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.
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