I have extreme Trump supporters in my husband's family. I refuse to speak politics with them. I will get up and leave the room if it starts. Or, I'll pick up my phone and play a game or scroll social media and literally ignore them. If it's a phone conversation, I get off the phone. I think of it as similar to training a dog. Now, they know better.
If you have to, hang up on her - later you can cite phone issues. "Golly gee, I just don't know what's happening with my phone service! If this keeps up, I'm calling [cell phone provider] and giving them a piece of my mind!" ? ? ?
My very Christian sister and brother in law are staunch IQ45 supporters so I decided to NEVER talk to them about politics. If she says anything at all about IQ45 I just don’t respond, I stay totally silent and then talk about something totally different. When the village idiot was first elected she would carry on about how great he was, so I just ignored her by putting the phone down and waited til she stopped talking. I also unfollowed both of them on FB. So today when she calls we only talk about family and friends. She got the message. No point in wasting my breath and time trying to change her mind. I only feel sad that they have so little awareness of what life is really about.
My sister was valedictorian of her class.
Happy Birthday! I know how frustrating it is. My in-laws are Fox News watchers. They just sound like weak followers. Programmed lemmings unable to logically think for themselves.
Thank you!
I tried to do some of those things, for all these years I have never brought up politics with them, or left the room etc. this was one of those "cornered" moments. Part of me just doesn't even want to deal with them at all, and that's not right either, ...it's just very frustrating, but happy I can write about it to you all here - appreciate it :)
@triciact, I'm sorry you experienced that, especially on your birthday. Plus it's a very stressful time now, and we're all on edge and fear the unknown. We're still getting our bearings, trying to navigate this new world we're in. You are such a measured, thoughtful person, and it's entirely possible you would have responded differently, had you not been feeling the emotions of your birthday and where we are as a country.
Did your cousin text you, or call? If it was a text, I would just ignore it. If she called, I would want to say "I don't want to discuss Trump or politics with you, so let's agree that we will never talk about it. If you choose to disrespect my wishes and still bring it up, just know that I will cut the conversation short and get off the phone. I love you, and want to spend this precious time with you sharing about ourselves."
I immediately sensed a lot of fear in your cousin, which is why I believe she felt the need to extol T and his minions' virtues. It's extremely sad that she is disabled and watches so much of that garbage TV. She is among the brainwashed, so don't waste your precious life energy challenging her thinking. She's not thinking; it's raw emotion driving her. If you can, maybe pull back, see how afraid she is, and surround her in healing light.
@TriciaCT I understand your pain. I have close relatives who are at risk who are still chafing at taking the current situation seriously. They are avid Fox News viewers who praise the Cheetolini. I either tell them it will be a very short conversation if they keep talking about politics, make a snotty comment or give them pointed silence depending on the day. They know where I stand and I know where they stand. The thing that bothers me the most is that it makes me not want to keep in as close contact with them because I know there is always the possibility that things will turn contentious. Just take it one conversation at a time and do your best without making yourself feel bad for their lack of character.
Happy belated birthday to you and I hope that you can make up for the lost sleep tonight!
Did your cousin text you, or call? If it was a text, I would just ignore it. If she called, I would want to say "I don't want to discuss Trump or politics with you, so let's agree that we will never talk about it. If you choose to disrespect my wishes and still bring it up, just know that I will cut the conversation short and get off the phone. I love you, and want to spend this precious time with you sharing about ourselves."
I immediately sensed a lot of fear in your cousin, which is why I believe she felt the need to extol T and his minions' virtues. It's extremely sad that she is confined to a wheelchair, and watches so much of that garbage TV. She is among the brainwashed, so don't waste your precious life energy challenging her thinking. She's not thinking; it's raw emotion driving her. If you can, maybe pull back, see how afraid she is, and surround her in healing light.
Thank you Dee! You may be right about her fears. She called me to wish me a happy birthday, but right away started on about the whole politics discussion. I was quiet until I said something like "Look, this is MY birthday and I don't want to talk about Trump etc. You and I are never going to agree on this subject so lets stop it now". OH and one thing that really bugged ME, was she told ME to get out of MY bubble and listen to real news (Fox news!). I think that is when I told her I loved her and had to hang up. ?
I should have been better prepared, according to my husband I was fine. I guess I just let it bother me more than I should have. :)
@triciact, her "bubble" comment was clearly a projection.
I understand completely how you felt. And I'd be pissed too, especially if it was my birthday.
I've actually been there with friends and relatives, which is why I said in my post what "I would want to say ...". It's a lot easier when I'm giving advice; not so easy when I'm in the middle of it! Plus you were hungry -- I get really cranky and my blood sugar tanks when I'm hungry. ?
I agree with @baba -- it makes me not want to keep in as close contact with them because I know there is always the possibility that things will turn contentious. I think that's the really sad part about some of these relationships.
Yes I agree with @baba too, and yes I was hungry (have low blood sugar too!) and tired. Two nights of only 5 hrs sleep because I can't seem to shut my brain off at night. With everything going on in the collective I feel jittery instead of calm. We empathic types feel everyone's pain and fear and are trying to deal with our own fears at the same time, yet try to remain in the light.
On top of it, my late friend Sue (who was also a healer) told me that when we are in our birthday time we are somewhat more susceptible to being tired, weaker etc. I remember she always told me to make sure you get extra rest around your bday. ?