Month: September 2023

Here are the simple most basic rules of civility that my parents taught me. Throughout my over 60 years of existence these rules have proven themselves to be essential for a happy family group.

For groups of five or more family members:

• Be polite
• Be respectful
• Keep your mental issues out (they should be discussed in smaller groups or even better with an appropriate certified and licensed mental health professional)
• No trolling (pushing people’s buttons in a mean way)

For groups larger than ten or more family members add:

• No political discussions
• No religious discussions

Any person who can not agree to these rules is not welcome to be part of my family group.

Frankly this is just a tiny subset of what are often called common decency. Most of the other common decency and politeness rules were also imposed by my parents.

For groups of four or less family members the rules can be whatever the group desires. If they all want to fight and scream that’s their business.

If someone transgresses the rules all they need do to come back into the group is apologize for being impolite and promise to try to never do it again.

Even after years apart if the former family member is now willing to apologize for being impolite and promise to try to never do it again, they will be welcomed back.