Serious question, my uncle always dismisses climate talk at holidays...

Part of me wants to call him out to spread awareness, but my cousin says it just causes tension and won't change his mind. It's tough figuring out when to push or just drop it... How do you handle these family debates?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sam1mo ago

My own track record with family climate talks is pretty bad, like the time I compared my uncle's BBQ habits to coal plants and got handed extra potato salad duty. @kai_rodriguez has a point about personal stories, so lately I'll mention how the local river I fish in is getting warmer each summer. I've noticed that starting with something close to home, like weird weather messing up garden plans, can soften the blow. In my experience, that kind of talk sometimes gets a nod instead of an argument, but your mileage may vary.

kai_rodriguez1mo ago

Have you tried sharing how it affects you personally instead of starting with the big facts? In my experience, people shut down less when you talk about local changes or things you care about, like worse allergies or how it impacts your favorite hiking spot. It might not change his mind at the table, but it could plant a seed for later without feeling like a direct fight. It's a tricky line between speaking up and keeping the peace for sure.