I love the euphemisms in arrowhead brackets, haha. The story of your coworker reminds me of all the times I'd talk to someone and lay out all the good arguments and have them agree and have moments of lucidity where they say, "Holy shit I actually agree with Trump, wtf?"

But once they leave, societal pressure overtakes and the struggle to be accepted by peers usually brings the programming back. Sometimes in full force where they actively dislike you, and sometimes it's as of the conversation never happened.

I had a conversation with a leftist dude in Spain one year and we talked for hours at a party. We had a mutual respect and understanding.

The following year, I went and he was decked out in Antifa gear and gave me nothing but the stink eye.

But I like to think the seeds are planted by then and it's only a matter of time.