Having problem with Teahadist partner

[olivelove]

We own a business together. Lately he's been educating me on reality. I'll list some of his truths.

- Sandyhook did not happen. It's a ploy to confiscate guns.
- Boston bombing never happened. Same ploy.
- There's a cabal of ultra zillionaires planning on depopulating earth to only 500,000,000.
- Ben Bernake is our biggest enemy.
- The twin towers were leveled by a secret weapon that was designed by the Mossad.
- Getting back to the gold standard is paramount.

Now I know this sound like garden variety teahadists lunacy. But I need to maintain this partnership and
he's pressuring me to take time to learn these facts. He really doesn't know I'm a progressive. He thinks
I'm a hippy with no real convictions because I don't reveal my leanings to him, he'd explode.

What to do? I've ended other relationships due to this, but this one would not be good for me financially.

[niyad]

1. how in the world did you get involved with this person in the first place? perhaps you could say

something along the lines of "this is a politics-free zone"?

[olivelove]

11. He's changed radically

over the years.

[elleng]

2. Sorry, olivelove, I have no suggestions,

except to the extent possible stay silent.

[olivelove]

12. That is a good option

although sometimes he takes it as agreement.

[elleng]

15. Of course, but who cares what he thinks,

as long as your partnership remains. IF at some point he seeks to raise your 'agreement' with him to others, that would provide an occasion for an explanation, to the others.

[MattBaggins]

3. If someone is that irrational and unhinged

how financially secure are you in dealing with them at all?

[BainsBane]

7. That's exactly what I was wondering

[olivelove]

13. No doubt

but to vacate now would be stupid. I'll plan my exit carefully.

[whathehell]

27. Planning a careful exit might be your best option.

He sounds perfectly nuts.

[Mr. David]

43. If you have a contract together, invoke the morals clause

and tell him religion and politics do not mix with business, and if he wants to stay with you, then he needs to learn how to shut the fuck up and take it like a man.

Let's see if he whines frea speach, then simply point out that as a business, you can set the rules. And if he doesn't like it, then have him buy out your end.

[Marrah_G]

4. Tell your partner you no longer want to speak about politics

Tell him it's just not your thing and it's making you uncomfortable.

[olivelove]

14. yes

that is about what I was thinking to do. Nice to hear it.

[Whiskeytide]

28. This is what I would do as well...

... Just tell him you're "a-political". He may continue to try to "educate" you, but he's not likely to try to disrupt the partnership. Then start preparing to get out in your own time and on your own terms. He sounds more than a little unhinged, and you don't want to be tied to him when the zombies actually do start showing up.

[PDJane]

5. OK, on the grounds that every nut has a kernel of truth, I'm going to point out that

the depopulation thing is a platform of 'The New American Century.'

The rest of it is way, way out there.

[Fumesucker]

6. Your current situation is not going to be good for you psychologically

Also I'm not entirely sure that #3 and #4 on your list aren't at least withing shouting distance of the truth.

As for the gold standard, there's roughly ten billion ounces of gold on the entire planet and the average net worth of six billion Earthlings is $20,372.02.

20,000 * 6,000,000,000 = 1.2e+14

Divide 1.2e+14 by 10 billion and you get $12,000 an ounce for gold if the world is to go to the gold standard. Is that a reasonable figure for something that really doesn't have a great deal of intrinsic value as an industrial metal (silver is a lot more useful as a metal).

[MattBaggins]

9. What is it with the gold standard idiots?

Is just a super ad antiquitam argument.

[Fumesucker]

10. I have one I've been arguing with for years

After the financial shenanigans of the last few decades I can say that in some respects they have a point.

I have to say that my own personal goldbug is much better at making and hanging on to money than I am so I'm not really in a position to argue too vigorously with him. After doing the calculation I just outlined for him though I did leave him questioning some of his assumptions. I've now got him thinking about using the kilowatt hour of energy as a medium of exchange, I originally proposed it rather sarcastically but after a considerable amount of back and forthing with him I'm not sure it's that bad an idea.

