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Do you have irreconcilable political differences with your family members?

Discussion in 'Member Casual Chat' started by CCitizen, Nov 17, 2019.

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  1. Nightmare515

    Nightmare515 Ragin' Cajun Staff Member Past Donor

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    Irreconcilable? Yeah plenty. But I honestly would feel it pretty immature if such trivial things would hold any bearing on my relationship with my actual family, or anyone else for that matter. I see that all the time with folks saying things like if you support Trump I could never befriend you. There is even a recent thread here saying something like I cannot be friends with someone of a different political ideology.

    That's pretty childish in my book.

    I like people for who they are I couldn't care less who you vote for. If you are a good person who treats me with respect and holds some of the same interests as I then I'll likely befriend you whether you have a "Feel the Bern!" or "Trump/Pence 2020" bumper sticker. Pretty much my entire family are Democrat supporters, some are actually well versed enough to hold a valid opinion as to why they vote Democrat and plenty of them have zero knowledge of how the government even works at all and just say they are Democrats because they are minorities and that's what they think they are supposed to say.

    My family and I will talk politics sometimes if they decide to bring it up in conversation, but rarely will I bring it up. It usually just dissolves into good natured ribbing on one another with them giving me non stop crap about voting for Trump and me asking them 3rd grade level questions about the federal government and watching their faces go blank. I have an Aunt who is well versed in politics who is a die hard Progressive and I enjoy our conversations because I can actually have a conversation with her because she knows what shes talking about.

    But at the end of the day we are mature enough to realize that family is more important than something as trivial as who you vote for and what ideology you support. We all hang out together during reunions and my young extremely progressive feminist cousins hang out with my God fearing super religious Conservative cousins. And us older family members sit around and I listen to them bag on Trump for hours like they always do while smiling at me and I smile back saying like whatever I got a tax cut and I make more money than you so pound sand lol.
     
    Nightmare515, Nov 23, 2019
    #76
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  2. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    I suspect Hans and Sophie Scholl provoked a family fight or two back in the day.
    If only.
    Actually I'm pretty sure all US universities combined haven't murdered as many people as Stalin did in any one day in 1937.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
    yguy, Nov 23, 2019
    #77
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  3. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Some people are more passionate about politics and don’t regard voting as trivial.
    It’s good that your family is as tolerant as it is.
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #78
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  4. Nightmare515

    Nightmare515 Ragin' Cajun Staff Member Past Donor

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    Being passionate about politics is one thing but being so passionate to the point where you can but political ideology over your own family is a whole other ballgame. That's....horrifying.

    I have friends who have been legitimately disowned by their family for religious reasons. That sort of thing is equally disgusting in my book. It's one thing to deal with friends or something in that regard but family?

    When you strip it all down at the end of the day all of this basically translates to "I won't talk to my family because they don't think the way I do". There is something terribly wrong with that in my book and it's pretty sad to know that there are folks like that out there.
     
    Nightmare515, Nov 23, 2019
    #79
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  5. liberalminority

    liberalminority Well-Known Member

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    my divorce was finalised based on irreconcilable differences.

    she became a rabid feminist during the obama presidency where as i became God fearing and was taught the wife must submit to the husband in marriage.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
    liberalminority, Nov 23, 2019
    #80
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  6. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    On the contrary, it's not usually the 'passionate about politics' who act up. People who are passionate about politics are very often personally not particularly partisan. They're the observers, interested in all of it. Being a political ideologue and saying you're passionate about politics is a mutually exclusive proposition. It's like loving your Pug and hating all other breeds, yet calling yourself a dog lover.

    As regards the importance of voting, yes many of us consider it very important. But, it's very important in and of itself - who others actually vote for is is entirely irrelevant.

    Cue Cass Elliot's wise words ahead of the cheesy song:
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2019
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #81
  7. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    The beliefs associated with politics can define character. Therefore Uncle Bill must be some sort of lowlife if he can support a particular politician and should be shunned.
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #82
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  8. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Au contraire, if it’s not the passionate who “act up” who is it?
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #83
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  9. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Voter apathy- ongoing.
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #84
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  10. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    If you are the primary wage earner at home, then you do not have to put up with someone who causes you discomfort. In my family, I am the recipient of generous support, thus it is my duty not to offend my parents.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #85
  11. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    there's your problem
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #86
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  12. Nightmare515

    Nightmare515 Ragin' Cajun Staff Member Past Donor

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    lol well as you said, luckily for me my family is as "tolerant" as it is (and logical).
     
    Nightmare515, Nov 23, 2019
    #87
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  13. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    I agree that All Humans are Created Equal.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #88
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  14. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    That's not how it works. It's pragmatic division of labour, not hierarchy.
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #89
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  15. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Could not possibly agree more. It's very toxic and dysfunctional.
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #90
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  16. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    I stand corrected. All Humans are Created Equal.

    Another thing difficult for a family to tolerate is an addict. I am addicted to reading and participating in online arguments.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #91
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  17. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    The addict themselves chooses their drug over family .. so it's the addict who does the shunning.
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #92
  18. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Will spend an hour with my parents today. But it is hard to get away from forums/Twitter.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #93
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  19. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Two admirable addictions.
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #94
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  20. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    Wow .. that's incredibly harsh and loopy, sorry. Reminds me of the shrill religious types of my childhood who'd shun people for living in sin, etc.

    Uncle Bill might be a good solid man, responsible and clean living, and a great father and husband .. but condemned over his vote? How about Auntie Jasmine, who votes 'acceptably' but is otherwise a dissolute loser and narcissist - she'd get a pass I guess?
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #95
  21. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    Not really...

    My addictions are an order of magnitude less harmful then drugs/alcohol or tobacco. But they are addictions.

    In the past I was angry at my parents for controlling me. But if I was left on my own, I would have been addicted to alcohol and tobacco. I am neither a Russian nor an American -- I am Jewish. But Vodka gave me immediate good mood. I drank a few times a year for several years. In USA, hard drugs like Methamphetamine are more popular then alcohol is in Russia.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #96
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  22. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    But think how much you'll appreciate us when you come back :p
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #97
  23. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

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    The political ideologue.

    A passion for politics obviates ideology - for the same reason loving pugs while hating all other breeds obviates a love of dogs.
     
    crank, Nov 23, 2019
    #98
  24. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    How can someone be as admirable as you say but vote for a lying scumbag who cheats at everything?
     
    Sallyally, Nov 23, 2019
    #99
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  25. CCitizen

    CCitizen Well-Known Member

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    No! I am addicted to reading those who make me angry! Adrenaline.
     
    CCitizen, Nov 23, 2019
    #100
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