AP Suggests Setting Aside a Safe Space, Appointing a 'Moderator' For Political Conservations at Thanksgiving

Brittany M. Hughes | November 27, 2019

As I mentioned just yesterday, at least a few hardline progressives appear to be seriously stressing over the thought of having to break bread with their conservative relatives over Thanksgiving – even to the point of changing their WiFi passwords, picking fights over their family’s “racist” politics, or even refusing to invite them at all.

But the AP has an answer for those who say they can’t stand to be in the same room as someone who has a differing view on things like impeachment: find a safe space and appoint a moderator.

No, seriously.

“Worried that impeachment talk could spoil Thanksgiving dinner? An etiquette coach suggests setting aside a room for such discussions and designating a calm relative as a moderator,” the AP says.

Elaine Swann, a Los Angeles-based etiquette coach, told the AP she’ll actually have an entire room in her home – complete with food – set aside as a designated political conversation zone.

“She also suggests designating a calm family member as a combination moderator-peacekeeper,” the AP explained, adding that “Swann, who will host around 30 people, said that if guests start tearing into one another like drumsticks, ‘make sure that in your arsenal as a host you have some family-building activity to get everybody out of it.’”

Far be it for me to tell someone they can’t set up a political fight room in their house if they want, or to ask Uncle Bill the Independent to jump in if the cousins start getting contentious.

But, if I may, here’s another thought: if you can’t peacefully exist around members of your own family for a few scant hours without bashing one another in the head with the casserole dish over Donald Trump?

Maybe just sit this one out, because you suck.