1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Dearest John, It's been a fortnight since I felt your 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: warm embrace. 3 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 2: Dear Sam, such it has since we started the Okay 4 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 2: Story Tom podcast. 5 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 1: Yes, and I have a message for you, a delicious 6 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: story that I think you'll love. Sincerely Sam. 7 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 2: But before that, thine divine two minute outbreak must happened, 8 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 2: I bid thee farewell. 9 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 3: See you in two minutes. 10 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 4: I refuse to do a DNA test to confirm if 11 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 4: my dad is the father of another child. 12 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 5: If you just close your eyes, nothing bad will ever happen. 13 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 4: And it's I'm Not your Father Week on Okay Story Tom, 14 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 4: where we are diving into jaw dropping paternity twist and 15 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 4: family confessions that'll have you asking is this really my dad? 16 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 4: But let's dive into this one for context. For about 17 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 4: five years ago, my mom came across the message from 18 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 4: a woman claiming my father is the baby daddy two 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 4: her three year old daughter. 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 5: Five years ago wow. 21 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 4: And compared photos of her and I when I was 22 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 4: around that age to show that we looked alike. However, 23 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 4: dismissed getting any DNA task After my father got incarceonated. 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 4: Now I seventeen female and my mom recently came across 25 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 4: a message tonight from the same woman again claiming my 26 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 4: father is the baby daddy to her now eight year 27 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 4: old daughter. Now that her daughter is older, she has 28 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 4: started questioning who her real father is. By the way, 29 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 4: this comes from teeth Graveyard and if you want to 30 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 4: submit your own stories, what are okay storytime Subreddit. So 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 4: now this is the part that has me a bit skeptical. 32 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 4: Her daughter does have the same skin color as my dad. However, 33 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 4: every other feature is completely different. That's just the mom's side, and. 34 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 5: She might not even really know that he's incarcerated. 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 4: She might not know. 36 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, sounds kind of probably like it's true. 37 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 4: My dad has hazel, almost vibrant green eyes, while the 38 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 4: mother has bright blue eyes. My mother also has bright 39 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 4: blue eyes, and my mother and father's genie than resulted 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:06,559 Speaker 4: in central heterochromia in my eyes. This child has pitch 41 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 4: black eyes. Usually brown eyes are the dominant gene to 42 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 4: blue eyes, So how did pitch black eyes suddenly appear 43 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 4: on my dad's side of the family. Their eyes are 44 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,239 Speaker 4: all very vibrant green or gray. Not only do the 45 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 4: eyes get me, but the nose shape on both my 46 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 4: dad and eyes are the same. However, this woman's daughter 47 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 4: has a completely different shape. This lady is basically convinced 48 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 4: that my father is her baby daddy and even said 49 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 4: tonight if my father wasn't willing to give a DNA test, 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 4: asked if I would be willing to give a DNA test, 51 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 4: yet has not even told us her name. I'm torn 52 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 4: between a decision. But my father is actively in my life, 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 4: and I know that if he knew he had another child, 54 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 4: he would also try to be in this child's life 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 4: as well. The only thing is she lives two states away. 56 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 4: Getting a DNA test would do what get child support? 57 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 4: She's financially stable with a husband and two other kids, 58 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 4: so now why is she reaching out after five years? 59 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 4: Reassurance is real and I one hundred percent support it. However, 60 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 4: that big time gap. What was the mother telling her daughter? 61 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 4: With all that kid consideration, I told her I wouldn't 62 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 4: be comfortable giving a DNA sample. She told my mother 63 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 4: that we're ruining her daughter's life by not allowing her 64 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 4: to know her real father. However, I just can't believe her, 65 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 4: as if this was my father's child, why didn't she 66 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 4: reach out sooner? She literally reached out five years ago. 67 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 4: I'm not sure anymore. I just feel like a butt. 68 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 4: But my gut tells me something fishy is going on, 69 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 4: So am I the a hole. I'm also feeling a 70 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 4: touch fishy here. 71 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 5: See. The thing is, I'm kind of annoyed at Ope, 72 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 5: Okay because Okay, on the one hand, I don't think 73 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 5: that it is necessarily at all Ope's responsibility to do 74 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 5: this DNA test. She's like nineteen or whatever. Mm hm 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 5: young She's a teenager, and which, guys, I'm like, you know, 76 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 5: this woman shouldn't be reaching out to a teenager to 77 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 5: ask her to do a DNA test. Seventeen Okay, she's 78 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 5: even younger. If I were a seventeen year old and 79 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 5: a random woman was like, do a DNA test for me, 80 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 5: I'd be like no, But. 81 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 4: This woman is not giving her name. 82 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, which is why I understand why OPI would be 83 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 5: like hesitant to give DNA samples to this woman. However, 84 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 5: I think that OP is kind of asking the wrong questions. 85 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 4: It's a stranger. I don't know. 86 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 5: I think that the easiest way to prove if she's 87 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 5: lying or not is for the father to do like 88 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 5: a DNA test. 89 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 4: The father do test I believe one, this is fishy. 90 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,599 Speaker 4: There might be something going on here inheritance or whatever. 91 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 4: I don't know. Another part of this is if this 92 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 4: woman's super serious and she has enough evidence court order, 93 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 4: you can court order a DNA test. 94 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 5: I wonder how it all works with him being incarcerated, 95 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 5: you know, like, is she not able to reach him? 96 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 4: Like, what's what's the deal here? Yeah, but we are 97 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 4: halfway through and we got an update. Okay, update, okay, 98 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 4: so wow. I didn't think this was going to get 99 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 4: much attention as it did. Yeah, YadA, YadA. I've talked 100 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 4: to my dad. He is aware that this woman has 101 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 4: reached out again. My mom told him this morning and 102 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 4: showed him screenshots of the woman's messages. He's going to 103 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 4: get the DNA test done and out of the way. 104 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 4: But it's also skeptical because she hasn't pursued anything legally 105 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 4: for the past five years. 106 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 5: But I think that is the way to go. Like, 107 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 5: I think he should just do a DNA test and 108 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 5: then if it's false or it's you know, it's not true, 109 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 5: then perfect. Done with this woman. Yeah. 110 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 4: If someone demands a DNA test for me and I 111 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 4: don't know them, I'm gonna be like, nah. 112 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 5: He knows her. Okay, it's not like just a random woman, 113 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 5: because he wouldn't do it. If this was a stranger, 114 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 5: he'd be like, I don't know who that is. I'm 115 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 5: not doing a DNA test for a stranger. 116 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 4: Yeah. I'm still confused by everyone's motive in the story. 117 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,479 Speaker 4: I've spoken to some of my personal friends and family 118 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 4: about what I should be doing, and it just hurts 119 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 4: me that if this is my half sister, I haven't 120 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 4: been allowed to be involved with her. I'm going to 121 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 4: talk more with my dad when he gets off work, 122 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 4: but the next update will be the DNA test results. 123 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,279 Speaker 4: I'm just not sure how long that will take. And 124 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 4: it seems like he's out of jail now. 125 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 5: They reached out five years ago, they could have been involved, 126 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 5: you know, if they had done the DNA test five 127 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 5: years ago, she was Opie's half sister, could have been 128 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 5: involved in Opie's life. But seems like the mom was like, no, 129 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 5: we're not doing the DNA test. 130 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 4: I need the mother like Opie's mom's pov onness. I 131 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 4: need to understand where she's coming from. 132 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 5: Well, I guess this probably would have been cheating. Oh 133 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 5: unless they're not together anymore. I don't know. 134 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 4: I need more context from other people relative comments. Baby 135 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 4: Kate two thousand and four says, not the a whole. However, 136 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 4: the entire section you've written on looks is bs. You've 137 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 4: not accounted for this woman's family features. It's not that 138 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 4: brown eyes are dominant, is that darker ones are. Assuming 139 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 4: this child is off your dad's. If the mother has 140 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 4: darker eyes in her family, then her child is likely 141 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 4: to have dark eyes as hazel greeny eyes, if not more. Yeah. Yeah, 142 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 4: so like your science is kind of off. Oh, Piz 143 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 4: was seventeen, so you know, and she's trying to make 144 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 4: sense of it. Yeah, you and your dad's noses look 145 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 4: different because you have your dad's nose. This child could 146 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 4: have her mom's or grandparents on her mother's. It sounds 147 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 4: like you're trying to come up with reasons to not 148 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 4: believe this because you don't want it to be true. 149 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 4: But in doing so, you're not using real logic. You've 150 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 4: just decided doesn't it look like me? Therefore isn't true. 151 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 4: If you're making the decision only based on that logic, 152 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 4: then yeah, you're a bit of the ye hole. I 153 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 4: don't know this is comment, but at the end of 154 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 4: the day, it's not your job to do this. If 155 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 4: she wants a DNA test, she needs to go to 156 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 4: the actual dad, maybe get a court order for one, 157 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 4: but not your circus, not your monkey's. And op says, 158 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 4: with sharing more of their opinion, I'm not trying to 159 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 4: imply that it's not his child. Those are just my 160 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 4: personal reasons for not wanting a DNA test from me. 161 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 4: I just think it's weird. She's putting in a little 162 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 4: bit too much effort to get a DNA tuss done 163 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 4: from a minor. Yet as even told us her daughter's 164 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 4: name when she got with my father, et cetera. She's 165 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 4: not giving any context. Do you have an emoji? And 166 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 4: another conminner says low balance forty four oh four says info. 167 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 4: Is your dad still in prison, no matter where is he? 168 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 4: Does he know of any of this? Opie says he's 169 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 4: aware of this and has been since she reached out 170 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 4: when the child was three. He is now out of prison. 171 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 4: I'm not sure what exactly happened to the whole thing. 172 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 4: I honestly forgot about it because it's been five years now. 173 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 4: But she's trying to get me involved, and has been 174 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 4: like comparing our photos together, saying we look alike things 175 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 4: like that. It's just weird. My father is sleeping right now. 176 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 4: I live with him, but of course I'm bringing this 177 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 4: up to him tomorrow and I'll give an update. 178 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 5: It's so like again, you know, I don't. I think 179 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 5: ope's maybe illogical, Like has made some silly comments about, 180 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 5: you know, a couple of different things, but is a 181 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 5: seventeen year old and has an adult reaching out to 182 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 5: her about doing a DNA. 183 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 4: Like that is we weird. That is weird. 184 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 5: That is weird. I don't understand why the dad wouldn't 185 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:04,960 Speaker 5: have done the DNA if he knew about it the 186 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 5: first time. Why didn't he do a DNA test when 187 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 5: the kid is three? Yeah, Like why it's all weird? 188 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 4: Just sit on you? 189 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 5: Op, Yeah, it isn't on you, Like you're seventeen and 190 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 5: you're acting like a seventeen year old. Very valid. You 191 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 5: don't know anyone that you don't know a DNA test. 192 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 5: They should not be caught, Like none of the adults 193 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,439 Speaker 5: in the situation should be putting you in the middle 194 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 5: of this at all. Like this is weird. 195 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 4: But it seems like they figured it out and we 196 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 4: don't know the results because that's you in the story. 197 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 4: What yeah, that's it. I feel like that with the 198 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 4: last story. 199 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 5: This is ridiculous. I know, we just don't know. 200 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 4: We don't know. 201 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 5: Come on, OP. My advice if this is your app 202 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 5: sibling Center Card, Center Cards, see if you can hang 203 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 5: out with her. But also I have a talk to 204 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 5: your parents and say, hey, can we like, can you 205 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,480 Speaker 5: kind of protect me a little bit more and not 206 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 5: have this random woman message me about my DNA. 207 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 4: Please don't put me in the middle of your DNA shenanigans. 208 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 5: No one should be asking OP anything about this truly. 209 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 5: This should only be between the dad and the woman. 210 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,359 Speaker 5: That's it. Those are the only relevant players exactly. 211 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 4: And we have another story coming up. 212 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 5: So we're going to get into it, folks. 213 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 4: Another DNA So tune in tomorrow for another DNA story 214 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 4: just for you guys. 215 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 2: I refuse to attend my niece's wedding because I do 216 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: not like her fiance's good reason. So for context, there's 217 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 2: a twenty one year age gap between myself and my 218 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: oldest brother. This made it so me twenty eight female 219 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 2: and his closest daughter twenty three female are very close 220 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: in age and have. 221 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 3: Grown up very close by the way. 222 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 2: It comes from proper marriagean forty nine to sixteen and 223 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 2: if you want to submit your own stories, go. 224 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 3: Do the r Slasha Okay story times up right. 