Jokes Hitting Sore Spots

We've all probably witnessed or experienced this at least once in our lives. Have you ever told a story or a joke of some kind to provoke laughter, and instead of a free-flowing laughter on the other end, there's a very uncomfortable look, like they've just been hurt by what you said?

Why is this? Because, some things we can take more personally than others, whether the comments were meant as being personal or not. Comments or jokes involving race, gender, class, politics, religion, education, an illness, amongst other topics, can hit a sore spot.

Some are sensitive about it, will apologize, and try not to comment about anything regarding the same topic, so they don't hurt the other's feelings again. But, others don't have any regard for feelings and they'll bring the topic up countless times.

Someone I know is like this. He's a big-time Republican and you know what, that's allright. But, he sends me political e-mails that I don't care for. If they happened to be jokes about politicians in general, that'd be fine with me. If they were jokes that alternated between Democrats and Republicans, then again, I'd be fine with that too. But, no, all of these e-mails preach about how the right is right and the left is wrong. Maybe he's not the sharpest needle in the vein, but I'd think that he'd know by now that I'm rather liberal. Perhaps, he's trying to convert me and show me the "right" way. As I've learned, trying to force-feed someone your beliefs will make them more prone to spitting those beliefs right back to you. That's how I was back in my teenage years. Anymore, I just sigh, shake my head, shrug my shoulders, and roll my eyes. I don't do this all in unison. That would be rather tricky.

He also sends e-mail dealing with racial issues, gender, homosexuality, and religion. I'm fine with him believing whatever he wants to believe in, but he doesn't need to force-feed that nonsense down my throat. If he was an open-minded and open individual, then it'd be a different story. We could actually converse about these topics, not get into heated arguments, and perhaps learn something from the other. But, that's not the case. He's always right and anyone who thinks differently is wrong. There is no in between. No compromise. No gray area. It's his way or the highway.

He's even sent bogus e-mails that I researched and found evidence that they were indeed false. So, I sent him the information, the factual information regarding the e-mails.

But, he hasn't learned. If he finds any e-mail, no matter how utterly ridiculous it is, that supports his beliefs, he'll forward it on to many others. Even if the stats are so out of whack that someone with the mathematical ability of a 1st grader could see that, if they support his personal views, then, he's going to spread the "good" word.

I've done my part. I've called him on the false information he's passed around, but I also refuse to discuss any of these topics with him, because I know it might hit a sensitive spot (if he has one). But, he refuses to return the favor for anyone or anything. If anyone doesn't like what he has to say, then they can leave the room when he's talking. I may have to start adhering to that philosophy in regard to his e-mails (delete).