I have a sister I love dearly, but she's VERY conservative.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

She's been good to me in times of need and we get along fine.

EXCEPT when politics or religion come up. Then it's rage, a raised voice, dogma, and condescension (her, not me.)

She posts the most absurd Fox/Beck/O'Reilly/Hannity-inspired right-wing bullshit on Facebook and I often wonder how she and I, displaying two totally different mindsets, could have originated in the same womb.

So, how do you deal with siblings you love, but find yourself viscerally repulsed by their political/ideological/religious world view?



Thanks

[Yo_Mama]

1. Don't talk about politics.

Seriously. Just don't. Being sisters, even good sisters, doesn't mean you have to share a hive mind.

[SharonAnn]

19. That's not possible. She rants relentlessly. It's really all she talks about.

I basically don't communicate with her, nor do any other of her 7 siblings. It's too bad, but we've all reached our breaking point with her endless ranting, insults, etc.

In my sister's case, she's obviously not mentally well. The rest of her life is a mess, also. But since she knows everything there's no way have any input into a conversation with her. And I got tired of listening and putting up with her behavior. I always left a conversation with her feeling like I'd been beaten black and blue.

For some other conservatives in my life, we just don't talk politics and our friendships work.

[Yo_Mama]

21. If there's a mental health problem,

can you help her with that? You seem to be describing a much broader personality problem?

Is she willing to seek help?

Sorry - that sounds pretty grim, to be honest.

[quinnox]

2. next time you talk, tell her she is a stupid brainwashed bi--

I kid, I kid.

Yea, maybe just try to steer the conversation away from the political arena. That must be tough I imagine, dealing with a wing nut close relative.

[JaneyVee]

3. Enjoy the things you have in common. If she brings up politics tell her you're not interested

In talking politics with her.

[Marrah_G]

4. Avoid topics about politics.

Hide her newsfeed on FB and ask her to PM if something important about family comes up.

[Warpy]

5. I was a little glad my right wing dad never warmed up

to the laptop I found for him. Playing games was as far as he got, I don't think he ever went online with it.

I was spared Astroturf emails and Facebook rants.

However, we agreed to disagree in meat space when I was 20 and he found out I had a bigger vocabulary than he did. We held that truce until 2004, when out of the blue he announced he'd voted for Kerry and 2006 on his deathbed, when he said he was no longer a relgious believer. I was shocked into silence on both occasions but I imagine the Kerry vote was because he finally realized Stupid was, well, stupid. I have no clue why he finally rejected what he called "that Sunday school crap."

I did hang up the phone or leave the room when he and my mother would start to rant during their mercifully brief Limbag flirtation. They got the point in record time. They never did bother with Pox News, ABC was conservative enough to suit them.

If I had continued to argue with them, it would only have dug in their heels as they got defensive and clung more strongly to the bullshit.

My best advice is to take religion and politics completely off the table with your sister. Leave the room if she tries to start in on them. Let her know you love her but you're never going to agree on those two subjects so she might as well drop them because the best she can ever expect is lip service to shut her up.

You never know, she might come around like my right wing dad. She will never admit you were right if it's an ongoing fight.

[curlyred]

6. It is amazing, isn't it?

People that would do anything in the world for you but have the most outrageous opinions that they believe to be fact.

[Autumn]

7. Same here. We don't argue politics. Ever.

There's too many other things that we have in common and enjoy. When it comes to her, as far as I am concerned politics are irrelevant.

[Johnny Ready]

8. Easy, become disowned by your entire family by speaking your mind!

I realize that may sound sarcastic but that would be mainly due to the fact I have been recently "kicked out" of my conservative "internet family" for refusing to sing along with the choir. It was very sad actually, but it made me realize when a conservative person is speaking they believe they are giving you an education. Oddly enough in the end, the five years actually did enlighten me...I realized I am not conservative. My advice, love your sister and maybe try to avoid the politics, or at least realize she believes she is helping you.

[Nye Bevan]

9. There are so, so many things to talk about other than politics.

Sometimes I think people lose sight of this, with DU being a political message board.

[freshwest]

10. Same problem. My solution is begging off politics because of HBP. Hers and mine. It's the truth, too

But godhelpme if I had to ever really depend on her for help. She'd use it to try to brainwash me by blackmailing me or try to make me give lip service to her heroes. I wouldn't live long under such coercion.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

11. Steering away from politics/religion is obvious, and I never engage her.

My problem is I find myself thinking less of her, and I don't like it. Which brings me always to the axiom, 'Whenever I'm disturbed, there's something wrong with me.'

I have to work out why I'm contemptuous of someone with a different worldview... the same qualities I detest in her.

[liberal_at_heart]

12. I don't have to deal with my brothers much but my father lives with me. We don't discuss religion or

politics very much. It got bad there for a while so we just try to stay away from subjects we know we strongly disagree on.

[BlueJazz]

13. Keep showing her the facts..over and over. The economy does better with Dems.

The stock market does better with Dems.
The country does better with Dems.

Show her the facts over and over.
When she disagrees, Show her the facts over and over..

[Nye Bevan]

14. Have you ever managed to bring a right-wing family member over to your point of view

using this strategy? It would be nice if it worked but I have never heard of this happening.

[BlueJazz]

16. My Brother. He Finally got it. I felt like I pulled him out of some crazy-ass cult.

Maybe I did?

[Nye Bevan]

18. Congratulations on a rare achievement! (nt)

[Comatose Sphagetti]

15. I've tried that.

The response is always the same... my sources MUST be liberal propaganda!

[Zorra]

17. I view conservatives as juvenile, cognitively and ethically challenged persons, and relate

to them accordingly.

[RZM]

20. Have fun with it

Keep it lighthearted and friendly. Also view it as a long process. Over time, with the right approach, you can make a strong case for a lot of ideas.

[jessie04]

22. She may feel the same way.

You can talk politics but say it politely and with a smile.

Never raise your voice and keep it light.

[devils chaplain]

23. Exactly...

Subtlety and information works better than loud argumentation. That tends to further entrench people into their respective corners. More light, less heat.