At this point in election season, you might be as interested in voting your outspoken uncle out of the family as you are in casting your ballot for the next president of the United States. Differing political views can rip family members apart, making everyone feel like they're walking on eggshells in the lead-up to Nov. 5.
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00:00This has been as close and contentious of a presidential race as any in recent memory.
00:06Politics can be hard to talk about, especially with the holidays approaching,
00:11which is why I asked a handful of experts how to survive a family dinner
00:15when you hate your relatives' political views.
00:18I won't be talking about politics today.
00:22Suggest a politics-free zone before a gathering
00:25and ask for a commitment to avoid polarizing topics.
00:29If the conversation still turns in that direction,
00:32shut it down and say,
00:33okay, that's enough of that or we're not talking about that here today.
00:38You can also ask your family member to tell you about the personal experiences
00:43that shape their perspective by saying,
00:45can you tell me a story that helps me understand how you came to believe that?
00:50It can be helpful to remind people that the most deeply held opinions
00:54are often grounded in lived experiences.
00:58To do that, you can say,
01:00if I only heard what was on your news feed, I'm sure I'd think the same thing,
01:05but I've had different experiences in my life.
01:08It's also helpful to seek common ground in politically charged conversations.
01:14Try saying, what kind of compromise or solution might work for both sides?
01:20Or simply say, tell me more.
01:23If you can convince someone you really want to hear their perspective,
01:27we tend to shift from ranting into talking.
01:31If you would like to share more about your perspective,
01:34say, could I have permission to share my point of view?
01:37If your family member says no, respect their boundary and move on.
01:42To show that you intend to ground your discussion in respect, say,
01:46I'd like to have a chance to learn from each other because I respect you,
01:50but see the world differently.
01:52If the conversation takes a heated turn,
01:55say, maybe we could revisit this conversation when we're both feeling more calm.
02:00By suggesting you revisit things later,
02:03you could ensure neither one of you says something you'll regret.
02:06Sometimes humor is the best tool to diffuse heated situations.
02:11You can say, I mean, I'll vote for any candidate who will boost the economy,
02:16cut my taxes, and prosecute people who remove their shoes on the airplane.
02:22If that doesn't work, try redirecting to a topic with similar energy,
02:26but that's much safer, sports.
02:29Hey, looks like the Cowboys might beat the Eagles this year.