This was a significant factor in my deciding not to go see my sister and my brother-in-law this year. He’s something else. Sweet man most the time, but full-on Maga.
My aunt.
It’s not her politics (they’re awful, but she at least keeps them quiet). It’s more that she’s a combination of excessively chatty and dull.
She will talk about absolutely nothing for hours on end.
We skip and do friendsgiving instead. And all our friends are on the same political side
No one gets together in my family. Be nice to see them even if they brought up politics. I’d prefer they didn’t but it would be nice to get together.
Could you take initiative to get you all together?
Me. I’m the family member.
You mean the people I was forced to experience my childhood and early adulthood with? Not seeing them at all.
They got themselves kicked to the curb long ago. Mom died 13 years ago, which greatly improved my life. Dad died this past May and I didn’t even go to the funeral. Middle brother came out as an Oathbreaker, keeper or whatever those idiots call themselves. Oldest brother has always been a narcissistic asshat and I haven’t spoken to him in almost a decade.
Nuclear war between nations is a terrible thing that should never happen.
Nuclear war on toxic relationships is the best thing ever.
My uncle potentially, he may not bring it up (which would be nice) but still on edge about the potential of an argument. He’s been dragging down my kid cousin to be just like him too. Even if there was an argument I know I’m not going to have any backup from the rest of my family as they’re all leaning the same way, they’re just more softly spoken and worried about ‘civility’ and wouldn’t say the worst of it out loud.
I’m sure the more conservative members of my extended family will be angry and complaining about the world or how much money other people have or whatever.
And I’ll probably be in my usual spot, in the other room with the kids, playing video games or watching dumb funny videos.
Got to hang out with the hard-r racist uncle, my ‘pretends she a smart bible reader that hasn’t fallen for 4 different(in name) pyramid scams’ military sister, and my mentally disabled but violently aggressive brother that may have figured out that the cops will go easy on him every time.
These people wonder why I dread family gatherings and can’t function socially.
Be yourself, accept your family into your heart, and try to help them.
Show your racist uncle that whatever he dislikes about other races is also true for the supposed superior race, and that the things that make certain races seem inferior could be explained in other ways, like cultural issues (like racism).
Help your sister find passages in the Bible that speak to pyramid schemes, scams, gullibility, and remind her that her focus should not be on whatver these schemes are but on her Jesus and her salvation, and thank her for her service.
As much as you may hate dealing with people like this, I kinda think it’s the only way to help people. You have to build relationships with people that you dont agree with, search for good values in people and try to salvage them, pull them out of their tail spin.
My very imperfect father, whom I love and respect, has been a Trump supporter for a very long time and so any time a conversation can turn political, it does, and we all have to hear about the Democrat boogiemans and Trump the savior. As soon as it turns that way, even if I agree with his points or whatver, I just “oh shit here we go again” and what happens is, everyone in the room starts laughing because we all feel the same way. After a few of these I think he gets it, and I’ll talk with him about his ideas around Democrats and Trump, but in a curious way, and I’ll agree where we agree, and I’ll challenge him where I disagree. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree, I learn more about his perspective and we carry on.
Everyone on Earth is flawed and all we have is each other. I am so thankful for the people in my life that invested in me and I want to do the same for others.
Thank you for reading my TED talk.
I’m happy if the day ends with no violence or screaming where we pretend to be normal, and that’s not expected. It depends on if my brother is agitated that day and what shit that kicks off. I’m dipping the first elevated voice.
I feel you, but if you are only there when things are good, what’s the point?
If shit gets bad I’m out. I’m not risking safety for turkey.
Even my corrupted parents aren’t planning on a Thanksgiving visit because of how toxic the family is.
The writing is on the wall.
A sister that is a traditional conservative and brother that is a centrist liberal, they argue in talking points and both of their solutions are usually unrealistic garbage. It’s a big family though so most just leave the room when they get going.
All of them. They are literally neonazis but with black and white switched. They would say “black lives matter” while beating up a black Jewish person. I hate my family.
Most of them since we don’t do thanksgiving where I’m from
Avoiding most family this year, spending it with those I’m close with instead.
I’m skipping Thanksgiving because my whole family has become brainwashed magats.
Even the ones I thought could never be that fuckin stupid.
