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ph_memes2024-03-15 07:24 pm
Monthly Meme - The AITAs of March
ry havoc, and let slip the hounds of war interpersonal conflict! In this month's mingle, spin us a yarn of drama, suspense, romance, or petty arguments. Submit the tale for judgement to the court of public opinion, in pursuit of the answer to one all-important question--- "Am I the asshole?" You may defend yourself, but ultimately it is up to your neighbors to decide your fate.
Unlike other public forums, we don't have any rules about fake stories, validation posts, excessive arguments in the comments, or stabbing the emperor. Fudge details to your heart's content, but don't be surprised if the other people involve in the story jump in with a counter-argument. To vote, here is a glossary of important shorthand:
- OP - "Original poster", the person who submitted the story
- YTA - "You're the Asshole," for when the OP is the primary wrongdoer
- NTA - "Not the Asshole," for when the OP is the one who was wronged
- NAH - "No Assholes Here," for when no one is technically in the wrong, the conflict was simply a misunderstanding
- ESH - "Everyone Sucks Here," for when all parties are in the wrong and all of you should be ashamed of yourselves
- JAH - "Justified Asshole," for when OP is definitely an asshole, but for good reason
- INFO - "Information," for when the story is too vague to make a decision, usually followed by a question
Stories should include the OP's name in brackets and then a punchy title in the subject line. Additionally, you may use [ANONYMOUS] in place of your name--- this will allow players to know who OP is, but the characters will not know. Have fun!
[Anon] AITA for not keeping in touch with my old CO?
Fully prepared to be the asshole here but I guess this is what we're doing, so. I (27, M) spent a couple of years in the military a while back. Most of my time was spent training under Major K (30, M). He was a good man. Your classic drill sergeant type, total hardass, but you could tell he really believed we were out there doing good in the world. We weren't exactly best friends, but I got the impression that the military was basically his whole world.
Thing is, the first time we got assigned to active duty together, it went bad. Real bad. The whole unit was wiped out, other than him and me, and he got hurt bad enough that he was deemed unfit to serve. I could tell it crushed him, losing his men and the thing he'd put his whole life into in one fell swoop. But I had my own problems to deal with after all that, so I figured they'd send him to some kind of counseling and I'd be able to get back in touch when I was ready. And when he basically disappeared off the face of the Earth, I assumed I was just too late.
Years later it turned out he'd run off and joined a cult. I guess they promised to heal him, make him stronger than he'd ever been before. He did some terrible things in their name, and now he's gone. Dead. And I can't help but think if I'd just tried harder to reach out after that mission went off the rails, maybe he'd still be here.
So. AITA?
no subject
The party at fault is the cult. It is not the fault of their victim or you that your CO fell prey to their tactics.
no subject
no subject
I want to be clear that I am speaking to you as one veteran to another, not as a civilian. I, myself, was also deemed unfit to serve after a battle with a very similar result. This is an experience that causes wounds that go far beyond the comparatively easy-to-heal physical sort; that he succumbed to a wound you received alongside him does not mean you are at fault because you survived. You cannot be blamed for not saving lives when you, yourself, were severely injured.
His story is tragic, and you have my deepest sympathy, but his actions are his own. If you dwell on "what ifs," you will never have peace, my friend.
no subject
I guess it's easy to think of myself as having gotten off easy, but the men he lost were my unit, too. My friends. Neither of us walked out of that place the same as when we walked in. I should keep that in mind.