The slow fade?

[Williamsmith]

I'm pretty sure Dad knows exactly what he is doing and getting a kick out of it. Don't you have any atheist bumper stickers you can put on his mailbox or some such place? Time to put him in the "barrel".

Couldnt find the original....not a bad cover though.

[Ultralight]

My guess is your father doesn't understand that particularly liberal mindset that the NRA is evil. He probably knows that the NRA is the pre-eminent firearms safety training source and has been for several generations. I suspect that liberal liberals often don't see the entire picture.

I doubt that.

Read the OP again.

[Ultralight]

I'm pretty sure Dad knows exactly what he is doing and getting a kick out of it.

I mean... maybe...?

But he doesn't seem like much of a joker. He does not make jokes. And when something is said in an situation and he finds it funny, it is almost like he is taken totally by surprise at his own laughter. Now that I think of that, it is kind of sad in a way.

But nonetheless, I think that he thinks that I am finally becoming the kind of man he always wanted me to be:
-conservative-ish
-into 2nd amendment activities
-fisherman
-outdoorsy
-etc.

I also think that he thinks that voluntary simplicity is/was a phase and I am out of it now because I don't make reference to it much, especially to them.

Autopilot is another thing. Maybe he is just giving me stuff because he knows no other way.

[Williamsmith]

I mean... maybe...?

But he doesn't seem like much of a joker. He does not make jokes. And when something is said in an situation and he finds it funny, it is almost like he is taken totally by surprise at his own laughter. Now that I think of that, it is kind of sad in a way.

But nonetheless, I think that he thinks that I am finally becoming the kind of man he always wanted me to be:
-conservative-ish
-into 2nd amendment activities
-fisherman
-outdoorsy
-etc.

I also think that he thinks that voluntary simplicity is/was a phase and I am out of it now because I don't make reference to it much, especially to them.

Autopilot is another thing. Maybe he is just giving me stuff because he knows no other way.

You know what UA, I think you ought to try to get to know your dad better. It might help you understand him and give you some peace about why he is, the way he is. Even if in the end, you decide you don't want to be anything like him.

[HappyHiker]

It's a difficult situation you're in...your Dad sounds like my older brother..and I have done the slow fade...he's an avid gun fanatic, hates all minorities, and is on the Far Right. Everything that came out of our mutual conversation drove the other one wild. Couln't find any common ground. And yet...this man raised two great sons, and One is gay, which is divine retribution, and they have a good relationship, so love trumps his bigotry.

I don't hate this brother but feel, for our mutual peace of mind, it's best to stay away. It's been 18 years without any conversation, though I'm Facebook friends with both of his sons.

I've no hate for him, only sadness that we're on such different paths

Now my parents? Both are gone now, but during their life I felt their love for me even though our points of view were often widely divergent. We stayed in frequent touch and visited though I lived 3000 miles away...yes, there were issues and sometimes tears but I'm far from perfect myself and accepted our differences...but we sure never discussed politics...

[Ultralight]

The thing is, it ought to be fairly easy for him to get it.

I don't have interest any in stuff and I am a major liberal. Bam! Done. haha

Okay, I know it is a little more complicated than that.

[Ultralight]

Okay, so this past weekend I went back home for the town's parade and such.

My b-day is in a few days. My parents always give me a couple hundred dollars. This is very nice of them and I am grateful.

The bumper stickers he gave me a few weeks or so ago... yeah... my dad asked: "Did you put those bumper stickers on your car that I gave ya?"

I was like: "No... not yet. I have not gotten around to it."

Remember, these stickers were of a fishing rod company and for the NRA. I don't advertise for corporations if I can avoid it. And I do NOT support the NRA -- as we've noted and discussed on here.

So before I left yesterday evening my dad came over and gave me a cap. On it was the insignia of a fishing rod company -- the same one from the bumper sticker. My dad gave me the hat and was quite pleased with himself for buying it for me. I already own a hat that I like. So I do not need or want this one. Again, he knows I am a minimalist and that I do not really need anything. I was annoyed, but I did not want to jeopardize the $200 he said he intended to give me. So he was like: "Try the hat on! See how it looks."

I did. I was annoyed.

Then he waited until I took the tag off and fitted it to my head (replacing my old hat, which I stuffed in my pocket) to give me the money.

So now I have another possession I don't need or want.

[Chicken lady]

But you can be bought.

you don't get to complain about the hat. You clearly felt you were being paid to take it and chose to participate in the deal. If you don't feel the transaction worked in your favor, opt out next time.

[Ultralight]

But you can be bought.

You clearly enjoy pointing this out! lol

you don't get to complain about the hat. You clearly felt you were being paid to take it and chose to participate in the deal. If you don't feel the transaction worked in your favor, opt out next time.

I can complain about the hat. Just because a person participates in something does not mean they can't complain. haha

Opting out probably would have been better...

[freshstart]

opting out would've created hurt feelings or caused a scene and left you without the cash. You hold yourself to a higher standard but who's to say you have to do it 100% of the time. No one's watching, it's just you and your conscience