[MrScruff]

That would still be politics, yes. What would be the benefit of discussing it at work? The particular example you give is one which is especially divisive. If someone feels emotionally affected by an issue to the point where they cannot focus on work they should take a leave of absence.

[viraptor]

It's called being an understanding human. Unless you limit the topics to the weather and definitely not in the changing climate style, you will talk about real life quite often. And someone's real life may be a school dropoff one day and a grenade landing on their brother digging trenches in Ukraine the day after. If you hard nope out of tougher subjects, they're unlikely to talk much to you afterwards.

[MrScruff]

If you're unable to focus at work because of some personal trauma, then the best thing to do at most companies is talk to your line manager about it to explain the situation. That's entirely reasonable and I would think that most people will respond empathetically in that situation.

I don't think that's typically what is meant when discussing 'leaving politics out of work' though.

[viraptor]

Not sure where you got the "unable to focus at work" part from. It's not about anything affecting work, just normal conversation.

[akimbostrawman]

Random people aren't your therapist or owe you understanding whatever trauma you pull out of your hat.