My MIL seems to have been radicalised. Is this a thing?

[Davespecifico]

She’s always been mildly racist in more of an ignorant than a malicious way.
Since Brexit, and since the last lockdown in particular, it’s taken on a more rabid tone. I don’t know if it’s the news she reads, her friends or both? But she seems to have really stepped it up a few notches.

Call her out every time. If shes rude enough to put racist views forward, you can be direct enough back.

Brexit has made lots of people happier to share their racist views, sadly.

Not sure I’d describe that as radicalisation, sounds like my parents who get more racist the longer they are in the company of golf club friends

I'm afraid I'd insist on her not discussing such things in front of the family and if she did I'd go NC.

Unlikely that she didn't always think this way just didn't have the guts to say so.

Brexit and other Uk political changes have made racists and bigots feel more comfortable in spouting their bilge!

I've gone nc with several acquaintances and Unfriended on sm as a result.

But I doubt it even bothers them, at least means I don't have to read/listen to their tripe.

And yes I agree - if she can give it she can damn well take just as direct an approach back!

It might also be a sign of her mental health deteriorating. I believe people's xenophobia gets worse when they're anxious (not an excuse, just an observation...). Anxiety breeds very paranoid "us VS them" thoughts.
I think it's the same mechanism that generates so many conspiracy theories.

My DM was exactly the same. Took a fancy to a man who was a UKIP member and started spouting all sorts of racist nonsense. It got worse very very quickly. I called her out a few times. She reported me to the police for being a terrorist supporter. Twice. NC with her now.

If it's since the last lockdown in particular, then it's probably from reading stuff on facebook or other social media, which probably increased during lockdown. She's probably liked or reposted a few mildly xenophobic things and then gone down a racist rabbit hole.

What do you mean? What has she actually said?