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How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America
Time ^ | December 13, 2024 | JOSHUA COLEMAN AND WILL JOHNSON

Posted on 03/29/2025 6:54:15 PM PDT by DoodleBob

He’s a father of a 28-year-old son and he’s hurting. A retired police officer, he proudly voted for Donald Trump every time he ran and never hid his political beliefs from his family. “My son and his wife say that since I’m a fan of Trump they’re no fan of mine and cut me off,” he said. “Now I can’t see my only grandchild who I was so close to. It’s crazy and it’s tragic.”

Social psychologists have long understood that merely identifying with a group in competitive contexts can lead people to view those outside the group less favorably. Historically, those dividing lines were differences like religion, race and ethnicity, age, and gender. Today, political affiliation is the most significant determinant of this us-them division, research shows. Furthermore, affective polarization makes “belongers” feel justified in treating those in the opposing party with disdain, contempt, and even hostility.

… 

According to our research, today, 1 in 2 adults is estranged from a close relative. While the primary cause of these rifts is often tied to something a relative said or did, 1 in 5 directly cite political differences as the reason. Among those estranged over politics, nearly half report that the break occurred within the past year, with 1 in 7 stating it happened as recently as the month leading into the election…

Just over half of those who are estranged because of politics want to reconcile to some degree, and an apology from the relative or demonstrable change in their behavior may increase that potential. But most say reconnecting is unlikely, with 1 in 5 saying they never want to make up. Our survey shows that even a death in the family or an intervention by a relative isn’t enough to get most to resume contact.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: culture; estrangement; families; family; intolerance; politics; tds
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I’d be interested in knowing if Covid or Trump has lead to more estrangement.

I wouldn’t care if a relative voted for Harris. But if they required that family members had to be vaxxed for Christmas or a Wedding, they’re basically asking for estrangement.

1 posted on 03/29/2025 6:54:15 PM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob
From the article title: How Estrangement Has Become an Epidemic in America

An epidemic?

It might be a long overdue blessing. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

2 posted on 03/29/2025 7:00:25 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: DoodleBob
“My son and his wife say that since I’m a fan of Trump they’re no fan of mine and cut me off,” he said. “Now I can’t see my only grandchild who I was so close to. It’s crazy and it’s tragic.”

Emotional blackmail, we used to call that.

3 posted on 03/29/2025 7:04:17 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady (The greatest wealth is to live content with little. -Plato)
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To: DoodleBob

Liberals are sociopaths.


4 posted on 03/29/2025 7:04:29 PM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: DoodleBob

It’s called going “no contact” and is all the rage on Reddit.

Grandma or Grandpa voted differently? No contact. It’s basically a stompy-foot, spoiled brat reaction by Millenials/Gen Zers to Boomers/Gen X. “Do/vote/act as I demand or we cut you off from us and your grandchildren.”

And they do it with smugness and self-righteousness.


5 posted on 03/29/2025 7:06:56 PM PDT by Reddy (BO stinks)
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To: DoodleBob

The little over half that are estranged that want to reconcile should be better defined. I would not be surprised that most of that group are conservatives as it is the left that seems to be much more likely to cut someone off that is conservative than vice versa. One of my kids and spouse went woke and substantially cut both us and the spouses parents off due to politics. We all still love them and want good relations. I have seen this a lot. It’s the left that has become totally intolerant of anyone not accepting amp professing their views.

As one of my friends has, it has become a religion to them. It truly is their religion.


6 posted on 03/29/2025 7:08:01 PM PDT by LibertyOh
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To: Reddy

Thus the lefties reveal their true colors as arrogant and holier than thou miscreants.


7 posted on 03/29/2025 7:15:45 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: LibertyOh

Make no mistake about it whatsoever, wokism is a satanic ideology.


8 posted on 03/29/2025 7:16:53 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: DoodleBob

Not me.

I didn’t go to the special birthday party of an older family member.

When someone gushes about obama in front of you..when they are FOR all the SICK things dems are for...I dunno...she was good to me and I kinda regret it.

But the things she believed..why did she have to say them out loud?!


9 posted on 03/29/2025 7:17:35 PM PDT by dp0622 (Tried a coup, a fake tax story, tramp slander, Russia nonsense, impeachment and a virus. They lost.)
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To: LibertyOh
This piece came out after Trump won but it remains THE best in explaining the new left, and the likely cause of estrangement - especially what you experienced:

Liberals have always accused social conservatives of bringing religion into politics, but liberals have done something far worse, and far more radical: They have made politics their religion...What they really want is liberal Sharia law, a secular theocracy.

