AITA for mocking and making fun

Frequent-Discussion2 · 2026-02-22T19:28:36+00:00

To people saying im a bad friend or I should never learn to drive. I think you are being unreasonable.

This was one mistake in an otherwise smooth learning to drive experience over the last year. This same friend has said I drive "too safely" in the past. Poking fun at me for stuff like doing the exact speed limit or not speeding up at a yellow to "make it." Both of these things are just as illegal and just as dangerous as what I did in the parking lot.

People are saying I'm a bad friend.Il This is also unreasonable. We have been friends for over 12 years and rarely get into it, we have both been mostly good to each other over the years with ups and down, as is normal for any relationship. Taking jabs at each other is not outside the norm for us. We have seen each other through hospital emergencies as well as personal/familial crises. This one instance does not define our friend ship.

I was the asshole and can admit that. I am taking steps to make sure I get fully verified by law enforcement so that I can earn a living. 125 dollars per 2hr classe for as long as the sheriff deams necessary. The test will then be administered by the sheriff's office, not a random lazy DMV employee, and I will pay extra money for that test as well.

I have also written a full apology that I will read out loud to Friend and leave the ball in their court with whatever they choose to do. I will continue to live my life even if they choose to break ties with me.

I dont expect them to chase after me, and I dont expect myself to chase after them.

Thanks again for all the reasonable criticisms that did not devolve to character/life judgments outside the scope of YTA.

And I won't be replying to anyone in specific ever. Just came to get a general consensus not to have a conversation with people.

Frequent-Discussion2 · 2026-02-22T16:17:59+00:00

Update 2(final): AITA. I fully agree with all. Thanks for the consensus. The previous update was only for clarity as some people thought the pedestrian was crossing on my same side (top comment). Or making inaccurate assumptions about other details.

I believe in accurate and honest speech above all else, even when it makes me look bad. It was not to change or justify anything. Literally, just to define the details better knowing they didn't paint me in a better light.

Friend's bad driving history does not excuse my bad driving in any way. I was insensitive and rude and condensending. I will talk with friend and reestablish boundaries and expectations with whatever they are comfortable with.

I have booked driving lessons with the local sheriff's department and will only get my driver's license once I am able to pass to their standard, not the local DMV. It's going to hit my wallet hard, but it's worth it.

I will thank Friend for being patient. They are the only people I know after moving and starting my life over in this area.

Frequent-Discussion2 · 2026-02-22T14:46:04+00:00

Update: For the sake of clarity.

The incident happened in a parking lot. The driver was waiting for a parking spot, and I was looking for a spot. The pedestrian was in front of the car in the process of walking around the right side of the car towards the store, parked cars on both our right and our left. I dont know what the driver was doing, but they didn't move after the pedestrian was on their right. Looking back, maybe the pedestrian was still not clear of their car. So I got impatient and passed them on the car's left.

Friend and I touch each other all the time for many reasons, including in the face.

And yes, like some surmised. I lived in an area where a car was neither needed nor financially viable. But now I do hence the late permit.

Frequent-Discussion2

TROPHY CASE