I found this distressing..?

Question

we just sit down to a cup of tea, and my dad starts talking about a violent, shocking story of the Iraq war. I couldn't drink my tea, and I was reeling. Is he trying to affect me?

Answer 1

Um, I think your dad was just bringing up a topic of conversation.  I don't think he meant to send you reeling :|.

Answer 2

Your dad must have been upset by the incident, so may be

by sharing with family members , he thought he could get some relief.

I dont think he purposely wanted to disturb you, if you were

disturbed by the horror story, tell him frankly that you

would not like to listen to such stories of war. He will

stop. No one can read the mind, you express your

feeling of getting  reeled.

savithri

Answer 3

I don't think he's trying to affect you. Have you tried explaining to him why you don't want him talk about it? If you haven't, do so. If you have, tell him that you won't listen the next time he talks about it, and if he does, get up, and walk away. He is allowed to talk about it, but he is also being disrespectful and inconsiderate, which overrides any freedom of speech rule or anything like that.

Answer 4

people can become de-sensitised to the war and complacent. I think it is important to know what is happening over there. Maybe not everyday, but we should not forget. And it needs to be humanised. If your dad is talking about it all the time, maybe you could talk to him and tell him that it distresses you. It is obviously distressing him and maybe he just needs to get it out of his system. Talk to him.

Answer 5

No telling, wars can be damaging and he could have developed a post tramatic stress disorder, or he could be trying to scare you for some sick reason, either way it's important to consider with family encouraging him to see a counselor, and for yourself to be assertive and tell him you are not comfortable listening to violent shocking stories at this phase of your life.