Making It Personal...

[IdaBriggs]

...Because IT IS.

Several people have posted about "how do I talk to the friend or family member who is driving me nuts because of their support for the Wrong guy?" Here is what is working for me....

Find one or two things that Wrong Way has done that PERSONALLY AFFECTS YOU. Be specific. If you don't have family in the war, it can be an abstraction (similar to watching television reality shows), so BE HONEST with yourself about how YOUR LIFE is being affected by Wrong Way's policies.

Next, USE IT.

Here is an example:

"Look, I know HE hasn't affected YOU personally, but you know d*mn good and well --

(pick one) I / my mother / father / wife / child / grandchild / niece / nephew

has (pick one) no health insurance / heart problems / Alzheimer's / multiple sclerosis / Parkinson's / is disabled / got cancer / is in Iraq / is a veteran / died from (fill in the blank)

and the GAMES HE'S PLAYING with

(pick one) the economy / stem cell research / national security / clean meat / (fill in the blank)

are a matter of life and death for me and mine, so

(pick one) SHUT UP ALREADY! / quit pretending I'm talking out of my ass / try to pretend you care about me and my problems / tell me how your guy is going to fix it / explain what he's done for me lately?"

Feel free to edit for the audience as appropriate. Personally, I'm three funerals and a new project into hating him, so I get a lot of comfort in venting my spleen in this fashion.

Enjoy!

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Clever!

I like it. :toast:

[yellerpup]

2. What a great approach.

Telling it like it is always makes me feel better, too.