How much dissent is healthy in a friendship? Is what you disagree on relevant?

I met a guy. So far, our temperaments seem to match fairly well. We’ve been walking our dogs and going out for coffee together, and we haven’t run out of things to talk about yet.

Basically, my family and friends are making wedding plans.

Last time I saw him, we talked about school. He mentioned a teacher who had slapped a child, and implied that it may be necessary to get physical with children in some cases.

That’s about as far from what I believe as possible. It surprised me, because we seemed to have similar views on children and education, up to that point.

I don’t have a problem with differing views. In fact, I love to argue. My best friend and I get into very deep discussions precisely because we don’t always agree, and I love that.

However, the assertion that children need to be slapped did not make me want to start a discussion. It made me cringe and change the subject.

Have you ever been friends with someone who had very different views about the topics you consider most important? Did that work out?

Let’s not make this about children and the need for slaps, please. I’ll be happy to join in if anyone feels like starting a thread on that, but here, I’d like to discuss opposing viewpoints and friendships.