Author's Note: This fic is a One for All October prize for SherlockianDemigod221, who wanted some vault time. By the way, I recommend reading this fic on Archive of Our Own because I was able to format it to look like a reddit post, which fanfiction dot net does not allow me to do. I'm katydid on Archive of Our Own.
"Am I the Asshole" is a subreddit where people post about their interpersonal conflicts and ask internet strangers to judge who is wrong. In reddit speak, OP means Original Poster, AITA means Am I the Asshole?, NTA means Not the Asshole, YTA means You're the Asshole, and ESH means Everyone Sucks Here.
/r/ AmItheAsshole posted by u/DemonKingDeservedToWin 22 days ago.
AITA for protecting my little brother?
I (25M) have a younger brother (20M) who I basically raised since he was a baby. Our parents were neglectful and abusive in ways that I would rather not discuss in this post. I became his legal guardian when I was only eighteen years old. It was a struggle, but I started my own business and became successful enough to provide for both of us. My younger brother has severe health problems. It is unlikely that he'll ever be able to live on his own. He does not have a job. I'm committed to looking after him for the rest of his life. We are each other's only family member.
Until recently, my little brother was always properly adoring and grateful toward me. I've become wealthy enough to shower him with gifts, including a new gaming station and his own car. However, over the last year he's turned sullen and irrationally hostile. I believe he's jealous of my healthy body and superior capabilities. I offered him a job at my business, even though he's weak and has no useful skills. He claimed that he turned me down for ethical reasons.
My younger brother accused me of illegal activity. I took him along on one of my business deals in order to prove that everyone was involved willingly. My little brother threw a fit at the meeting and made a fool of himself. Then he tried to go to the police with my private business information that he stole off my computer. Obviously I have nothing to fear from the police, but it would hurt my business if proprietary information got shared. Also, my younger brother could get in legal trouble for stealing from me. I believe he had a mental breakdown.
In order to protect my little brother, I had no choice but to remove the information from his person and prevent him from going to the police. I have also grounded him and taken away all his toys.
Everything I did was for my brother's own good, but he's been banging on the walls and screaming about how he hates me now. It breaks my heart to be rejected like this after everything I've done for him. For his entire life, I've only tried to protect him.
AITA?
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50 Comments
pessimistforlife
I know I'll get downvoted for saying this, but NTA. Your little brother sounds like a spoiled brat. His so-called ethical principle is an objection to working for a living like everyone else. You should throw the parasite out and let him fend for himself.
Reply from theycallmesteve
LOL of course the most upvoted comment says "I know I'll get downvoted for saying this."
Reply from pessimistforlife
Check out some of the replies below. People are drawing strange conclusions with no evidence. Reddit is full of entitled teenagers and twenty-somethings living in their parents' basement. They see little brother as a fellow incel.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
Thank you for your support. It's very difficult to be a single parent. Throwing out my little brother is simply not an option. He wouldn't survive a day on his own. He's very fragile, physically and mentally.
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Moth_Milton
NTA, but you're doing your little brother no favors by spoiling him like this.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
You may be right. A few days in solitary confinement will hopefully end this silly rebellion.
Reply from Moth_Milton
I'm confused. I meant you should encourage him to attend college or get a job. He can't rely on you for the rest of his life.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I'm happy to support my dear little brother forever. However, I will continue encouraging him to join my business where he will be safe under my watchful eye.
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CatsNDogsAddict
INFO: What's the unethical business? Are you in big tobacco? Because that would change my answer a lot.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
Nothing I showed my little brother was illegal.
Reply from CatsNDogsAddict
That's not really an answer. I'm getting bad vibes from the whole "everyone is involved willingly" line. Are you a pimp?
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theycallmesteve
NTA, can I be your little brother? I'll kiss your ass as much as you want if you support me while I laze around in my room and play video games all day.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I'm not taking brother applications, but I appreciate how almost everyone has been supporting me. If so many people think my little brother is pathetic and foolish, then it must be true.
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throwaway78343
This is going to be controversial, but ESH. Your brother sounds like a real pain in the ass, but you can't take back gifts after they have been given. Then they're not gifts, but rather a means of financial control. Plus your brother is way too old for you to ground him.
Reply from pessimistforlife
I disagree, the little brother clearly played shitty games and won shitty prizes. Mister Moral Principles shouldn't benefit from money coming from a business he tried to sabotage.
