An observation about RepubliQan assholery. Have you noticed this?

[Squinch]

I come from a large family. There are staunch Liberals and staunch RepubliQans. The day it snowed last week, we were having a very pleasant text conversation, sharing photos of the snow from our respective and far-flung homes. It was a safe subject that had nothing to do with politics.

And then my most RepubliQan relative threw a political smear of my Democratic governor into the conversation. It was a total non-sequitur, it had nothing to do with the subject at hand, and it was certainly meant to annoy the Liberals among us in the conversation. Then he threw in a laughing emoji at the end to give him cover to say, "Lighten up, it was just a joke" to anyone who called him out on it.

I am pissed at myself that I did not call him out on it. The text convo just went silent after that. It is certain he will do the same again sometime, and I do have a response ready for that.

But it made me realize that, in most of these conversations with politically mixed groups, it is ALWAYS the RepubliQan who throws down some political gauntlet designed to denigrate or bug the others.

Is this your experience? Do I just notice it more when it comes from those I disagree with, or is there a common trait among RepubliQans that they need to pick the fight in every conversation?

[MLAA]

1. Thankfully I no longer communicate with any.

Good luck with however you decide to handle those Qpeople/republicans. Anyone who is still in that camp by this time is an awful human being out to destroy our country. 💕

[Squinch]

3. Sadly, I have to agree.

[Tbear]

2. Yes ! And

Why do the old white men assume I am a right wing nut job like them just because I am an old white man?

[AllaN01Bear]

8. ditto. i live in a mostly red district . usually keep my mouth shut.

[brewens]

9. That's why I'm keeping the long assed COVID hippie hair. I used to look like an Idaho

redneck. I'm turning 60 in a couple days, haven't had hair this long for 40 years. I lost a bunch of weight and am back to that 40 years ago weight too.

I might still look a little redneck wearing my Nascar shirt, but if they look close, it's a Bubba Wallace shirt!

[Tbear]

24. That's cool!

Cuz it could describe me to a "T" and only a few months younger.
Need to get the shirt though.

[Squinch]

11. That might put you in a unique position to throw out some truths, if it wouldn't get you beat up

or shot.

Which, with these people, you always have to think about.

And how damn crazy it THAT??

[Tbear]

25. Yeah, pretty rednecky round here

open carry n such.
I don't go out much and when I do I am on a mission so I don't give anyone much chance.
Without the pandemic I would be glad to trade wits with the misinformed among us who choose to reveal their foolishness by speaking.

[Squinch]

27. I hope you have SOME kindred souls around.

[hurl]

4. Yep

Being obnoxious is integral to the brand. It's why they loved Trump's constant insults. They're outrage junkies for whom "owning libs" is a competitive sport.

[Turin_C3PO]

5. That's what I've noticed.

Republicans are more likely to throw in political jabs in normal conversations. I think we Democrats need to start giving tit for tat.

[North Shore Chicago]

6. Admittedly,

It is me who will throw something in politically, but I know how to read the room first.

[Lunabell]

7. Absolutely.

I was in a polite conversation at the dispensary about desantis right after he was elected. The guy was an old veteran and obviously a republican. Just giving dessntis props for his stance against the pollution in the everglades, and the stupid asshole had to bring up Hillary for some reason. I mean here I was trying to find nice conversation, common ground and he just out of the blue had to slam Hillary. God, I hate right wing asshole.

[gollygee]

10. Yes!

Perhaps we have the same governor. My brother does this all the time.

[Corgigal]

12. It has happened.

Then I inform them to stay off the internet because you’re losing your mind. Might be a bit creepy, but it’s not wrong.

[Squinch]

14. Not creepy. A public service.

[Mike 03]

13. Yes. Unfortunately, this is how a 20 year friendship basically died

I met this woman at an animal shelter where we both volunteered and we were drawn together by our mutual interest in helping animals find homes. She was a completely different person in 1999: on a spiritual journey, not overly political, very into music, quite curious about all sorts of things.

During the Obama years she completely changed. I had moved away but we corresponded frequently. She began to include political diatribes in every letter. It started with how much she HATED the Affordable Care Act. We would always write to each other on our birthdays and about two years ago, after about the second reply she would dive right into an attack on Democrats. She would always start by writing, "Don't you think there's some truth to the fact that Democrats..." followed by a diatribe right out of Lou Dobbs or Tucker Carlson, whomever she last watched.

I later figured out that if I Googled certain ideas/phrases in her letters I could find articles or opinion pieces from Fox News or some RW Blog or Breitbart saying almost exactly the same thing. She had immersed herself in RW media.

Now we only write to each other on each other's birthday, and I just say "Happy Birthday" and write a couple of paragraphs about whatever "safe" thing there is to talk about and usually don't read what she writes back, because I know the second letter will be the political attack against Democrats, the "Far Left", Antifa, etc....

[Squinch]

16. When you add up all these people who let themselves be lost, it is really tragic. And the loss

of your friend is a tragedy in itself.

This relative I describe is someone who I will always love, but I can't spend any time with him or his family any more.

[Mike 03]

17. Thanks for raising this issue.

I'm feeling it now, the loss of that friendship. It actually does cause sadness.

I don't think I've allowed myself to actually feel that before. I used to just feel annoyance and anger.

[Squinch]

19. I feel what you are saying. It is the loss of a loved one.

[Zoonart]

15. Same here.

My "Libertarian" brother is always politically baiting me and then claiming that I have no sense of humor. Even after I smack down his bullshit he will come back again five minutes later and do it again.

Drives me crazy.

[John Ludi]

18. I've basically

dumped/blocked all my RW (former) friends and relatives.

For me it all comes down to trust:

Humans are a deeply flawed species at the best of times, so I've always been wary of people's judgement...so many people I've known are just walking bags of poor choices (I'm a rock musician, after all)...but where it crosses the line for me is INTENT. To my thinking, almost all of the people who have watched and still followed Dump and his allies behavior over the past four+ years have accepted his character...which makes me DEEPLY question theirs.

If I can't trust your intentions I don't want you in my world...I don't care who you WERE to me. Find your own and leave me alone.

[MineralMan]

20. I think it is pretty common. I have a relative who does things

like that on Facebook. He interjects non-sequiturs into his status constantly. My response, since I cannot hide him at this time, is to use Facebook's tools to shut off all posts from the sources he uses. I just keep doing it, and now I rarely see his shared nonsense.

I recommend that course of action on Facebook for those you cannot actually hide. It will keep you from seeing shared sources being used by the offender. Just click the three dots and hide the source in the list you see.

Beyond that, simply ignoring such posts is the best response, in most cases, when it comes to family members who you cannot actually hide.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. "lighten up, I'm, just joking" is what bullies and abusers always say.

[lame54]

26. When no one gets or laughs at your jokes...

Time to admit you are not funny

[treestar]

22. Yes.

They are always the ones to bring it up. Often with a smug assurance we all agree with them.

[Squinch]

23. Either that or a close examination to enjoy how much they are needling us.

Because after all, pwning the liberals is their reason for living.