Handling Politics Talk at the Table?

[Retreater]

I don't want to discuss politics on this board, so I apologize if this is too close to a forbidden topic. However, I am running a game tonight (virtually). I know my players are pretty evenly divided along the political spectrum, and it could become heated - or at least distracting from the game. Should I just outright ban all discussion about current events for tonight? Should I let everyone say their piece before the game starts? As a neutral figure I want everyone to have fun and enjoy the game. Normally there is some good-natured ribbing about their differences in ideology - but I'm afraid tonight might not be the time for it.

Anyone have suggestions?

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Ask nicely. Let them know it stresses you out and as a favor, skip that stuff.

If they refuse, red or blue, they’re not respecting your respectful request. Stop the game if you must.

maybe ask ahead of time individually and set the stage. Perhaps if they are cool, it won’t even come up!

 

[Umbran]

Should I just outright ban all discussion about current events for tonight?

It depends on your people, honesty. But, if you are not sure, outright banning discussion is probably the fair way to go. There are different ways to announce that may be more or less constructive, depending, again, on your people.

Of course, then you have to be willing to back up the ban, and possibly toss folks who will not honor it. If you aren't ready to do that, postpone the game.

Should I let everyone say their piece before the game starts?

I would not normally expect that to be helpful. It will start your session with, "Oh, so you believe horrible thing X..." eroding camaraderie within the group.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

If you're concerned that things could get acrimonious, yeah, you'd probably best start with something like "I know everybody's stress levels are way up and tensions are running high. So I'd really appreciate it if everyone could not discuss the election tonight." Establish empathy for what everyone is going through, but firmly state your boundaries. It's about your wellbeing as much as theirs.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

That was a huge issue I had. Three of my table are brothers, two are relentlessly political. It had been a long term issue that those two would just talk politics when it wasn't their turn. Of course both would be totally clueless when their turn rolled back around and they only then started to figure out what they were going to do. When that would happen I started to just fire encounters at them, figuring they must be bored. Then after COVID the worst of the two stopped coming over and went remote. Which killed the political talk. Honestly me and that brother have steadily drifted apart and I honestly not sure I'm going to invite him back to my house. May blow up the game, not sure.

 

[Hand of Evil]

People use to know this, you don't discuss politics and religion in mixed company.

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

People use to know this, you don't discuss politics and religion in mixed company.

I will briefly insert the appropriate RE Howard quote: “Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.”

 

[Wasteland Knight]

For many, many years my gaming table has had a “no politics and no religion” rule. People are welcome to chat about all sorts of things during the previous snd post game socializing, but not those two topics.

 

[Eltab]

"I'm rooting for X" "I like candidate Z."
Give everybody a sentence or two to encapsulate why their guy is cool; no cutting down the other fellow. No insulting their supporters. When everybody who wants to has chimed in, go on to the game.

Am I presuming an above-average level of maturity?

 

[Umbran]

Am I presuming an above-average level of maturity?

The average... may not be particularly high.