225 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 2: I am very much the favorite, not and have always 226 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: considered us friends, not just family. She comes to me 227 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: when she has a problem that she doesn't want to 228 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 2: talk to her parents about. She tells me about her 229 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: boyfriend and friend problems. She would call me when she 230 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 2: was in college and needed to be picked up from 231 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 2: a party or a bar, and I was the first 232 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 2: person she told when her boyfriend proposed to call, calling 233 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: me at six am in the morning because he was 234 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 2: so excited. The Dubby, my niece and her fiance have 235 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: been together for three years. He is one year younger 236 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: than her. She just graduated in May twenty twenty four 237 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 2: and he is on track to graduate in May twenty 238 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 2: twenty five. Their wedding is scheduled for a week after 239 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 2: his graduation. He is studying biomedical and microengineering, but he's 240 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 2: more on the introvergent side. He has some dry humor. 241 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,200 Speaker 2: Since she introduced him to the family, we could tell 242 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 2: they were serious so try to be as welcoming as possible. 243 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 2: We invited him to family events, trips, got him Birthday 244 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 2: and Christmas presents, and genuinely tried to get to know him. 245 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 2: Whenever he's around our family, he acts annoyed all the time, 246 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 2: like it's painful to spend time with us. He expects 247 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 2: my niece to stay by his side the whole time, 248 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 2: getting irritated if any of the little cousins ask her 249 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: to play, including my children. 250 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 3: For context, my niece is my children's godmother. 251 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,320 Speaker 2: He also expects her to leave at the same time 252 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 2: as him, even if they drive separately. 253 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: Ooh, sounds a little controlling. So yeah, he's at the 254 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: very least socially awkward. 255 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 6: Yeah. 256 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 2: Hate sounds like he hates kids, hates the family. 257 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 3: It is not fun. 258 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 2: My eldest brother constantly defends him, saying that he's just 259 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 2: introverted and that the size of our family makes him uncomfortable. 260 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 4: He insists that the fiance is. 261 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: Different in smaller groups are one on one, but I 262 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 2: haven't seen it, not even when it was just the 263 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: two of them with my husband and me. He talks 264 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 2: to everyone like we're stupid and is extremely condescending After 265 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 2: they got engaged, things got worse. Since my niece and 266 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 2: I are close, I expected to be asked to be 267 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 2: part of the wedding, but she didn't ask. 268 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 3: I was a little hurt, but I let it go because. 269 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 2: It's her special day and her choice. Then his family 270 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 2: planned the engagement party and didn't invite any of my family. 271 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 2: She told me that it was just a small affair 272 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: with only their parents and siblings. 273 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 4: But I later found out that she had lied. 274 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 3: When I saw the pictures on social media. 275 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 2: So I confronted her about it, but she said she 276 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 2: didn't plan the guest list, so I tried to let 277 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: it go. 278 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: I mean, even if she didn't plan the guest list, 279 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: that just even even more means that the fiance's control. 280 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 2: It means like he literally completely had full control of 281 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: the guest list. Insanity in red and flag after red flag, 282 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 2: so many red flags. Again, when your when your partner 283 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,599 Speaker 2: tries to control who you hang out with, that is 284 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 2: a red flag, unless unless in the case where like 285 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: the friends that you're hanging out with are like causing 286 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 2: you to do bad things or like I don't know, 287 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: like infidelity or substances or I don't know Robin Banks. Later, 288 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 2: she didn't invite my mom or me to the dress 289 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: to the dress fitting, saying that there was a limited 290 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: number of people allowed and she wanted to make sure 291 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 2: that his mom and sisters could come. At that point, 292 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: I told her it really seemed like she was trading 293 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 2: our family for his. She denied it, but when I 294 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: later asked how they planned to spend the holidays, he 295 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 2: said they'd be with his family. The last straw came 296 00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: in December and January. In December, she invited my husband 297 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 2: and me over to dinner. I was excited because she 298 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: hadn't initiated hanging out since her engagement. To dinner was nice, 299 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 2: though a little awkward sense conversation with her fiance wasn't smooth, 300 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: but overall pleasant enough. When the check came, my husband 301 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 2: took care of it after it sat on the table 302 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: for about fifteen minutes, and they didn't offer to split or. 303 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 3: Pay, even though they had invited us. 304 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,360 Speaker 1: Oh, that's crazy. If anything, the inviter should pay. 305 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, and just like not addressing it at all. 306 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: Then, when we were ready to leave, they asked if 307 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 2: we could have a serious conversation. I was confused about 308 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: why we hadn't talked about it during the meal, but 309 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 2: they proceeded to ask us. 310 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 4: For money to help pay for their wedding. 311 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: The wedding that you're cutting us out of. Yeah, I 312 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: know this is uh. I mean, like again, it's crazy 313 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: when people with no social tact to go and try 314 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: to pull something like this. There's like like like you 315 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: would at least hope there was some like thin veil, Yeah, 316 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: but there's there's not even a thin veil. 317 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: The thin veil was like, uh, I grace you with 318 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: my presence for dinner that you buy. 319 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: Now pay. 320 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 2: She said that it was turning out to be more 321 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 2: expensive than they had expected and that they needed help 322 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 2: since their parents didn't make enough. I asked why they 323 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 2: didn't wait until he had a job in instead of 324 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: just an unpaid internship another great question, or until she 325 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: got a full time job instead of a part time line. 326 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: I wasn't saying no. I just wanted to understand why 327 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 2: they were rushing the wedding, which was only eight months 328 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 2: after the engagement. That conversation turned into an argument about 329 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 2: financial responsibility. Per fiance said that if we could help, 330 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 2: we should, because it's family. He then added that we 331 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: had plenty of time to resave. After my husband explained 332 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 2: that a lot of money was invested for our children's future. 333 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 2: You can't demand you can't demand access to other people's money. 334 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: This should be a very simple concept. We offered two 335 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 2: thousand dollars as a small contribution, but then my niece 336 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: brought up my savings from my deceased husband's life insurance. 337 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 3: Oh god, oh my god. 338 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 2: I asked if she really thought bringing up my past 339 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 2: away husband was going to help her case date. After that, 340 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 2: we repeated our offer of two thousand dollars, which crazy, 341 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 2: it's still on the tape. Is a lot? Yeah, two 342 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 2: thousand a lot? And her fiance asked if that was 343 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 2: really all we would give. 344 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: Them, ungrateful, ungreat again again, if if you're gonna ask 345 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: for money, you could employ just some night like, if 346 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: you are nice to people, usually they will give you 347 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: more money. And right now you are being a massive, 348 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: uh poopy bead. Yes, I didn't want to swear poopy 349 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: head behavior. Yeah, this is poopy head behavior. Yeah, be 350 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: nice and maybe you're you are being the meanest possible 351 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: and you're still getting too grand. 352 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 2: And still and still pushing it and still pushing like, 353 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 2: don't fumble the bag, so we withdrew the offer entirely good. 354 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 3: We left enraged. 355 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 2: Before Christmas, my mom invited them over to bake, since 356 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: the fiance enjoys baking desserts and bread. He was so 357 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 2: rude to my mom. She came over to my house 358 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 2: afterwards for some grandkid time and tea because she was 359 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: so sad. My dad was furious, and then neither my 360 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 2: my niece nor or fiance came to Christmas. At a 361 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:04,959 Speaker 2: family get together around New Year's while driving two of 362 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 2: my brothers and their wives home, we had a conversation 363 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 2: about how sick we all are of the fiance and 364 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 2: how we wished they weren't getting married. Finally, in January, 365 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: it was my parents' fiftieth wedding anniversary. I had planned 366 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: a party for them and afterwards we were taking them 367 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 2: to Mexico, a trip that was group financed by my 368 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: siblings and me. The fiance was only coming to the 369 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 2: party since he couldn't miss school for Mexico. The party 370 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 2: was fancy RSVP invitations, a private venue, catered, and semi 371 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:32,679 Speaker 2: formal dress code. 372 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 4: A week before, my niece texted me. 373 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 2: To say her fiance wasn't coming because of a fraternity event. 374 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: You're gonna miss this fancy fancy you're in. 375 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 2: Law's fiftieth wedding anniversary, Your in law's fiftieth wedding anniversary. 376 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: For a frat party. 377 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 2: I told her that this was an important family event 378 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 2: and that it was rude to back out of an 379 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 2: RSVP'd event without a good reason. 380 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, yes, it's an RSVP'd event. That's also like important. Yeah, 381 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: it's less that it's like the fiftieth anniversary. It's more 382 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: that it's the RSD well but so. 383 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: Like catering and everything, they're paying for the meals exactly. 384 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 1: Speaking of did you did you do it? I did it? 385 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 2: So I made it clear that I didn't consider his 386 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 2: fraternity event a good enough excuse, especially since he had 387 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: known about the party for a long time. She said 388 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 2: she talked to him, but I never heard back, so 389 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 2: I wasn't sure if he was coming. The day of 390 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 2: the party, he showed up late wearing a T shirt, jeans, 391 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 2: and backward cap. My mom, still trying to be nice, 392 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 2: said she was glad he was there, and he responded, 393 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 2: like I had a choice. 394 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 1: That is. 395 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 4: D bag, wow, Like I had a choice. 396 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 2: He then sat at his table the whole time, not 397 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 2: speaking to anyone or participating in any activities. Halfway through, 398 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: we were taking a family picture and invited him to 399 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 2: be in it. He said, this isn't my family. 400 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: I mean, it won't be soon. You're about to get 401 00:18:57,040 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: it into divorce. Yeah, it won't be wishful thinking. 402 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 2: My mom started crying and excused herself to the bathroom. 403 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: I pulled him aside and snapped. I told him that 404 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: if he didn't want to be part of his family, 405 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: he should get the f out. I said, I was 406 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,479 Speaker 2: tired of his attitude, disrespect, and tired of pretending to 407 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 2: like him, and told him to leave. 408 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 4: My niece went to follow him. 409 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,520 Speaker 2: I told her that if she left with him, she 410 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 2: could forget about coming to Mexico with us, which just 411 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 2: super quick. I'm afraid of that because then she can. 412 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 3: Get more isolated. 413 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 2: And look, it might be a in the heat of 414 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 2: the moment emotional response, right, and maybe later she's like a, 415 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 2: you know, maybe shouldn't have lasted like that. 416 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 3: But that's a. 417 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: Really good point. That's a really good point. I think 418 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:46,239 Speaker 1: I think what this person. I think Op's niece is 419 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: probably feeling more and more isolated. Maybe she's being manipulated 420 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: by this guy. This is a lot of conjecture, but regardless, 421 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 1: what she needs right now is she needs you to 422 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: bring her closer and if anything, say like hey, I 423 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: still want you to come on this Mextroc trip, please come, 424 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: but you cannot bring him. 425 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, clear, clear line like hey, we accept you, 426 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 2: We're here for you, like heep. Keep that that that 427 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: line of communication and love open, but hard line on 428 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: the fiance where it's like we're not gonna we're not 429 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 2: gonna deal with this. But she also made it clear 430 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 2: that she was upset that he had been punted out 431 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 2: of the event. The adults in the family, about twelve 432 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 2: of us sat down with her to air out our 433 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: grievances about the fiance so she could understand the extent extent. 434 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 3: Of the problem. 435 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 2: She still defended him, saying that we didn't know him 436 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 2: well enough and that we made him uncomfortable. 437 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 4: How much more do you need to get this thing? 