The minimum wage, gender equality, nationalized health care, and global warming—whatever their practical virtues—are not just expedient policy prescriptions. They are essential aspects of the liberal fatwa... Question them and you are not just wrong—you are a heretic...for them, politics is the means to secular salvation...political failure is not just a setback on the road to a more stable society—it is a blow to their very worldview. Opposition to their program is not just wrong-headed, but evil.

10 posted on 03/29/2025 7:19:00 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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To: Ge0ffrey
Liberals are sociopaths.

They are spoiled brats who were spoiled as kids and got everything they wanted when they wanted it.

11 posted on 03/29/2025 7:20:00 PM PDT by ladyjane
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To: No name given
Democrats have become the new Jehova's Witnesses.

If you leave the cult, you are shunned forever.

Only they, and 144,000 or so of them for that matter are going to heaven.

12 posted on 03/29/2025 7:20:10 PM PDT by Mogger ( 7th generation Vermonter, refugee in New Hampshire hoping NH remains sane.)
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To: DoodleBob

It happened to us with our younger daughter, and it started during Covid.

We didn’t discuss politics and had always supported her and her husband’s ambitions in life. We respected her privacy and didn’t try to tell them what to do or criticize their choices. We had a strong family relationship with virtually no unpleasantness or animosity until she turned about 40, and then she snapped and we’re suddenly responsible for effing up her life somehow.

I tried reaching out in a loving way and telling her how much we missed having her in our lives, but she would not respond. Sending birthday greetings infuriated her, because she’ll ‘let us know’ when it’s ok to contact her.

It hurts. I had a great relationship with her. Until I didn’t. Literally in the snap of a finger, and I don’t know why.

My wife, her mother, is an angel and doesn’t deserve this. In 2023, my wife faced 4 serious spine surgeries and I sent a message to our daughter to let her know that her mother’s health was not good. She never responded.

This is a HEALTH CARE WORKER - a surgical tech. Makes me wonder about her compassion for the patients she interacts with on a daily basis. Frankly, I think there’s some mental illness going on here.

Sorry for pouring my heart out inappropriately...


13 posted on 03/29/2025 7:20:56 PM PDT by DJ Frisat (If I said something really stupid, chances are I was under the influence of AutoCorrect. 🙄🫤)
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To: DoodleBob

I’ve been estranged from one of my sisters for quite a few years now. I have no idea of her politics, but I do know that she’s bat-crap crazy.


14 posted on 03/29/2025 7:21:20 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: DoodleBob

Estrangement of parents by their children has been widespread and growing in the past 10 to 15 years.

We live in a pretty sick culture.


15 posted on 03/29/2025 7:23:12 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: DoodleBob


        More at Twelve Dozen Four-by-Fours at Amazon.com
16 posted on 03/29/2025 7:24:13 PM PDT by Tawiskaro
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To: Mogger
Democrats have become the new Jehova's Witnesses. If you leave the cult, you are shunned forever.

Which is what Lindy Li is saying.

It sounded like she woke up and she may realized that she wanted to leave the cult.

17 posted on 03/29/2025 7:25:15 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Reddy

The easy way to deal with that is rewrite your will to skip over the ungrateful children and give every thing to the grands when they reach a certain age. Unless, of course, the grands turn out to be a bunch of jerks also.


18 posted on 03/29/2025 7:25:41 PM PDT by ponygirl (Stay gold.)
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To: DoodleBob

If posters on this forum react to people in their lives the same way they do to anyone here who expresses a different opinion, you can’t be surprised by this.

It’s toxic bs.


19 posted on 03/29/2025 7:28:23 PM PDT by Fuzz
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To: dp0622
why did she have to say them out loud?!

That’s the point.

She didn’t HAVE to…she CHOSE to.

I once attended a party with a lot of families of Italian descent. One old coot was going on and on about how much he loved Italy and America sucks (though he lived in the US). Finally, two family members had heard enough, and politely blasted the coot….”then go back to Italy. Nobody here will miss you.” Etc.

Well, suddenly the old coot starts tearing up, saying the two guys hurt his feelings, woe was me…blubber...

Guess what? The family sided with the coot. ‘Why did you make Sal cry? You know he’s a blow hard. You shoulda let him just rant. Go apologize.”

Your peeps really know how to manipulate the crowd.

20 posted on 03/29/2025 7:28:32 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s² )
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