost hope yet.

edit: to be clear, politics does impact lives in India, but it does so in ways that are quite disconnected from individuals' political actions.

[DirkH]

I think Americans have lost hope as well. I think in America it isn't hope for a better tomorrow that is driving politics anymore, it is fear for a worse tomorrow.

I don't know how things are in India, but I imagine people have lost hope that politics will actually impact their lives in ways they wish, but they probably aren't as fear-driven as Americans (yet). And this explains why you can discuss politics with someone you disagree with - because you aren't scared of what the party of someone with opposing views will do (yet).

[aprilthird2021]

> And this explains why you can discuss politics with someone you disagree with - because you aren't scared of what the party of someone with opposing views will do (yet).

You cannot grow up in India without realizing there are many opinions you cannot voice at just any random person without inciting a riot. As much as Americans are polarized, they will not burn down cities, houses, etc. over what people said. Even the Indian government has started bulldozing entire homes and even gullies to try to punish people who riot because it's such a problem (and yes it's an idiotic solution to an idiotic problem).

[s1artibartfast]

There is also an element of vindictiveness and revenge. e.g. you harmed me, so I am willing to suffer costs to inflict harm an you.

[from-nibly]

Secret band of robbers and murderers

[bombcar]

Part of it is that all political parties in the USA have given up "conversion/conversation" or trying to get this "hypothetical middle" to budge.

Instead, they're both entirely geared up to get "their base out to vote" which you do by riling them up in all possible ways.

[zeroonetwothree]

That’s clearly not true, just look at both T and H backpedaling on their policies to move them towards the center.

[aprilthird2021]

I don't feel as if politics is a low stakes discussion in India, especially the religious end of political discussion. There are so many incidents of full blown riots and violence and killings over what people say about this and that religion or how you portray or don't portray this and that figure.

[binary132]

That’s because it’s an identity thing. And it’s not just religion, it’s also different groups (right?) who have different opinions about what territory belongs to those groups. Is that something which frequently comes up as a subject of debate at table stakes political discussions? I don’t know how common it is for those conflicting parties to interact, but something tells me they don’t discuss politics about it calmly together.

[aprilthird2021]

Identity, caste, religion, and ethno-linguistic grouping are the backbone of Indian politics, so yes these things come up whenever any political topics come up

[binary132]

and these debates happen peaceably between members of conflicting groups? doubt.

[aprilthird2021]

No I took the opposite position

[sunshowers]

Religion absolutely is very high stakes. But there is a very deep seated cynicism about electoral politics in much of the country.

[aprilthird2021]

Yeah I agree, especially as many politicians sort of buy off the right communities to basically have the vote finished before we go to the polls

[joshdavham]

That sounds plausible.