I feel like a stranger in a strange land... (Milwaukee: fit in, best cities)

[gortamor]

Originally Posted by Jev

It's really not cool to talk about politics at work, especially if you are in a white collar environment. It's also very uncool if the talk is unsolicited.

Well, you see, there is the difference then. In Boston, is not 'uncool'; we talk of current events, history, politics, poetry, music etc. and if we disagree (not all are liberal there), is fine - we debate but also respect each other. Our topics are not limited to sports, family and weather.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by gortamor

Well, you see, there is the difference then. In Boston, is not 'uncool'; we talk of current events, history, politics, poetry, music etc. and if we disagree (not all are liberal there), is fine - we debate but also respect each other. Our topics are not limited to sports, family and weather.

I don't know, gortamor...it might just be the group of coworkers you are with, etc., then, as while there isn't a ton of political banter in my office (and honestly haven't heard any poetry talk either), these others have been talked about pretty freely and loosely - current events, history, music, etc. I think you'd find plenty of this in MKE metro too...it might just be the group of folks you have found thus far?

[KateDaum]

There isn't a place that we have lived that I would want to talk about politics at work. A few passing comments might be Ok. I belong to a book club in WI so we discuss books, poetry etc.
I have learned a lot about the history of the areas that we travelled to just by talking to the locals. I was at the winery in Algoma recently and learned so much about the people who settled the area and the history of wine making there.

[radraja]

There have been a million conversations on this lately - if you're not a WI native, you may have a hard time fitting in here. That's just the way it is a lot of the time.

[Milwaukee Ronnie]

A lot depends on your work environment. I worked for awhile for a mid-sized (200 employee) firm in Milwaukee's suburbs and it was a stifling environment. Conversations revolved around things like camping and whose kid did better than whose kid in youth sports that year. I hated it. The company had a culture of macho "my car is bigger than your car" type stuff, and in that kind of environment you're best to steer clear of substantive topics of conversation like politics.

Where I work now is totally different. I'm part of a diverse staff where we have stimulating and honest conversations all the time about politics, culture, etc. It's like night day from my old job.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by gortamor

Well, you see, there is the difference then. In Boston, is not 'uncool'; we talk of current events, history, politics, poetry, music etc. and if we disagree (not all are liberal there), is fine - we debate but also respect each other. Our topics are not limited to sports, family and weather.

I'm a conservative and I wouldn't talk politics in Boston. Almost everyone I'd come in contact with would be some shade of liberal and it would be exhausting. Talking about things you can agree on is a much better way to introduce yourself and make friends.

[Lookout Kid]

You need to make more of an effort to find like-minded people. It's usually a good idea to avoid talking politics at work, but you should be able to figure out who the lefties or righties are by dropping hints. Then catch a drink with them after work and have a ball.

Suburban Milwaukee can be a lot more provincial than suburban Boston. Chicago and Minneapolis are probably a little closer culturally to what you had out east, though Minnesotans are known for being super polite. Chicago... not so much.

[gortamor]

Originally Posted by laysayfair

I'm a conservative and I wouldn't talk politics in Boston. Almost everyone I'd come in contact with would be some shade of liberal and it would be exhausting. Talking about things you can agree on is a much better way to introduce yourself and make friends.

There are many conservatives in Boston, and I have had heated, albeit civil, debates with them. Thing is, we respected that we saw things differently because we knew that we cared passionately about these issues that ultimately determine the nation's future.

[laysayfair]

Originally Posted by gortamor

There are many conservatives in Boston, and I have had heated, albeit civil, debates with them. Thing is, we respected that we saw things differently because we knew that we cared passionately about these issues that ultimately determine the nation's future.

I have no doubt that you've talked to as many conservatives as you could find who were willing to talk politics with you.

[ComputerBlue]

I feel everyone has different experiences and their experiences may not be the same for everyone.