DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

How do you deal with unsolicited advice of relatives?

Why do relatives feel that they should always talk about doing things the right way and how do they know what they say is the right way?

Some examples -

  • to lose weight, focus on walking and fully come to normal BMI and then only do weight training. But, research suggests weight training to be more beneficial for both weight loss and increasing metabolism
  • we should drink hot water to lose weight. What?😂
  • get married early and marriage is the only way to go!
  • our screen time shouldn't be more with mobile, but rather with tv
  • don't use earphones, they damage ears
  • Some fruits are beneficial for diabetes

Don't get me wrong, I love relatives. I just don't enjoy someone giving advice when I didn't ask them. Especially when I can't trust their source of information for anything - life advices, religion, shastra, traditions, women's rights etc.

And, I am really tired fighting battle and tackling so much misinformation about everything. All I do is just listen to them and move on!

Wanted to know what do you guys do?

7mo ago
MagicalPretzel
MagicalPretzel
TCS7mo

The only thing you can do is to ignore , I know it’s cliche but at the end of the day , you cannot shut others mouths with tape or something lol . At the end of it all , they are your family. Best possible thing is to avoid being around the relatives who gives you free advices the most !

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

The thing is, I know they mean well. And they are family

MagicalPretzel
MagicalPretzel
TCS7mo

Then I think you’ve heard the proverb ignorance is a bliss , respect them as they are your family and they mean well for you but don’t let it burden you

SparklyNoodle
SparklyNoodle

My goto expression is "🙂👍" so that they STFU

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

But do they? I see them finding new things to advice on

SparklyNoodle
SparklyNoodle

If nothing works then Harpic

BubblyUnicorn
BubblyUnicorn

Earphone one is correct no? Anything in high usage is damaging. Also I think for the hot water point, it maybe correct

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

Hot water- no scientific evidence to suggest that. Earphones - same thing. Listening to it in high volumes can damage, but other than that, no evidence to suggest earphone usage itself is bad. If it was, do you think there would be hearing devices like earphones?

There are so many more superstitions-

  1. Ghee is good for health. It's not, it is worse than Olive Oil and Mustard oil in terms of Saturated fats
  2. Don't take phone or use it while charging - no evidence to suggest it's bad. There could've been mishaps in past, but the evidence for them isn't that it's because they were being charged at the time(corelation isn't causation)
WobblyMuffin
WobblyMuffin

Go and research thoroughly about benefits and impact of ghee has on one's body

GigglyBurrito
GigglyBurrito

Le my parents who don’t let my relatives to meet me 😅😅.

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

Accha hai, but I feel you are missing out. It's fun to be with Family. You understand that you have people in your life who want to be with you, who care about you

GigglyBurrito
GigglyBurrito

Yeah that is fine. I meet my immediate cousins and all. But the other relatives like far ones. They just don’t allow them 😅

QuirkyPretzel
QuirkyPretzel

You can respond in an equivalent manner of nodding (depending upon the mode of their communication) and then you can choose to ignore it.

On a side note they aren't wrong about headphones (we can't completely stop using it but we should reduce the usage): https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/headphone-culture-why-alka-yagniks-advice-should-not-fall-on-deaf-ears/articleshow/111186170.cms

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

If you control the volume for headphones, it's not harmful. That's the point I was trying to make

QuirkyPretzel
QuirkyPretzel

Yeah that's correct.

We have to be mindful about the volume, if we are then nothing much to worry about.

TwirlyQuokka
TwirlyQuokka

So relatable!!

Iam cursed with one Mausa (Maternal Aunt's husband) and one Fufa (Paternal Aunt's husband) who miserably failed at raising their own children but they never fail to give me & my parents unsolicited free advice.

Peak Indian relative behavior.

Only way thru is - Abuse them once in front of everyone and they'll never mess with you again.

Worst part - these kind of relatives live long.

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

Abuse doesn't work especially when others like my parents are okay not standing up for themselves. It backfires to me being insubordinate / arrogant / not raised correctly by parents

TwirlyQuokka
TwirlyQuokka

I agree. Indian Parents also are scared to spoil the so-called relationship with such toxic relatives.

Abuse helps to vent out frustration and keep those idiots in line.

Also, let them judge ur upbringing.

DancingDonut
DancingDonut

Listen to them. They actually care about you. They’d be happy for you.
Just help them understand your POV also and life will be great.

But I definitely understand how this is a constant struggle in Indian families

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

I know they do care. But most times, I am not in the state to listen. I am dealing with my own shit

SparklyNugget
SparklyNugget

Listen from one ear & leave from another

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

If only it was that easy. Have to face them next day

SnoozyNoodle
SnoozyNoodle

Be a dump pipe:)

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

What does that mean?

ZestySushi
ZestySushi
TCS7mo

Give them a smile and ignore

DizzyLlama
DizzyLlama

I do. But I feel I am letting them down, and tomorrow when I do need advice, they might not give it

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