How do you relate to your friends/relatives who hold polar opposite political views?

[Anonymous]

Don't take the bait. Talk about something else.

[Anonymous]

My family and dh are very liberal. I am not. I love them all, but just don 't discuss politics with them. My mom will try to start a conversation on some hot button issue, but I just ignore her. None of us are on facebook - maybe that helps.

[Anonymous]

We do no discuss politics, religion, or age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Liberals will drop conservative friends so fast your head will spin. So the situation works itself out.

I don't.

[Anonymous]

I'm liberal, and I have good friends who are conservative. WE don't live near each other, though, so FB is a conduit for all the reactions to political stories. I consider myself open to understanding conservative ideas, but we've never gone there. At times when I see posts that I have a strong reaction to, I really want to engage, but I also know that it's nearly impossible to have a rational and measured discussion online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

We have conservative relatives that will start up the political debate everytime. It just comes gushing out and they think there is no other possible opinion.

Usually leave the conversation when it starts. No arguing with a fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

. You come off as an insufferable snob, op. Why the need to compare education? You obviously believe you are better than them...try a little respect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

. You come off as an insufferable snob, op. Why the need to compare education? You obviously believe you are better than them...try a little respect.

Reallly, it seems that Republicans routinely wag on about "Liberal Elites" Ivory Tower thinking, the Ivies. I think in that context, the poster is identifying differences that conservatives clearly view as important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

. You come off as an insufferable snob, op. Why the need to compare education? You obviously believe you are better than them...try a little respect.

Reallly, it seems that Republicans routinely wag on about "Liberal Elites" Ivory Tower thinking, the Ivies. I think in that context, the poster is identifying differences that conservatives clearly view as important.

this isn't a conservative or liberal issue. It is simply an issue of an obnoxious and elitist attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

. You come off as an insufferable snob, op. Why the need to compare education? You obviously believe you are better than them...try a little respect.

Reallly, it seems that Republicans routinely wag on about "Liberal Elites" Ivory Tower thinking, the Ivies. I think in that context, the poster is identifying differences that conservatives clearly view as important.

this isn't a conservative or liberal issue. It is simply an issue of an obnoxious and elitist attitude.

And there you go, proving the point.

[Anonymous]

I lean more liberal. My entire family, including my younger sisters, are very conservative. Southern Baptist church going, Republican voting, gun-toting, Conservatives. They are also very educated, very intelligent, very well-traveled, and very wealthy.

We cannot discuss politics or religion. I don't view myself as better than they are like the OP clearly does. I just feel very differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lean more liberal. My entire family, including my younger sisters, are very conservative. Southern Baptist church going, Republican voting, gun-toting, Conservatives. They are also very educated, very intelligent, very well-traveled, and very wealthy.

We cannot discuss politics or religion. I don't view myself as better than they are like the OP clearly does. I just feel very differently.

Therein lies the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am your DCUM DC gal - east coast SLAC degree, Ivy master's degree, politically to the left.

My relatives are in Missouri, military family, community college, born-again christian, politically to the right.

Normally, we just don't discuss anything political at all. But with Ferguson in their back yard, and the rise of FB and other social media it's been pretty hard to maintain radio silence.

I "liked" a newspaper article on FB after the Ferguson decision and my Aunt immediately began arguing with me on FB about it. I didn't really argue, but simply explained what I agreed with in the article (that the prosecutor used the grand jury inappropriately) and they argued back with lots of all caps. Fine. I'm pretty sure they think I'm an idiot and I think equally negative things about them.

I'm really not looking forward to the holidays when I will see them - mostly because I feel like I'll be spending 90% of my time avoiding the apparent elephant in the room. I know I'm not going to change their minds and I assume they know they aren't going to change mine, but I have this nagging anxiety about seeing them.

Can anyone relate? What do you do to change your own mind set? I don't want to spend xmas being irritated and anxious.

. You come off as an insufferable snob, op. Why the need to compare education? You obviously believe you are better than them...try a little respect.

Reallly, it seems that Republicans routinely wag on about "Liberal Elites" Ivory Tower thinking, the Ivies. I think in that context, the poster is identifying differences that conservatives clearly view as important.

this isn't a conservative or liberal issue. It is simply an issue of an obnoxious and elitist attitude.

And there you go, proving the point.

WTF? Someone has been drinking too much…OP, is that you again?

[Anonymous]

How do I relate to my liberal leaning relatives? Respectfully, like we should all treat each other. One of the beautiful things about America is the ability to hold different beliefs. It is imperative that we all remember that one simple fact and treat each other with respect even when we disagree.

[Anonymous]

I'm liberal, but have some very conservative friends. Our political discussions tend toward light-hearted needling of how benighted the other side is. The main result of the relationships for me is to teach me not to demonize the other side, and I hope it does the same for my friends.

Note: I know I'm the smarter one, and that makes it easier for me to take things lightly. Of course, they know they are much smarter, which makes it easier for them.