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Vigilante_Leader
There's a lot of missing information here. Exactly what the hell did your brother accuse you of doing? You say you have nothing to fear from the police, but rich men rarely do. That ain't the same as saying you've done nothing wrong. Why did you stop your brother from exposing your business practices? And HOW did you stop him? You said that you grounded him, but he's a legal adult. You can't stop him from leaving his room if he wants to.
Reply from CrimsonKnight_11
I came looking for this comment! Thank you! OP reminds me way too much of my narcissistic parents. He talks about his brother as if he's a small child. People are calling the little brother spoiled, but OP is the one who refuses to let his brother get a job. In his replies, OP mentioned putting his little brother in solitary confinement. The fire nation just invaded judging by all the red flags! Is OP only going to reply to comments that agree with him?
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I'm not replying to only comments that agree with me. My little brother has the mental capacity of a child.
Reply from CrimsonKnight_11
Apparently he was smart enough to steal your business information. Explain what you mean by solitary confinement. What, did you kidnap him?
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
Ridiculous, it's not kidnapping when it's your family.
Reply from CrimsonKnight_11
Yikes. That's enough internet for me for today…
Reply from pessimistforlife
He means of course he wouldn't kidnap his family. Way to jump all over the guy for a typo.
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/r/ AmItheAsshole posted by u/DemonKingDeservedToWin 8 days ago.
AITA for giving my little brother a present?
I (25M) had an insignificant fight with my little brother (17M) a couple weeks ago. In order to appease him, I got him a very rare and valuable gift. He's talked about wanting one ever since he was a small child. Also, he's always been jealous that I have one and he doesn't. But instead of thanking me, he screamed at me and called me names. I don't want to take back the gift because I'm sure he'll want it after he calms down. He's prone to hysterical fits. AITA?
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19 Comments
ISwearIUsedToBeSmart
NTA, even if he didn't like the gift then it would have been polite to pretend. Your little brother sounds very immature for his age.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I've often thought the same thing! Thank you.
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pessimistforlife
NTA, your little brother is toxic and you should cut him out of your life.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
My friend Dr. G says the same thing, but I can't bring myself to do it. He's very precious to me, even if he is a fool.
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theycallmesteve
NTA, but do you seriously believe that you're the asshole here or are you just looking for validation?
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
My little brother has been sulking so much that I started to wonder. He certainly thinks that I'm a monster.
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throw_away345
You're NTA in this particular situation, but what did you fight with your brother about?
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I've raised my little brother ever since our parents died, and even before then. Recently he's developed a bad attitude. He invaded my privacy by hacking into my computer.
Reply from throw_away345
Definitely NTA! But you should not give your little brother expensive presents when he acts out. I'm sorry you got parentified, I'm sure that makes it difficult to set boundaries. Please don't give up on your little brother, he's at a difficult age. I'm sure he's traumatized from your childhood too. Therapy might help him.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I would never give up on my little brother.
Reply from throw_away345
You're a great big brother!
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Vigilante_Leader
I don't think I can judge this situation without knowing exactly what you gave your little brother, which you suspiciously left out. But I read your first post, and I think you need to examine this pattern where you give your brother gifts, take them away, then give him more gifts to try and persuade him to do what you want. That's some dysfunctional bs. Try talking to your little brother instead of reddit, and ask him why he didn't want your gift. My guess would be that he knows there are strings attached. Also it's freaking weird that your little brother gets younger every time you post about him.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I'm a very powerful and important man, so I need to obscure certain personal details so I can't be identified. Clearly you're an only child because you don't understand normal sibling relationships.
Reply from CatsNDogsAddict
If your "expensive gift" for your brother was a prostitute, then you're messed up.
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Jrk3qi34q
NTA! The term gaslighting gets thrown around a lot on this sub, but this is the definition of gaslighting! Your brother told you that he wanted this present but now he's trying to make you feel like you're crazy. I suspect that your younger brother has both narcissism AND autism. The self-centeredness and meltdowns are a dead giveaway.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
I googled narcissism and all the symptoms fit my brother! But I think autism would be more likely to help me get adult guardianship of him, so I will be pursuing that diagnosis instead. You have served me well.