438 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,679 Speaker 1: Is that probably is true in terms of like like 439 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: the social anxiety thing we were talking about, like that 440 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: probably he probably does feel uncomfortable. In his defense, mechanism 441 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: is being a d bag to extraordinary levels, and she's 442 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: seeing like this whole other side to him of like 443 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: this insecure society is prevent like showing this doesn't excuse 444 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: his behavior. Yeah, by any means by I understand why 445 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,240 Speaker 1: she's saying that, because it's probably true. But I think 446 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: the rebuttal that the family should say is like, who 447 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: cares if he's insecure or like uncomfortable if he's acting 448 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: this way? If you, you know, being uncomfortable makes you 449 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: want to punch babies, I'm taking you away from my baby. 450 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you can't. 451 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 2: You can't let someone do do a heinous because there's 452 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 2: an excuse, So Opie says, she still defended him, saying 453 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,200 Speaker 2: we didn't know well enough and that we made him uncomfortable. 454 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 2: After that conversation, I told my husband that I just 455 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 2: couldn't act like nothing was wrong anymore, so we declined 456 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,439 Speaker 2: on the RSVP to the wedding. She texted me asking 457 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 2: why we said no, and I met up with her 458 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 2: for coffee. I explained to her that I didn't feel 459 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 2: that I could support her marriage and that he wasn't 460 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 2: a good person, and I felt like her independence and 461 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 2: everything that was special about her was disappearing behind his expectations. 462 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 2: She disagreed and told me that I just didn't understand. 463 00:21:56,840 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 2: She then told me that if I really cared about her, 464 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 2: that I would suck it up and come to her wedding. 465 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 2: So am I the a hole? Should we go to 466 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: the wedding? And was I wrong for telling her in 467 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 2: the first place? We have an update, but maybe you 468 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 2: can quickly answer these First. 469 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 3: Is Op the a hole? 470 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: No, she needed to put her like foot down at 471 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: some point. 472 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, it became her circus, so it was beyond her 473 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 2: circus by the time she stepped in. 474 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: And for the wedding thing. I think that this guy 475 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: is not good for her at all. Yes, is being 476 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 1: a is taking action that is trying to isolate her. 477 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: He's being rude and like mean to the family. He 478 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: needs to go figure his stuff out independent of of 479 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: the of Op's niece. But in the same kind of 480 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,120 Speaker 1: vein that as what you were saying, like you want 481 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: to have an open line of communication, I think you 482 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: can voice like I don't think you should marry this guy, 483 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: but I'm going to be there for you, yes, to 484 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: make sure that you know you have someone you can 485 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: talk to because and hopefully maybe she'll use. 486 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 2: That one, yeah, one angle of going to the wedding 487 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 2: is just it's just constantly communicating her I'm there for you, 488 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: I'm there for you, I'm there for you to hopefully 489 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 2: when the time is right and when you know, niece 490 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 2: snaps out of it, she knows that she can go 491 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 2: back to Opie versus exactly. 492 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 3: Maybe if she gets. 493 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,959 Speaker 2: The impression that she's closed out, she's like, oh, now 494 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 2: I have no one yeah to turn to. So I 495 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 2: would say I would say OPI is not the ale 496 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 2: for not going to the wedding because one, I still 497 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 2: think she can do things like going out for coffee 498 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 2: and show her that she's there for And then also two, 499 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 2: that's putting themselves in harm's way quote unquote because now 500 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:36,639 Speaker 2: they have to that's a good point essentially deal with 501 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 2: him at the wedding like they had to deal with 502 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 2: him at this event. 503 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 3: We have an update, ladies and gentlemen. 504 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 2: So my family is very religious, and so niece and 505 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 2: her fiance do not live together or have overnights, and 506 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 2: she still lives with their parents with a curfew God 507 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 2: as long as she's under their roof. So while I 508 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 2: agree with the assessment that he's setting her up to 509 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,239 Speaker 2: be isolated. They aren't currently in a situation or the 510 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 2: privacy for financial or emotional. I do also think that 511 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 2: he is a self absorbed person. She agreed to sit 512 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 2: down and talk with me again, and I was able 513 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 2: to better articulate my concerns for her future and what 514 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 2: she is setting herself up for, and my concerns about him. 515 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 3: We are still not going to the wedding. 516 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 2: I explained to her that part of it is because 517 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,359 Speaker 2: I love her, that ultimately it's supposed to be a 518 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 2: special day for her, and that with the way I 519 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 2: feel about him, that I would object to the union 520 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 2: in front of everyone as. 521 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 3: Opposed to privately. 522 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 2: So I told her, whatever she chooses, that I am 523 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: always specifically in her corner specifically, and that I hope 524 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 2: that she will still want to spend time with me 525 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: and my kids, but more than that, to know that 526 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 2: she can come to me for any any time, for anything, 527 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 2: which is I think exactly what we were saying. Let 528 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,920 Speaker 2: her know that you're taught, and that for her sake, 529 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:45,359 Speaker 2: I do hope that I'm wrong about him. By the way, 530 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 2: there's one thing that I'm never wrong about that you 531 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:49,840 Speaker 2: can listen to full episodes and stories just like this 532 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 2: go to Spotify. 533 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:51,360 Speaker 4: Apple podcasts. 534 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 2: By the way, just cracked the top one hundred comedy 535 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 2: podcasts on Apple Podcasts. 536 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: We are a Chop one hundred yep. 537 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 2: Oh, so the podcast king started telling me your favorit 538 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 2: pop on your favorite pod app. So getting into this ending, 539 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 2: we did get her a few things off the registry 540 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 2: that I knew were more for her than for him. 541 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,479 Speaker 2: She said that she would think about everything, so we 542 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 2: will see what happens between then and now. And to 543 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: the person who said that they thought I didn't think 544 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 2: it through on what this might mean for the future, 545 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 2: I can assure you I did. My family means the 546 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 2: world to me, and I don't want to hurt her 547 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 2: or my relationship with her. But we got to the 548 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:27,760 Speaker 2: point where I couldn't stay quiet and just pretend like 549 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,120 Speaker 2: there wasn't anything wrong. Thanks to everyone for the input. 550 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 2: It really helped me organize my thoughts and think everything 551 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 2: through with everything that's happened. 552 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: Honestly, kind of like a cash money response, I feel 553 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: like that's exactly I've been saying that a lot that 554 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 1: But but I kind of I kind of love, I 555 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 1: kind of love where we ended. Yes, keeps the door open, 556 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: but says that you don't like their relationship. OPI ended 557 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: in the perfect place, gotch Opie. My brother always got 558 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: away with his mischief until I finally banned him from 559 00:25:58,320 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: my home. 560 00:25:58,880 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 4: You bang. 561 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: Thirty one male have an older brother, forty mail, who 562 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: was born with special needs. His mind is almost that 563 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 1: of a seven year old. Now, before I go any further, 564 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: let me just say that I love my brother and 565 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 1: I do care for him, but over time, it's got 566 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: to the point where he gets away out of mischief. 567 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: Little Dennis the menace chime of character mostly comes from 568 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: our mother brushing it off like it's nothing. By the way, 569 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: this comes from Icy Reached six s x' sixty nine 570 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: and if you want to submit your own stories, go 571 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: to our slash Okay storytime subreddit. So once it started 572 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,159 Speaker 1: to affect finances, I had to talk with her and 573 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,719 Speaker 1: said she cannot keep babing him anymore because it's starting 574 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,880 Speaker 1: to get out of hand. He knows there are things 575 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: he has to do in his daily life to just 576 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: go to work, take medication, but he never seems to 577 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: remember the important stuff. It's always the things he doesn't 578 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: need to do for example, he stays with my mom. 579 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: When she or I used to leave the house, he 580 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: would rummage through our belongings, even my mom's tax information, 581 00:26:53,200 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: writing nonsense all over the back of it. He would 582 00:26:56,119 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: go into my wallet, mess with my credit cards, steal 583 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: my money, thinking it was his again performance piece, even 584 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: though he knows he's not supposed to touch things that 585 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: don't belong to him. Over the weekend, my mom got 586 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: invited out with a few of her friends and their 587 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: old boss. She asked if I could watch him. I 588 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,119 Speaker 1: said yes, as I had nothing to do on a 589 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: Saturday night, so she brought him over to my place. 590 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: When he's there, he usually just sits and watches TV, 591 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: but when he moves around, he completely destroys my bathroom. 592 00:27:22,119 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 1: If I get him food, he leaves a mess on 593 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: my table without cleaning up, even though he knows he's 594 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: supposed to. Things took a turn when he went to 595 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: the bathroom, thinking nothing of that. I assumed it would 596 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,159 Speaker 1: just be another mess I'd have to clean up, but 597 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 1: I was completely wrong. He crapped in my toilet and 598 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,880 Speaker 1: backed it up. I tried using a plunger and even 599 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: went out to get anything that would unclog the drain, 600 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: but the beast still remains in my pipes as I 601 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 1: type this. You need a poop knife, dude. 602 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 4: True, honestly, I'm not even lying poop. 603 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 3: Sorry. 604 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 4: My parents had to buy an entirely new. 605 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 2: Toilet when I was ten years old because I kept 606 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 2: just destroying it. I would clog it all the time, 607 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 2: but I'm great at plunging. Oh my god, it literally 608 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 2: felt like a tornado on your freaking butt cheeks. 609 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 1: I was constantly at Menards or Home Depot getting supplies 610 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: to unclog the toilet every month. He has a bad 611 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 1: habit of choosing what he wants to take a crap. 612 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 1: His record is holding it for five days. I'm pretty 613 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: sure the employees who saw me there all the time 614 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 1: thought I was the one backing up the toilets. It 615 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: got to the point where the pipes were clogged literally 616 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 1: because of his craft that my mom had to spend 617 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: thousands of dollars for a plumber to clear out the 618 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: drain system. It got so bad that the toilet wouldn't 619 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: flush and the water started coming into the shower and 620 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: the laundry room. I'm currently waiting for a plumber to 621 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 1: come in which will be on my off day so 622 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: they can fix the problem. Until then, I am technically 623 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: without a toilet for five days this which is just 624 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: in time. 625 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 4: He's got enough time to charge up. 626 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: Every morning, I have to skip using the toilet and 627 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: hold it until I get to the gym where I 628 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: can finally go. As I said at the beginning, I 629 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: do love my brother, but there is a limit. 630 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 631 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: I told my mom that he backed up my toilet 632 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: and that he is not allowed to come back to 633 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: my place anytime soon. He's repeatedly shown that he has 634 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: no respect for other people's property, especially since he's not 635 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: the one paying for it. I told her if she 636 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: wants me to watch him, I will come over to 637 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: her house, but he is never to step foot into 638 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: my place again. For context, I have a one bedroom, 639 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: one bathroom condo, so having a working toilet is a 640 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: necessity for me. So am I the A hole? There 641 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: is an update? But uh is op the a hole 642 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: for banning her brother from her house and bathroom? 643 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 4: Not at all? 644 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:41,760 Speaker 3: Dude? 645 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 2: That is dude, dookie, water is flooding the living room. 646 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:46,760 Speaker 3: Yeah this point like it. 647 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 1: Is, these are biblical poops coming out right now? 648 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, like literally the house is about to be funderwater 649 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 2: like oh and underprouve some poopy water too. 650 00:29:56,240 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: Oh no, gonna be like thro sediment. Oh god, that 651 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: ain't clear. That is that is a brown river, not 652 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: like an alpine lake. I can tell you that, but 653 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: it you know what it is. I'm seeing. I'm picking 654 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,640 Speaker 1: up what you're putting down like ness quick. But you 655 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: just put like four scoops into one glass of milk 656 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,440 Speaker 1: because you want it to taste real good. And this 657 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: is super dark. Keeps going chat anyway, we got an update. Basically, 658 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: after four days of not having a toilet, I finally 659 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 1: got it unplugged thanks to my best friend, who I 660 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 1: explained my situation to, who went out of his way 661 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: to get a pump plunger and fixed the situation. Took 662 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: about fifteen minutes, and we made sure the toilet was 663 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: flushing populy, and he saved me from hiring a plumber 664 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: who charges one hundred and ninety six dollars an hour. 665 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: We did a talk for a minute and he told 666 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: me that banning my brother is just going to cause 667 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: a rift, but I should set some boundaries, this being 668 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: the first defense he's not allowed to come to my 669 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: place for three months. That is the lock phone screen method. 