Civilization is built on energy use beyond what human musculature can provide, from the discovery of fire to the domestication of draft animals to steam engines and so on, advances in civilization have gone hand in hand with the availability of energy.

[olivelove]

20. It's time

for a perpetual motion machine!

[Atman]

25. Have you heard the crazy gold ads which litter right-wing radio?

They're as bad as the programming! Fear, fear and more fear! The world is going to end any day now, and if you don't have a hunk of shiny metal in your pocket, you're as good as dead. Now, I would think having a plot of farmland (with real seeds, not Monsanto shit) with a few chickens and goats, would be a better hedge against the Zombie Apocalypse. I mean, people are still going to need to eat.

Then again, the zombies can just eat people. But I doubt they'd have a use for gold. It's a tough call...food or shiny metal?

[southernyankeebelle]

8. Remember you may need him BUT he needs you also. I would be upfront with him

and tell him when it comes to politics the work place is off limits to this kind of discussion. Tell him you aren't interested in anyone's position when you are at work. I don't know what kind of business your in but if you have to deal with the public then this should be a no brainier and tell him that. Let him know that some of your customers wouldn't like to know how he feels and you would rather leave your politics at home and not work. If he continues walk away from him and let him know that again you don't want to hear it. If he doesn't listen then maybe you can buy him out or he can buy you out. Tell him politics is effecting your relationship. You don't have to tell him how you vote. Just tell him you don't want to hear about politics at work anymore. Be firm. I know in my family we finally established when we get together for holiday a politics free zone. It works out so much better that way and we all have fun. Before we all would get into fights about politics. It works you just have to hold your ground.

[Auntie Bush]

19. We do that too. No politics at family gatherings. It works for us too.

It's a good thing too because in a family gathering consisting of my siblings and spouses... my brother-in-law and I are the only Dems...we're out numbered with a bunch of wild eyed ReThugs. Fortunately, my kids and spouses are ALL Dems so we can have fun ripping the Rethugs to pieces and howling at some of there idiotic beliefs...and crying over others.

My best friend and I ended our friendship because we failed to make discussing politics a no-no. don't make that mistake! Good luck!

[southernyankeebelle]

21. I am sorry you lost your best friend over politics. That is what worried me because

they are family that I love but just happen to disagree with. Once someone started to say something and I look at him and said if you continue I will get up and leave and pack my bags and go home. He knew I would do it. After that we never have talked politics. I have a sister who is in the same financial range as my husband and I. She doesn't talk politics because she is a dem and our youngest sister is a republican. She doesn't even that my sister who is a dem votes for a dem president. She think she voted for a republican and hasn't told her any different. That is sad. But she lives off their little house on their property. My sister is retired but is working and pays her own way. Our other sister lives in a million dollar home and she works very hard and I give her credit for it. I am very proud of her. But sometimes she forgets where she came from. So I make sure I stay very clear of politics and she does also. It's sad we all have to do that.

[LaydeeBug]

16. Tell him Dave Chapelle is your favorite comedian and he's Muslim so this makes you uncomfortable. nt

[Half-Century Man]

17. What about?

If the Mossad could strike and destroy the twin towers in New York from Israel, then shooting his mouth off and disclosing their secrets might not be the wisest of choices.

[PD Turk]

18. If it were me

If it were me, I'd to one of two things, maybe both.

Option 1: I'd tell him to pound sand in his ass

Option 2: I'd tell him to go piss up a rope

I'm sorry, I know I'm not being very helpful... I've just never been any good at keeping my mouth shut. If somebody wants to throw their opinions at me I'll throw mine right back.... not much of a diplomat lol

[Phillip McCleod]

22. turn the tables.

if it's really a *partnership* then you have to have equal footing or it has already failed. he can either stop badgering you and focus on the job at hand, or terminate the partnership. if it's as important to him as it is to you, he will back down. if it's not, then you didn't want him as a partner anyway.