Reply from Vigilante_Leader
I can't express my feelings without getting banned for excessive profanity again. Even Autism Speaks isn't going to take away your brother's legal rights because a redditor diagnosed him over the internet. Did you even ask him why he didn't want your gift? Either you are omitting his answer because it makes you look bad or you have failed Communication 101.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
Everyone else agrees with me. You are an annoying insect buzzing around my head. It is a serious flaw in reddit that I can't block you. Maybe I'll buy reddit and permaban you.
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/r/ AmItheAsshole posted by u/DemonKingDeservedToWin 3 days ago.
AITA for force-feeding my younger brother?
I know the post title sounds bad, but hear me out.
Recently I (25M) had a silly argument with my little brother (15M). I punished him by moving him to a new bedroom. My younger brother stopped eating in protest. At first I thought he was merely throwing a tempter-tantrum, but he has refused to eat for five straight days. I became worried about his health and eventually I was forced to use a feeding tube. Since then, he's stopped speaking to me. His immature behavior is breaking my heart. I don't know why he won't at least acknowledge me when I try to persuade him. I've been looking after him ever since we were both young children.
AITA for making the best possible medical decision to protect my little brother's health?
Edit: Before you throw around wild accusations at me, remember that the silent treatment is abuse.
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23 Comments
Vigilante_Leader
Holy shit. Is this real? Force-feeding is very dangerous. You could have killed your brother, you abusive creep. This is above reddit's pay grade. Put down your phone and get your little brother to the hospital right now. P.S. YTA.
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
As expected from someone with such a stupid username, you're making a lot of unwarranted assumptions. I would never risk my little brother's health. I had a highly trained doctor carry out the procedure.
Reply from Vigilante_Leader
Where did your doctor get his training, at the Andrew Wakefield Medical School of Malpractice? Your edit makes it even worse! Maybe your little brother isn't speaking because you DAMAGED HIS THROAT. Get him to the hospital!
Reply from DemonKingDeservedToWin
Where did you get your so-called medical knowledge, you insignificant pest? I bet you're a thirteen-year-old who spends all his time insulting adults on reddit because he has no friends.
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sc98kal
What in the sadistic child abuse world did I just read? Yes, you're a huge gaping asshole! Force-feeding is a form of torture banned by the Geneva Convention! If your younger brother has an eating disorder then get him treatment. It's very disturbing to me that you describe your little brother as "throwing a tempter-tantrum" when he's clearly suffering from a severe mental health crisis. Probably because you've been abusing him.
Reply from Vigilante_Leader
In his first post, OP says that his younger brother is 20. He keeps adjusted down the age to make himself look like less of an infantilizing creep.
Reply from theycallmesteve
Whoa, nice catch. I want to change my answer to last two posts now. OP buried the lede deep underground.
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SomeQuestionsAreStupid
Everyone, stop downvoting the assholes. You're misunderstanding the purpose of this sub. That said, OP is very much the asshole.
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theycallmesteve
YTA YTA YTA YTA
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support_our_police
YTA, this is the behavior I'd expect from your kind. Check out this guy's post history, he's metahuman.
Reply from Vigilante_Leader
What does that have to do with anything? Why is this shitty bigoted comment being upvoted?
Reply from theycallmesteve
Look at all the deleted comments. The hate groups have found this post. Clearly this is a creative writing project by OP designed to make metahumans look bad.
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/r/ AskReddit posted by u/[deleted] 2 days ago.
Please be my hero
I need help, Reddit. My deranged older brother locked me up in a bank vault. He's a criminal named All for One, and he trapped me in here to prevent me from exposing his crimes. I only got access to his phone because he threw it across the vault in a fit of rage when AITA didn't support his very biased version of events. Can anyone give me tips about how to bust out of a bank vault? I have a plastic fork and a hairpin.
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5 Comments
banshee123
WTF did I just read? Is this the plot of a movie I haven't seen?
Reply from [deleted]
Serious replies only please, I'm in a lot of trouble. I don't have much time before big brother takes his phone back. I need to delete my account before that happens.
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Vigilante_Leader
I'm very interested in any information about All for One. I don't think you can bust out of a bank vault on your own, but I'll come save you if you can give me your location.
Reply from [deleted]
I'll DM you. Thank you so much, hero.
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pessimistforlife
Stop feeding the troll. This is the fakest story in the entire history of reddit.