ph_memes | Monthly Meme - The AITAs of March

BEWARE THE AITAS

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My people are sworn to the forest, as guardians and caretakers. It is our oath to stay and keep it safe from outsiders, an oath we all make as we reach adulthood. To leave the forest is to break that oath, and once broken you may never return.

I (63 F??) left the forest a little over five years ago, leaving in the middle of the night without telling anyone. I felt that I needed to go out and change something, rather than simply stand as steward over the same small place we always had. There are not so many of us, but surely just one is not such a loss?

But my people would tell me that I, like all of them, am bound by the oaths and knew that leaving was tantamount to betrayal.

Am I the asshole?

INFO:

Oaths? What alternative, if any, did you have to agreeing to these oaths?

The oaths are part of becoming an adult, taking on the sacred role of guardian and caretaker. I suppose I could have not taken them, and remained a child for a longer time? But the extra time it took to declare my gender had delayed that once already. (The laws are different for men and women.)

NTA

This practice is coercive and denied you the chance to seek and pursue alternatives. It is the right of all thinking beings to seek employment of their own will and to refuse it.

NTA it's fucking righteous to go out and do your own thing. Fuck sticking to a predetermined path just because it's tradition.

YTA unless there was force or coercion involved in the oath-taking.

I'd have fully supported your right to leave home and not to take the oath, but you did it. Lifetime contracts are a stupid idea and nobody should sign them but if you do, freely, that's your lookout.

Monthly Meme - The AITAs of March

[Anonymous] AITA for abandoning my people?

[ANONYMOUS]

[ANONYMOUS]

Re: [ANONYMOUS]

no subject

anon