670 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 3: Dude on the dot. 671 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: Second defense will result in him not being allowed to 672 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,560 Speaker 1: come for six months. There we go. This is later 673 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: our methods straight beautiful three and what would be the 674 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: final offense will result in him not coming over whatsoever, 675 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 1: essentially him being banned. These are Stairstep boundaries. We love 676 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:13,840 Speaker 1: to see it. We love to see it. Oh yeah, 677 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: Stairstep boundaries. You know, you don't go immediate no contact, 678 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 1: you go increasingly no contact, low to know, lo to 679 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: know unless they're really really bad. 680 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 2: Less the foundation of your home has been racked in. 681 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 2: Yours is wrecked. Your home is a sinkhole because of 682 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 2: his nuclear turns. 683 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: A lot of you suggested that he needs to put 684 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:32,719 Speaker 1: it to a home cares to those of special needs, 685 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 1: as well as having a conversation with my mom in 686 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: regards to his well being after she passes. I basically 687 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: had that conversation with her a long time ago, and 688 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 1: she said the state will take care of him. If 689 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 1: something were to happen to me, will the state take 690 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if the state does that. I mean 691 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,479 Speaker 1: there's a lot of homeless people just yeah, you know 692 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 1: which came off to me as I got this, bro, 693 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: don't worry about it. For context, he is forty years 694 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: old and has the mind of a seven year old. 695 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: He is somewhat functional, as he can brush his own teeth, shave, 696 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: and even warm up food in the microwave. It's bigger things, 697 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 1: such as operating a vehicle or any sort of equipment whatsoever, 698 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: that he has not had the capability of doing. I 699 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 1: had talked to my sister about this twenty six a 700 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: while back, and we had come to the mutual agreement 701 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: that if one of us were to get him that 702 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 1: we would definitely be putting him in a home as 703 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 1: we cannot care for him, especially when it's coming with 704 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: a financial burden. She grew up having to put up 705 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:24,120 Speaker 1: with some of his tantrums and whatnot, but I was 706 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 1: the one that I had to take some of the 707 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 1: heavy lifting stuff got worse when she decided to move away. 708 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 1: We talked recently again about putting him in a home, 709 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: and she brought up the point by saying that he's 710 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: probably not going to one because without him at the house, 711 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: our mom would be lonely. For context, our dad passed 712 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: away from cancer in two thousand and one, So our 713 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: mom had to raise all three of us by herself 714 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 1: with little to no support from both sides of the family. 715 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 1: That's hard. Special needs kid and three kids, that's a lot. 716 00:32:47,080 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 1: So me and my sister are very appreciative everything she's 717 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: done for us and U, and we'll do even if 718 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: we protest. My mom is going to be sixty two 719 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: this year and has about three more years so she 720 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: can officially retire. He's basically done so much for our 721 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: family that words can't even describe it. I personally think 722 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: it would be better that she spends those last years 723 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: without having to worry about caring for my brother when 724 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: she gets older. He's in good health and in good shape, 725 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 1: but it can only last for so long. I know 726 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:13,960 Speaker 1: there's going to be people that will probably say that 727 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: putting him in a home is a terrible thing to do, 728 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 1: But do I say, Unless you've had first experience, firsthand 729 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:22,959 Speaker 1: experience of dealing with special needs individuals on daily basis 730 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: and essentially being a glass child, you will never understand 731 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: how much it takes on you. I can tell when 732 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:29,880 Speaker 1: I see my mom that it's mentally draining to have 733 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: to put up with his antics and him never showing 734 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 1: an ounce of appreciation. As I said to my original post, 735 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 1: I do love my brother and will do whatever it 736 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: takes to keep him safe. But at this point in time, 737 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: it has gone to the point where he has been 738 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: told multiple times to stop doing certain things that have 739 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: been causing problems, and it's going on deaf ears. I mean, okay, 740 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: really pausing here, right right quick, Like it seems like, yes, 741 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: like the money thing and the drawing on stuff, it 742 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: was an issue, but it seems like the biggest issue 743 00:33:56,520 --> 00:34:00,280 Speaker 1: was just the herculean poops this guy was dropping and 744 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: like that's really not like a special needs thing. 745 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, we got to take him to like the gut doctor, 746 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 2: Like what what's he Yeah, just like three three bags 747 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:09,879 Speaker 2: of jeesus to day. 748 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think, like, I mean, I think we just 749 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: need to install some of John's toilets or something and 750 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 1: fifty percent of this would be solved, maybe because it 751 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,440 Speaker 1: definitely helped. I don't know if it seems like fifty 752 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: percent of the story is focused on the poops and 753 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 1: I'm like it was totally emphasized. It was so emphasized, 754 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,560 Speaker 1: and putting someone in a home is so expensive, like 755 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 1: just get a good toilet and maybe maybe you'll be Okay. 756 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 2: I will say, not necessarily be like super prone this camp. 757 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:42,879 Speaker 2: My girlfriend's mom actually works in that position, and she's 758 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,360 Speaker 2: like essentially like a mom to them, you know, she 759 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,399 Speaker 2: like cooks them homemade meals, and they're like they live 760 00:34:47,440 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 2: in like a big. 761 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 3: House, like everyone has their rooms. 762 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:51,320 Speaker 2: Not saying that it's like always that they should definitely 763 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 2: do that, but I could see with the right situation 764 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 2: and specifically like the right caretakers that being like it's 765 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 2: it's not like a like a nursing home like you 766 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 2: would imagine, it's like a home with like a very 767 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,280 Speaker 2: like motherly caring figure. 768 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 3: But I don't know if that's the situation all. 769 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I think I don't think that's what the 770 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:11,400 Speaker 1: state is. 771 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 2: Like, that's definitely not what the state because op is 772 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 2: saying like, oh, we'll take them to like a like 773 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:20,400 Speaker 2: a state run Yeah, okay, that's very yeah yeah lit 774 00:35:20,520 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 2: difinitely little bit so. 775 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, this one's a little premiums a little boogie. 776 00:35:23,239 --> 00:35:25,840 Speaker 1: If this does happen within the next two years, I 777 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 1: fear that he will literally drive my mom insane or 778 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:29,719 Speaker 1: she will lose her mind. I've said that it will 779 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,640 Speaker 1: go over to the house when she wants to go out, 780 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: because I understand that she needs a break for him, 781 00:35:34,239 --> 00:35:36,400 Speaker 1: but he will not be anywhere near my place for 782 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: a while. I'm laying this down now because I'm at 783 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: the point where I just can't do it anymore. And 784 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:42,760 Speaker 1: it's gone to the point where I have sometimes resented 785 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:45,239 Speaker 1: him when I'm around to him, it's his world and 786 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 1: we are just living in it. By the way, you 787 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 1: can listen and live in our world by going to 788 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:52,799 Speaker 1: full episodes of this podcast with stories just like this, 789 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:55,359 Speaker 1: Go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app 790 00:35:55,360 --> 00:35:59,480 Speaker 1: and search. Okay, storytime, there's another relevant update. But what 791 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: do we think? What do we think here? Is is 792 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,440 Speaker 1: OP making? Is OP making the right move by basically 793 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 1: expediting getting her brother a home? Does she need a 794 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: new toilet and will that solve a lot of her problems? 795 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:14,360 Speaker 1: Does the mom actually need a break like she's saying 796 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 1: they do? 797 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:15,719 Speaker 2: What? 798 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:16,359 Speaker 1: What do you think? 799 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:17,040 Speaker 3: I think? 800 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 2: Like what if all four of them, Like like if 801 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:23,120 Speaker 2: they said, uh, the brother was working, what if it 802 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 2: was o P sister, mom and brother are all contributing 803 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:29,319 Speaker 2: towards like a really good home? 804 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:31,360 Speaker 4: Like split between four people. 805 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 2: Is that not a possibility where it's like he's in 806 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:36,400 Speaker 2: a good in a good place where he has like 807 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 2: good quality care. 808 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: I don't think OP wants to take on that kind 809 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:43,520 Speaker 1: of responsibility though. Yeah. Yeah, and and and he's like 810 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 1: annoyed enough when he comes over for like a weekend 811 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 1: or something like that. 812 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,880 Speaker 2: Oh not to not to not to house him, but 813 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 2: to put him in a like not a state sponsored 814 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:53,680 Speaker 2: like like home. 815 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 1: Oh, you may light him in a house with other people. 816 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 2: And if it's split between the four of them, does 817 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 2: that like yes, it's like okay, it'll probably you know, 818 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:02,760 Speaker 2: pinch their pockets a decent amount. 819 00:37:02,760 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 3: But is that kind of a compromise. 820 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:06,640 Speaker 1: We got a little bit more of this story. I mean, 821 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: I think there might. I think there's a solution. I 822 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,000 Speaker 1: don't think it's the worst thing to put him put 823 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 1: him in a home again, Like you're gonna you're gonna 824 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: have to do this eventually. 825 00:37:13,640 --> 00:37:15,720 Speaker 3: It's a tough one. It's a tough, hard one to answer. 826 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, but at it We live in Illinois, so I 827 00:37:19,360 --> 00:37:23,879 Speaker 1: don't really think how the home systems are are here. 828 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:25,719 Speaker 1: But I do agree with y'all when you say we 829 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:27,400 Speaker 1: have to start looking also I know some of you 830 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 1: mentioned if he's ever gotten consequences. To my knowledge, he 831 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: is not. The worst he's gotten was a scolding, but 832 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:35,719 Speaker 1: that was about it. But he knows. For me it 833 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 1: was a bit different. I don't nor will I ever 834 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: physically discipline him, but he likes to get his hair 835 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:42,640 Speaker 1: cut and that's a big thing for him. So there's 836 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:44,080 Speaker 1: been a few times where I told him, if he 837 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 1: doesn't start behaving right, I will shave his head. Apparently 838 00:37:46,600 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 1: he thought I was bluffing, so he went around his 839 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:51,359 Speaker 1: merry way continued on with his business. So the next 840 00:37:51,440 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: time I cut his hair, I shaved it bald. I'm 841 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:56,520 Speaker 1: not gonna lie. It was nice not having to cut 842 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,879 Speaker 1: his hair every month. That feels a little cruel, Yeah 843 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:01,440 Speaker 1: about that? Yeah, I don't know about that. 844 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:01,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 845 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:04,640 Speaker 1: I think I got about a good two months out 846 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:06,879 Speaker 1: of shaving his head. I got yelled at for doing so. 847 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:10,480 Speaker 1: I don't care he was warned. Dude, Oh p lost 848 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:14,520 Speaker 1: he lost me. You absolutely lost me with that one. Yeah, 849 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:17,279 Speaker 1: because maybe maybe I'm viewing this wrong. 850 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 2: People, also, people with experience in these situations, would love 851 00:38:20,520 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 2: for you to comment below with your insights and like 852 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 2: also your real life experiences because I don't have those. 853 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 2: But like he said, oh, he was at the same 854 00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 2: level as like a seven year old. Essentially, it's like 855 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,000 Speaker 2: imagine doing that to a seven year old, you know 856 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:38,880 Speaker 2: where it's like, oh, it wasn't behaving. So I just 857 00:38:38,920 --> 00:38:39,360 Speaker 2: like shaved. 858 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 3: I don't know. 859 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:42,160 Speaker 2: I don't like that at all. I don't like that 860 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:44,640 Speaker 2: at all. I don't like that at all. Hey, y'all, 861 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 2: it's John og Host here. We're gonna get back to 862 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:48,239 Speaker 2: the story. So but here's a quick three minute break from. 863 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:48,960 Speaker 3: ASP for more sponsors. 864 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:52,920 Speaker 4: My friend treating me horribly during her wedding planning. I 865 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:54,920 Speaker 4: want in the friendship. 866 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 5: I bribe Zilla alert to anybody. 