Speaking as one of the aforementioned "relatives" -- I urgently add that I'm not guilty -- I have a slightly different view than those expressed. I'm glad to hear from relatives and glad to hear they are passionate about something. Doesn't mean I have to agree. It may mean that my view of the world is changed in some way. After all, that person(s) may share, or be married to, some percentage of the "jeanne's" (and Gil's, thank you Mom and Dad) that shape my personality. Some part of his or her view may have meaning for me.
Respond. Tell them how you feel about the issue. But don't stop the communication of ideas because you *think* you disagree.
Aunt Di (the blastest technology says the database is off line and I can't create an ID)
Egad! I just want to make sure you DO know it's not you I'm talking about here!
I've been thinking about what you're saying here. It's not that I have a problem with having a political dialogue with one's relatives. Actually, that seems like a good thing. And I don't mind being sent links or forwards by people who know what I'm into -- "Hey, I know you live in Alaska so here's something I thought you might be interested in", that kind of thing. The thing is, to me, simply forwarding something political to someone when you're not sure of their political beliefs isn't really opening a dialogue. It's proselytizing. And like with any proselytizing, you'll probably get some people who agree with you, and some people who might be swayed one way or another, and some who will be annoyed or upset (as I was by what I got in the email the other day).
I guess I'm kind of torn here, because I do get what you're saying, about respecting others' right to feel strongly about something. I guess it just doesn't outweigh the amount of annoyance that I experience to find something in my inbox that is offensive to me, forwarded to me by someone who obviously either doesn't know my political leanings or doesn't care.
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Relatives
(Anonymous) 2006-11-26 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)Respond. Tell them how you feel about the issue. But don't stop the communication of ideas because you *think* you disagree.
Aunt Di (the blastest technology says the database is off line and I can't create an ID)
Re: Relatives
I've been thinking about what you're saying here. It's not that I have a problem with having a political dialogue with one's relatives. Actually, that seems like a good thing. And I don't mind being sent links or forwards by people who know what I'm into -- "Hey, I know you live in Alaska so here's something I thought you might be interested in", that kind of thing. The thing is, to me, simply forwarding something political to someone when you're not sure of their political beliefs isn't really opening a dialogue. It's proselytizing. And like with any proselytizing, you'll probably get some people who agree with you, and some people who might be swayed one way or another, and some who will be annoyed or upset (as I was by what I got in the email the other day).
I guess I'm kind of torn here, because I do get what you're saying, about respecting others' right to feel strongly about something. I guess it just doesn't outweigh the amount of annoyance that I experience to find something in my inbox that is offensive to me, forwarded to me by someone who obviously either doesn't know my political leanings or doesn't care.