Marital red state/blue state divide

[Anonymous]

Honestly what is the evidence the president is hell bent on turning our sovereignty over to the UN?

[Anonymous]

More importantly, has anyone successfully pulled their spouse back to what they consider to be reality? I'm glad my Dad stayed an Eisenhower-Republican his whole life - he was an eternal optimist and believed in people.

I'm a guy pushing 50 and don't see myself becoming a "prepper", although I wish I had the wealth and breeding to be a "preppie". Oh well, not going to happen, though my wife can always hope. Anyway, I'm wandering again....

When I here about these guys veering way off the map I have several thoughts: One, are they medically OK? Seriously, there may be something wrong. Then, I feel like I need to cancel their cable TV, their radio and their internet connections that are feeding their paranoia. Finally, they need to see the world, especially far off exotic places like Western Africa, China, Haiti or just a storefront church in Southeast DC. Meet some folks who are different and do something, anything, with those people. Eat lunch, go fishing, prepare a meal.

It's a cruel, crazy beautiful world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulnQKyefe-c

[Anonymous]

Middle age thing. I have to stop mine from watching CNN...no different than a tabloid at the Giant, except I have to hear all about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More importantly, has anyone successfully pulled their spouse back to what they consider to be reality? I'm glad my Dad stayed an Eisenhower-Republican his whole life - he was an eternal optimist and believed in people.

I'm a guy pushing 50 and don't see myself becoming a "prepper", although I wish I had the wealth and breeding to be a "preppie". Oh well, not going to happen, though my wife can always hope. Anyway, I'm wandering again....

When I here about these guys veering way off the map I have several thoughts: One, are they medically OK? Seriously, there may be something wrong. Then, I feel like I need to cancel their cable TV, their radio and their internet connections that are feeding their paranoia. Finally, they need to see the world, especially far off exotic places like Western Africa, China, Haiti or just a storefront church in Southeast DC. Meet some folks who are different and do something, anything, with those people. Eat lunch, go fishing, prepare a meal.

It's a cruel, crazy beautiful world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulnQKyefe-c

+1 Too much news = unhealthy paranoia. Go out and live your life already. If the worst happens, then at least you'll have a life well-lived. What can any of us really do if anhilation is truly imminent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More importantly, has anyone successfully pulled their spouse back to what they consider to be reality? I'm glad my Dad stayed an Eisenhower-Republican his whole life - he was an eternal optimist and believed in people. ...

When I hear about these guys veering way off the map I have several thoughts: One, are they medically OK? Seriously, there may be something wrong. Then, I feel like I need to cancel their cable TV, their radio and their internet connections that are feeding their paranoia. Finally, they need to see the world, especially far off exotic places like Western Africa, China, Haiti or just a storefront church in Southeast DC. Meet some folks who are different and do something, anything, with those people. Eat lunch, go fishing, prepare a meal.

OP here again. Thanks, this is the kind of response I am looking for. Truth is we all know some capable, intelligent, likable people who may also happen to be preppers (tho we may not know they are preppers; secrecy is a part of it). The behavior is not mental. The paranoia may be real, but not on the part of the spectrum that requires medication.

But what do you do when
-you are married to this person and you can't turn off all sources of news?
-your tweens decide maybe this is a good time to rebel against Dad and Dad loses all creds with them. (They will rebel anyway, but he really loses creeds; I am sure many people are distant from their parents and politics is one piece of it).
-the mid-life crisis is a political move to the right and no longer respects others' views while maintaining it is his views that aren't being respected.

I can say I do not like the family dynamic and that I think we need family therapy.
So this begs the questions,
Are all the preppers who are baby boomers all getting therapy? divorcing? estranging themselves from their children?
He is alone in his views in this house, but he is not alone in his views.

I suppose if I wanted to compare it to something it would be someone becoming a born-again Christian but the family doesn't go along and the strain begins.

Moderates, your thoughts?

