TL;DR - You may have noticed that it's been hyper-political since ~2016, and i want to use the opportunity today to begin normalizing conversations with close family who took the losing side of the bet. Is now the time? What strategies might work well? What pitfalls should I avoid?
So, here we are, the day after a rather remarkable election result. I've spent the last 8 years or so trying to avoid conversations about politics with close family and some friends. I've chosen to forgoe deeper, philosophical conversations about governance and economics in favor of "how about this weather" just for the sake of avoiding landmines and preserving calmness.
Today, I must imagine, that those same friends and family are reeling a bit from the results. I'd like to reach out and discuss the circumstance, and results with them. How are they feeling about the results? Do they have any reflections? Does this result impact their views/opinions about the last 8 years?
Perhaps it is too soon to discuss, and maybe I should let conversations encouraging placid and neutral topics continue for a while, but I know that I'm missing the depth of relationships with them that I want back. I miss digging into the deeper topics, and have learned to avoid doing so because of the frustration that erupts from (what I see as) distorted views of the world.
While I don't presume the ability to predict the future, I was able to predict this outcome. And I think the popular narrative that has unfolded at the ballots seems to support my thesis. So, now, I feel like I have a bit of evidence-to-the-contrary to share with these now-distant associates, and I want to begin the process of healing and reintegrating them to a normalized worldview (pretty assumptive of me to assert that i have the normal worldview, but fuck-it... i'm obviously more right about things).
More than rubbing their noses in it, I would like to return to the feeling of having them on my side. I want to use this as a learning opportunity, and gently support healing of some old wounds on myself (things have been said) and for them (they've been seriously misled).
Does this sentiment resonate with any stackers out there? Is it possible to regain the trust of these individuals and to help them back into the fold, and shepherd them from the mainstream idiocy? Am I gloating already?
What ideas do you have about how to navigate relationships with our friends/relatives who have held distinctly antithetical views about the nature of contemporary reality for the past 8 years?