Most of the time when these family members start saying things I don't respond. I make polite excuses and leave. If it's during a meal I eat quickly and then leave. If I'm stuck in a situation for long enough I start thinking about gay vampire snuff porn, which usually distracts me.
However, there are times when things are said and I can't keep my mouth shut. Usually the person I have the most problems with is my Southern Baptist preacher relative, he says the most bigoted, racist things and I can't always keep my mouth shut for that. I've been rather successful at politely saying that I find what is being said offensive and I have to leave. Normally I just say I'm taking a walk or a nap or going to read a book, but there are times when I want to state that I'm leaving because I'm offended.
Somehow my extended family avoids ugly conversations despite some pretty sharp political and religous differences.
Allyson's big public thing here at work went wonderfully. Good crowd, people laughed at her jokes in the intro, the speaker was funny and engaging. Yay!
Allyson and The Big Public Thing.
I like the ring of that...
Also, I sat next to QPB and got a mini-recap of the Lost shindig.
Allyson and The Big Public Thing.
ita makes it sound dirty. It's the capitals.
Go Allyson! Woo-hoo!
My dad and I used to love political debates. It never got terribly personal or emotional. Lately he's been agreeing with me, though, which is a little unbalancing. He used to be my reality check--now he's all, "They really do suck. Damn."
Allyson and The Big Public Thing.
ita makes it sound dirty. It's the capitals.
I think it sounds like a children's book.
I'd say 90% of my extended family (at least this portion of them) are all conservative Southern Baptist Republicans. And then there's the handful of us who are liberal Dems. There's very little middle ground a differences of opinion.
