Family get-togethers and talking politics are rarely a good combo. That’s why many people try to turn the conversation away before it becomes a heated political debate or ask certain people to refrain from making comments.
Redditor ‘processphilly’ recently had to ask her brother to keep his political speeches to himself, after he gave one during her bridal shower. But the woman’s family wasn’t seemingly as eager to stop her wedding from becoming a political event. Scroll down to find the full story below.
The wedding day is a special time in a couple’s life, dedicated to celebrating their love
Image credits: Omelnickiy/Envato (not the actual photo)
This woman had to ask her brother not to turn her wedding into a political event
Image credits: oneinchpunchphotos/Envato (not the actual photo)
Image credits: processphilly
Many people try to avoid discussing politics during family get-togethers
Image credits:drazenphoto/Envato (not the actual photo)
It’s no secret that talking politics with family can be a slippery slope to fighting and arguments. Be it an uncle the views of whom you wholeheartedly disagree with, your parents who might have different opinions, too, or a sibling who’s impossible to even have a healthy discussion with – no matter the relationship, discussing matters as sensitive as politics can lead to a headache at best and a broken family at worst.
Unsurprisingly, many people try to avoid talking politics during family get-togethers. Even though roughly 60% of US adults say their clan is fine with discussing the touchy subject, according to a Pew Research Center survey, roughly four-in-ten admit they try to avoid it, if possible.
Said survey found that the number of people who share at least some common ground politically with their family members is larger than of those who don’t: 64% US adults say that “most or all” of their kin are on the same page politics-wise, while 22% find themselves fostering views that are totally different from “almost everyone” in their family.
It might come as no surprise that those who share political views are reportedly more comfortable with discussing the topic than those who don’t.
Close to half of US adults have stopped talking to someone over their politics-related comments
Image credits: biasciolialessandro/Envato (not the actual photo)
Another Pew Research Center survey found that close to half of US adults (45%) have stopped talking about politics with someone as a result of something they have said on the topic. But the number suggests that not all hope is lost and that not all discussions of such a sort end in people treating each other to an episode of silent treatment.
According to a research fellow and senior lecturer in reconciliation and peacebuilding at University of Winchester, Majbritt Lyck-Bowen, it is possible to have a civil discussion with family members even over something as delicate as politics. In a piece for The Conversation, Lyck-Bowen—an expert in conflict resolution—suggested that following five rules can make it possible, starting with not entering a conversation assuming that you are right.
Expanding on the first rule, the expert suggested that people shouldn’t start a discussion thinking that they’re definitely right about everything and aiming to convince the other party that they need to change their mind. Instead, it’s better to keep an open mind and treat such conversations as opportunities to gain new insight.
Lyck-Bowen continued to emphasize the importance of treating controversy—and each other—with respect, owning to your intentions, challenging your interlocutor while being willing to be challenged yourself, and under no circumstances insulting or threatening each other.
In the OP’s situation, however, the problem wasn’t facing difficulties discussing politics with her brother; it was the time and the place he chose to talk about it. Not wanting to turn her celebration of love into a political event, the woman gave her brother an ultimatum—either he takes his political speeches elsewhere or doesn’t come to the wedding at all—which wasn’t received well by her family. Fellow netizens, on the other hand, supported the future bride’s decision.
Fellow netizens supported the woman and didn’t think she was a jerk to give her brother an ultimatum
