So sick of bigoted family - help craft a response

veloelle

DH has an aunt that I've never met; he hasn't seen her in 30 years (bio aunt, he's adopted). She sends horribly bigoted emails about Obama, going up to and just barely stopping at calling him an African N****. They.are.bad.  I can't take it, the horrid, hate filled false diatribes that she c&p to her addy book.

I want to email her (under the guise it's to my entire friend list) that for this political season, I will not forward any political emails, and I would like the same respect. I think she's pretty old school.

I don't want to seriously upset her, something that lightly but firmly says, STFU. 

I won't argue the points w/ her because as we know, there is NO rationalizing w/ someone that calls our sitting President a N***** that wasn't born here. 

veloelle

41 reply's, and no one wants to be a snarky b!tch for me?! WTF! I thought you guys lived to be mean. So let down.

Yodajo

Well, this would go over like a lead balloon, but I thought I'd share it just so you could laugh at her reaction if you actually did send it to her.

I saw it on another blog:

Thanks for your email. As I have a lot of personal respect for you I have taken the trouble to read and respond to the points made by your unknown correspondent.

I will be happy to hear from you, in your own words, about why you agree or disagree with what I have written.

In return I would like your assurance that you will stop sending me other people's ideas, carbon copied in ten seconds. There has to be serious debate between thinking people about issues like this, and rabble-rousing mass emails really don't make things any better.

Best wishes

michaeltrish

Honestly, I would just block all of her emails entirely.  But I'm passive aggresively mean like that. 

shopgirl_07

Just block the b!tch.

ppants

A work friend of mine sent out an email using all sorts of slurs.  I responded and told her that I don't use language like that I would don't want her sending me anymore emails like it.  She apologized and stated she hadn't read the whole thing before mass emailing it to everyone. 

britanyd

I'd probably just block her emails too, but I dealt with this in the case of a girl I used to live with.  After we parted ways, she got really into her own political views (which I do not share, and quite frankly I think they are crazy).

I sent her an email that said something like, "I think it's great you've become so involved in the political process.  The world needs more people to be passionate about what is clearly such a divisive issue.  That said, I do not share the same political views and would appreciate if you removed me from your email list about [political party].  I continue to wish you all the best, and hope for your continued passion and success with [political party]."

ETA: The emails she was sending me were more or less respectful and didn't contain any slurs.  They were more of "my political party is great, here's why" and were very respectful toward the other parties while pointing out how wrong she felt they were.

J&A2008

Why are you on your DH's aunt's email list?

I can see why you wouldn't want to be confrontational given that you've never met her and DH doesn't know her, but, do you really need to be in contact with her via email?  I'd block her, but continue to send her Christmas cards or whatever.

 

dnagal

This is an email I sent to my MIL in reference to emails she has been sending to DH and I for years.  (Bigoted, hateful, paranoid, Glen Beck-isms, etc.)

MIL,

DH is not only looking to avoid exposure to "attachments" which are the worst sort of email to send in terms of security, but he is also looking to avoid the loss of privacy he is exposed to whenever you forward something with his or my email address on it to your entire mailing list.  (and then have no control over who THEY forward it to)  Honestly, unless an attachment is a photograph or a PERSONAL original file that has ORIGINATED from a sender I know very well and am expecting, I delete all emails with attachments.  I also generally delete any emails of a political nature.  I will also delete any emails that appear to have been forwarded through many generations of senders.   I find when I bother to verify the content or source of such emails, they are often rife with mis-statements, mis-representations and at best are outdated.  I make an effort to stay informed through reputable news sources.  My mother always taught me that religious and political opinions are best kept to oneself, as they inevitably undermine relationships.  It has been my observation that she is correct, and it is a model that I do my best to follow, as best I can.  (although she really is the MASTER of the non-committal "ummm hmmmn")I would much rather hear about you and FIL, the new dog, the events of your lives, news from DH's siblings, nieces/nephews.  We?re so far away and feel so removed from our (out of state) family, that these updates are by far a more precious and meaningful communication.    We devote significant effort to reciprocating, by sharing pictures of the girls' lives as frequently as we can.I hope you understand,With love, 

-me 

 

JenniC1135

I think, in this cae, I would write something along the lines of

Dear Aunt, 

While you are entitled to your own opinion about our president, I do not agree with your views and am offended by the overtly racist tones of the emails you've been sending.  Please remove me from the list of people you send them to.  Thanks!

Veloelle

gibs

I'd glance at the contents of the emails and then make fun of her over dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Who cares, really?  People are crazy, and people think different things.  That's what the delete button is for.  You don't have to go to her house for dinner or deal with her much in 'real life' it sounds like.  Put up with deleting a few mental emails. Sheesh.  Find something new to worry about that's actually a problem.