[Anonymous]

White men are frightened. Their birth-right affirmative action is threatened and it makes them behave in strange ways including buying guns, trying to suppress the voting rights of others and trying to restrict/demonize women's reproductive rights/independence.

One of these days someone is going to produce a TV show (think Downton Abbey) about the obsolescence and subsequent shift away from white, male power in the new millennium. Actually when I think about it I guess I understand why they are scared. This shift is happening real time and really quickly.

[Anonymous]

This sounds really hard to deal with, OP. I am a lefty and do think about disaster preparedness somewhat, my family has picked places we would meet up in the event of a dirty bomb or something like that going off in DC and we had to evacuate, but this sounds like something different--consuming paranoia combined with anger towards others and defensiveness (since you said he doesn't respect others' views but says it's his views that aren't being respected.)

I don't have first-hand experience with this kind of change in spousal personality (yet! knock on wood!) but the above suggestions about seeing if there is any medical reason for it seem like a good idea. Any dramatic change in personality could indicate something medical, if the advice columnists I read are to be believed.

If you rule that out or he won't see a doctor, I wonder if you could talk about it in a calm moment and try to come to agreement that talking about your different viewpoints on this is becoming divisive, and basically agree not to talk about it. Maybe agree he won't watch Fox News or whatever in front of you if you don't watch X in front of him. You could have some sort of agreed-upon "safe word" meaning that the conversation is getting too political and it needs to end. And try to re-connect about things you still do have in common, preferably non-media-based things like walking the dog or whatever. If he's really far gone he might not agree, but maybe it's worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly what is the evidence the president is hell bent on turning our sovereignty over to the UN?

I suggest you look at all news sources objectively. Start with the Wall Street Journal.

Take a look at what he's said about the second Amendment and take a look at what he would like to do. Glad the House is Republican!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:White men are frightened. Their birth-right affirmative action is threatened and it makes them behave in strange ways including buying guns, trying to suppress the voting rights of others and trying to restrict/demonize women's reproductive rights/independence.

One of these days someone is going to produce a TV show (think Downton Abbey) about the obsolescence and subsequent shift away from white, male power in the new millennium. Actually when I think about it I guess I understand why they are scared. This shift is happening real time and really quickly.

Strange or smart? My son applied to a VA college. For all intents and purposes, he should get in. The educational consultant we use said he's a white male so it depends on the racial quotas, i.e. who applied this year and the current demographics. Equality is one thing. Reverse subjugation is quite another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More importantly, has anyone successfully pulled their spouse back to what they consider to be reality? I'm glad my Dad stayed an Eisenhower-Republican his whole life - he was an eternal optimist and believed in people. ...

When I hear about these guys veering way off the map I have several thoughts: One, are they medically OK? Seriously, there may be something wrong. Then, I feel like I need to cancel their cable TV, their radio and their internet connections that are feeding their paranoia. Finally, they need to see the world, especially far off exotic places like Western Africa, China, Haiti or just a storefront church in Southeast DC. Meet some folks who are different and do something, anything, with those people. Eat lunch, go fishing, prepare a meal.

OP here again. Thanks, this is the kind of response I am looking for. Truth is we all know some capable, intelligent, likable people who may also happen to be preppers (tho we may not know they are preppers; secrecy is a part of it). The behavior is not mental. The paranoia may be real, but not on the part of the spectrum that requires medication.

But what do you do when
-you are married to this person and you can't turn off all sources of news?
-your tweens decide maybe this is a good time to rebel against Dad and Dad loses all creds with them. (They will rebel anyway, but he really loses creeds; I am sure many people are distant from their parents and politics is one piece of it).
-the mid-life crisis is a political move to the right and no longer respects others' views while maintaining it is his views that aren't being respected.

I can say I do not like the family dynamic and that I think we need family therapy.
So this begs the questions,
Are all the preppers who are baby boomers all getting therapy? divorcing? estranging themselves from their children?
He is alone in his views in this house, but he is not alone in his views.

I suppose if I wanted to compare it to something it would be someone becoming a born-again Christian but the family doesn't go along and the strain begins.

Moderates, your thoughts?

