I used to believe that celebrities should avoid talking about politics. Why risk ticking off their fans? And from my point of view, I didn’t want crass politics to intrude upon my enjoyment of their work. I just wanted them to focus on that work, like a good little art robot (I have grown past that last part since I learned how difficult being an art robot is).

My views on celebrities and politics has changed too. It’s not that I trust them or anything. Celebrities aren’t any more qualified than anyone else to talk about politics unless they spend a lot of time getting involved in it, and even then, being a good actor doesn’t mean I will trust them explicitly. I take a celebrity at their political word less than I would my friends and family, and about as readily as I would a guy sitting at the bar.

But if that guy at the bar makes his point politely and respectfully, I’ll probably listen. Not because I trust him any more than anyone else, but because we’re both there, and he’s being polite, and I don’t mind listening. Could be a good point. Could be bad. But I’ll return that politeness and listen, and then engage or change the subject accordingly.

When celebrities are talking about their political opinions, they’re trying to sway our opinions as much as that guy in the bar. Which is to say, not much. They’d love to influence your opinion! Just as I would love to influence your opinion on this. But it’s not the end-all, be-all of their lives. They’re not asking you to trust them because, “I’m a big name actor and I know what’s best.” They’re just doing what I would consider a moral thing: using their platform to respectfully try to effect positive change in the world. Not by shaming you or manipulating you into believing as they do. They’re just presenting a point of view you might not have considered, because celebrities are just a little closer to us than a random passersby on the street. Like that guy in the bar, by virtue of being seated next to you.

Part and parcel of this is becoming okay with celebrities expressing their political opinions, provided they do it in a respectful way. I don’t care that George Clooney is liberal or Tim Allen is conservative, because mostly they’re good actors who usually don’t act like dicks. (Though I don’t follow their careers closely.) However, if someone gets so involved as to earn a “left/right wing activist” mention in the first line of their Wikipedia page,  or voices their political opinions in disrespectful ways? That’s different. True political operatives are judged by a different standard, and assholes are assholes no matter their political beliefs. But if Taylor Swift wants to talk about who she’s voting for? Doesn’t bother me. Might not change my vote, but I don’t mind it filtering its way onto my news feed, as long as it’s being done in a respectful way. The same as that guy at the bar.