My parents have become insufferable.

[PleasePleasePleaseDontProve]

I am really struggling with my parents. Both are mid-sixties, retired. It seems since retirement they have become quite bigoted, insufferable and insular in their viewpoints. Every time I meet up with them conversations revolve around:

• Illegal immigration / people on benefits / Reform and Nigel Farage. Essentially focussing around the latest GB news story (which they watch religiously).
• Their latest or ongoing health ailments and how poor, in their view, the NHS is.
• Unnecessary and rude descriptions to describe other people (could be random strangers) or people they know. For example, ‘our fat neighbour has put on tons of weight.’

I used to have a fantastic relationship with my parents, particularly my father, and I’m sure he wasn’t always like this. I’m starting to dislike meeting up with them as their attitudes seem to have changed towards life and people in general, and they constantly want to discuss the latest GB News story.

Has anybody else found this has happened to their parents?

Sounds like she's well rid

Oh gosh, yet another thread bashing the over 60s, how tiresome.

Of course the racist misogynists under 60 don't exist. Strange out of the racist men from the Portsmouth demos being looked for all but one appear well under 60 . . .

Can we just condemn racists, misogynists, agists, etc?

I've always voted left but I'm definitely more tolerant now - of the right. I understand where they're coming from now and what their fears are. I also no longer think the left are correct about everything. I don't think any party will reflect my opinions completely and count myself as a floating voter. I still wouldn't vote Reform but I understand why people support them. It frustrates me when people just dismiss Reform supporters as stupid bigots. It's really dangerous not to take people's concerns seriously even if you think they have been misled.

Im nearly 65 and Im not like this. Did they retire early? Thst often sparks off a character change.
The only thing Id agree with is the NHS is shit. But then Ive worked in it for 46 years and still do so I think Im qualified to have an opinion.

I think the issue is how do you deal with having to hear views which are not the same as your own and possibly quite boring. Can you just be frank and say, let's agree to disagree and talk about something else?

Number 1 is actually lack of critical thinking due to outsourcing it to AI, but obviously a word-prediction machine isn't going to tell you that

(lighthearted, kidding, etc)

I've just turned 80 and have never watched GB News. In fact I hardly watch any TV. Too busy reading or chatting online.

I have found that the older people get, the more their filter drops from who they really are. The chances are they have deep down felt this way for a long time and no longer wish to hide it.

😂

I'm 61, husband is 65. No danger of me watching GB news. Been a guardian reader since I was about 20!

My parents in their seventies aren’t like this, my grandparents in their 90’s are though. I just let it go over my head, nodding occasionally but I do bite back now and again 🤣

My father in law suddenly went like this mid 70s from being a very tolerant expat type of guy , once he stopped working abroad and retired - he’s now 87 - my own view is a lot are simply depressed , don’t get around much as would help and some have crappy relationships that they feel too old to change , lots of old friends no longer around, ailments etc -so yes it can be hard to feel upbeat - my FILs latest obsession is ‘gays’

I'm 71, I've always been a leftie and I think I'm probably more left wing than ever. I've been involved in anti-racist and left politics since the 70s and am pissed off beyond belief that racists and xenophobes appear to be having a resurgence. I really thought we'd seen the back of all that shit.

Farage, Robinson et al give me the absolute rage. The masked, black-clad protest in Dover really gave me the horrors.

I'm sorry your parents are such bigots OP, it must be hard to bear. I've gone LC with some of my in-laws because I find their views abhorrent, but I guess it's hard to do that when it's your own parents.

Maybe because they are older then us and have been around before us they have seen exactly how much this country has declined . Just a thought . Btw my parents are the same and GB news is horrific but the fact is the UK has teal problems that needs resolving . I understand that the change in our society and living standards must seem even more profound to older ppl .

reading the comments, I’m in despair. You will rue the day.

Just say “I don’t agree so shall we just agree not to talk about these issues”. Although, I must say, they’re your parents and yes they might have different opinions to you and drone on a bit about health, but really, is that so bad? I could think of so many more things to get upset with parents about.

My parents are the same, they’ve always been quite right wing but it got worse with age. I just don’t engage. They aren’t interested in debating, debating involves hearing and considering other views. They just want to talk about their own views. So best not to engage. Stay silent, let them finish their thought, then change the subject.

Do they having rolling news on all day?

This perfectly describes my mum who is becoming more rigid and stubborn now she’s late 60s. My dad, however, is mellowing by the day and is the best he’s ever been.

Spent some time with my mum today and it was all about the terrible state of the country. .She's a massive tory and thinks reform has some good points, hates labour. Also, described neighbour as a big fat gay. She's early 70's. It was pretty unpleasant as disagree about everything.
She read the Telegraph and listens to Jeremy Vine etc.

it's not about the over 60s, its about this person's parents, who, given the average MN user demographic are highly likely to be 60+ so it's no huge co-incidence.

that said it seems to be a common theme among ageing parents, my own parents included....

It's a studied phenomenon that many (not all!) people become more right wing as they age.

Sounds like they would benefit from some hobbies and interests. My FIL sat and read the Daily Mail and watched the news every night, but did very little else with his long retirement. Sadly he didn't keep up with technology, couldn't use a smartphone and barely a computer and went into a cognitive decline. He wouldn't play card or board games with his grandchildren and instead wanted to talk at family gatherings endlessly about how rubbish the Government was and how awful young people and especially women were. This began not to go unnoticed by my DS sadly. MIL completely opposite, volunteering, joining clubs, using WhatsApp etc and curious about what the children are up to. I don't know why this happens to retirees and wonder if it is a kind of grieving for the old days?

Left, right, both wings of the same bird that is always gonna shit on you

I think it’s algorithms we are all very much targeted you only have to linger a few seconds on anything and you get multiples of similar stuff along with general depression about the future . I used to love catching up with everyone on Facebook and following lovely accounts on instagram and it’s all been ruined .

I’m 60 and probably mention my afflictions too often. I think I’m trying to get my head around not being able to do the things I’ve always done, and trying to explain to others the reasons I can’t 😕.

GB News though… I’d be gutted if my dad started watching that bile.