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MineralMan

(146,286 posts)
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 12:33 PM Jan 2019

One Way to Deal with MAGAT Relatives on Facebook

Like many people, I have right-wingers in my own family. Due to current circumstances, I can't unfriend or hide one of them. Being in touch with that person is important for the welfare of my aged parents.

Sadly, he has a habit of posting Right-Wing memes on Facebook, doing so multiple times a day. He's not clever enough to think those up on his own, though, so shares posts from others he follows on that platform. I've found a useful way to drastically reduce the number of those that appear on my own feed, though.

If you click the three dots on a shared item, you'll discover, in most cases, that you can hide further items from the person or group that was shared. I've been doing that for a couple of weeks now, and have eliminated almost all of his shared items. After all, he doesn't follow every right-wing person or group out there. I think that within another week, I will have eliminated almost all of his sources from my feed.

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SWBTATTReg

(22,112 posts)
9. You certainly got that right, it does take an refined art, a skill that takes some time to learn,...
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:00 PM
Jan 2019

to deal w/ bullies and ignorant people. Some people have it down pat, others, still learning. Personally, I'd prefer not to have to deal w/ people like this (bullies), but hey, you got to stand up for yourself!

Take care, my friend.

MineralMan

(146,286 posts)
6. I talk to my parents in California every day by phone.
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 12:45 PM
Jan 2019

I live in Minnesota. That's how I keep in touch with them. The other person, however, I don't talk to every day. He lives in the same town as they do, and responds to issues directly there. I communicate with him on Facebook Messenger on a regular basis, whenever there's something that needs his attention, and he lets me know if problems develop. So, I see his posts in my feed. Rather than get into disputes with him about politics, though, I simply work to remove political posts of his in the way I described above.

Family situations can be complex, and Facebook is a useful way to exchange information without interrupting people on the telephone. I don't like that person's politics, but we have a common interest in my parents' well-being. So, I'm not about to unfriend that person, despite disagreeing with him completely politically.

Life's not black and white.

nini

(16,672 posts)
12. True
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:54 PM
Jan 2019

I didn't realize he was there etc. My fault..sorry.

I had to cut off a lot more family on facebook than I liked but they've completely gone to the dark side.

akraven

(1,975 posts)
11. You haven't cut them off?
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:31 PM
Jan 2019

I don't have any. Seriously, not since the 1970's. Oh, we've converted a few; it was a process. Her church was going out of business - for unpaid taxes. We charge 'em.

MineralMan

(146,286 posts)
13. Family circumstances made that a poor choice.
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:56 PM
Jan 2019

So, I don't do that. I have found a way to minimize the problem without cutting off a co-caregiver for my 94 year old parents. Sometimes, needs must, you see.

Did you only read the title of my post? I explained the need to remain in contact in the post itself.

Tobin S.

(10,418 posts)
14. The guy's probably got a phone. Just unplug from Facebook.
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:59 PM
Jan 2019

I did a little over a year ago, and life has been a lot nicer since then.

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