The best advice on intra-family political conflict

[Narkos]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2014/08/ask_andrew_wk_right_wing_dad.php

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1. that's the worst and most useless piece of tripe i've read in a long time.

[COLGATE4]

2. I agree - and I've read a lot of useless tripe. nt

[hlthe2b]

3. The philosophy is beautiful.. The implementation, though....

is inexplicable. I think, despite the beautiful sentiments, that perhaps a little discussion of "putting thought into practice" was in order and sadly, missing.

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5. directing this simplistic drivel to only one party defeats the whole point of the philosophy.

if that's the premise for family therapy, where both father and son hear the same speech and both are wanting to connect on a personal level, then sure, that's a great frame for the hard work that lies ahead.

but we all know people (mostly fauxsnooze addicts) who can't help but inject their hatred into every social gathering. it's not enough to tell the people on the receiving end of this inappropriate behavior to just love and respect everyone. that only works if both sides play nice, which obviously isn't the case here.

[hlthe2b]

7. Indeed...

I am going through this with an elderly well educated gentleman who likewise frequents the dogpark. I never wanted to talk politics with him, but over the past year and a half he has continually diverted discussions in that direction and of course, it has ended quite badly. Now, he makes everyone uncomfortable since he won't even look at me, much less talk to me, even as others direct group conversation to both of us. His wife is a kindly lady with early Alzheimers, who apparently has Faux on all day. She is a classic 50s style housewife by nature and doesn't really enter into discussion. The husband has taken to glaring at me, even when I greet his wife and make small talk

Uggh.

[REP]

4. This one is excellent - advice to a girl whose boyfriend treats her badly

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2014/07/ask_andrew_wk_my_boyfriend_treats_me_badly.php

When I read the column you linked, at first I thought I disagreed ... but then I realized I didn't. The letter writer won't change his father's mind with the attitude he displayed in his letter, and if his father is a good father and an otherwise decent and kind man, disagreeing over politics is a shit reason to lose a parent. It sucks to disagree over something important to you, but souring an otherwise good relationship is worse. (Assuming the father is otherwise okay; the letter didn't say he was abusive or racist or anything awful other than right wing).

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8. very likely a wrong assessment of the situation.

sure it's possible that the letter-writer can't let a simple political disagreement get out of hand. it's certainly possible to have a political discussion and disagree and still maintain mutual respect and friendliness. or at least it used to be before fauxsnooze and modern politics poisoned the well, i suppose it's still possible, if only harder to find.

but in all likelihood, the letter wouldn't have been written if that were the case. most likely, the father here is not playing by the rules, and so the advice can't be just and airy version of shut up and take it.

[Orrex]

6. How can anyone who's ever dealt with another human actually find that useful?

Very possibly the most dismissive and simplistic "advice" that I've read in years.