Majority Of People Hope To Keep away from Thanksgiving Political Discussions, Ballot Finds
As millions of Americans gather for Thanksgiving, a number of surveys found that a majority of respondents would prefer to enjoy the holiday without discussing sensitive political matters at the dinner table.
The survey, which was conducted by savings.com, found that 58 percent of Americans will be avoiding political discussions outright this holiday season. When asked what part of the holiday they found to be the most stressful, 24 percent of respondents pointed to political or sensitive personal discussions as their main point of concern.
Another poll from YouGov found similar results, with 22 percent of respondents saying they will very likely not discuss politics with relatives on the other side of the aisle. An additional 27 percent vowed to refrain from political discussions entirely.
Highlighting the nation’s political polarization, a Fox News poll found that roughly one-third of respondents intended to steer clear of those with opposing political views. Roughly 75 percent of respondents indicated that they would still spend Thanksgiving with people of differing views, however.
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The growing trend of Americans putting politics aside over the holiday season marks a steep reversal from the “peak woke” era, when in 2017, the hashtag “RuinThanksgiving” went viral among left-wing social media users.
“People have been sharing what difficult topics they plan to bring up this Thanksgiving, including the oppression within the holiday itself,” an article in Teen Vogue noted at the time.
The piece added, “Some pointed out that White people and others in positions of privilege have a special responsibility to stand up for the oppressed.”
Alison Cheperdak, founder of Elevate Etiquette in Washington, D.C., told Fox News that most people likely refrain from discussing politics in order to preserve relationships with friends and relatives with opposing views.
“Over the past few years, families have lived through a pandemic, heated election cycles, and endless online discourse that feels more like combat than conversation,” Cheperdak said. “By the time we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, people are tired of all that — and they want connection, not conflict.”
She added, “Avoiding hot-button issues has become a common practice because people finally recognize how rarely those conversations go well over turkey and mashed potatoes. It’s a moment to prioritize harmony and hospitality over persuasion.”
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