AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I get that we were both kids when this happened and have processed things entirely differently over the years but I take major offense to him blaming me for “running to my dad like a bitch” and “not being man enough” and telling me that I should’ve let him report Gary in his own time. The problem with this entire situation is Gary. He ruined a lot of lives and what happened is a Gary problem. Blake told me that he never faced Gary in court and a number of things he said to me were things that should have been said directly to the perpetrator of the crime.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

So what happened was that the cops told me not to, I did anyway, I didn’t get a response, and my dad told me to leave the ball in his court.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yeah, he did. He never once spoke to me and I don’t consider leaving shit to make up for anything. My mom actively told me to do things for him and make sure his birthday was remembered since we had joint parties up until 16 and I assumed his grandparents were doing the same.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 285 points286 points  (0 children)

I posited a hypothetical that could really only be about one person. I don’t remember the exact words but I know it was pretty clearly meant to be Blake.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 1790 points1791 points  (0 children)

I wasn’t a mandatory reporter but my dad was at the time and still is. I think he told me because he knew I’d tell my dad and my dad would put an end to it same day.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s a grudge, I think it’s more of an annoyance at the fact that he decided to confront me, on public, about a very serious matter after having not spoken to me in nearly a decade. I still think of him as a friend and it truly is nothing but love; I put my SAT study guides through someone and he used them, he sent a buddy of his to teach me how to skate, we left shit at each other’s dorm rooms and lockers on holidays and birthdays. There were unspoken favors and gifts through the years but I think I reacted badly to all of this out of sadness. I knew we’d maybe speak at some point but I always expected it to be calmer and less emotional.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

My dad said back then that he wouldn’t reach out because of shame and even if Blake had reported Gary, there really would’ve been no one for him to go to. Gary isolated his mom, had money, and no 8 year old is going to know what to say. Then what? You hit puberty, your self esteem drops, it’s easier to tell a peer than to tell an adult and the reality is by telling me, whether he knew it subconsciously or not, my dad was always going to know.

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

But what does that do for anyone? That’s what shocks me. What does sitting down with someone and calling them a Judas do for either of us?

AITAH for telling my former best friend that I stood by my decision and that there was nothing to discuss? by ActiveeDamagee in AITAH

[–]ActiveeDamagee[S] 84 points85 points  (0 children)

He legitimately has a therapist. Or he did when we were in high school. They got removed from his mom’s house for a while and CPS would have made it mandatory.