Conversation Topics For Holiday Get Togethers - Respectful and Civil Discussion

[GAKKIEZ]

  2024 Holiday get togethers will be interesting this year!  Many conversations may start with family talking around things that concern them but they can easily escalate to hateful commentary.  This can happen even when someone mentions the high cost of the meal or the cost to fill the gas tank for travel.

  How do we avoid the 'triggers' of a conversation?  "Nice Day" or "Have a blessed day." can be mistaken by someone just looking to irritate another.

  Topic suggestions?

[GAKKIEZ]

  SUGGESTION:

   Weather?  Do you prefer hot or cold?  Do you have more issues if it's raining or snowing?

[GAKKIEZ]

  I prefer cold weather and I don't mind if it's snowing (if I don't have to drive in it).  I just don't have the patience to drive in bad weather.  

[WebWiseWoman]

How about this?

"Cancer means 9th-annual dinner will look different for Thanksgiving Grandma and the stranger she on... 

[GAKKIEZ]

  @WebWiseWoman Sounds like you are grieving over the holiday.  So sorry you may not be getting the support for your grief.  Sometimes family may not be as supportive as you'd like.

[GailL1]

@WebWiseWoman 

Great story of an accidental meet and how the relationship has grown - very touching. 

[GAKKIEZ]

  Can we talk or suggest -  Favorite, best, worst Holiday movie?

  That always makes me think about the age of the movie.  Some favorite 'holiday' movies are generationally inspired.

[Spring2025]

🦃  HAPPY Thanksgiving @GAKKIEZ  🤗🤗🤗

Glad you are back. Thought you had left/lol  😂🤣

[GAKKIEZ]

  @Spring2025  Happy Thanksgiving.

  I'm a tougher old bird than that.   

[Spring2025]

Yes you are my friend @GAKKIEZ !!!

Continue to WALK AWAY AS NEEDED.

By now you should KNOW the Drama Kings & Queens = the ones that will set you up for a bed in the AARP Jail.

WALK AROUND them.  🙃🙃🙃

[GAKKIEZ]

  Is it considered "safe" to discuss -  Who's missing from the holiday gathering?

[WebWiseWoman]

My personal opinion is yes, very safe; we lost 102 (and counting) with 52 being immediate then more and more and more... the count will truly never end. Every Thanksgiving, I appreciate and miss every one of them and lost "Christmas" because I would not believe someone/something I appreciated for over 40 years would actually allow someone this horrible to MURDER innocent beings...

End of my discussion; just wanted someone to try to understand what we've been suffering since then. I apologize if I've offended, I truly do...

[GAKKIEZ]

  @WebWiseWoman  Sounds as if You are the one missing from the table.  Sad. You may need more time to grieve and find professional support?

[WebWiseWoman]

... Conversation needs to happen... 

[GAKKIEZ]

  @WebWiseWoman I agree, conversation does need to happen but we also need to be respective of the climate of the audience.  How do we converse and respect another persons' trigger point?  

[WebWiseWoman]

Memorial event marks one year since Nevada troopers killed by drunk driver on I-15 

[GailL1]

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@GAKKIEZ wrote:

  Is it considered "safe" to discuss -  Who's missing from the holiday gathering?

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Unless the reply is “the ones that voted for XXXXX”   OR the ones that voted against. XXXXXX.

Division doesn’t stop for Turkeys.

[GAKKIEZ]

  @GailL1  You're right, that could also include identifying those that weren't invited or said they weren't attending.  

  I was 'being nice' in thinking of those that were missing for other reasons.

[GAKKIEZ]

  Would an acceptable conversation topic be about Sports?  Maybe a local team or a sport (pickleball, etc.)?

[GailL1]

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@GAKKIEZ wrote:

  Would an acceptable conversation topic be about Sports?  Maybe a local team or a sport (pickleball, etc.)?

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I agree with @papawofboo - sports may not be the best subject especially when you have added the qualities of “civil and respectful” - maybe we need to marry within a team’s roster.  All I know is, you don’t mix a Tiger with a  BullDog or a Gator and come out unscathed - what’s emerges is similar to a  massacre with teeth and hide all over the place.  And now a Fightin’ Irish has been added - LOL.   😆🥴

What about talking about who is the best cook - NO, Do NOT Do That either!!

[GAKKIEZ]

  @GailL1  you're reading my mind.  I was about to bring up a favorite food topic.  Then I thought that would lead someone to mention 'healthy' foods or how to make a favorite food 'healthier'.  That sure can lead to un-healthy conversations!

[papawofboo]

We once had a lot of Bulldogs, plenty of rebels, then came some tigers from Memphis, a lone Bama fan and then of all things someone had to go marry a Penn State Lion. This was way before they had the play-offs so very few times was there a sure fire winner but ALWAYs a lot of "If we played you we would beat your aaaa".

[papawofboo]

Want to be careful when talking about college football, down here in the south.

[Spring2025]

Aha @papawofboo , you guys are SERIOUS about this!!!

🦃  HAPPY Thanksgiving.

[Spring2025]

Hey @GAKKIEZ , not much going on here but LUV your topic my friend!!!  👍👍👍

Lol, I AVOID the "drama" = do not attend. That is my solution.  😉

[GAKKIEZ]

  @Spring2025 sad, but I'm afraid too many others may feel this way and miss out on an opportunity.  

[Spring2025]

Lol @GAKKIEZ , an opportunity for what? Stress?

NO thanks.

For way too many years I "put up" with TOXIC humans NOT realizing I was being INFECTED with them.

Now in my old age, my own company I ENJOY.  🙃🙃🙃