[olivelove]

23. Teahadists

are radicalized. They see black. They see white. Uncompromising zealots. Teahadists. Nuts.

[marions ghost]

24. You have to consider the mental health

of someone who believes these things-- "Sandyhook did not happen"--that is denial of the worst kind. It is delusional.

Not trying to diagnose too much here, but look at other things about him and see if they also seem delusional, or send up red flags. Don't tangle with him. That's a good instinct.

Ask yourself how much it's worth to live a lie and have all this ambivalence about him. Would it be worth some financial hardship to exit this relationship?

You can try to wait him out and see if he has some kind of wake-up call. It happens. But often it doesn't. So I wouldn't have too much hope for that.

You are right to ask these questions. I would seek advice in whatever way you can get it, in your community. You need support in dealing with this and in knowing the best plan of action.

[creon]

26. shut him off

Simply tell him that you have no interest in politics.

[lunasun]

36. or tell him you are leaning towards some religion

that doesn't allow discussing government or politics...hey if he has changed why wont he think you can too?
If he starts talking politics/CTs anyway drop on your knees and start praying until he stops....then hug him and tell him thank you for not bringing politics into your work /business relationship and ask him if he would like to witness with you and pray together

Maybe he will stfu or you will have to pray with him for a few minutes and then he will stfu

[jimmyolsenblues]

29. Plan to make an exit

I could not work with someone like that.
If someone said -
- Sandyhook did not happen. It's a ploy to confiscate guns.-

I could not work with that person. I just couldn't.
Tell him Jesus does not want Guns. And leave you alone.
Plan your exit.
This guy ain't good for your future.

[Katashi_itto]

30. As a fellow business owner. My advice to you is to start planning a way out. If his views are

this warped it's only a matter of time before he views you as a threat.

Do you have a legal framework for the business? Try to get the business equvalent of a pre nup set up so if the business liquidates you know where you stand. Work at getting it discreetly set up in stages perhaps.

[JaneyVee]

31. Show him proof that his truths are lies.

[randome]

34. That rarely turns out well. Facts are invisible to ranters like this guy.

[Hoyt]

32. Just view your purpose in business as ensuring your right wing partner doesn't screw too many people

Good luck. Been there.

[FSogol]

33. Ratchet up the paranoia and have some fun!

Leave him messages from Mossad or the Bildergergs with information as the call back number.
Tell him the IRS stopped by to see him and it wasn't about the business. Tell him you wouldn't give out his home number and say they had it already.
Tell him one of the agents laughed.
Ask why Rand Paul sponsored a bill to make private gold ownership illegal? Tell him you heard it on Fox News.
Call him and hang up when he answers.
Move papers around in his filling cabinet and leave some important ones on the copier.
Tell him a white van was following you and a black van followed you yesterday.

[mnmoderatedem]

35. of course the Boston bombing never happened.

it's jsut a ploy to confisgate pressure cookers.

[Javaman]

37. Maybe he's drinking a new type of tea?

you know, the kind laced with acid.

[Arkana]

38. That's not a Tea Partier, it's an Alex Jones Infowars nutjob libertarian.

And there is NO reasoning with someone whose mind is that deteriorated.

[datasuspect]

39. so you have a business partner

and you have an employer/employee relationship (with him in the power role)?

i would tell him to fuck off and focus on making money.

but why on god's green earth would you entrust your financial well being by going into business with a lunatic in the first place?

smells like garden variety bullshit on your part.

[olivelove]

41. It's bad enough having a lunatic as a partner

Being called a bullshiter makes it worse. Why the hell would I lie about this? You don't think someone can go from reasonable people to Alex Jones/Ron Paul Teahadists?

Never mind.

[otohara]

40. Conspiracy Theories - Big Black Hole

tell him you're not one to believe in conspiracies.
End of story.

[spanone]

42. the first one would be enough to dissolve the business and wish him a good life. and get away.