867 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:01,080 Speaker 4: Perhaps, I say no, oh really, oh you're thinking op's 868 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,840 Speaker 4: over reacting. My twenty seven female friend twenty seven female, 869 00:39:05,920 --> 00:39:08,960 Speaker 4: let's call her Sarah, is getting married soon and recently 870 00:39:08,960 --> 00:39:12,200 Speaker 4: found out she's pregnant. I'm her maid of honor, and 871 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 4: ever since her engagement, she's expected me to handle almost 872 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:18,640 Speaker 4: everything for her wedding, despite me working full time and 873 00:39:18,719 --> 00:39:20,959 Speaker 4: doing my master's degree. By the way, this comes from 874 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 4: pretend to pay thirty nine and if you're to your 875 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:25,480 Speaker 4: own stories, go to our stars. Okay, story dumps up Reddit, 876 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,879 Speaker 4: so she refuses to hire help. So on her wedding day, 877 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,440 Speaker 4: I'll be getting my hair and makeup done at six am, 878 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:34,959 Speaker 4: then setting up her entire venue from seven am until 879 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,640 Speaker 4: the wedding starts at three pm, along with a few 880 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,040 Speaker 4: of her cousins. In my culture, you hire people for this, 881 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:42,960 Speaker 4: and you never expect your guests to work at your wedding, 882 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:45,719 Speaker 4: so this already feels excessive to me. At it, I 883 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:48,320 Speaker 4: have to pay for my hair and makeup, which again 884 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:50,279 Speaker 4: is not a thing in my culture, so it's not 885 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:53,399 Speaker 4: like I'm actually going to her wedding for free. I'll 886 00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:55,680 Speaker 4: be working at her wedding and paying for all of 887 00:39:55,719 --> 00:40:00,440 Speaker 4: my accommodations and such. She's also not giving any wedding 888 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:03,919 Speaker 4: favors because she thinks paying for food is already enough. 889 00:40:04,040 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 4: Many people from both her and her fiance's families aren't 890 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 4: even attending. She doesn't work, so money isn't a big factor, 891 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:13,120 Speaker 4: But it's really her full considering my full time job, 892 00:40:13,239 --> 00:40:15,840 Speaker 4: my master's degree, and now being her maid of honor, 893 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,799 Speaker 4: while she just talks about how stressed she is all 894 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,600 Speaker 4: the time, she takes away time from my job or school, 895 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:26,320 Speaker 4: to event for hours per day about her fiance. Sometimes 896 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:29,080 Speaker 4: it seems like she's the only one message with me 897 00:40:29,239 --> 00:40:31,879 Speaker 4: because the text don't read as if they're from her. 898 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:34,839 Speaker 4: On top of all of this, our friendship feels incredibly 899 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 4: one sided. She could engage on my birthday and never 900 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:41,640 Speaker 4: acknowledged it. I ignored this, but she constantly asked me when 901 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 4: my birthday is, and I usually laugh it off, saying 902 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:46,440 Speaker 4: it's the same day you gonna engage. Feels like she's 903 00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:49,160 Speaker 4: rubbing into my face because she's been with her partner 904 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:52,080 Speaker 4: a lot shorter than I've been with mine. She also 905 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:55,320 Speaker 4: never reached out while I was on a deeply spiritual 906 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:58,840 Speaker 4: ten day trip, which really made me reflect on our dynamic. 907 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:01,760 Speaker 4: It feels like if I don't initiate contact, we wouldn't 908 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:04,720 Speaker 4: have a friendship at all. Since she found out she's pregnant, 909 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:07,759 Speaker 4: I've been really lenient on this, but she doesn't have 910 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,839 Speaker 4: a job and hasn't worked in years. She has a 911 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:14,920 Speaker 4: dog that she hasn't trained, and honestly, her being pregnant 912 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:19,320 Speaker 4: and completely dismissed off of any scientific literature on parenting 913 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 4: and pregnancy scares me. She thinks she will be able 914 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 4: to raise the perfect child because kinds can speak. Her 915 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:28,080 Speaker 4: dog doesn't understand English. 916 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:32,000 Speaker 6: Oh that's crazy, Hey, use flash. The kid doesn't understand 917 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:35,560 Speaker 6: any language until it learns it. As if it's easier 918 00:41:35,600 --> 00:41:39,719 Speaker 6: to raise a kid than train a dog who does that. 919 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:43,399 Speaker 6: I'm not against people that don't work, but like, she's 920 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:46,200 Speaker 6: putting a lot on Ope right now. No, p has 921 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 6: a lot on her plate, and like, even though you're 922 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:50,320 Speaker 6: not working, I understand that you're about to get married 923 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:51,839 Speaker 6: and you're pregnant, and that is a. 924 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:54,960 Speaker 4: Lot put a lot on OP. I don't think she 925 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 4: understands what you know she has right here. She's not 926 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:01,520 Speaker 4: a friend, dude, Like, I don't know. I think I 927 00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:03,600 Speaker 4: think it was the rubbing, like being. 928 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:06,520 Speaker 5: Like when is your birthday? It's like, you know, you 929 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:07,359 Speaker 5: know my. 930 00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:10,080 Speaker 6: Birthday is the day that you got engaged. 931 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:12,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know it, So why are you now saying it? 932 00:42:12,680 --> 00:42:14,000 Speaker 4: Like after asking a few times? 933 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:15,200 Speaker 1: You know when someone's birthday? 934 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 4: Recently, I was on a forty hour travel journey home, 935 00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:22,760 Speaker 4: exhausted from kids punting my seat and screaming on the plane. 936 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:24,760 Speaker 4: I tried to explain to her that I was tired 937 00:42:24,800 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 4: and didn't have the energy for a deep talk. Instead 938 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:31,120 Speaker 4: of sympathizing, she took it personally, saying she'll be traveling 939 00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:33,560 Speaker 4: with her newborn in the future and that she doesn't 940 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:36,760 Speaker 4: respect my opinion that I don't appreciate misbehaved children because 941 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:39,600 Speaker 4: parents aren't responsible. I actually did make an exception for 942 00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:43,800 Speaker 4: kids crying because their ears popped or had a bad dream, 943 00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:46,480 Speaker 4: because you can't control that, But kids jumping on their seats, 944 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:49,040 Speaker 4: punting my chair and screaming about the games they were 945 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 4: playing on the plane TV, constantly knocking my head as 946 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:55,440 Speaker 4: they fired their finger at the screen. I paid an 947 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:59,200 Speaker 4: extra two hundred for my emergency excy or peace of mind, 948 00:42:59,239 --> 00:43:01,719 Speaker 4: and I definitely he didn't get that. I replied with 949 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:05,920 Speaker 4: some basic scientific info on flying with infants, which I 950 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 4: know about because I'm interested in pregnancy and parenting. I 951 00:43:09,280 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 4: even reassured her that it's her life and she should 952 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:15,560 Speaker 4: do whatever she wants if her doctor approves. She acted 953 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:17,880 Speaker 4: fine in the moment, but later messaged me on a 954 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:21,680 Speaker 4: platform she knows I rarely check, saying I crossed the boundary. 955 00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:24,920 Speaker 4: She said that as an expectant mother, she didn't appreciate 956 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:28,319 Speaker 4: me educating her because she already has a doctor and 957 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:31,080 Speaker 4: a mom. Meanwhile, she previously got mad at me for 958 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:34,480 Speaker 4: not warning her about pregnancy risk like miscarriage. So I 959 00:43:34,520 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 4: feel like I can't win. Tell me about this, don't 960 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:39,040 Speaker 4: tell me about that, tell me about this, don't tell 961 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:42,000 Speaker 4: me about that. This makes me think you have to 962 00:43:42,040 --> 00:43:45,799 Speaker 4: be really, really careful with the people you surround yourself with, 963 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:49,000 Speaker 4: because there is this thing called a soothing ear Because 964 00:43:49,000 --> 00:43:51,439 Speaker 4: if you have a friend that always tells you things 965 00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:54,040 Speaker 4: you want to hear, yeah, that's dangerous. Yeah, it's just 966 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:56,560 Speaker 4: a yes man, yes, yes, yes, this, this, that, and 967 00:43:56,640 --> 00:43:59,080 Speaker 4: telling you things that you only accept and you're not 968 00:43:59,120 --> 00:44:02,160 Speaker 4: willing to hear things that are hard to hear. Puts 969 00:44:02,160 --> 00:44:04,800 Speaker 4: you in a really comfortable situation, and it makes you 970 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,719 Speaker 4: very selective and honestly doesn't allow. 971 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 3: Me to grow. Yeah, put you in a bubble. 972 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:11,960 Speaker 4: What really stung was that earlier that day, I had 973 00:44:12,000 --> 00:44:15,160 Speaker 4: excitedly messaged her about my maid of Honor dress arriving 974 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:17,720 Speaker 4: and how perfect it was. She completely ignored my text 975 00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 4: and then five hours later only reached out on the 976 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:22,839 Speaker 4: platform I don't use just to criticize me. It felt 977 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 4: like she deliberately chose to engage only when she had 978 00:44:26,120 --> 00:44:28,560 Speaker 4: an issue with me. She told me I disrespected her 979 00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:31,600 Speaker 4: by giving her information she didn't ask for. Again, she 980 00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:33,640 Speaker 4: got mad at me in the past for not sharing 981 00:44:33,719 --> 00:44:36,799 Speaker 4: pregnancy risk. She also claimed that I went on and 982 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:40,160 Speaker 4: on when in reality, only one text went through because 983 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:43,560 Speaker 4: the plain Wi Fi wasn't working. I feel completely disrespected 984 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:46,239 Speaker 4: because unless I kissed the floor, she walks on and 985 00:44:46,320 --> 00:44:49,440 Speaker 4: accepts any uneducated opinion she pulls out of her butt. 986 00:44:49,640 --> 00:44:52,120 Speaker 4: She gets angry. I usually try to agree with her 987 00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:54,440 Speaker 4: to appease her, but when it comes to health of 988 00:44:54,480 --> 00:44:57,640 Speaker 4: a baby, I'm very concerned. I've started to feel like 989 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:01,120 Speaker 4: everything is always about her. She gets mad at people 990 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:04,560 Speaker 4: for doing things she constantly does, holding grudges for small things, 991 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:07,680 Speaker 4: but expecting me to forgive her instantly. When I finally 992 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:10,480 Speaker 4: told her, I accept it if she no longer wanted 993 00:45:10,520 --> 00:45:12,360 Speaker 4: me to be at her wedding or in her life, 994 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:15,200 Speaker 4: she didn't respond. You know what, she has one app 995 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:17,480 Speaker 4: she wants you to read, and then she has another 996 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:19,480 Speaker 4: app of all the things she's sending you that you 997 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,160 Speaker 4: haven't even signed up for, She's just saying all the 998 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:23,080 Speaker 4: bad things about you there. 999 00:45:23,280 --> 00:45:25,080 Speaker 6: So the text message that she just sent was basically 1000 00:45:25,080 --> 00:45:27,399 Speaker 6: like I'm done I'm out right. 1001 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:30,200 Speaker 4: She just sent the message. She She's like, if you 1002 00:45:30,239 --> 00:45:32,160 Speaker 4: don't want me in your wedding or your life, just 1003 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:32,600 Speaker 4: let me know. 1004 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:35,160 Speaker 6: Ohp just take the initiative and be like, I don't 1005 00:45:35,200 --> 00:45:36,959 Speaker 6: want to be in your wedding or your life. Take 1006 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:39,520 Speaker 6: the initiative, take it, take it. 1007 00:45:40,239 --> 00:45:42,960 Speaker 4: I'm starting to feel guilty, like maybe I was too harsh, 1008 00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:44,840 Speaker 4: But my other friends have been telling me for a 1009 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:46,960 Speaker 4: while to cut her off. So ammonel for one to 1010 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:51,000 Speaker 4: step back from this friendship? Or am I overreacting comments. 1011 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:53,440 Speaker 4: To be honest, I'd step away from being made of 1012 00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:55,960 Speaker 4: honor and advise her that, do to your job and 1013 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:58,640 Speaker 4: your master's commitments, you need to step down to just 1014 00:45:58,680 --> 00:46:01,359 Speaker 4: being a guest at the wedding, make yourself far less 1015 00:46:01,400 --> 00:46:05,000 Speaker 4: available to her, and possibly go low contact. Friendship should 1016 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,960 Speaker 4: be pretty equal, and this is a long way from that. 1017 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:11,239 Speaker 4: You deserve better, Opie says. I've tried addressing this, but 1018 00:46:11,360 --> 00:46:14,120 Speaker 4: she usually dismisses me with, oh, come on, it's not 1019 00:46:14,200 --> 00:46:17,040 Speaker 4: that much work. She constantly undermines what I have to do. 1020 00:46:17,120 --> 00:46:20,440 Speaker 4: After weeks of struggling to show her different bouquets, flowers, 1021 00:46:20,440 --> 00:46:24,400 Speaker 4: and arrangements, she suddenly says, fine, I'll just order my 1022 00:46:24,480 --> 00:46:27,200 Speaker 4: own flowers, as if I haven't spent all this time 1023 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:30,760 Speaker 4: helping her. She also complained about spending fifteen hundred dollars 1024 00:46:30,760 --> 00:46:34,600 Speaker 4: on flowers and blaming me for picking the most expensive option. 1025 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:37,520 Speaker 4: I try to explain that flowers are very expensive, and 1026 00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:40,400 Speaker 4: while I didn't want to say it was cheap or 1027 00:46:40,440 --> 00:46:43,360 Speaker 4: what she wanted, it was actually a reasonable price. In 1028 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:45,960 Speaker 4: my culture, you don't ask friends to do this kind 1029 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:49,120 Speaker 4: of work, and weddings are extravagant. Just look at Lebanese's weddings. 1030 00:46:49,160 --> 00:46:51,480 Speaker 4: I was open minded and doing my best, but nothing 1031 00:46:51,520 --> 00:46:54,640 Speaker 4: I did ever seemed good enough. After dealing with the flowers, 1032 00:46:54,840 --> 00:46:57,319 Speaker 4: I told her I couldn't keep putting in this much 1033 00:46:57,360 --> 00:47:01,000 Speaker 4: time without any appreciation. I was at much just to 1034 00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:04,560 Speaker 4: feel like my efforts were recognized. I had already accepted 1035 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:06,919 Speaker 4: that I had to pay for everything myself, on top 1036 00:47:07,000 --> 00:47:09,080 Speaker 4: of giving her a wedding present. But it feels like 1037 00:47:09,160 --> 00:47:12,720 Speaker 4: she doesn't appreciate me at all. Honestly, why should she. 1038 00:47:12,719 --> 00:47:15,680 Speaker 4: She didn't go to school and hasn't worked in years. 1039 00:47:15,760 --> 00:47:18,680 Speaker 4: Her fiance gives her an allowance, which she's using to 1040 00:47:18,760 --> 00:47:21,239 Speaker 4: fund her wedding. She's white, By the way, I know 1041 00:47:21,320 --> 00:47:25,600 Speaker 4: the situation sounds arab, but it's just because she hasn't 1042 00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:28,600 Speaker 4: worked in years. Is mom even threatened to a victor 1043 00:47:28,680 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 4: because she doesn't pay rent at the apartment they rent 1044 00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:32,440 Speaker 4: out to them? And we got an update. 1045 00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:35,600 Speaker 6: We've already said it. Get out of there. Yeah, remove 1046 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:37,239 Speaker 6: yourself from this situation. 1047 00:47:37,840 --> 00:47:38,560 Speaker 4: You gotta get out. 1048 00:47:38,680 --> 00:47:43,879 Speaker 6: This is also I just looked up Lebanese weddings. They 1049 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:50,640 Speaker 6: look very extravagant. So to just expect op or like 1050 00:47:50,680 --> 00:47:52,719 Speaker 6: your friends to just put all this on for you 1051 00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:58,160 Speaker 6: without really paying or like geded more help, it's like, well, 1052 00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:01,560 Speaker 6: we need to temper our expations now, don't we. 1053 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:04,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, so, I don't know. 1054 00:48:04,080 --> 00:48:08,120 Speaker 6: It just seems like you'll be better off without this friend. 1055 00:48:08,239 --> 00:48:12,040 Speaker 4: Oh, absolutely, I was not expecting things to go this way. 1056 00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:14,480 Speaker 4: After I reached out to my friend excited that my 1057 00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:16,480 Speaker 4: maid of honor a dress had arrived, she ignored my 1058 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,840 Speaker 4: message and instead replied to me hours later on the 1059 00:48:18,880 --> 00:48:21,279 Speaker 4: platform I barely check on. Her response wasn't about my 1060 00:48:21,320 --> 00:48:24,279 Speaker 4: excitement at all, but instead a long message accusing me 1061 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:26,759 Speaker 4: of things I never said or did. She told me 1062 00:48:26,800 --> 00:48:29,200 Speaker 4: that my thoughts on separate topics, which are based on 1063 00:48:29,239 --> 00:48:33,400 Speaker 4: actual research, were not factual and just my opinion. She 1064 00:48:33,560 --> 00:48:36,440 Speaker 4: also accused me of never letting her express her thoughts 1065 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:40,040 Speaker 4: in our conversations, despite the fact that I always listen 1066 00:48:40,120 --> 00:48:43,480 Speaker 4: and support her. She even brought up unrelated past conversations 1067 00:48:43,520 --> 00:48:46,960 Speaker 4: and twisted them into saying something I don't even recognize. 1068 00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:49,279 Speaker 4: I generally don't understand where this is coming from. This 1069 00:48:49,320 --> 00:48:51,839 Speaker 4: happened again in the last story, where someone would pull 1070 00:48:51,920 --> 00:48:54,880 Speaker 4: something from the past to accuse the person. Yeah, what 1071 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:57,279 Speaker 4: is this called? And why are we doing this? 1072 00:48:57,400 --> 00:48:59,120 Speaker 6: And like dredging, drudging? 1073 00:48:59,320 --> 00:49:00,000 Speaker 5: Is that what that's called? 1074 00:49:00,000 --> 00:49:05,160 Speaker 6: No, No, just like go and you go fishingh you 1075 00:49:05,160 --> 00:49:07,840 Speaker 6: pull it out, you go, hey, look, here's the problem 1076 00:49:07,880 --> 00:49:09,319 Speaker 6: that we had five months ago. 1077 00:49:09,480 --> 00:49:11,800 Speaker 4: Let me just bring it back that one up. What 1078 00:49:11,920 --> 00:49:13,960 Speaker 4: really things is that I have been nothing but supportive 1079 00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:16,359 Speaker 4: of her wedding. I've encouraged her every step of the way, 1080 00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:18,920 Speaker 4: listen to her event, and have been excited for her, 1081 00:49:19,080 --> 00:49:23,120 Speaker 4: even when she hasn't always reciprocated my excitement, which, to 1082 00:49:23,239 --> 00:49:25,920 Speaker 4: be honest, I ignore her because I understood how stressful 1083 00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:29,000 Speaker 4: wedding and baby planning is. And now after all this, 1084 00:49:29,239 --> 00:49:31,840 Speaker 4: she never actually said I'm out of the wedding, but 1085 00:49:32,239 --> 00:49:34,239 Speaker 4: the tone of her message makes it clear that she 1086 00:49:34,360 --> 00:49:36,600 Speaker 4: no longer wants me involved in her life at all. 1087 00:49:36,719 --> 00:49:39,600 Speaker 4: And guys, we want you involved in our lives because 1088 00:49:39,640 --> 00:49:42,759 Speaker 4: if you don't go to your favorite podcast platform right 1089 00:49:42,800 --> 00:49:47,640 Speaker 4: now and search up Okay storytime, we will banish you forever. 