That would depend on who it was, what they said, and how often I actually see them.

I go inside, slam the door, and throw my shoes at the door.

If you only have to see them irregularly, let it go. Be the bigger person and the obviously bigger [minded] person by not letting their viewpoint affect the short time you have to be with him. Make sure the conversation revolves around things other than religion. If it somehow wanders into that general area, excuse yourself to the restroom or the kitchen for a cold drink and return once the subject has gone somewhere else. Now if these little family get-togethers were held say, even once a month, I would give you a totally different answer. Small minded people, family or not, can only be tolerated in small doses. Good luck, M - I've been there! My father-in-law was a flaming liberal, and after a few beers, he loved to try and draw me into political debate. I rose to it a few times, but after a while I saw through what he was doing and just didn't bite.

Ignore their rudeness and continue to be polite. He/she will eventually 'catch' themselves when you continue to ignore their rude ways.

I usually call them Mom and Dad.

Give them a hug and tell them you appreciate them.

Blow up their toilet. What else is there?

Hi Dad. May I speak to Mom?

Don't know haven't spoken to my father in 9 years. What he did was unforgivable and he knows it.

I try reasoning out with them the motivations/intent behind whatever it is they said or did...and if we cannot BE reasonable about that, I get the heck away from them so I don't add fuel to the fire of my resentment by getting all bad-tempered with them and worsening the situation. If they keep on being rude, at a certain point I just build a wall around myself to protect my feelings and the heck with how dysfunctional that is - some people are too destructive to be around....

I usually ignore it. I will not lower myself to their level.

I tell them straight away that its not nice .. no good looking the other way .. you only fool yourself ..

With a claw hammer.

It would depend upon who it was and what the inapproriate rudeness was.. If it were a family member about whom I cared very little, I would say nothing at all, but withdraw and try to avoid being around him/her. If it were someone about whom I cared a great deal, I would be shocked, hurt..maybe even devastated..but I would confront the person and ask for clarification. I can't imagine this scenario with any of my family/friends..but in an alternate universe, should it happen, that's what I would do. :)

When my younger brother did that to me I just pushed him down the stairs...he shut up for a day or 2...;)

I ignore my mother like a stop sign; we just don’t get along at all

Hey you ABer pals-o-mine! Thank you soooo much for your opinions and ideas! These are really appreciated, all of them! Just GOTTA share what I wrote back to this brother-in-law: Dear ----: Thank you for your thought filled response. It was not I but ____ who brought up Asimov's book. Frankly, I had completely forgotten we had given him a copy so many years ago. I was off-foot when he mentioned it. However, 'Asimov' nor 'debate is not my offering: While it is true it would have perhaps been more appropriate to take ---- aside into a more private area for a meaningful discussion with him, I was the one who intruded, obviously not knowing so. (Yes, in this case, it would have been kind to 'fill me in.') That said, it was not at all appropriate for me to offer any conversational opinion when a discussion was already in progress. It was I who should have refrained from comment and listened first to learn what the conversation surrounded before putting my beans in the soup. Most likely, I was the smug one! Egad!! Forgive this moment of ill-placed pride, it is a dragon we all attempt to splash with cold water! I even knew better ... It is I who should have turned the other cheek. M P.S. You mentioned your fear of conflict. This is my view about 'fear of conflict:' Whatever our parental conditioning or experience has been, we are now the adults. We are literally the next generation. It is we, as this next generation, who knows and with emotional intelligence, understands that 'conflict' is never about people, it is always about 'topic.' Those around me may assume that I love them, I am loyal to them. This is heartily felt toward me as well for I have faith in them. When 'we' are in discussion we have the security that 'we' are not being attacked: this is the true, underlying definition of conflict: at war. We are not at war. In my view, empathic compassion and cognition is the standard of our day: we love because we 'know better,' and stand in the same shoes. This is where 'fear' has no place, even if we 'think' it is a sense-behavior firmly planted in our minds. Truth is this is not 'thinking' it is merely an unwanted 'feeling.' Each of us can challenge this outdated, unwanted 'thinking' by being proactive without it. As such, we can trust each other to know whatever the dilemma, we are here for each other ... as is said, 'for better or worse.' I prefer to practice 'for better,' as Life, itself, offers each of us many a challenge without adding 'conflict' [or 'fear of'] resides in ones home or family. Were I not to implicitly trust your character ----, I would not sent my original missive to you. Knowing it was 'topic' not 'people,' I offered conversation and discussion toward you. In the end, it is we -- the adults -- who role model for our children. If we hold tight to 'fear of conflict,' regardless of its source, will we wonder why they do not bring us their ideas or woes? PPS. Next time you write PLEASE email me with a bigger font, lest I need NEW glasses to read your correspondence! HA!

I usually kill them with kindness