Reply #3: My parents and I kept a stony silence on politics and religion for years

[Warpy]

after quite a few blowups. I took the geographical cure and found out we got along much better when I was 1000 miles away and could hang up on them when they misbehaved.

Since I did hang up a couple of times after setting firm limits, they behaved with only a mercifully brief lapse when Lamebawl had his short lived TV show. I visited while they were under the spell and if they started to rant, I'd just walk out. I'd go back later and inquire sweetly "Are you all done now?" They got the point in record time and their infatuation with Fatso was brief.

Yes, there are times I felt like a meanie, but I realized a long time ago that I could be a (rhetorical) punching bag only if I participated in it.

My parents are gone now and I miss them. We were able to keep contact only by avoiding two very sore subjects.