The bolded is part of the issue. Start listening, stop wondering. Listen to why he feels the way he does - then do some real research into what he's saying. You'll be pretty damn shocked at what mainstream is burying - and how many people don't even really get informed, even THROUGH mainstream. When you have that information, you will be able to moderate any over-the-top fears. Men go into 'prepping' mode when they feel their family is being threatened. Consider it a compliment.

I was on the Lanza thread. There were all sorts of posts, to which I responded with information out there in the media - I'm talking mainstream. Amazed at how many folk were not informed but still had very firm opinions about why and what. When faced with actual information, they still tried to justify their opinion until they could no longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White men are frightened. Their birth-right affirmative action is threatened and it makes them behave in strange ways including buying guns, trying to suppress the voting rights of others and trying to restrict/demonize women's reproductive rights/independence.

One of these days someone is going to produce a TV show (think Downton Abbey) about the obsolescence and subsequent shift away from white, male power in the new millennium. Actually when I think about it I guess I understand why they are scared. This shift is happening real time and really quickly.

Strange or smart? My son applied to a VA college. For all intents and purposes, he should get in. The educational consultant we use said he's a white male so it depends on the racial quotas, i.e. who applied this year and the current demographics. Equality is one thing. Reverse subjugation is quite another.

Much harder for white girls to get into college in VA than white boys - facts are facts. Much harder for Asian males to get into college than white males. Your educational consultant, if he/she really is an educational consultant, isn't being straight with you. White boys have to share with others now. No more privilege. About time.

[Anonymous]

^^^Actually they still are privileged, just not as flagrantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White men are frightened. Their birth-right affirmative action is threatened and it makes them behave in strange ways including buying guns, trying to suppress the voting rights of others and trying to restrict/demonize women's reproductive rights/independence.

One of these days someone is going to produce a TV show (think Downton Abbey) about the obsolescence and subsequent shift away from white, male power in the new millennium. Actually when I think about it I guess I understand why they are scared. This shift is happening real time and really quickly.

Strange or smart? My son applied to a VA college. For all intents and purposes, he should get in. The educational consultant we use said he's a white male so it depends on the racial quotas, i.e. who applied this year and the current demographics. Equality is one thing. Reverse subjugation is quite another.

Much harder for white girls to get into college in VA than white boys - facts are facts. Much harder for Asian males to get into college than white males. Your educational consultant, if he/she really is an educational consultant, isn't being straight with you. White boys have to share with others now. No more privilege. About time.

Truth is, it should always be about the best candidates for the job. Subjugating one race for another and saying 'about time' is as disgusting as as it gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's America, not American. UGH! Must be perim-menopause - HA!

It's "peri-menopause", not "perim-menopause", conservative lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White men are frightened. Their birth-right affirmative action is threatened and it makes them behave in strange ways including buying guns, trying to suppress the voting rights of others and trying to restrict/demonize women's reproductive rights/independence.

One of these days someone is going to produce a TV show (think Downton Abbey) about the obsolescence and subsequent shift away from white, male power in the new millennium. Actually when I think about it I guess I understand why they are scared. This shift is happening real time and really quickly.

Strange or smart? My son applied to a VA college. For all intents and purposes, he should get in. The educational consultant we use said he's a white male so it depends on the racial quotas, i.e. who applied this year and the current demographics. Equality is one thing. Reverse subjugation is quite another.

Much harder for white girls to get into college in VA than white boys - facts are facts. Much harder for Asian males to get into college than white males. Your educational consultant, if he/she really is an educational consultant, isn't being straight with you. White boys have to share with others now. No more privilege. About time.

Truth is, it should always be about the best candidates for the job. Subjugating one race for another and saying 'about time' is as disgusting as as it gets.

If "truth is" than more girls should be admitted (not sure where jobs came in since we're talking about college admission) than boys. They have better grades and higher test scores. But, colleges are seeking gender parity so the boys and especially white boys get a pass. Know what you're talking about before you post. Your fixation on race is very telling. I am white.