1090 00:49:47,719 --> 00:49:49,680 Speaker 4: We will find you. We know who looks and who 1091 00:49:49,680 --> 00:49:52,960 Speaker 4: doesn't look, but we will banish you. But it's that easy, 1092 00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:58,239 Speaker 4: two simple steps. Favorite podcast platform. Okay, Storytime, I'll do it. 1093 00:49:58,480 --> 00:50:00,520 Speaker 6: Did you just threaten everyone in the chet that we're 1094 00:50:00,520 --> 00:50:01,319 Speaker 6: going to banish them? 1095 00:50:01,360 --> 00:50:04,680 Speaker 4: I absolutely did? Did another realm. I haven't messaged her 1096 00:50:04,719 --> 00:50:07,440 Speaker 4: family or the bridal party yet because my heart is 1097 00:50:07,600 --> 00:50:10,560 Speaker 4: racing and I don't want to react out of pure emotion, 1098 00:50:10,840 --> 00:50:13,160 Speaker 4: but it just really hurts. I know I shouldn't let 1099 00:50:13,239 --> 00:50:16,440 Speaker 4: false accusations get to me, but when it's a friendship 1100 00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:19,239 Speaker 4: I've cared about and invested so much in, it's hard 1101 00:50:19,320 --> 00:50:22,160 Speaker 4: not to feel blindsided. I let her know I wish 1102 00:50:22,160 --> 00:50:25,000 Speaker 4: her the best in her wedding, her marriage, her family, 1103 00:50:25,160 --> 00:50:28,440 Speaker 4: and her life. Am I overreacting for this by being hurt? 1104 00:50:28,520 --> 00:50:31,200 Speaker 4: Should I even try to clarify anything or just accept 1105 00:50:31,200 --> 00:50:32,480 Speaker 4: that she's made up? Her mind. 1106 00:50:33,719 --> 00:50:36,600 Speaker 5: I'm tired of my best friend ghosting me, so I 1107 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:41,000 Speaker 5: finally cut ties. Snip snip. This is no longer Casper 1108 00:50:41,040 --> 00:50:45,000 Speaker 5: the friendly ghost. This is Casper the unfriended ghost. Ooh, 1109 00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:48,279 Speaker 5: I female thirty two. I've been no contact with my 1110 00:50:48,320 --> 00:50:51,280 Speaker 5: ex best friend, female thirty two Nikki since the last 1111 00:50:51,320 --> 00:50:54,480 Speaker 5: time she traveled across continents to visit me. Part one. 1112 00:50:54,760 --> 00:50:57,399 Speaker 5: A long backstory. Nikki and I met in our first 1113 00:50:57,440 --> 00:51:00,000 Speaker 5: year of university two thousand and eight, and we're casual 1114 00:51:00,160 --> 00:51:03,880 Speaker 5: friends for about seven years. Our dormitory were next to 1115 00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:07,040 Speaker 5: each other. We had many mutual friends and we generally 1116 00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:09,480 Speaker 5: had a positive connection. By the way, this comes from 1117 00:51:09,520 --> 00:51:11,440 Speaker 5: Playful for video and if you want to smit your 1118 00:51:11,440 --> 00:51:13,560 Speaker 5: own stories, go to our slash okay storytime severed it. 1119 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:17,359 Speaker 5: So after we graduated, I relocated to the UK and 1120 00:51:17,400 --> 00:51:20,840 Speaker 5: a few friends, including NICKI, moved to Australia. We lost 1121 00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:24,040 Speaker 5: contact for a while, but eventually reconnected over time. I 1122 00:51:24,120 --> 00:51:26,920 Speaker 5: became best friends with Nicky as I planned to move 1123 00:51:26,960 --> 00:51:30,200 Speaker 5: to Australia after spending two years in the UK. Relevant 1124 00:51:30,239 --> 00:51:32,960 Speaker 5: side story. My ex boyfriend and I broke up after 1125 00:51:33,040 --> 00:51:35,920 Speaker 5: almost ten years of dating and I wanted to move 1126 00:51:35,960 --> 00:51:38,480 Speaker 5: far away to prevent us from getting back together. Since 1127 00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:41,320 Speaker 5: he planned to move to Sydney, I chose Melbourne. 1128 00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:43,799 Speaker 6: However, Oh you said it like it, You said it 1129 00:51:43,840 --> 00:51:48,960 Speaker 6: the way that they say it. Melbourne, all right, not Melbourne. 1130 00:51:49,200 --> 00:51:51,640 Speaker 6: Discussing Melbourne, meban Melbourne. 1131 00:51:51,800 --> 00:51:54,600 Speaker 5: However, after arriving in Melbourne, he decided to tour for 1132 00:51:54,640 --> 00:51:56,759 Speaker 5: a bit before heading to Sydney, but then chose to 1133 00:51:56,760 --> 00:51:59,239 Speaker 5: stay in Melbourne instead. Because of this, I had to 1134 00:51:59,280 --> 00:52:01,840 Speaker 5: give up money of planning and moved to Sydney. Fortunately, 1135 00:52:01,880 --> 00:52:04,120 Speaker 5: Nicki lived in Sydney, so I stayed with her. After 1136 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:06,719 Speaker 5: a week, I returned to Melbourne because I had already 1137 00:52:06,719 --> 00:52:09,080 Speaker 5: planned my life there and generally preferred it. During my 1138 00:52:09,160 --> 00:52:11,759 Speaker 5: time in Sydney, Nicki and I had an amazing time 1139 00:52:11,840 --> 00:52:15,800 Speaker 5: catching up on our lives. I admired, respected, and cherished 1140 00:52:15,800 --> 00:52:19,040 Speaker 5: her deeply. She was selfless and giving, and I truly 1141 00:52:19,239 --> 00:52:22,000 Speaker 5: believe she deserved the best in life. Naturally, I wanted 1142 00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:24,000 Speaker 5: to give her as much love and support as possible. 1143 00:52:24,120 --> 00:52:27,160 Speaker 5: Our friendship made my life better and she gave me confidence, 1144 00:52:27,280 --> 00:52:30,759 Speaker 5: especially after my breakup. This is where the fairytale friendship 1145 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:33,800 Speaker 5: and after a year and a half, Nicki suddenly ghosted 1146 00:52:33,840 --> 00:52:37,520 Speaker 5: me without any explanation. I was completely lost because we 1147 00:52:37,560 --> 00:52:41,080 Speaker 5: spoke multiple times daily about everything. We made video calls 1148 00:52:41,080 --> 00:52:43,480 Speaker 5: for hours, helped each other pick outfits for dates or 1149 00:52:43,480 --> 00:52:46,880 Speaker 5: special events, and talked about work, family, friends, and life. 1150 00:52:46,920 --> 00:52:49,880 Speaker 5: We even gossiped freely because we were each other's safe space. 1151 00:52:50,080 --> 00:52:53,160 Speaker 5: My other close friend, Indie female thirty five, and I 1152 00:52:53,239 --> 00:52:55,600 Speaker 5: tried to brainstorm what could have happened, but there were 1153 00:52:55,600 --> 00:52:58,680 Speaker 5: no signs of resentment or conflict. NICKI only maintained enough 1154 00:52:58,680 --> 00:53:00,800 Speaker 5: contact for me to know she was safe. I couldn't 1155 00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:03,040 Speaker 5: figure out what I had done wrong, and I hated 1156 00:53:03,480 --> 00:53:05,799 Speaker 5: how lost I felt. The situation made me wonder if 1157 00:53:05,800 --> 00:53:07,920 Speaker 5: I was someone who deserved to be abandoned, though I 1158 00:53:08,000 --> 00:53:10,640 Speaker 5: never voiced that thought in any After three weeks, she 1159 00:53:10,719 --> 00:53:12,680 Speaker 5: finally called me while I was at work. I cared 1160 00:53:12,680 --> 00:53:15,200 Speaker 5: about he so much that I asked for emergency leave 1161 00:53:15,360 --> 00:53:17,880 Speaker 5: to take her call. I tried to sound casual, but 1162 00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:20,680 Speaker 5: internally I was so relieved to hear from her. She 1163 00:53:20,800 --> 00:53:23,279 Speaker 5: told me she felt uncomfortable with our friendship because she 1164 00:53:23,360 --> 00:53:25,720 Speaker 5: believed the kind of bond we shared should be reserved 1165 00:53:25,719 --> 00:53:28,000 Speaker 5: for romantic partner, and she didn't see me that way. 1166 00:53:28,200 --> 00:53:30,400 Speaker 4: What, that's an interesting twist. 1167 00:53:30,320 --> 00:53:34,239 Speaker 6: That whoa what I think we're actually too cool that 1168 00:53:34,360 --> 00:53:37,279 Speaker 6: I want to date you now so we can't. 1169 00:53:37,440 --> 00:53:39,160 Speaker 3: It's a twist. 1170 00:53:39,400 --> 00:53:42,640 Speaker 5: It's a twist. Yeah, that's insane. That's a really crazy 1171 00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:45,319 Speaker 5: take on friendship. You'd be like, Wow, we are too 1172 00:53:45,360 --> 00:53:46,040 Speaker 5: freaking close. 1173 00:53:46,480 --> 00:53:49,200 Speaker 4: We are like it's almost like I want to. 1174 00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:52,960 Speaker 5: She insinuated that I had romantic feelings for her. I 1175 00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:54,800 Speaker 5: told her that she could have just asked me directly 1176 00:53:54,840 --> 00:53:56,880 Speaker 5: if I was sappic by or attracted to her. The 1177 00:53:56,920 --> 00:53:58,759 Speaker 5: last time I jracked, I was still a straight woman 1178 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:01,080 Speaker 5: attracted to men. And I had no idea where this 1179 00:54:01,120 --> 00:54:03,759 Speaker 5: assumption came from. Oh, she could be projecting. 1180 00:54:04,440 --> 00:54:07,680 Speaker 6: Yeah, maybe she's like low key, I had got a 1181 00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:10,160 Speaker 6: quest on you, and she's nervous about that, but you 1182 00:54:10,200 --> 00:54:11,160 Speaker 6: actually have a quest on me. 1183 00:54:11,520 --> 00:54:13,640 Speaker 5: I should add that I hadn't dated anyone while we 1184 00:54:13,640 --> 00:54:16,840 Speaker 5: were close friends, because I believe it healing before moving on. However, 1185 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:19,400 Speaker 5: Nicki had a different view. She thought the next relationship 1186 00:54:19,440 --> 00:54:20,040 Speaker 5: helps you heal. 1187 00:54:20,400 --> 00:54:24,919 Speaker 4: Hey, where'd you read that? Who told you that? Take 1188 00:54:24,960 --> 00:54:27,320 Speaker 4: a little bit of time? Yeah, be in a relationship 1189 00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:28,000 Speaker 4: with yourself. 1190 00:54:28,080 --> 00:54:30,839 Speaker 5: Jump into relationships, right after the first you know, right 1191 00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:35,200 Speaker 5: after going from the other one, be with yourself Part two. 1192 00:54:35,560 --> 00:54:38,880 Speaker 5: After a long conversation, we agreed that regardless of the situation, 1193 00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:42,400 Speaker 5: we needed to communicate and clarify things instead of assuming. 1194 00:54:42,440 --> 00:54:44,960 Speaker 5: We resumed our friendship and things were normal again for 1195 00:54:45,000 --> 00:54:47,920 Speaker 5: the next two years, even after I relocated to Canada. 1196 00:54:48,040 --> 00:54:50,120 Speaker 5: For my birthday after the VID, Nicki sent me the 1197 00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:52,880 Speaker 5: most thoughtful gift, a box filled with everything I loved, 1198 00:54:52,920 --> 00:54:55,439 Speaker 5: along with a heartfelt note this will be relevant later. 1199 00:54:55,560 --> 00:54:58,319 Speaker 5: Once in Canada, I finally felt ready to date again. 1200 00:54:58,320 --> 00:55:00,359 Speaker 5: I had taken two years after my breakup to work 1201 00:55:00,360 --> 00:55:02,879 Speaker 5: on myself, and now I was open to new relationships. 1202 00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:04,600 Speaker 5: I went on dates and he even had a fling. 1203 00:55:04,800 --> 00:55:07,080 Speaker 5: As always, Nicki knew all the details, just as I 1204 00:55:07,120 --> 00:55:10,960 Speaker 5: knew about all her short term relationships. We never spared details. 1205 00:55:11,080 --> 00:55:14,239 Speaker 5: Then things got weird again. I genuinely wanted Nikki to 1206 00:55:14,239 --> 00:55:16,879 Speaker 5: take at least a few weeks for herself between relationships, 1207 00:55:16,960 --> 00:55:19,080 Speaker 5: but she didn't believe in that. She ghosted me for 1208 00:55:19,120 --> 00:55:21,959 Speaker 5: the second time, this time for two weeks. It didn't 1209 00:55:22,000 --> 00:55:24,120 Speaker 5: hurt as much as the first time, but when she returned, 1210 00:55:24,160 --> 00:55:26,759 Speaker 5: I slowly learned that she had started dating someone just 1211 00:55:26,880 --> 00:55:30,200 Speaker 5: three days after her last breakup. She hadn't told me 1212 00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:32,840 Speaker 5: because she assumed I would judge her once again. She 1213 00:55:32,920 --> 00:55:36,360 Speaker 5: hinted that I was preventing her from dating because of 1214 00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:39,200 Speaker 5: my supposed sapphagism. But I was still straight and I 1215 00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:41,719 Speaker 5: had never expressed romantic feelings for her or any other woman. 1216 00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:43,879 Speaker 5: I genuinely hope this new guy would be the one 1217 00:55:43,880 --> 00:55:45,799 Speaker 5: for her, but unfortunately he turned out to be a 1218 00:55:45,840 --> 00:55:49,360 Speaker 5: creep who almost attacked her. This was an incredibly painful 1219 00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:50,640 Speaker 5: situation for both of us. 1220 00:55:51,080 --> 00:55:52,000 Speaker 4: Part three. 1221 00:55:52,440 --> 00:55:55,360 Speaker 5: At the time, I was enrolled in a career transition 1222 00:55:55,440 --> 00:55:58,400 Speaker 5: program in Canada that kept me busy from nine am 1223 00:55:58,600 --> 00:56:01,000 Speaker 5: to five pm daily. This it was very different from 1224 00:56:01,000 --> 00:56:03,839 Speaker 5: before because I had initially worked remotely and could talk 1225 00:56:03,880 --> 00:56:06,319 Speaker 5: to Nikki throughout the day. Given the seventeen hour time 1226 00:56:06,360 --> 00:56:08,879 Speaker 5: difference between Australian and Canada, I made sure to talk 1227 00:56:08,920 --> 00:56:11,960 Speaker 5: to Nikki before nine am and immediately after five pm. 1228 00:56:12,040 --> 00:56:14,240 Speaker 5: I was also happy that, for once, she wasn't jumping 1229 00:56:14,239 --> 00:56:17,160 Speaker 5: into another relationship and I wanted to support her emotionally. 1230 00:56:17,280 --> 00:56:18,759 Speaker 5: This is where I might be the a hole. 1231 00:56:18,840 --> 00:56:19,640 Speaker 3: Oh boy. 1232 00:56:20,000 --> 00:56:22,400 Speaker 5: After about three to four weeks of being there for 1233 00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:25,480 Speaker 5: Nikki every single day. I tried to take some time 1234 00:56:25,520 --> 00:56:28,120 Speaker 5: for myself. Even though we spent hours talking daily, we 1235 00:56:28,200 --> 00:56:31,200 Speaker 5: still had our own lives. However, now that she wasn't dating, 1236 00:56:31,320 --> 00:56:33,640 Speaker 5: I had to feel that extra time for her, which 1237 00:56:33,760 --> 00:56:36,360 Speaker 5: left me unable to enjoy my own interests or maintain 1238 00:56:36,520 --> 00:56:40,480 Speaker 5: other friendships. I'm also a huge BTS fan, and during 1239 00:56:40,560 --> 00:56:43,040 Speaker 5: this time, I wasn't able to watch their online concerts 1240 00:56:43,120 --> 00:56:45,040 Speaker 5: or keep up with them like I usually did. I 1241 00:56:45,320 --> 00:56:51,720 Speaker 5: miss them. Duh nah dah no, nana uh. 1242 00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:57,399 Speaker 6: That's Big Times this dynamite, which in a way, it's 1243 00:56:57,440 --> 00:57:01,480 Speaker 6: almost that's BTRs and btsqa s that's there right next 1244 00:57:01,520 --> 00:57:03,879 Speaker 6: to each other. That's really the closest acronym I could 1245 00:57:03,920 --> 00:57:04,960 Speaker 6: have possibly chose. 1246 00:57:04,800 --> 00:57:05,960 Speaker 4: Not the same good one. 1247 00:57:06,040 --> 00:57:06,719 Speaker 3: I just want a. 1248 00:57:06,640 --> 00:57:08,680 Speaker 6: Little acknowledgment of my brilliance. 1249 00:57:08,280 --> 00:57:12,080 Speaker 5: There you sure sure, sure, sure. 1250 00:57:12,000 --> 00:57:14,040 Speaker 3: Big time rush to BTS. 1251 00:57:14,280 --> 00:57:17,600 Speaker 5: One day, while talking to Nicki, I decided to watch 1252 00:57:17,600 --> 00:57:19,800 Speaker 5: some BTS music videos at the same time. This was 1253 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:22,000 Speaker 5: normal for us. We often did things together on the phone, 1254 00:57:22,040 --> 00:57:24,240 Speaker 5: like watching movies. I truly thought it would be fine, 1255 00:57:24,280 --> 00:57:27,680 Speaker 5: but Nicki wanted my undivided attention. I really wanted to 1256 00:57:27,760 --> 00:57:30,040 Speaker 5: catch up on BTS, but I knew telling her that 1257 00:57:30,040 --> 00:57:32,840 Speaker 5: would upset her. Nicki's like, I have something important to 1258 00:57:32,840 --> 00:57:33,080 Speaker 5: tell you. 1259 00:57:33,680 --> 00:57:34,800 Speaker 4: BTS time, BBTS time. 1260 00:57:34,800 --> 00:57:35,480 Speaker 3: It's BTS. 1261 00:57:35,600 --> 00:57:40,200 Speaker 6: Yeah, oh look, uh can you tell me in maybe 1262 00:57:40,280 --> 00:57:44,680 Speaker 6: like seven minutes? Yeah, eight minutes, A couple of songs. 1263 00:57:45,040 --> 00:57:47,960 Speaker 5: However, she was incredibly sharp and picked up on my distraction. 1264 00:57:48,120 --> 00:57:50,240 Speaker 5: She abruptly left the call, even though she claimed she 1265 00:57:50,320 --> 00:57:51,400 Speaker 5: wasn't upset, she. 1266 00:57:51,440 --> 00:57:52,680 Speaker 4: Was incredibly sharp. 1267 00:57:52,760 --> 00:57:55,520 Speaker 6: I meanwhile, it's like Op's not responding for like twenty seconds, 1268 00:57:55,560 --> 00:57:56,760 Speaker 6: just staring at BTS. 1269 00:57:56,880 --> 00:57:59,400 Speaker 5: Yes, she's only one second or not, but it's like, 1270 00:57:59,440 --> 00:58:02,320 Speaker 5: it's funny. I decided to use that time to catch 1271 00:58:02,360 --> 00:58:04,440 Speaker 5: up on everything I had been neglecting before calling her 1272 00:58:04,520 --> 00:58:07,640 Speaker 5: the next day BTS, but when I did, she was cold. 1273 00:58:07,720 --> 00:58:09,920 Speaker 5: Over the next few days, there was a tension between 1274 00:58:10,000 --> 00:58:13,160 Speaker 5: us via text. I emotionally disconnected because I didn't want 1275 00:58:13,160 --> 00:58:15,280 Speaker 5: her words to hurt me, and I knew she was 1276 00:58:15,280 --> 00:58:18,240 Speaker 5: in a vulnerable state. I thought we would get through it, 1277 00:58:18,320 --> 00:58:21,120 Speaker 5: and I expected she would eventually apologize for the hurtful 1278 00:58:21,120 --> 00:58:23,320 Speaker 5: things she had said, so I remain present for her. 1279 00:58:23,320 --> 00:58:27,120 Speaker 5: But she spiraled. Maybe she sensed my emotional withdrawal because 1280 00:58:27,120 --> 00:58:29,640 Speaker 5: for the third time she ghosted me. I know she 1281 00:58:29,720 --> 00:58:31,920 Speaker 5: cared about me too, though I couldn't understand why she 1282 00:58:31,960 --> 00:58:34,000 Speaker 5: wanted me to show that I was hurt by her words. 1283 00:58:34,120 --> 00:58:36,280 Speaker 5: I tried to reach out in the following weeks, but 1284 00:58:36,360 --> 00:58:39,160 Speaker 5: she stayed distant. After two months, I realized she had 1285 00:58:39,200 --> 00:58:41,120 Speaker 5: thrown our friendship away. 1286 00:58:41,400 --> 00:58:43,280 Speaker 6: I don't know if I agree with all of this. 1287 00:58:43,920 --> 00:58:48,240 Speaker 6: I agree with what well it's like, Well, I get 1288 00:58:48,280 --> 00:58:50,400 Speaker 6: I know ghosting is like a loose term, but it's like, 1289 00:58:50,400 --> 00:58:52,440 Speaker 6: how do you get ghosted three tons? It usually only 1290 00:58:52,440 --> 00:58:56,680 Speaker 6: get ghosted once if there's communication maintained in between there, 1291 00:58:57,360 --> 00:58:59,400 Speaker 6: Sure there's there could be like a level of like 1292 00:58:59,440 --> 00:59:03,160 Speaker 6: withdrawal or like you know, like a do you feel 1293 00:59:03,160 --> 00:59:05,240 Speaker 6: like a barrier has been put up? But in terms 1294 00:59:05,280 --> 00:59:06,960 Speaker 6: of like ghosting, I think. 1295 00:59:06,840 --> 00:59:10,800 Speaker 5: It's ghosting because I think that like any any long 1296 00:59:10,960 --> 00:59:16,120 Speaker 5: stretch where you're expecting, where where communication goes from normal 1297 00:59:16,400 --> 00:59:18,360 Speaker 5: and then it changes drastically, I think that is a 1298 00:59:18,360 --> 00:59:20,280 Speaker 5: type of ghosting. I think there are levels to ghosting. 1299 00:59:20,360 --> 00:59:23,240 Speaker 6: In my opinion, you need a book on that. Yeah, immediately, 1300 00:59:23,400 --> 00:59:25,240 Speaker 6: you need a gen z or to write that book. Please, 1301 00:59:26,680 --> 00:59:31,720 Speaker 6: But ugh, some of this just feels like a miscommunications 1302 00:59:31,880 --> 00:59:32,960 Speaker 6: or like misunderstanding. 1303 00:59:33,080 --> 00:59:38,919 Speaker 5: I think, okay, I'm gonna say something crazy conspiracy theory. 1304 00:59:40,640 --> 00:59:46,160 Speaker 5: I think that Opie's friend is experiencing like she is. 1305 00:59:48,440 --> 00:59:48,520 Speaker 1: She. 1306 00:59:48,760 --> 00:59:53,360 Speaker 5: I think she's actually into OPE, and she's like putting 1307 00:59:53,400 --> 00:59:56,880 Speaker 5: all of this emphasis on the relationship and it's like 1308 00:59:57,040 --> 01:00:01,160 Speaker 5: incredibly uh important to where But she's not willing to 1309 01:00:01,200 --> 01:00:03,520 Speaker 5: accept herself, and so she's like going into all these 1310 01:00:03,560 --> 01:00:06,160 Speaker 5: relationships like one after another because she's like, I'm straight, 1311 01:00:06,400 --> 01:00:10,440 Speaker 5: I'm a straight woman. There's nothing else here. But she's 1312 01:00:10,480 --> 01:00:12,680 Speaker 5: actually in love with Ope, and that's why everything is 1313 01:00:12,720 --> 01:00:16,320 Speaker 5: like really hitting her. I like this conspiracy Thank you. 1314 01:00:16,640 --> 01:00:19,320 Speaker 5: I think it's a good one. Thanks But let's get 1315 01:00:19,360 --> 01:00:22,080 Speaker 5: into this. Coming to terms with the fact that there 1316 01:00:22,080 --> 01:00:23,680 Speaker 5: was nothing I could do to fix it hurt just 1317 01:00:23,720 --> 01:00:25,960 Speaker 5: as much as the end of my ten year relationship. 