The ultimate test of patience

Ever feel like the internet makes everyone hate each other? Real talk: the discourse is usually a dumpster fire. But what happens when you take two people who basically agree on nothing and force them to share a meal?

That’s exactly what happened when Robin, a solicitor and leader of the anti-immigration English Democrats, sat down with Aslak, a Norwegian national living in the UK, for a dinner date. It’s giving classic social experiment energy, and frankly, the results were surprisingly wholesome.

The dinner breakdown

Robin—who admits he was expecting a “full-on social justice warrior”—showed up in a blazer, looking the part of a “stereotypically British chap.” Aslak, who runs an art gallery, leaned into the vibes by chatting about Vikings. They bonded over, of all things, lamb chops and a bottle of rioja.

But once the small talk died down, they got into the heavy stuff.

  • Ukraine & Russia: This was the biggest point of contention. Robin argued that the UK should stay out of foreign conflicts and suggested we should arm both sides like a “business model.” Aslak shut that down hard, arguing that a globalized world makes isolationism impossible and warning that unchecked expansion is a major threat.
  • Surveillance: Surprisingly, they actually found some common ground here. Both agreed that the government shouldn't be snooping on citizens without reason, noting that it kills democracy and causes people to self-censor.
  • Brexit: Robin stood by his party's support for Brexit, claiming it hasn’t been the economic disaster critics predicted. Aslak countered that the real issue was alienating major trading partners and making it harder for students to study in Britain.

Why it matters

At the end of the day, these two walked away without throwing their wine at each other. They both agreed that keeping things rational is key—because once you start treating someone like a literal enemy, things get dangerous. As Aslak put it: “Every rightwing person should have a woke friend and vice versa.” It’s a nice reminder that while we might disagree on everything, we’re all still human. Say less.