Monthly Meme - The AITAs of March

[pumpkinhollow]

BEWARE THE AITAS

C

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!

Comments

[thethirteenthchild]

No elaboration?

[astrogator]

It's a truly horrific thing to do to someone.

I can imagine mitigating circumstances. If the target was a condemned criminal and you made their death very quick. If the target consented. But you'd have given those, if they applied.

[thethirteenthchild]

Efforts to mitigate have been made. There are no such criminals on the island, and even then I cannot take the same prey repeatedly. Consent is difficult to obtain as my identity must be kept secret—- in no small part due to reactions like this from my neighbors. What sort of punishment might be doled out by fearful people to stop me? Killing me repeatedly, via a daily manhunt? Imprisoning me and starving me out over and over forever? Is there even an ethical way to stop it?

Containing myself to this environment where nobody dies is, so far, the best I have been able to do. But I am a monster. Humanity has never been my strong suit. If you have thoughts about obtaining consent without revealing my identity then I am open to hearing them, but that sounds far too much like human sacrifice for my liking.

[lasthumanvoice]

Don’t you mean a human snackrifice?

[thethirteenthchild]

AITA for laughing at this?

[lasthumanvoice]

Not in the least. When a situation is both disturbing and absurd, sometimes you need to lean into the absurd.

[astrogator]

I understand your concerns about not revealing your identity - but in ethical terms, killing and eating unconsenting people to protect your identity is completely unjustified. There's no ideal solution here, but willing human sacrifice? Much further up the ethical scale than hunting, killing and eating unconsenting innocent people. I cannot stress this enough. If this is what you are doing then yes, you deserve punishment. That would be justice. It doesn't matter if they come back from death. Having no scars on their bodies doesn't mean you haven't damaged their minds.

You've been dealt a bad hand in life, having to do this to survive. You can't change that. What you can change is whether you horrifically violate other people's rights in order to survive, or whether you look for another way. A better way. I'd help you with the logistics of that, if I could. If it would make you stop hurting unwilling innocents.

I'm sure all the people saying NTA will be first in line to volunteer, since they can't be so morally bankrupt as to say it's fine only so long as other people are the ones getting their faces eaten.

anon.

[abhorrently]

Of course they can be.

But some of us might be more amiable to the concept.

[tisnotthehouse]

If the being who wrote the original post is capable of beating me in mortal combat, then certainly they have my permission to eat me. However, I will also consider it my right to eat them, should I prove the victor.

I think that's only fair, don't you?

[astrogator]

If that's the terms you both settle on, of your own free will, then fair contract, have at it.

[tisnotthehouse]

It's always nice to meet reasonable people.

Of course, if the original poster is reading this, they should know that my blood and internal organs are permeated with a chemical that is extremely toxic to most forms of life. I suspect they would make me a much better meal than the reverse.

[thethirteenthchild]

Tell me, does a wolf horrifically violate the rights of a deer?

It is because of people who think the way you do, in such uncharitable black and white terms, that it will never be safe for me to come forward. All that you have told me is that my fate as a monster is sealed. How enlightening.

I've nothing further to say.

[astrogator]

Then you have no interest in finding a solution that respects everyone's rights.

That you see sapient beings as prey animals is disgusting.

Yes, you are a monster.

[tisnotthehouse]

Humans are animals, though. Your much-vaunted intelligence does not make you special; it is simply another adaptation, like camouflage or the ability to hold one's breath for hours at a time.

If another animal has both the ability and the incentive to eat you, then yes: you too can become prey.

This is the exact attitude I was criticizing in my comment above, to be honest. What is a "right," except a rule you made up to ease the wheels of your society? In the natural state there are no rules except those of physics, and no "rights" except those that you or your allies are able to defend by force.

Why do you think your existence matters more than our anonymous friend?