1318 01:00:26,760 --> 01:00:29,120 Speaker 5: And there is a part four. Let's get into it. 1319 01:00:29,440 --> 01:00:32,480 Speaker 5: Let's go last four to ten months later, my mom 1320 01:00:32,520 --> 01:00:34,880 Speaker 5: passed away in September of twenty twenty one. Oh, this 1321 01:00:35,040 --> 01:00:37,160 Speaker 5: was the worst thing that had ever happened in my life. 1322 01:00:37,240 --> 01:00:40,280 Speaker 5: So my brain automatically went to I need Nikki mode. 1323 01:00:40,320 --> 01:00:42,960 Speaker 5: I called her several times, but she didn't pick up. 1324 01:00:43,160 --> 01:00:45,040 Speaker 5: She called me the next day after seeing posts on 1325 01:00:45,080 --> 01:00:47,240 Speaker 5: social media, and even though I was sad that she 1326 01:00:47,320 --> 01:00:50,360 Speaker 5: ignored me all this time, I was so happy and 1327 01:00:50,400 --> 01:00:52,800 Speaker 5: felt safe to express my pain because she was the 1328 01:00:52,840 --> 01:00:55,640 Speaker 5: only one who could understand. Unfortunately, NICKI told me she 1329 01:00:55,680 --> 01:00:58,640 Speaker 5: had also lost her mom two weeks prior, and I 1330 01:00:58,760 --> 01:01:01,840 Speaker 5: was dumbfounded for two reasons. First because I was sorry 1331 01:01:01,840 --> 01:01:04,440 Speaker 5: she was in as much pain as I was, And secondly, 1332 01:01:04,880 --> 01:01:07,200 Speaker 5: I was heartbroken that she didn't think of me as 1333 01:01:07,200 --> 01:01:09,400 Speaker 5: someone she could have leaned on. These two emotions have 1334 01:01:09,480 --> 01:01:11,200 Speaker 5: led us to where we are now, because even though 1335 01:01:11,200 --> 01:01:13,400 Speaker 5: I still love we have not been friends since our 1336 01:01:13,440 --> 01:01:16,000 Speaker 5: mom's past three years ago. We haven't actually been friends 1337 01:01:16,000 --> 01:01:18,320 Speaker 5: for four years since she ghosted me for the third time. 1338 01:01:18,440 --> 01:01:20,840 Speaker 5: I came to read it because after our moms passed, 1339 01:01:21,000 --> 01:01:24,120 Speaker 5: she suddenly wanted to rekindle our friendship. It is a 1340 01:01:24,160 --> 01:01:26,200 Speaker 5: fact that she also knows the value of us being 1341 01:01:26,200 --> 01:01:29,000 Speaker 5: in each other's lives, and any sane person would miss that. 1342 01:01:29,040 --> 01:01:31,680 Speaker 5: But no matter how hard she tried to get closer, 1343 01:01:31,760 --> 01:01:33,840 Speaker 5: I couldn't bring myself to be friends with her again. 1344 01:01:34,160 --> 01:01:36,880 Speaker 5: You know you don't know her that no, But tried. 1345 01:01:37,000 --> 01:01:38,600 Speaker 6: It feels like part of that might be mixed up 1346 01:01:38,600 --> 01:01:39,760 Speaker 6: in like the grief that. 1347 01:01:39,800 --> 01:01:43,040 Speaker 5: Absolutely went through, like when they lost their mothers. I 1348 01:01:43,080 --> 01:01:45,600 Speaker 5: mean yeah, I mean Opie's experience probably the grief of 1349 01:01:45,600 --> 01:01:49,160 Speaker 5: losing her mother, but then also the probably reliving the 1350 01:01:49,200 --> 01:01:50,120 Speaker 5: grief of losing. 1351 01:01:49,840 --> 01:01:52,040 Speaker 6: Her friends, which still I don't understand how you get 1352 01:01:52,040 --> 01:01:54,080 Speaker 6: ghosted three times. And it's like they also were in 1353 01:01:54,120 --> 01:01:56,720 Speaker 6: communication about their moms, like passing within two weeks of 1354 01:01:56,760 --> 01:01:58,520 Speaker 6: each other. It's like it feels like there was a 1355 01:01:58,560 --> 01:02:00,320 Speaker 6: comment here where it's like it almost feels like they're 1356 01:02:00,360 --> 01:02:02,600 Speaker 6: expecting each other to be able to read their minds. 1357 01:02:02,920 --> 01:02:03,360 Speaker 5: Absolutely. 1358 01:02:03,360 --> 01:02:06,120 Speaker 6: It's like somebody just needs to like be like, hey, 1359 01:02:06,280 --> 01:02:09,880 Speaker 6: what's up. Direct communication? Sometimes were direct communication here. 1360 01:02:09,920 --> 01:02:12,880 Speaker 5: I think sometimes when you were so close for so long, 1361 01:02:13,520 --> 01:02:15,720 Speaker 5: you do expect that kind of like my reading thing, 1362 01:02:15,720 --> 01:02:18,120 Speaker 5: and then you're like, well, unbelievable they did that to 1363 01:02:18,160 --> 01:02:20,200 Speaker 5: me and they didn't even freaking like it. 1364 01:02:20,280 --> 01:02:20,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. 1365 01:02:20,480 --> 01:02:23,360 Speaker 5: I think it happens a lot in really really close friendships, 1366 01:02:23,880 --> 01:02:26,920 Speaker 5: and it does take communication to fix that, and it's 1367 01:02:26,920 --> 01:02:29,840 Speaker 5: easy to not communicate about it. A few weeks after 1368 01:02:29,880 --> 01:02:32,200 Speaker 5: we lost our moms, she began dating a friend who 1369 01:02:32,240 --> 01:02:36,040 Speaker 5: consoled her and was going to get married three months after. Oooh, 1370 01:02:36,080 --> 01:02:38,640 Speaker 5: I may be wrong about this timeline. Nikki wanted me 1371 01:02:38,720 --> 01:02:41,120 Speaker 5: to become her old bestie again and be excited for 1372 01:02:41,200 --> 01:02:43,160 Speaker 5: our friendship in the wedding, but I couldn't. We had 1373 01:02:43,200 --> 01:02:45,600 Speaker 5: not been friends, and when we reconnected, I was mourning. 1374 01:02:45,640 --> 01:02:48,680 Speaker 5: We mourned differently, and my way to cope was being isolated. 1375 01:02:48,840 --> 01:02:51,480 Speaker 5: I quit my remote job and became withdrawn. I eventually 1376 01:02:51,520 --> 01:02:53,400 Speaker 5: got another job to take me away from my home 1377 01:02:53,440 --> 01:02:55,760 Speaker 5: for months on end because I was always scared at 1378 01:02:55,760 --> 01:02:59,240 Speaker 5: home alone and started having panic attacks and nightmares. I 1379 01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:02,120 Speaker 5: threw myself into work and mourned my mom's for two 1380 01:03:02,200 --> 01:03:04,800 Speaker 5: years with my family. Because my single mom was at 1381 01:03:04,800 --> 01:03:07,360 Speaker 5: the center of everything for us, I did not communicate 1382 01:03:07,360 --> 01:03:09,560 Speaker 5: with most friends for about a year and lost a 1383 01:03:09,600 --> 01:03:12,000 Speaker 5: lot of friends because I was busy mourning for a 1384 01:03:12,040 --> 01:03:15,160 Speaker 5: long time. Therefore, becoming besties and supporting a wedding was 1385 01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:18,200 Speaker 5: not on my mind, especially because we were no longer friends. 1386 01:03:18,200 --> 01:03:20,880 Speaker 5: For ten months before our moms passed away and the 1387 01:03:21,040 --> 01:03:24,439 Speaker 5: final straw was in June twenty twenty three, I kept 1388 01:03:24,440 --> 01:03:26,440 Speaker 5: thinking about Nicki and went through the box that she 1389 01:03:26,480 --> 01:03:28,520 Speaker 5: had given me for my birthday in twenty twenty. I 1390 01:03:28,560 --> 01:03:30,920 Speaker 5: read the note and cried a little because I missed her. 1391 01:03:31,240 --> 01:03:33,320 Speaker 5: I decided to send her a message. We had not 1392 01:03:33,480 --> 01:03:35,919 Speaker 5: talked since December of twenty twenty one by this point, 1393 01:03:36,160 --> 01:03:40,600 Speaker 5: chatted briefly between September December. Nikki was elated to receive 1394 01:03:40,640 --> 01:03:42,400 Speaker 5: my message. He told me she thought a lot about 1395 01:03:42,400 --> 01:03:44,320 Speaker 5: sending me a message to because she was coming to 1396 01:03:44,360 --> 01:03:47,280 Speaker 5: visit Canada in two weeks. Excellent timing because I had 1397 01:03:47,280 --> 01:03:50,320 Speaker 5: started integrating back into society. First of all, talking to 1398 01:03:50,400 --> 01:03:52,760 Speaker 5: Nikki always makes me feel like everything in my life 1399 01:03:52,800 --> 01:03:55,520 Speaker 5: is stable and fine, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. 1400 01:03:55,640 --> 01:03:57,800 Speaker 5: But hearing that she was coming to Canada made me 1401 01:03:58,000 --> 01:03:59,919 Speaker 5: so excited that I could have flown into the sky. 1402 01:04:00,280 --> 01:04:02,960 Speaker 5: At the same time, I was scared. Nicki makes me 1403 01:04:03,000 --> 01:04:05,640 Speaker 5: feel happy and scared ever since all the ghostings, So 1404 01:04:05,920 --> 01:04:08,000 Speaker 5: my brain tells me to be guarded with her, but 1405 01:04:08,040 --> 01:04:10,400 Speaker 5: my heart is always happy to have our friendship. Indy 1406 01:04:10,560 --> 01:04:13,360 Speaker 5: tried her best to manage my expectations with Nicki visiting 1407 01:04:13,400 --> 01:04:15,440 Speaker 5: me in two weeks, and I tried my best to 1408 01:04:15,480 --> 01:04:17,919 Speaker 5: take her advice. But I had not seen Nicki since 1409 01:04:17,920 --> 01:04:20,520 Speaker 5: I left Sydney and returned to Melbourne in twenty seventeen. 1410 01:04:20,560 --> 01:04:22,760 Speaker 5: I was excited to see her, excited to talk to 1411 01:04:22,760 --> 01:04:25,640 Speaker 5: her again and even for a few minutes, and excited 1412 01:04:25,640 --> 01:04:27,760 Speaker 5: to do things for slash with her and my city. 1413 01:04:27,920 --> 01:04:29,960 Speaker 5: Also excited to meet her now husband. I was one 1414 01:04:30,040 --> 01:04:33,160 Speaker 5: hundred percent ready to forget the past and continue our friendship. 1415 01:04:33,240 --> 01:04:33,640 Speaker 5: Like nothing. 1416 01:04:33,640 --> 01:04:34,040 Speaker 1: It happened. 1417 01:04:34,200 --> 01:04:37,400 Speaker 5: Nicki came and I was so happy, but emotionally guarded. 1418 01:04:37,480 --> 01:04:40,880 Speaker 5: I maintained my composure very intentionally, and a lot happened 1419 01:04:40,880 --> 01:04:43,080 Speaker 5: over that week. We quickly realized that we had to 1420 01:04:43,120 --> 01:04:46,160 Speaker 5: address the elephant in our hearts. You're so close to 1421 01:04:46,240 --> 01:04:48,920 Speaker 5: the right saying the elephant in our hearts, the. 1422 01:04:48,880 --> 01:04:51,360 Speaker 6: Elephant in the room is the elephant in our heart, 1423 01:04:51,520 --> 01:04:55,400 Speaker 6: an elephant in my heart, and that elephant has to fart. 1424 01:04:56,480 --> 01:04:57,120 Speaker 1: That's why. 1425 01:04:57,440 --> 01:04:59,640 Speaker 5: So her husband encouraged her to spend a whole day 1426 01:04:59,640 --> 01:05:02,200 Speaker 5: with me in my house. The summary of the day 1427 01:05:02,320 --> 01:05:04,960 Speaker 5: was that we had so much fun with stories until 1428 01:05:05,040 --> 01:05:08,240 Speaker 5: I noticed Nikki briefly and subtly looking down on me 1429 01:05:08,320 --> 01:05:10,080 Speaker 5: for the way I lived my life. She was always 1430 01:05:10,080 --> 01:05:13,000 Speaker 5: the more ambitious one between us. I am also very ambitious. 1431 01:05:13,040 --> 01:05:15,200 Speaker 5: I lost a lot of drive after my mom passed away. 1432 01:05:15,280 --> 01:05:17,720 Speaker 5: I'm not struggling in any way, and I have everything 1433 01:05:17,760 --> 01:05:20,440 Speaker 5: I need to live comfortably and above the average income 1434 01:05:20,480 --> 01:05:22,680 Speaker 5: earners since I'm not a big spender. I closed up 1435 01:05:22,720 --> 01:05:24,880 Speaker 5: a little after this, but when we eventually got to 1436 01:05:24,920 --> 01:05:27,800 Speaker 5: the topic of all the ghostings and abandonment, we concluded 1437 01:05:27,800 --> 01:05:30,920 Speaker 5: that I am sensitive to being abandoned and find it 1438 01:05:31,200 --> 01:05:34,160 Speaker 5: difficult to get back after someone gives me the feeling, 1439 01:05:34,440 --> 01:05:38,600 Speaker 5: so I became guarded and emotionally disconnected. We also realized 1440 01:05:38,600 --> 01:05:40,800 Speaker 5: that Nikki was a person who was comfortable giving love 1441 01:05:40,840 --> 01:05:43,480 Speaker 5: but had a difficult time receiving it. Lastly, I realized 1442 01:05:43,520 --> 01:05:45,360 Speaker 5: that I value Nikki too much to not give her 1443 01:05:45,400 --> 01:05:47,480 Speaker 5: all the love I think she deserves. But for us 1444 01:05:47,520 --> 01:05:50,160 Speaker 5: to be friends, I would need to learn to stop. 1445 01:05:50,320 --> 01:05:52,320 Speaker 5: There would be no need for our friendship if I 1446 01:05:52,360 --> 01:05:54,200 Speaker 5: could not love my friend, and it breaks my heart 1447 01:05:54,240 --> 01:05:56,600 Speaker 5: to realize that such a magnificent person puts a cap 1448 01:05:56,640 --> 01:05:59,000 Speaker 5: on the love she gets to receive. We mutually agreed 1449 01:05:59,000 --> 01:06:01,240 Speaker 5: to part ways, but I knew I would respond if 1450 01:06:01,240 --> 01:06:03,400 Speaker 5: she said HI, or eventually reach out to her again, 1451 01:06:03,520 --> 01:06:05,880 Speaker 5: so I decided to remove her from all my social 1452 01:06:05,960 --> 01:06:09,360 Speaker 5: media and delete her contact. Whoa, this is an intense 1453 01:06:09,440 --> 01:06:10,320 Speaker 5: friendship breakup. 1454 01:06:10,400 --> 01:06:12,920 Speaker 6: Yeah, but I mean, like, wait, but I feel like 1455 01:06:12,960 --> 01:06:13,680 Speaker 6: we were right there. 1456 01:06:13,800 --> 01:06:14,400 Speaker 3: What happened. 1457 01:06:14,440 --> 01:06:15,560 Speaker 5: We're having the communication. 1458 01:06:15,840 --> 01:06:16,440 Speaker 3: What happened? 1459 01:06:16,480 --> 01:06:19,240 Speaker 5: We were having that communication. We were there what happened? 1460 01:06:19,240 --> 01:06:24,480 Speaker 6: And you were like, actually, in my own head, I'm 1461 01:06:24,520 --> 01:06:26,480 Speaker 6: just gonna like completely cut her off. 1462 01:06:26,720 --> 01:06:27,720 Speaker 4: I can't love her right. 1463 01:06:28,080 --> 01:06:30,480 Speaker 5: But you know who can love you right way? Us? 1464 01:06:30,680 --> 01:06:31,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you could. 1465 01:06:31,640 --> 01:06:34,240 Speaker 5: Listen to full episodes of stories just like this. Just 1466 01:06:34,280 --> 01:06:37,520 Speaker 5: go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or iHeartRadio to get your 1467 01:06:37,560 --> 01:06:39,400 Speaker 5: love and in and search a pokey story time. But 1468 01:06:39,480 --> 01:06:41,120 Speaker 5: there is a little bit left to the story. But 1469 01:06:41,160 --> 01:06:42,320 Speaker 5: what did you do? You have any find thoughts? 1470 01:06:42,440 --> 01:06:43,040 Speaker 4: I don't like this? 1471 01:06:43,720 --> 01:06:47,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, oh Pee, I think you just like I don't know, 1472 01:06:47,040 --> 01:06:48,840 Speaker 6: maybe oh, people was just really scared. Maybe oh he's 1473 01:06:48,880 --> 01:06:51,040 Speaker 6: trying to rationalize in their own head like why they 1474 01:06:51,040 --> 01:06:53,680 Speaker 6: did that. But it's like it doesn't feel like, uh, 1475 01:06:54,000 --> 01:06:55,680 Speaker 6: the move that needed to be made at that moment. 1476 01:06:56,000 --> 01:06:57,320 Speaker 5: I feel like you guys were right there. 1477 01:06:57,440 --> 01:06:57,640 Speaker 6: Yeah. 1478 01:06:57,680 --> 01:06:59,520 Speaker 5: I feel like we were having the things and we 1479 01:06:59,520 --> 01:07:01,960 Speaker 5: were having the talks, and then Nikki realized that she 1480 01:07:02,080 --> 01:07:03,680 Speaker 5: know she puts a cap on the love that she 1481 01:07:03,680 --> 01:07:05,760 Speaker 5: can receive. And it could have been like, Okay, you 1482 01:07:05,800 --> 01:07:08,760 Speaker 5: know what, we figured it out. Yeah, we've now I 1483 01:07:08,840 --> 01:07:12,720 Speaker 5: understand your nature better. But instead it was like, all right, well, 1484 01:07:12,800 --> 01:07:13,400 Speaker 5: I guess I'll. 1485 01:07:13,240 --> 01:07:13,800 Speaker 4: Never speak to you. 1486 01:07:13,840 --> 01:07:16,920 Speaker 5: I understand your nature and I gotta go bye. I 1487 01:07:16,960 --> 01:07:19,480 Speaker 5: know she would relocate to Canada in twenty twenty five, 1488 01:07:19,560 --> 01:07:21,960 Speaker 5: and I keep wondering about this because if she chooses 1489 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:24,200 Speaker 5: to stay in my city, we could potentially meet up again, 1490 01:07:24,280 --> 01:07:26,640 Speaker 5: and I have no strength to resist being friends with 1491 01:07:26,640 --> 01:07:28,480 Speaker 5: her again, but I don't want to get hurt. What 1492 01:07:28,600 --> 01:07:30,520 Speaker 5: would I do when she arrives in a few months. 1493 01:07:30,600 --> 01:07:32,960 Speaker 5: I have no idea? So am I the ale for 1494 01:07:33,000 --> 01:07:36,000 Speaker 5: going no contact with her after all this, even though 1495 01:07:36,040 --> 01:07:37,560 Speaker 5: I still love her but don't want to get hurt. 1496 01:07:37,760 --> 01:07:39,200 Speaker 5: And that is the end of that story. 1497 01:07:40,280 --> 01:07:41,960 Speaker 1: Hey, it's Sam. We're gonna get back to the stories. 1498 01:07:42,000 --> 01:07:43,960 Speaker 1: But here's three minutes of bads from our sponsors. 1499 01:07:44,400 --> 01:07:49,680 Speaker 6: My ex friend ghosted us, and now he's posting shade online. 1500 01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:53,440 Speaker 5: You're gonna post our private feelings online? 1501 01:07:54,320 --> 01:07:55,040 Speaker 3: Shady ghost? 1502 01:07:55,680 --> 01:07:58,280 Speaker 6: What is shady? Low down thing to do? 1503 01:07:59,080 --> 01:07:59,160 Speaker 1: So? 1504 01:07:59,680 --> 01:08:03,560 Speaker 6: At the time of the event, I twenty had started 1505 01:08:03,640 --> 01:08:05,960 Speaker 6: UNI a year or so ago. And I had become 1506 01:08:06,000 --> 01:08:08,840 Speaker 6: a part of one of the most absolutely amazing friend groups. 1507 01:08:08,880 --> 01:08:10,960 Speaker 6: We are a small group of people who all study 1508 01:08:11,040 --> 01:08:13,640 Speaker 6: linguistics and have a bunch of trauma issues and are 1509 01:08:13,680 --> 01:08:15,960 Speaker 6: all very weird in our own way, but we support 1510 01:08:16,040 --> 01:08:18,439 Speaker 6: each other through everything. They have helped me see just 1511 01:08:18,560 --> 01:08:21,800 Speaker 6: how much my past friends and treated me poorly and 1512 01:08:21,840 --> 01:08:24,160 Speaker 6: how I deserve so much better. By the way, this 1513 01:08:24,160 --> 01:08:27,160 Speaker 6: comes from user arrow ace Dragon, and if you want 1514 01:08:27,160 --> 01:08:29,120 Speaker 6: to submit your own stories, go to the r slash 1515 01:08:29,160 --> 01:08:33,800 Speaker 6: Okay storytime subreddit. So for some background, I have had 1516 01:08:33,880 --> 01:08:36,839 Speaker 6: issues with friends in the past, including but not limited 1517 01:08:36,840 --> 01:08:39,680 Speaker 6: to being told to stop displaying when I had emotions, 1518 01:08:39,760 --> 01:08:40,839 Speaker 6: but that's a different story. 1519 01:08:41,200 --> 01:08:42,720 Speaker 4: I am a recovering. 1520 01:08:42,400 --> 01:08:46,320 Speaker 6: People pleaser CPP, so you can imagine how this led 1521 01:08:46,320 --> 01:08:50,400 Speaker 6: to some toxic friendships. Thankfully, since then, I have taken 1522 01:08:50,400 --> 01:08:52,639 Speaker 6: the time to really learn to be comfortable with myself 1523 01:08:52,680 --> 01:08:55,400 Speaker 6: and then I got this wonderful group of friends who 1524 01:08:55,479 --> 01:08:57,880 Speaker 6: have helped me be a better person. And I've gotten 1525 01:08:57,920 --> 01:08:59,640 Speaker 6: more hugs in the past two years than i have 1526 01:08:59,760 --> 01:09:01,840 Speaker 6: in my entire life. Oh my god, what that made 1527 01:09:01,840 --> 01:09:05,720 Speaker 6: me smile? And they are absolutely wonderful people. Anyway, when 1528 01:09:05,720 --> 01:09:08,280 Speaker 6: I first started to become a part of this friend group. 1529 01:09:08,360 --> 01:09:11,519 Speaker 6: There was this one guy who I'll calls Steve Steeve. 1530 01:09:11,840 --> 01:09:14,200 Speaker 6: Steve has always kind of rubbed me the wrong way 1531 01:09:14,240 --> 01:09:17,240 Speaker 6: for a variety of reasons. Mostly it was just little 1532 01:09:17,240 --> 01:09:19,759 Speaker 6: things here and there. First, there was the occasional comment 1533 01:09:19,840 --> 01:09:23,280 Speaker 6: about me clearly not knowing something because he's ten years 1534 01:09:23,280 --> 01:09:26,439 Speaker 6: older than me and obviously so much smarter. I will 1535 01:09:26,479 --> 01:09:29,280 Speaker 6: get into the whole ten year older situation later. Then 1536 01:09:29,320 --> 01:09:32,080 Speaker 6: there was the occasional comments about how I don't know 1537 01:09:32,120 --> 01:09:34,240 Speaker 6: who I am and just need to take time to 1538 01:09:34,280 --> 01:09:37,839 Speaker 6: figure it out for sure. For context, I am assigned 1539 01:09:37,840 --> 01:09:40,200 Speaker 6: female at birth and was recently figuring out I am 1540 01:09:40,280 --> 01:09:43,599 Speaker 6: autistic and gender diverse. He didn't seem to fully believe 1541 01:09:43,680 --> 01:09:47,360 Speaker 6: that I could be autistic because obviously women can't be autistic, 1542 01:09:47,920 --> 01:09:50,639 Speaker 6: and clearly I was a woman, because he didn't really 1543 01:09:50,680 --> 01:09:52,280 Speaker 6: see me as existing. 1544 01:09:52,800 --> 01:09:58,680 Speaker 5: What we so annoying because also women autistic women have 1545 01:09:58,840 --> 01:10:02,080 Speaker 5: so much trouble being diagnosed because there's like very little 1546 01:10:02,080 --> 01:10:05,680 Speaker 5: research on autism and women, really, yes, very little. That's 1547 01:10:05,680 --> 01:10:08,360 Speaker 5: why it's super hard for women to get diagnosed. Maybe 1548 01:10:08,360 --> 01:10:10,799 Speaker 5: those women just don't exist, like Steve, they just don't exist. 1549 01:10:10,840 --> 01:10:13,439 Speaker 6: Maybe Steve is onto something. Maybe they're just not real. 1550 01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:15,280 Speaker 5: He's like, actually, they're not freaking. 1551 01:10:15,040 --> 01:10:19,520 Speaker 6: They live in the space between spaces, the plane between planes. 1552 01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:21,519 Speaker 5: Hope. He's like, you know what, like we need to 1553 01:10:21,520 --> 01:10:23,360 Speaker 5: give like right stages, Like I actually don't believe that 1554 01:10:23,400 --> 01:10:26,080 Speaker 5: they exist. I don't think they're real. 1555 01:10:26,520 --> 01:10:26,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. 1556 01:10:26,880 --> 01:10:28,920 Speaker 6: So this leads me to the next type of comment, 1557 01:10:29,160 --> 01:10:34,040 Speaker 6: which were underhanded misogynistic comments. Women weren't real to him. 1558 01:10:34,720 --> 01:10:38,759 Speaker 4: No way, Wow, you actually called it. 1559 01:10:38,840 --> 01:10:44,240 Speaker 6: There's no way he really said that, right, How's let's 1560 01:10:44,240 --> 01:10:44,960 Speaker 6: see how. 1561 01:10:46,360 --> 01:10:47,040 Speaker 5: He backed this up. 1562 01:10:47,320 --> 01:10:51,519 Speaker 6: Women weren't real to him, He preferred male professors to 1563 01:10:51,600 --> 01:10:55,360 Speaker 6: female professors, et cetera. No explanation on him not thinking 1564 01:10:55,400 --> 01:10:58,280 Speaker 6: women are real. But he had been friends for a 1565 01:10:58,280 --> 01:11:00,040 Speaker 6: long time with a lot of my new friends, and 1566 01:11:00,120 --> 01:11:01,960 Speaker 6: so I just kind of tried to ignore it. I 1567 01:11:02,040 --> 01:11:03,599 Speaker 6: thought they were good friends with him, and I didn't 1568 01:11:03,600 --> 01:11:06,080 Speaker 6: want to affect their relationship with him. I will admit 1569 01:11:06,240 --> 01:11:08,439 Speaker 6: I was a bit cold to him and kept my 1570 01:11:08,520 --> 01:11:11,320 Speaker 6: distance and worked extremely hard to not be left alone 1571 01:11:11,360 --> 01:11:12,800 Speaker 6: in a room with him so I didn't have to 1572 01:11:12,840 --> 01:11:17,400 Speaker 6: face the brunt of his comments. And then the event happened. 