My parents have become insufferable.

Maybe it’s because the older someone is, the more they will notice the difference between now and ‘the good old days’.

I asked AI what are the top 3 issues in the UK right now. It said:

Economy, NHS, immigration.

My much younger friend became like this during a period of unemployment when she started watching GB News on a loop, despite having been fairly liberal before - it was like an addiction. Back in work and back to normal now!

It doesn’t get any easier . My parents are in the 70s and it’s the all the same. I’m sick of hearing the doom and gloom of it all .

@HelpMeGetThrough Yep, no one else is allowed to be unwell, my Dad is always much, much worse!😂

@PleasePleasePleaseDontProve You can try to offer other points of view, but if they won't listen to them, all you can do is decide how much of their company you can tolerate from now on. I let a lot of what my Dad says wash over me, but he's late 80's so I'm not going to limit contact at this pointm because I don't have much time left with him (and he can be lovely).

I am in my sixties and am a bleeding heart liberal lefty.

My mother on the other hand has held the disgusting and ignorant views you describe, and exhibited similar behaviour since I can remember.

We are completely NC.

I’m starting to think these threads are started just to start name calling against people who go against the Left’s views.

I might ask them what they've been watching lately, what news sources they get and why they believe them.

I agree though OP, my parents too were once the polar opposite of this. it's hard.

i don't think lifes to short for communicating and discussing anything with family.

Jesus, we get one of these every week.

We are early 70s and certainly not like that. Do your parents do anything with their time?
When we retired we made a decision to not watch the TV till 6.30pm, and keep as active as possible, I volunteer two days a week whilst my husband does most of the housework, we look after a granddaughter once a week and as it has been such a lovely summer gone camping most weekends or camped in the garden.
We laugh and have fun and make the most of life.

Debate? Christ, life is too short for that effort. I just say “oh, ok then”.

They've been radicalised by GB News and the Daily Mail.

Get them referred to Prevent.

I don't think watching GB News is very good for the mental health tbh - so it could be that.
But it might just be their age/experience of life too? Eg I have had terrible (really dreadful) experiences with the NHS in respect of my (now passed on) parents towards the end of their lives. So your parents may not be being unreasonable there.
Re immigration: 51% of the population think immigration is the biggest issue facing our country according to YouGov. That can't all be from people watching GB News.
Just nod and hmmm at them, if you like, but don't necessarily dismiss real issues as bigotry.

I'm even older and have a much more relaxed and tolerant attitude to things now, I think it's just life experience, and the inability to have much control over things. I do have a rant now and then about traffic, crowds, the cost of living and so on, but that's when I'm talking to my friend - the mirror lol.

How do you respond to your parents views and opinions?
Do debate/discuss or say nothing?

Wait till they get to their 80s, every ailment is a frigging competition!!

My dad is late sixties and he now holds these same views, not sure what he was like prior to finishing work but his life is definitely more insular than it used to be. He is also an avid watcher of GB news and spends a lot of time watching videos on YouTube that follow the same theme as the points you've made. My mum tries to stay neutral/doesn't hold the same views (neither do I) but it's got to the point where she just ignores him or leaves the room so as not to cause an argument. I've noticed he also talks 'at' people rather than with them, I.e. he isn't interested in any opinions other than ones that agree with him. I feel bad describing him in this way, as he is also funny/kind/generous etc.. but I have noticed exactly what you've described surface over the last couple of years.

Blimey, DH and I are in our sixties and we're not a bit like that I hope

My 90 year old parents - now they are just like that, very much so. And yes, they are insufferable and I have to limit contact. I think it's a personality thing though, not an age thing.

This perfectly describes my parents too, in early 70s. They can be so mean about how people look and they do it on front of the DC too so I’m always having to correct them which then goes down very badly.
You have my sympathy as it’s exhausting and puts me on edge! I just limit contact now because what’s the point!

I’m commenting because I’m fascinated to see the replies you get.
I do wonder if the filter just isn’t in action any more. My dad has a great relationship with a number of asylum seekers who he’d class as family, but then will have a similar attitude to your parents about immigration in the next breath. It’s wearing but I’m not going to judge him harshly for his crappy comments. He’s spent years being a tolerant human being while out in public. He’s not long for this world and he’s not publicly calling for flogging and violence against anyone.

I’m mid 60’s. I’ve never watched News GB, and if anything I’ve become more relaxed, and less judgmental!