As families across the country come together on Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving, there’s one piece of advice that perhaps everyone, big and small, could keep in mind before they open their mouths — read the room.
Every family seems to have that one person who can’t help themselves. Almost every family in America, it seems, has extended family members who don’t see eye to eye. The Bernie-loving, hot yoga, I-don’t-eat-meat aunt, and the 20-year-old MAGA-loving frat boy nephew probably shouldn’t catch up on politics.
And though most of us, at times, feel it is our sole purpose to educate loved ones on why they’re wrong and we’re right on some niche social issue ... it needs to be said that no one likes a virtue signaler.
So just when you’re about to take your first bite of turkey and your vegetarian aunt shows you PETA’s latest post of animals being slaughtered (which anyone with a soul would find sad), or their bizarre background profile photo of a turkey with a quote that says “let me live in peace, not die as your centerpiece,” don’t take the bait.
She’s not going to feel any better if you mention that President Donald Trump just pardoned Gobble and Waddle. Her disdain for the man in the White House will kick into overdrive and she won’t even hear the rest of your sentence.
Whatever you do, don’t show her this photo.
Many Americans see Trump’s face right now, and all their brain can process is the phrase “Release the Epstein files,” which the president signed the bill to do a week ago.
What may not be a safe zone of discussion among red and blue family members is which political party had more members on the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender’s private jet. Even Kim Kardashian — who recently failed the bar — knows it doesn’t take a licensed attorney to understand the topic should be avoided at the dinner table.
Another conversation topic that shouldn’t be discussed: beauty standards.
American pop culture can’t seem to let go of any conversation surrounding the actress Sydney Sweeney after her American Eagle ad went viral in July. No one cares whether you thought the denim ad was a clever pun with the use of a pretty girl or if it was “white Eurocentric beauty standards” put on display.
On a day when most Americans want to eat and nap and then eat again, physical looks should take a back seat. Trump recently said, “I don’t talk about people being fat,” before making a weight joke at the expense of the Illinois governor. But take his first bit of advice and don’t say anything when your uncle is on his third helping of apple pie.
“I would like to lose a few pounds, too, by the way,” Trump did add. “I’m not going to lose it on Thanksgiving, I can tell you that much.” Seems reasonable; it is the holidays, after all.
Instead, talk about happy things, like how pleasant the weather has been or that Taylor Swift finally found happiness. Maybe mention your optimism that AI won’t replace you in your career or bring up your favorite movie of the year — just be careful if it had Sydney Sweeney in it.