I think there's a place for political discussions but I also think that it's a subject fraught with peril. My beliefs are very clearly stated in my LJ, & I know how most of my friends feel, and if we have similar opinions we tend to say so. If we don't, we politely avoid the subject, because we respect each other.

The problem is when a stranger from outside this community of friends decides to go on the attack. Frankly it turns me right off. There's no point in having a rational discussion or debate with someone like that, because they are firmly entrenched in their opinion & unwilling to listen to the other side (or else, obviously, they'd just read & absorb & not start a flame war). Someone like that gets kicked off my LJ in a trice from now on. It hasn't happened yet but if it does...