10 Drama-Free Thanksgiving Conversation Starters

Elle

Thanksgiving: When families get together to eat turkey, watch football, and dredge up the same arguments they've been having for decades. Maybe it's your pot-smoking uncle arguing with your drug-hating grandma about legalizing weed, man. Or, it's you getting into a heated discussion about contraception coverage with your conservative, church-going aunt. You probably want to avoid flinging the cranberry sauce across the table for just one year, so here are ten topics to discuss that won't cause a family meltdown.

1. Miley Cyrus
The twerk-happy twentysomething has reached full media saturation. She does have a good voice, but she's also very, very silly. Everyone can have a good chuckle at her latest antics.

Read More: Why We Should Leave Miley Cyrus Alone

2. Leaning In
The phrase has reached meme proportions. But it's a good jumping off point to talk to older generations of ladies in your family about what expectations of women were like back in the day. Who doesn't love a good Mad Men-era tale of hideous sexism?

3. Gravity
Sandra Bullock ain't America's sweetheart for nothing. The Bullock and Clooney combination can satisfy even the surliest grandparent, and the space stuff can entertain the geekiest cousin.

4. iPhone 5S
How annoying is it that none of your old extension cords work, amirite? And what's with iOS 7? Everyone can agree: it's the worst.

5. Captain Phillips
The comedian and expert podcaster Julie Klausner recently called this movie "dad bait." Dads love Tom Hanks and thrillers. Done.

6. Wendy Davis's Hair/or Sneakers
No matter where you (or your grandpa) stand on her politics, Wendy Williams' lustrous mane and fabulous pink sneakers can only be cause for massive family love

Read More: Wendy Davis: Woman of the Week...the Summer...the Year!

7. Cronuts
The croissant/donut hybrid is the greatest food innovation since the cinnabon. We can't believe people are still talking about it but they are. And hey, it's a way less sensitive topic than say, the NSA spying on everyone.

8. Scandal
Again, regardless of political affiliation, we can all get behind Kerry Washington and primetime, high-quality melodrama. Did you hear she's pregnant? Discuss.

Read More: There's Something About Kerry

9.The Baby Who Cries When Her Mom Sings
Only a monster would not love this baby.

10. Kate Middleton and Prince George
Again, babies are pretty hard to fight about. Prince George is a chubby little delight, and his mama Kate has the best highlights in her home country, if not the entirety of Europe.

More on ELLE.com:
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Peter Som: How to Throw The Perfect Dinner Party
The Style Set Share Their Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
The Girl's Guide to Wine