How do I tell a relalive to stop believing everything she reads on the internet?

It sounds like a losing battle. Give up the confrontations. Tell her you absolutely refuse to discuss politics with her but would love to 1)share recipes, 2) learn more about family history, and would not love to 3) respond to the parts of her communications that are nutso, 4) have dialogs that go nowhere.

Whenver I get those email stories that can’t be believed, I look them up on Snopes.com, and then send the link to them. Sounds like this girl isn’t going to believe anything you tell her though. You may just have to tell her that she can believe what she wants to believe, but to leave you out it. You mentioned that you had renewed contact with her. Did the reason you lost contact the first time have anything to do with this same problem? Also, who else does she talk to? Any other relatives? Do you know any of her friends, or what anybody else thinks of her stories?

@lfino Actually no…the first time was over her religious decision: New Age. She went head over heels and wanted me to do the same. However, I explained that New Age doesn’t make a lot of sense to me…and that I can’t believe in something that makes my brain spin in circles. Good for her, but It isn’t for me, I said. She wouldn’t accept that and kept harassing me on it…so I cut contact. However, she recently discovered my cell number and the email address I use for my blog.

Normally, I would cut contact again…however another member of the family (who desires reconciliation between us) is in fragile health. I don’t want to aggravate her condition…so for the time being I’m tolerating my cousin…I’m just wondering how to keep it up…my patience is running thin.

Turn her on to Fluther (or another QnA site) and encourage her to grind her axe there.

Tell her you appreciate talking to her, but you can’t have discussions about those topics with her and can you talk about something else (and maybe suggest a topic). When she persists, repeat your declination word for word. Repeat until she gives up discussing that stuff with you. Do the same for e-mails.

Must… refrain from… Arkansas… jokes….

Does this ill family member know why you broke contact? If so, do they think you’re being silly? If not, why not?

Given my own history (which I won’t go into here) I have to say that oftentimes it’s not possible, and the times it’s possible it’s just not worth it especially not if it’s solely to appease a third-party. If this ill relative has any respect for your feelings then they will understand and maybe have a word with your cousin, and if not then it’s really not worth bending over backwards for someone who won’t even give an inch for you.

Also, given that this person wouldn’t get the hint before, I don’t think anything short of physical violence would work. Not just a smack either; I’m talking 10+ stitches and/or broken bones here. However, you really can’t do that (especially to a family member) and keep a clear conscience… or a clean criminal record.

@kevbo, I think your answer about suggesting Fluther is a good one! She really seems to need to believe in all this stuff and really needs followers. If her beliefs are really as “out there” as it sounds, it would be interesting to find out what she thinks if several people here disagree with her for the same reasons you do. I do think that you are going to have to just come out and tell her why you dropped out of her life the last time, and that you’re nearing the edge again if she doesn’t stop. Tell her that she can believe in anything she wants, but you will not be a part of it. If she starts up, put your hand up, start talking, do anything you can to get her to remember the deal. If she still keeps it up, break it off with her. Put her number in your cell, and when it comes up, ignore the phone call, or just block her.

Introduce her to Snopes. I’ve done that for several people posting false Amber Alerts in their facebook statuses and sending e-mails. Maybe it’ll work!

If not, turn her on to Askville. They deserve her! Don’t inflict her on us!

@avvooooooo , that is REALLY THE BEST ANSWER, CHECK OUT http://www.snopes.com/… IT HELPS IN DISOLVING ALL INTERENT CONSPIRACIES, RUMOURS AND MYTHS..(YES AND ADD IT TO YOUR FAVORITES)

ALSO, YOU COULD USE LIKE SIMPLE VALIDITY TACTICS TO IDENTIFY LEGITIMATE CLAIMS (EVEN THOUGH IT STILL MAY NOT BE FOOL PROOF).

FOR EG: – LOOK FOR ACTUAL DATES & TIMES LIKE “2:30PM MONDAY JANUARY 16TH 1996”, AND NOT JUST A GENERAL DATE LIKE “THIS HAPPENED SOMETIME AGO”... SCENARIO…
THIS CAN BE USED ACROSS THE BOARD FOR WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE “5 WISE MEN TEST” ..YEP…THE “WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY” SO FOR MY EXAMPLE ABOVE, “WHEN” , WOULD BE THE ACTUAL TIME GIVEN…THIS TO MAY WORK…

Wonderful answer, gailcalled, and so true. This is not your problem.

Make a web page about all weirdo stuff on the Internet being fake. Then send her an email with a lot of, “OMG!” stuff in it with the link to that page.

If she believes everything she reads on the Internet then she should believe the page you made and, ergo, not believe in anything else.

@Presz Why in the world are you directing your comment at me?

And WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?!?!?!?!?