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Original poster

Cousin making political comments

62 replies

goldendoodles · 05/04/2019 12:04

My cousin is about 10 years older than I am, and we only see each other at Christmas, parties etc. I'm posting this now, as I'm expecting very soon and just bored at home.

For background he left school at 16, got an apprenticeship, floated about different jobs, but now has a permanent job in insurance sales (on the phones).

I studied really hard in school and he'd rib me for being a nerd. I luckily managed to get a good job working in finance in the city, and so make a very decent salary. That was after years of studying and university, exams and exams blah blah, you know the story.

Anytime I see him, he always makes a comment about tax. eg, The higher rate tax should be 60%. Graduates don't deserve such huge salaries. "You and your tory friends". He is very socialist and constantly puts down anyone that has a decent job as being a "selfish tory". I have never told him who I vote for, so this is quite amusing as we both voted for the same party in the last election.

How can I stop his constant belittling comments? I often ignore, or if I try and correct him on simple economic theory he just rolls his eyes and huffs, saying "I don't have enough life experience".( Erm, I'm pretty sure a Cambridge economics degree taught me more about taxation then his life experience has led him to understand!)

OP posts:
Inthehatbox · 05/04/2019 15:32

Teddybear45

😂

I think he would have told the OP that lol!

TooTrueToBeGood · 05/04/2019 15:36

I'd wind him right up. He's just a typical jealous butt-plug looking to blame others for his own failings in life.

Something along the lines of:

"Well I just be quietly grateful that there's no risk of someone with your very limited education determining my salary or setting income tax policy".

GCAcademic · 05/04/2019 15:36

I have a cousin like this. He even tried to tell me my politics were wrong at my grandmother’s funeral. In the car following the coffin to the crematorium and at the wake.

Wow. I find there is a direct correlation between the extent to which a person thinks they are morally superior and the extent to which they are an unpleasant, unempathetic arsehole.

MayFayner · 05/04/2019 15:38

@extremehydration by all means defend your choice to copy and paste whatever you like.

I’m simply telling you that it’s offensive and if you want to split hairs between variations on a term that’s fine.

extremehydration · 05/04/2019 15:44

@MayFayner

I really don't understand the problem.

If the phrase "for the love of Mike" is indeed related to something offensive, isn't it a GOOD thing that this knowledge is shared? The website page provided this information.

You see, I knew "mickey/mick" was offensive (so you are not telling me anything knew with that), but I did not know the phrase "for the love of Mike" may have originated from this. So now I do. Is that a bad thing?

extremehydration · 05/04/2019 15:45

*new FFS

MayFayner · 05/04/2019 15:48

@extremehydration I realise you don’t see the problem. That’s why I’m trying to tell you.

But... brick wall 🙄

extremehydration · 05/04/2019 15:51

@MayFayner

I don't think I'm THAT thick Wink

I don't understand why sharing information is wrong. You haven't really explained why. As you seem to see a problem and wish to correct my behaviour, the onus is on you to make me understand my faux pax.

Happy to listen.

talkingjapeneseireallythinkso · 05/04/2019 15:54

WHY is op's thread being hijacked by some nonsense over an expression ? only on planet mn can peeps get their knickers in such a twist over this stuff., meanwhile back in rl, good for you op he sounds a regular source of amusement. i wouldn't engage more than i had to though with him even at christmas though.

MayFayner · 05/04/2019 16:10

the onus is on you to make me understand my faux pax.

No, it isn’t Confused Try working with the clues you’ve been given so far.

OP- sorry for the derail.

Inthehatbox · 05/04/2019 16:10

talkingjapeneseireallythinkso

WHY is op's thread being hijacked by some nonsense over an expression ?

Because the insurance salespeople have to find something to have a go at the Cambridge graduate about.

extremehydration · 05/04/2019 16:15

Try working with the clues you’ve been given so far

No, I'm not going to spend my time following your "clues" Confused

Happynow001 · 05/04/2019 16:16

Sounds like he's got a chip on his shoulder about your life choices, education etc and just a little jealous. If you only see him infrequently could you just tell him he's being boring and/or turn your back and ignore him? Don't let him get under your skin - that's his goal.

hazell42 · 05/04/2019 16:22

You can't reason with crazy, and you'd be crazy to try.
Same holds true for knobs

bgmama · 05/04/2019 16:24

..."floated about different jobs"..."on the phones"..."erm, I think a cambridge degree"...etc
I think your cousin knows what you really think about him and this is why he responds the way he does.

Inthehatbox · 05/04/2019 16:27

bgmama it sounds like the cousin started and continues it! I too would get defensive.

BollocksToBrexit · 05/04/2019 16:29

Tell him to adjust himself as his jealousy is showing.

Justheretogiveaviewfrommyworld · 05/04/2019 16:30

You sound as bad as each other. Based on your post, you think you are superior because of your salary, 'effort' and education, he thinks he's superior because he attended 'the university of life'. You will always clash, because neither of you respects the others' choices and experiences. You should both grow up and stop bating each other. Your family must find it embarrassing.

MayFayner · 05/04/2019 16:30

No, I'm not going to spend my time following your "clues" confused

Clueless, then.

bgmama · 05/04/2019 16:31

inthehatbox we can't know who started it, we only have the OP's point of view.

AtrociousCircumstance · 05/04/2019 16:33

MayFayner you are coming across as deliberately obnoxious.

Like your cousin OP Grin

extremehydration · 05/04/2019 16:38

@MayFayner

Clueless, then

Ah, I see we've reached the insults stage because you can't explain some information you wanted to impart to me! Didn't I read on another thread you were thinking about becoming a teacher Wink

More to the point, I think the webpage is wrong. - I don’t think the you phrase you used even has a link to that word

But it DID. I even gave the link.

If the phrase "for the love of Mike" (which I did not use first on this thread - I was helping another poster understand the meaning of it) come from an offensive origin, isn't it better we know that in order not to use it in future? Another poster said she would no longer use it on the strength of the website's information - isn't that a good thing?

Takethebuscuitandthesink · 05/04/2019 16:41

He sounds vile.

Tomtontom · 05/04/2019 16:47

Ignore him golden. I'm left leaning and lots of my left leaning friends are graduates with well paid jobs! Does he not realise that many NHS professionals, teachers and academics tend to be left wing?

You could also remind him that socialism is about equality of opportunity, everyone having the opportunity to make the best of their lives - have a career, secure home etc. That's not the same as everyone having the same, which doesn't work for so many reasons.

This isn't a political thing. He's just an arse.

MRex · 05/04/2019 16:56

Just come up with some deflecting responses when he starts on about taxes or whatever e.g.
"Your Christmas cracker jokes really are crap this year... How about this one, 'Did Rudolph go to school?' 'No, he was elf-taught'."
"Lovely chat about taxes, that reminds me I need another sherry, can I feet you anything from the kitchen?"
"That reminds me, why has motor insurance gone up so much in the last few years?"