1573 01:11:17,439 --> 01:11:20,240 Speaker 6: The day of the event, the sky was clear. Not 1574 01:11:20,320 --> 01:11:22,960 Speaker 6: actually it was rainy again, and the air was hopeful. 1575 01:11:23,080 --> 01:11:25,600 Speaker 6: It was almost finals week the horror. But I was 1576 01:11:25,640 --> 01:11:27,920 Speaker 6: actually having an okay day hanging out with some of 1577 01:11:27,960 --> 01:11:30,880 Speaker 6: my friends and we were all chatting like usual. Unfortunately, 1578 01:11:31,160 --> 01:11:36,240 Speaker 6: Steve was there, which made my okay day it turn 1579 01:11:36,320 --> 01:11:40,280 Speaker 6: into a really not so okay day. I was mostly ignoring. 1580 01:11:39,960 --> 01:11:41,080 Speaker 5: Him like usual. 1581 01:11:41,240 --> 01:11:44,000 Speaker 6: Then this horror of a man made a comment along 1582 01:11:44,040 --> 01:11:46,519 Speaker 6: the lines of I'm about to find out here we go, 1583 01:11:47,000 --> 01:11:48,360 Speaker 6: here we here we go. 1584 01:11:48,439 --> 01:11:50,400 Speaker 5: Everyone hold your horses. 1585 01:11:51,160 --> 01:11:53,240 Speaker 3: Old old old way. 1586 01:11:54,160 --> 01:11:55,080 Speaker 5: I'm there quote. 1587 01:11:56,000 --> 01:11:59,040 Speaker 6: I don't really see women as being real because I 1588 01:11:59,160 --> 01:12:03,799 Speaker 6: don't like women and don't make friends with women except Abby. 1589 01:12:03,960 --> 01:12:07,280 Speaker 6: Of course, Abby is another one of our friends. No 1590 01:12:07,360 --> 01:12:09,880 Speaker 6: way that was being real. So there's no way. 1591 01:12:09,800 --> 01:12:12,760 Speaker 5: That she was a baby, right, No, because he's got 1592 01:12:12,880 --> 01:12:17,760 Speaker 5: object permanence. What do you mean, Yeah, he's got he's 1593 01:12:17,760 --> 01:12:19,599 Speaker 5: got like he has no object permanence. 1594 01:12:19,640 --> 01:12:22,920 Speaker 6: I really feel like this is like a sarcastic comment, 1595 01:12:23,080 --> 01:12:26,720 Speaker 6: like being like misatur to be like I don't think 1596 01:12:26,760 --> 01:12:28,880 Speaker 6: women are real because I don't even like women, and 1597 01:12:28,920 --> 01:12:31,000 Speaker 6: I'm not friends with him except for my friend Abby. 1598 01:12:31,520 --> 01:12:33,559 Speaker 6: Like that's come on, I'd be like if I was like, 1599 01:12:33,680 --> 01:12:36,679 Speaker 6: I really can't stand women. I don't even think they're real. 1600 01:12:36,920 --> 01:12:39,880 Speaker 6: I refuse to acknowledge their existence except for Sophia. She's lovely, 1601 01:12:39,920 --> 01:12:43,719 Speaker 6: She's wonderful. Everyone should love Sophia. It's like, it feels 1602 01:12:43,760 --> 01:12:44,400 Speaker 6: like a joke to me. 1603 01:12:44,800 --> 01:12:46,599 Speaker 5: But we gotta get we gotta get more info. 1604 01:12:47,040 --> 01:12:52,200 Speaker 6: Let's continue now. This became the event for three main reasons. 1605 01:12:52,280 --> 01:12:56,519 Speaker 6: Holy misogyny batman is the first reason. Number two, Abby, 1606 01:12:56,600 --> 01:12:59,280 Speaker 6: after hearing she was the exception to the man's rule 1607 01:12:59,479 --> 01:12:59,920 Speaker 6: was few. 1608 01:13:00,040 --> 01:13:02,760 Speaker 5: Oh yeah, okay, now, but now now we've got other 1609 01:13:02,800 --> 01:13:05,920 Speaker 5: people involved. Clearly doesn't sound like a Joe. 1610 01:13:06,000 --> 01:13:08,120 Speaker 6: Also, our other friend, who I'll call Lily, who is 1611 01:13:08,280 --> 01:13:11,280 Speaker 6: very much a woman and am an absolute gem of 1612 01:13:11,280 --> 01:13:13,360 Speaker 6: a human being, was in the room when he said this. 1613 01:13:13,560 --> 01:13:17,080 Speaker 6: Dang Lily had walked to and from classes with this 1614 01:13:17,160 --> 01:13:19,840 Speaker 6: man and had been friendly and had so many conversations 1615 01:13:19,840 --> 01:13:22,000 Speaker 6: with this man, and she considered him a friend. 1616 01:13:22,120 --> 01:13:23,479 Speaker 5: But apparently she wasn't real. 1617 01:13:24,280 --> 01:13:27,080 Speaker 6: Lily looked like she was near tears when she processed 1618 01:13:27,080 --> 01:13:29,040 Speaker 6: what this misogynistic. 1619 01:13:28,320 --> 01:13:29,479 Speaker 4: Chihuahua had just said. 1620 01:13:29,600 --> 01:13:31,800 Speaker 6: There also is a fourth friend there who I will 1621 01:13:31,800 --> 01:13:34,640 Speaker 6: call Henry. Henry just went off on Steve about his 1622 01:13:34,720 --> 01:13:38,040 Speaker 6: misogynistic comments. Me and Lily sat in awe at hearing 1623 01:13:38,200 --> 01:13:41,320 Speaker 6: at him tearing Steve a new one. After being told off, 1624 01:13:41,360 --> 01:13:43,519 Speaker 6: Steve got all huffy and said, well, I guess I'm 1625 01:13:43,560 --> 01:13:45,920 Speaker 6: not wood here, and then he stormed off. As my 1626 01:13:46,000 --> 01:13:48,080 Speaker 6: mom put it when I retold this to her, good 1627 01:13:48,160 --> 01:13:50,679 Speaker 6: let the trash take itself out. She also pointed out 1628 01:13:50,680 --> 01:13:52,840 Speaker 6: that the fact he was attracted to the same gender 1629 01:13:52,880 --> 01:13:55,599 Speaker 6: actually meant that he was even more misogynistic for not 1630 01:13:55,680 --> 01:14:02,840 Speaker 6: seeing women as people. Oh the layer, because it meant 1631 01:14:02,880 --> 01:14:06,879 Speaker 6: he saw women as only being four men aka men's attraction, 1632 01:14:07,080 --> 01:14:09,439 Speaker 6: and because he isn't attracted to women, he doesn't see 1633 01:14:09,439 --> 01:14:12,280 Speaker 6: them as people, which are his exact word. Mom is 1634 01:14:12,400 --> 01:14:15,720 Speaker 6: very smart. After the event, Steve stopped coming to UNI 1635 01:14:15,760 --> 01:14:18,599 Speaker 6: events as much on his own accord, and stopped hanging 1636 01:14:18,640 --> 01:14:19,719 Speaker 6: out with our group of friends. 1637 01:14:19,800 --> 01:14:20,720 Speaker 5: I did not miss him. 1638 01:14:21,040 --> 01:14:23,600 Speaker 6: Good riddance. The few times I saw him, I was 1639 01:14:23,640 --> 01:14:26,519 Speaker 6: cordial but cold anyway. The event was honestly ages ago, 1640 01:14:26,640 --> 01:14:29,559 Speaker 6: like maybe a year, and I had completely forgotten about Steve. 1641 01:14:29,600 --> 01:14:31,960 Speaker 6: My life was better without him than a few weeks ago. 1642 01:14:32,080 --> 01:14:34,839 Speaker 6: Lily messaged me like, have you seen what Steve posted 1643 01:14:35,000 --> 01:14:38,040 Speaker 6: I was like no, and she sent a screenshot of 1644 01:14:38,080 --> 01:14:42,080 Speaker 6: the post she saw and holy vague posting. It was 1645 01:14:42,200 --> 01:14:45,160 Speaker 6: basically a pick of this specimen of a man, head 1646 01:14:45,160 --> 01:14:48,400 Speaker 6: tilted to the side, staring mournfully into the distance, hair 1647 01:14:48,479 --> 01:14:50,519 Speaker 6: ruffled up into a mess with a caption. Sometimes you 1648 01:14:50,560 --> 01:14:53,680 Speaker 6: get excommunicated from a linguistics community that is obsessed with 1649 01:14:53,760 --> 01:14:57,160 Speaker 6: labeling and being autistic slash going nonverbal even though that 1650 01:14:57,320 --> 01:14:59,479 Speaker 6: isn't a thing, because they want clout just me. 1651 01:15:00,200 --> 01:15:03,120 Speaker 5: Oh, this is this type of person is exhausting. This 1652 01:15:03,200 --> 01:15:06,360 Speaker 5: is the type of person that thinks that, Oh, I'm like, 1653 01:15:06,400 --> 01:15:08,240 Speaker 5: I don't have the filter. I can say whatever I want. 1654 01:15:08,520 --> 01:15:10,080 Speaker 5: You know, I don't. I don't try like I don't. 1655 01:15:10,120 --> 01:15:12,400 Speaker 5: I'm not PC, you know, I'd like to say whatever 1656 01:15:12,439 --> 01:15:14,000 Speaker 5: I want, like no one can tell me what to say. 1657 01:15:14,280 --> 01:15:16,960 Speaker 5: And then and then and then people are like, oh, yeah, 1658 01:15:17,080 --> 01:15:19,000 Speaker 5: you can't say whatever you want and we're not gonna 1659 01:15:19,000 --> 01:15:20,840 Speaker 5: be friends with you. And then they're like like, you 1660 01:15:20,880 --> 01:15:22,599 Speaker 5: can't do that. You can't say that. Oh you can't. Yeah, 1661 01:15:22,600 --> 01:15:23,639 Speaker 5: I can't say anything. 1662 01:15:23,880 --> 01:15:26,360 Speaker 4: You're not allowed to be upset. I'm allowed to do 1663 01:15:26,400 --> 01:15:29,360 Speaker 4: whatever I want in America. Oh I'm sorry, sorry, I 1664 01:15:29,360 --> 01:15:30,920 Speaker 4: thought this was America. 1665 01:15:30,479 --> 01:15:32,240 Speaker 5: Like, yeah, you can say whatever you want and people 1666 01:15:32,280 --> 01:15:32,920 Speaker 5: can react. 1667 01:15:32,960 --> 01:15:36,320 Speaker 6: However they literally the entire history of the country freedom 1668 01:15:36,360 --> 01:15:41,599 Speaker 6: of speech has been freedom of speech, not freedom of consequence. Yes, exactly, 1669 01:15:42,160 --> 01:15:46,679 Speaker 6: let's continue. So two things here excommunicated. The second point 1670 01:15:46,720 --> 01:15:49,720 Speaker 6: is what clout are you talking about? So this man 1671 01:15:49,880 --> 01:15:52,920 Speaker 6: is a full grown man, graduated from university and everything 1672 01:15:53,000 --> 01:15:56,560 Speaker 6: vague posting about how we were terrible friends for excommunicating 1673 01:15:56,600 --> 01:15:58,960 Speaker 6: him from our group like a fourteen year old teenage 1674 01:15:58,960 --> 01:16:02,240 Speaker 6: boy after getting his ego hurt almost a year ago. Now, 1675 01:16:02,360 --> 01:16:04,679 Speaker 6: I feel like this is an important time to note 1676 01:16:04,720 --> 01:16:06,840 Speaker 6: that in our group, we are all pretty much between 1677 01:16:06,840 --> 01:16:09,040 Speaker 6: the ages of eighteen and twenty six. The fact that 1678 01:16:09,080 --> 01:16:11,160 Speaker 6: this thirty one year old man felt the need and 1679 01:16:11,200 --> 01:16:13,800 Speaker 6: desire to be hanging out with us is weird as 1680 01:16:14,000 --> 01:16:16,000 Speaker 6: f as my mom so clearly pointed out when I 1681 01:16:16,040 --> 01:16:18,960 Speaker 6: complained about this situation with her, which made me wonder 1682 01:16:19,040 --> 01:16:21,320 Speaker 6: if the people his age just saw through his bes 1683 01:16:21,360 --> 01:16:23,040 Speaker 6: faster than we did. But I don't know, and that's 1684 01:16:23,040 --> 01:16:25,920 Speaker 6: probably true. Our friend group has been talking about this 1685 01:16:25,960 --> 01:16:28,000 Speaker 6: ever since it happened, and being like, did you tell 1686 01:16:28,040 --> 01:16:29,960 Speaker 6: him to stop going to Uni events, what about you, 1687 01:16:30,120 --> 01:16:32,320 Speaker 6: and realizing none of us did anything, he just kind 1688 01:16:32,320 --> 01:16:34,559 Speaker 6: of stopped coming because he was mad he got called 1689 01:16:34,560 --> 01:16:37,400 Speaker 6: out for being a misogynist. Right after it happened. The 1690 01:16:37,479 --> 01:16:39,760 Speaker 6: only thing I could think of was, how are you 1691 01:16:39,960 --> 01:16:42,280 Speaker 6: not embarrassed? And there is an update? 1692 01:16:42,400 --> 01:16:44,000 Speaker 5: How are you not embarrassed? 1693 01:16:44,240 --> 01:16:49,720 Speaker 6: Discussting update y'all? He posted again, talking So I am 1694 01:16:49,760 --> 01:16:51,960 Speaker 6: here sharing more of the tea because this is a 1695 01:16:52,000 --> 01:16:54,280 Speaker 6: thirty one year old man acting like a whiny high schooler, 1696 01:16:54,320 --> 01:16:57,320 Speaker 6: and it is embarrassing. Like I said, cringe posting onto 1697 01:16:57,360 --> 01:16:59,800 Speaker 6: the post. So this morning I woke up to Lily, 1698 01:16:59,800 --> 01:17:03,320 Speaker 6: who who is justifiably personally angry at this wet cat 1699 01:17:03,360 --> 01:17:06,120 Speaker 6: of a man, sending a screen shot. The screen shot 1700 01:17:06,160 --> 01:17:08,439 Speaker 6: was of a post by the man that said the 1701 01:17:08,479 --> 01:17:11,759 Speaker 6: following clarifying I was once part of a cool community 1702 01:17:11,800 --> 01:17:14,120 Speaker 6: of people who loved linguistics. Then they decided they'd rather 1703 01:17:14,160 --> 01:17:16,280 Speaker 6: act like a high school clique, talking about people behind 1704 01:17:16,280 --> 01:17:19,559 Speaker 6: their backs, becoming obsessed with non scientific self identities and 1705 01:17:19,720 --> 01:17:22,600 Speaker 6: excluding others. It's sad and hypocritical, but I am so 1706 01:17:22,720 --> 01:17:24,360 Speaker 6: glad to be done with all that drama. 1707 01:17:24,439 --> 01:17:25,080 Speaker 4: Smiley face. 1708 01:17:25,240 --> 01:17:27,439 Speaker 6: I love grad school and my cohort, as well as 1709 01:17:27,479 --> 01:17:30,200 Speaker 6: the people who really know and care about me. I 1710 01:17:30,200 --> 01:17:33,639 Speaker 6: honestly feel like I'm going crazy. I am reviewing all 1711 01:17:33,680 --> 01:17:35,599 Speaker 6: of the things I've said to this man, seeing if 1712 01:17:35,640 --> 01:17:38,280 Speaker 6: anything I said was petty or rude or disrespectful, and 1713 01:17:38,320 --> 01:17:40,160 Speaker 6: reviewing what the rest of my friends have said, and 1714 01:17:40,200 --> 01:17:42,599 Speaker 6: I just can't find anything I wasn't anything. 1715 01:17:42,960 --> 01:17:44,639 Speaker 5: I don't think you have to review everything. 1716 01:17:45,080 --> 01:17:48,200 Speaker 6: You don't have to like explicitly be like and now 1717 01:17:48,479 --> 01:17:52,400 Speaker 6: you are banished from the group. To like to like 1718 01:17:52,439 --> 01:17:55,519 Speaker 6: banish somebody from a group, it's like just your vibe 1719 01:17:55,560 --> 01:17:58,439 Speaker 6: becoming like yeah, you can do. 1720 01:17:58,439 --> 01:17:59,480 Speaker 4: It, absolutely. 1721 01:17:59,520 --> 01:18:02,519 Speaker 5: But also I think that piece like we didn't say anything, 1722 01:18:02,680 --> 01:18:03,800 Speaker 5: We weren't mean timble. 1723 01:18:03,520 --> 01:18:04,320 Speaker 4: Book that you should have. 1724 01:18:04,360 --> 01:18:04,720 Speaker 1: You could have. 1725 01:18:04,960 --> 01:18:07,880 Speaker 7: That's fine, you guys did kind of he come out 1726 01:18:07,920 --> 01:18:10,280 Speaker 7: and that's okay, Yeah, because he deserved to be kicked out. 1727 01:18:10,560 --> 01:18:13,040 Speaker 7: He was being a bad person and now he's being 1728 01:18:13,040 --> 01:18:15,000 Speaker 7: a bad person on Instagram. 1729 01:18:15,120 --> 01:18:17,880 Speaker 6: Yeah, you are allowed to You're allowed to take like 1730 01:18:17,960 --> 01:18:18,960 Speaker 6: a call be like, hey, do we. 1731 01:18:18,920 --> 01:18:19,960 Speaker 5: Want to keep hanging out with them? 1732 01:18:20,200 --> 01:18:20,360 Speaker 1: Yeah? 1733 01:18:20,479 --> 01:18:22,080 Speaker 6: If you all are like no, then you can be 1734 01:18:22,120 --> 01:18:23,360 Speaker 6: like all right, then we're not hanging out with this. 1735 01:18:26,080 --> 01:18:27,479 Speaker 4: Yeah, I was cold. 1736 01:18:27,760 --> 01:18:30,559 Speaker 6: Yes, but like we weren't friends except for like calling 1737 01:18:30,640 --> 01:18:33,480 Speaker 6: him out when he was being rude or misogynistic or disrespectful. 1738 01:18:33,600 --> 01:18:36,720 Speaker 6: Maybe we were too harsh. I don't know. Why are 1739 01:18:36,720 --> 01:18:37,320 Speaker 6: you second guess? 1740 01:18:37,360 --> 01:18:40,360 Speaker 5: I don't understand. Like he sucks, Why does it matter? 1741 01:18:40,680 --> 01:18:41,400 Speaker 5: Why does it matter? 1742 01:18:41,920 --> 01:18:42,160 Speaker 3: Yeah? 1743 01:18:42,280 --> 01:18:42,720 Speaker 4: I don't know. 1744 01:18:42,840 --> 01:18:46,920 Speaker 6: Anyway, Lily is currently planning a response. No, honestly, I 1745 01:18:46,960 --> 01:18:47,479 Speaker 6: can't wait. 1746 01:18:47,720 --> 01:18:50,280 Speaker 5: No, no, stop. 1747 01:18:50,640 --> 01:18:52,519 Speaker 6: It's a great blueprint on what not to do in 1748 01:18:52,560 --> 01:18:53,160 Speaker 6: this situation. 1749 01:18:53,439 --> 01:18:55,160 Speaker 5: The train is heating for the trash. 1750 01:18:55,280 --> 01:18:59,320 Speaker 6: Remember when your mom said the trash took itself out 1751 01:19:00,400 --> 01:19:03,519 Speaker 6: to the dump and you are dragging the trash back 1752 01:19:03,640 --> 01:19:04,240 Speaker 6: to your house. 1753 01:19:05,479 --> 01:19:06,080 Speaker 1: Don't do that. 1754 01:19:06,400 --> 01:19:10,400 Speaker 5: I don't understand why you wouldn't block him. Stop talking 1755 01:19:10,439 --> 01:19:13,200 Speaker 5: to him. He's looking for reaction. This is what he wants. 1756 01:19:13,760 --> 01:19:15,000 Speaker 3: You're playing his mind game. 1757 01:19:15,080 --> 01:19:17,519 Speaker 6: But it's also what OPI wants. Yeah, well, I mean 1758 01:19:17,600 --> 01:19:19,120 Speaker 6: he goes Honestly, I can't wait. 1759 01:19:19,439 --> 01:19:22,559 Speaker 5: Yeah, no, this is what OPI wants, and that's sometimes 1760 01:19:22,560 --> 01:19:23,160 Speaker 5: we like druma. 1761 01:19:23,479 --> 01:19:25,800 Speaker 4: She's going to sacrifice herself. 1762 01:19:26,439 --> 01:19:28,599 Speaker 5: Can't It must be unto the way. 1763 01:19:29,320 --> 01:19:31,960 Speaker 6: Lily is the kind of person who is kind and 1764 01:19:32,080 --> 01:19:34,960 Speaker 6: waits and is patient and then snaps, and I can 1765 01:19:35,000 --> 01:19:37,519 Speaker 6: tell that she has snapped, and I'm just waiting with 1766 01:19:37,560 --> 01:19:40,240 Speaker 6: popcorn to see what her response is. For now, here's 1767 01:19:40,280 --> 01:19:43,519 Speaker 6: what Abby said about him. No one excommunicated him, no 1768 01:19:43,560 --> 01:19:46,120 Speaker 6: one said you aren't welcome anymore. He decided that he's 1769 01:19:46,160 --> 01:19:47,960 Speaker 6: not going to hang out with us anymore. And that's 1770 01:19:48,040 --> 01:19:50,360 Speaker 6: his decision, and it's fine. But what isn't fine is 1771 01:19:50,360 --> 01:19:52,720 Speaker 6: playing the victim and saying that it's because of all 1772 01:19:52,720 --> 01:19:55,080 Speaker 6: these reasons that you don't fit in and that these 1773 01:19:55,160 --> 01:19:58,040 Speaker 6: things don't exist just because you don't believe that they do. 1774 01:19:58,280 --> 01:20:01,080 Speaker 6: Chef's kiss. I love my friend so much. 1775 01:20:01,439 --> 01:20:04,479 Speaker 5: By the way, you can love all of the. 1776 01:20:04,720 --> 01:20:08,479 Speaker 6: Full episodes with stories like this, and you can listen 1777 01:20:08,560 --> 01:20:11,280 Speaker 6: to them by going to your podcast platform of choice 1778 01:20:11,280 --> 01:20:14,400 Speaker 6: be at iHeartRadio or Spotify, your Apple podcasts and searching 1779 01:20:14,439 --> 01:20:17,200 Speaker 6: Okay story time, and there there are fifty two consecutive 1780 01:20:17,280 --> 01:20:19,920 Speaker 6: days worth of stories for you to listen to. There's 1781 01:20:19,960 --> 01:20:23,240 Speaker 6: almost thirteen hundred hours. We're getting there. We're over twelve hundred, 1782 01:20:23,280 --> 01:20:25,680 Speaker 6: we're getting at thirteen. Now we have a little bit 1783 01:20:25,680 --> 01:20:27,920 Speaker 6: more story. There's a final update here. 1784 01:20:30,760 --> 01:20:33,639 Speaker 5: It seems like they're on the collision course to send 1785 01:20:33,640 --> 01:20:37,280 Speaker 5: that text. Oh, if I'm leaning towards everyone sucks here, 1786 01:20:37,280 --> 01:20:39,639 Speaker 5: I don't think it's that much. It's all everyone sucks here. 1787 01:20:39,760 --> 01:20:45,840 Speaker 5: It's just everyone is. It's nobody's drama. Everyone's dramatic here. 1788 01:20:45,880 --> 01:20:46,799 Speaker 5: Everyone's dramatic. 1789 01:20:46,880 --> 01:20:49,400 Speaker 4: Everyone's dramatic. He was dramatic when he was like, I 1790 01:20:49,400 --> 01:20:50,479 Speaker 4: guess I'm not wanted here. 1791 01:20:50,840 --> 01:20:53,760 Speaker 6: After being like, yeah, all women are, it's like it's 1792 01:20:53,800 --> 01:20:56,360 Speaker 6: like the girl who's like all men are trash, and 1793 01:20:56,400 --> 01:20:58,519 Speaker 6: it's like, to some extent, it's like, all right, we've 1794 01:20:58,560 --> 01:21:01,040 Speaker 6: heard that, We've heard it enough. Yeah, it's like you 1795 01:21:01,080 --> 01:21:02,280 Speaker 6: say it and you say it and you say it again, 1796 01:21:02,280 --> 01:21:04,639 Speaker 6: and it's like, hey, but they're not. It's like you've 1797 01:21:04,680 --> 01:21:08,639 Speaker 6: met some trash men. Holy Mother of updates Batman. Okay, 1798 01:21:08,720 --> 01:21:10,599 Speaker 6: first of all, I talked to a friend who wasn't 1799 01:21:10,640 --> 01:21:13,040 Speaker 6: involved in any of this, and I feel a lot 1800 01:21:13,120 --> 01:21:15,200 Speaker 6: less crazy now after I read it out to her. 1801 01:21:15,240 --> 01:21:17,240 Speaker 6: She noted how many of us were just out of 1802 01:21:17,280 --> 01:21:19,600 Speaker 6: high school, so it would have been understandable if we, 1803 01:21:19,680 --> 01:21:23,120 Speaker 6: I don't know, acted like high schoolers. He is thirty one, 1804 01:21:23,479 --> 01:21:25,519 Speaker 6: he should find people his own age. 1805 01:21:25,680 --> 01:21:27,479 Speaker 5: Anyway. Now onto the fun part. 1806 01:21:27,600 --> 01:21:30,000 Speaker 6: My friend Lily posted a response, and let me just 1807 01:21:30,040 --> 01:21:33,320 Speaker 6: tell you, I am sitting here obsessed with the response. 1808 01:21:33,439 --> 01:21:35,200 Speaker 6: I got her permission to post it here because it's 1809 01:21:35,240 --> 01:21:38,360 Speaker 6: pure gold. She rarely swears. She is typically kind and 1810 01:21:38,479 --> 01:21:40,960 Speaker 6: quiet and just an overall lovely human being, and she 1811 01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:45,200 Speaker 6: is pissed. The white is what he posted. The other 1812 01:21:45,320 --> 01:21:47,360 Speaker 6: colors are Lily's response. 1813 01:21:47,720 --> 01:21:51,519 Speaker 5: Okay, so you get excommuted from not right. 1814 01:21:51,560 --> 01:21:52,679 Speaker 4: So that's all what he said. 1815 01:21:52,720 --> 01:21:55,519 Speaker 6: We've already read that they just want claup blah blah 1816 01:21:55,560 --> 01:21:58,400 Speaker 6: blah and the clarification and then so let me. 1817 01:21:58,520 --> 01:22:00,280 Speaker 5: Get oh my god, this is so bitch. 1818 01:22:00,960 --> 01:22:04,200 Speaker 6: There's he left was that someone told him that he 1819 01:22:04,240 --> 01:22:07,599 Speaker 6: shouldn't say that women don't exist in his mind, and 1820 01:22:07,640 --> 01:22:10,519 Speaker 6: can you can bring it up a little bit? And yes, 1821 01:22:10,760 --> 01:22:13,880 Speaker 6: this was after he told that to my face, after 1822 01:22:13,960 --> 01:22:19,479 Speaker 6: I considered him my friend. And then imagine not acting 1823 01:22:19,520 --> 01:22:22,360 Speaker 6: your age and posting and complaining about something instead of 1824 01:22:22,439 --> 01:22:24,920 Speaker 6: talking it out with the other party after months of 1825 01:22:24,920 --> 01:22:27,680 Speaker 6: no communication with them. This man is thirty one and 1826 01:22:28,000 --> 01:22:30,200 Speaker 6: is the one acting like a high schooler and not 1827 01:22:30,240 --> 01:22:32,559 Speaker 6: facing his problems. I can't imagine being so petty and 1828 01:22:32,600 --> 01:22:35,360 Speaker 6: pushing the blame on others. Of a failed friendship is 1829 01:22:35,400 --> 01:22:38,160 Speaker 6: the best thing you can come with. I mean sure, 1830 01:22:38,280 --> 01:22:40,160 Speaker 6: I don't know. We didn't even need to say any 1831 01:22:40,160 --> 01:22:42,160 Speaker 6: of that. Just block the man, move on.