I've devoted some time this past year...subjects you should avoid discussing in the holiday period with family affairs. I pondered over topics that should be avoided in a conversation....because they get people riled-up. It got up to around forty items, and I finally asked Grok/AI for help. So the list is up to about 100 things that I probably won't talk to you....unless you hint you might be 'normal':
Politics – Political affiliations and ideologies. Religion – Beliefs, doctrines, or critiques of faiths. Abortion – Views on pro-choice vs. pro-life. Gun control – Firearm laws and rights. Climate change – Debates on causes or solutions. Vaccinations – Efficacy, mandates, or skepticism. Capital punishment – Death penalty morality or application. Immigration policies – Borders, deportation, or asylum. Taxation – Tax rates or fairness of systems. Healthcare systems – Single-payer vs. private healthcare. Euthanasia – Right to die or assisted suicide. Same-sex marriage – Legal or moral stances. Gender identity – Transgender rights or definitions. Racial issues – Systemic racism or affirmative action. Police reform – Defunding or supporting law enforcement. Free speech – Limits or extent of expression rights. Censorship – Social media or government regulation. Conspiracy theories – UFOs, 9/11, or other events (note: this covers about 18,000 separate stories). Evolution vs. creationism – Origins of life (but does not concern drop-off theories where aliens just planted life). Wealth inequality – Redistribution or capitalism critiques. Foreign policy – Interventions or isolationism. Military spending – Budgets or global presence. Education reform – School choice or curriculum debates. Animal rights – Veganism or animal testing. Genetic engineering – GMOs or human modification. Drug legalization – Marijuana or harder substances. Pornography – Morality or regulation (but if discussed as art, it's ok). Sex education – Curriculum content or age appropriateness. Parenting styles – Discipline or child-rearing methods. Divorce – Personal opinions on marriage dissolution. Polygamy – Cultural or legal acceptance. Feminism – Definitions or critiques of movements. Patriarchy – Existence or impact debates. Cultural appropriation – Fashion, music, or traditions. Reparations – Historical injustices or compensation. Nationalism – Patriotism vs. globalism. Monarchy – Relevance or critiques of royal systems. Socialism vs. capitalism – Economic system preferences. Privacy rights – Surveillance or data collection. Artificial intelligence – Ethics or job displacement. Cryptocurrency – Legitimacy or regulation. Labor unions – Benefits or drawbacks. Welfare programs – Scope or dependency concerns. Minimum wage – Increases or economic impact. Corporate greed – CEO pay or business practices. Globalization – Trade or cultural impacts. Historical revisionism – Rewriting or interpreting history. Colonialism – Legacy or modern implications. War crimes – Accountability or specific conflicts. Terrorism – Causes or responses. Death penalty – Justice or ethical concerns. Surrogacy – Ethics or commercialization. Adoption – Open vs. closed or interracial issues. Mental health stigma – Treatment or societal views. Addiction – Personal responsibility vs. disease model. Obesity – Health or body positivity debates. Diet fads – Keto, vegan, or other trends. Cosmetic surgery – Vanity or empowerment. Ageism – Discrimination or generational conflicts. Retirement age – Policies or fairness. Inheritance – Wealth transfer or taxes. Gambling – Legalization or addiction concerns. Prostitution – Legal or moral perspectives. Poverty – Causes or solutions. Homelessness – Policies or personal responsibility. Education costs – Student loans or free college. Standardized testing – Fairness or efficacy. Homeschooling – Benefits or drawbacks. Charity – Effectiveness or motivations. Organ donation – Ethics or mandates. Cloning – Human or animal ethics. Space exploration – Funding or priorities. Nuclear energy – Safety or necessity. Fossil fuels – Use or environmental impact. Renewable energy – Practicality or costs. Overpopulation – Control measures or concerns. Urban vs. rural living – Lifestyle critiques. Public transportation – Funding or efficiency. Monuments – Removal or preservation debates. Statues – Historical figures or symbolism. Cancel culture – Accountability or overreach. Social media – Impact on society or mental health. Influencers – Authenticity or cultural impact. Celebrity culture – Worship or criticism. Sports salaries – Fairness or market dynamics. Esports – Legitimacy as a sport. Tipping culture – Fairness or expectations. Work-from-home – Productivity or fairness. Four-day workweek – Feasibility or impact. Automation – Job loss or progress. Universal basic income – Viability or effects. Intellectual property – Piracy or creator rights. Advertising – Ethics or manipulation. Fashion industry – Sustainability or labor practices. Beauty standards – Media or societal pressure. Reality TV – Cultural value or harm. Video games – Violence or addiction concerns. Astrology – Belief or skepticism. Superstitions – Cultural or personal beliefs. Personal finances - Too much debt or stupid spending.
Note: I'm also working on a list to go-to-subjects (things you can readily discuss without problems): Space-Ghost cartoons, zombie movies, discussions over gin, quality of roller-coaster-thrills, county fairs (in-general), hatred of NCAA football decisions/schedules, Hee-Haw humor, any Steinbeck novel, slutty nature of women who wear tube-tops, why the 'L' and 'G' crowd should leave LGTBQ, incompetence of Governor Newsom of California, pro-wrestling, the decline of CNN, stupid people, the Matrix movies, hauling hay in July, Old Testament verses, Civil War battles, crazy relative stories, screwed-up Star Trek stories, and stock investment strategies.
