To think larger family events are boring?

[lesley33]

Went to a family gathering on Sunday - siblings, cousins, older niece, nephews - about 12 of us. And as usual I was so bored. Some of these people are really nice individually. But we were all sat in the living room, eating a buffet and generally chit chatting. As usual the most boring person tends to dominate the conversation and you can't talk about anything slightly controversial or have a proper laugh.

I hate family gatherings like this. AIBU to think this and hwo do you feel about family gatherings like this?

BTW in case you say well why did you go - I really had no choice. Would have been persona non gratis if I had made up an excuse.

I love our family gatherings. They happen very infrequently though as there are so many of us spread out all over the UK. We always have such a good time and I leave feeling so lucky to have such an awesome family, but then I don't see them all again until the next wedding or funeral.

Oh, and YANBU, if you find it boring you find it boring, that's your prerogative. I find smoking helps in those situations, because I can nip out for a fag with an eccentric auntie or uncle and have a laugh.

You see I don't mind really large gatherings because then you can split up into smaller groups and talk to the really fun ones. Its this all sitting round and talking together that I find tedious.

I hate them. I have 5 brothers and sisters. All 6 of us are married. I have 9 nieces and nephews. A 'immediate family only' gathering for us is 24 people. And my oldest nephew is thisclose to announcing his engagement.

I refuse to see all of them at once any more. I can't handle the chaos or the drama.

Good thing I'm the only one who lives in the UK.

Depends on the family. My family are pretty tedious but my husbands family are the best laugh you could meet, they all get together en masse (cousins, aunts, step-people etc) all the time and it's always brilliant fun.

Really does depend on the family. My DP's family are dreadful and by the end of a weekend both me and DP (no, I'm not just being horrid about the inlaws, DP wholly agrees!) want to poke our eyes out with a rusty spork out of sheer boredom and irritation. My family are great fun though, especially on my mum's side. An 'immediate family only' gathering tends to involve 30+ people due to many siblings who've now started having their own children so it's usually mayhem, but a fun sort of mayhem :o

Depends on the family surely? I love our gatherings, both my family and DH's. They're always a good laugh.

I depends on the family! We don't do it very often and I love it. I also love a get together with DHs family.

I love family gatherings with my own family - we like wine though! DH's family is very small (and don't drink as much wine). I think it depends on the people.

i love them. I love my family apart from maybe 2 or 3 that i just about tolerate, but in general my family are ace. Its a massive family and most of us are really close and supportive

I like my family gatherings but no one sits around making small talk. SIL1 and I tend to get slightly tipsy while Sil2 entertains the children and everyone else plays just dance. We all meet up fairly often though so there is no point in being formal.

Yes I find these occasions quite tedious, especially when people bring children and we're all supposed to fawn over them and laugh at the 'hilarious' things they say and do. Fortunately my family don't have 'gatherings' but the ILs do - I usually make an excuse to stay home with the dogs :)

My sister loves organising big family gatherings. I am always glad to have an excuse not to go. Probably down to personality I expect, but I always think "less is more". You have better conversations with a smaller number of people.

Agree ephiny over kids. This weekend - oh look at x sitting on the potty? Doesn't he look cute, etc etc. All pretty much waffle only really of interest to the parents.

Ours are great fun!

Boring can be good, better than simmering tension, arguments, bitching etc!

YABU. Some of the ones I have to go to are death by a thousand cuts.

I mean UA NOT BU, obvs. :)

I am just trying to arrange one for 12 adults and 4 children I hope they wont be bored :( We see each other so infrequently now.It is my cousins their dp's,their dc and dgc and my dd with her dh and two boys.I'm hoping for a BBQ day [Good Friday] otherwise it will be fish and chips!

My cousins on both sides are fun. DSIL is lovely, her DCs are young and very cute, my DSIS and parents are ok (last visit was a bit dull, non of us had done anything).

The only two I find really hard work are DBIL, who is silliest by the the rest of his family and my uncle, dads brother.

Fortunately, Dad, his wife and his grown up DCs think he's a twit too

My family's are bloody awful on my father's side where there is not enough wine and the conversation is incredibly false by the fake, lying, money grabbing, insepid offenders members. I never go!

My mother's side are great fun :) as is DP's!

Silliest?? (well marrying him was probably the silliest thing very intelligent DSIL ever did), but I meant diluted by, stupid iPod.

However, she seems very happy.

Our familiy dont do this very often but when we do its great especially if there is a slight erm refreshment auntie usually gets drunk and natters and tells all my mums childhood naughtiness , but people usually wander off to the kithcen or out back to smoke so there is always somebody to talk to , maybe the boring one is the loudest just SHOUT LOUDER at the next gathering ,

My mammy always told me that only boring people are bored. Liven yourself and the party up a bit!