Human Nature and The Bus

I've noticed something interesting about human nature and I have a theory as to why, but I'm wondering if perhaps there may be other reasons as to why.

The thing I've noticed is that if you have an opinion which is contrary to that of the opinion of those amongst whom you are gathered, why do people who know about it feel the need to point this out to the rest of the group. I've noticed this with both religious and political situations, although the examples I'm going to cite are both political.

Situation 1: A gathering of good friends. One couple are probably up amongst my best friends. The wife and I are like twins as far as our tastes in music and literature, and the husband is entirely responsible for dragging me off the couch 3 years ago, and propelling me on a journey towards becoming an IronMan next year. The other couple of good friends as well. The husband is a member of the armed forces and one of the most loyal and family centric guys I know. Being a member of the military, he's not a fan of Mr. Obama at all. I fully respect his right to feel like that, and given that he's spent numerous years in the deserts of the Middle East in support of his opinions, I can't fault him one bit. He was launching into a discourse on how he felt Mr. Obama's actions were weakening the US position in the world. It was a discourse based on a premise which I personally disagree with, but I'm not sure any good would have come of me bringing that up at the time. Anyway...

Midway through the discussion, the wife of the first couple just blurts out... "So Urban voted for Obama last year!". Mr Military Man turned to me with a look of shame and a little disgust and asked "Why would you do something like that?!?" It was a great pity because I think it put a damper on what was supposed to be a fun evening.

Situation 2: Me and the Koda clan were hanging with some extended family over the 4th of July last year. I love these people to death, but they're also sworn devotees of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. They believe Mr. Obama is the anti-Christ, and that he's trying to sneak something into legislation that will allow him to become the supreme ruler of the United States without term limits or anything like that. That's after he's murdered off all the old people, forced everyone to have an abortion and turned the US into an Islamic Taliphate... It's sounds like a joke, but these people seriously believe this.

Unfortunately there is not arguing with people like this. It's like arguing religion - It just cannot be done when one side has the divine appointment from God (or Glenn Beck) to be right. So I kept my mouth shut. Midway through the conversation, my dear, sweet mother-in-law, who I still think the world of blurts out... "So Urban and Mrs. Urban both voted for Obama". STUNNED SILENCE ensued. The rest of the afternoon the political discussion took place in little groups away from us. From time to time, various family members would walk over and ask... "So do you regret your decision yet?"

So why do loved ones feel compelled to throw us under the bus? Here's my theory...

When those who love us, find out that we may have an opposing view they're prevented by some psychological block from telling us what they really feel. If they however find themselves in a situation where they are the overwhelming majority, they'll bring it up in the hopes that their opinions may be shared as to our different opinion, and they'll get to see the reaction, without having to actually say anything which could offend a loved one.

Anyone have any other ideas as to why we as humans do this kind of thing?

At the end of the day I think this approach actually results in more harm than simply sharing an opinion would, but it's just another example of ways in which our civilization (or lack there of) is screwed up.