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?

DH & I, both retired for 5+ years. We do not hold these views. We have a full social life, have hobbies and go out a lot. My brother has chosen to continue working at 70. His wife has only worked on an ad hoc basis. They have few friends and no interests. Every time I phone him there is a long monologue about something. It’s usually about ‘illegals’ and how much they admire Tommy Robinson, but it can be about anything. They are anti vaxers, anti government, the state of the NHS etc. Recently after a 25 minute rant, where he constantly referred to me as ‘mate’, I realise that I’ve lost the person I loved and knew. I will still phone him but will limit how long the conversation lasts.

You sound proud of this. Do you think it makes you somehow better than people who watch GB news?
It’s this sort of superior attitude which makes people become entrenched in the opposite view.
Why not raise a different topic with your parents op? Ask for their advice, memories of their childhood or things they would like to experience in the rest of their life.
They managed to raise you and if you are a decent person surely they can’t be that bad.

No. My mum is 77 and despises Reform and doesn't look down her nose on people on benefits.

OP: My parents have become insufferable.

Me: You sound insufferable tbh.

Tell us - who are the 'racists on this thread'?

And why did you come to the conclusion they are racists?

They sound sensible

Yep my folks are 80 and hold such racist views and slah all and sundry off. My very overweight Mum makes lots of nadty comments about people's size

Apparently GB news is the only station that tells the truth

In what way does OP sound insufferable?

She sounds like an intelligent woman who is concerned about her parents whose personalities have radically changed and their once good relationship is now no longer there.

Her parents do not seem happy and any loving person would be extremely concerned.

My dad is quite distant and doesn't share his view I remember as a child he was a shop steward for the union. Then we had a conversation a few years ago about how when he was young he was very left wing but as he's got older he's more conservative. His mother loved Margaret Thatcher caused lots of agro especially during the strikes. But ultimately he's never pushed his views on me.

65 and nothing like your parents, neither are any of my friends of the same age. Think some of it depends on your character and general outlook on life, despite whatever you may have lived through.

My in laws are in their mid 60s and exactly like you describe.

also complain about anything

“our recent wine trip was awful, too much wine and too rich food”

”the fish and chips are disgusting worst I’ve ever tasted” to perfectly good decent fish and chips.

Sad isn't it. People don't seem to realise that the guardian these days is a loony left wing version of the daily mail. part of the problem. The self-righteousness is strong.

Mine have gone the same way too and I have no idea what to do with them.

I wonder what the parents think about their daughter.

Just ignore them. Hopefully they'll ignore you too. Don't expect any inheritance, of course.

Good Lord! The Guardian is no such thing. How ridiculous.

Are you complaining?

We have this problem with my late 70s mother (among other problems). I started a thread earlier in the year and got good advice amongst some minority bat shittery.
I can’t even imagine how she has the energy to be so opinionated and critical of other people who mostly have little involvement in her life (and my dad is guilty of this strange vitriol to almost strangers too).
I think we have to regard these retired far righters as victims of radicalisation in the same way that teenage boys are sucked into the manosphere.
Terrible situation for you. I see mine only six times a year as a result of this bigotry and entitled behaviour.

Have only watched short clips of GB news if linked on here and cant stand Farage. But also cant stand young bigots who think everyone should share their views. As I get older I find I have less tolerance for those who are so sure of their own superiority. Yes OP does sound pretty insufferable.

Aw! You must read it. Bless. Good Lord!

Have you posted about this before about a month ago? It reads almost exactly the same?

Quite

Wow…you’ve just described my parents!! Bigoted, so rude and obnoxious about everybody and always about people’s weight….including mine and my sisters. My mum was recently diagnosed with cancer and I discovered this on a facebook post as they didn’t bother to tell me!! This was done on New Year’s Eve and ruined my whole evening and I have no real understanding why they didn’t this. I feel bad for you as I completely understand and I have taken a huge step back from them for my own mental health and wellbeing and I suggest you do the same. Toxic relationships are horrendous on your health.

Mumsnet is full of it.

FIL is getting more and more unpleasant as the years go on. MIL has a brutal, fast sense of humour and will pull him up on it. But he now just pretends her can't hear what she says. DC also pull him up on it, but he thinks he's incredibly funny with his comments.

I now can no longer use a local takeaway. He unfortunately turned up at the same time as the delivery driver. When I opened the door he loudly yelled at me 'this foreigner wants your card number ' as he asked for the delivery pin. I'm now convinced they will do something awful to my food.