DEAR MISS MANNERS: I went to stay with a dear longtime friend who had moved several states away. I had never stayed at her house before and was horrified to find that the TV in the main living area was on ALL the time.
The political views expressed were very extreme. It was also very loud because her husband is hard of hearing. I knew they supported another political party but we never talked about politics in the past and it was only recently that politics became so divisive.
The same thing happened to another friend who went to live with relatives. How can this situation be handled tactfully with the hosts – if at all? I will not visit that couple again.
GENTLE READER: Which will solve your immediate problem. But even though fewer people watch television these days, you describe two of the major social problems of our time: avoiding interaction with others and flaunting your political views.
Why would your dear old friend and hostess prevent conversation with you? Miss Manners would hope that the closeness of the relationship would allow you to talk about your differing political views in a civilized manner. But if not, you shouldn’t have been exposed to hearing them – and second-hand at that.
(Send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
COPYRIGHT 2025 JUDITH MARTIN
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