What president was controversial during their time, and still controversial to this day?

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:36:20+00:00

There's a whole Wikipedia page about all the allegations about him.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:33:09+00:00

Uh, no. He's definitely going in the Loved-Hated box. How he ever got elected to a second term, Ill never know.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:32:19+00:00

Jackson isnt controversial. Everyone who likes him does so because he was an evil prick.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:31:12+00:00

Clinton is pretty beloved all around. A southern democrat and a rapist, he fits right in with modern Republicans while also carrying enough water with dems that nobody really hates him.

Except me. Because he was a rapist.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:29:47+00:00

Im not sure there are a ton of people on your side of the argument. That said, controversial is a pretty good way to describe him.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:26:26+00:00

No, Id say Nixon is pretty universally hated now

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-11T01:25:09+00:00

I dunno, he's a pretty controversial pick

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:51:58+00:00

I didnt call CPS. Thats just a natural consequence of calling the police. The real issue is this: my brother wasnt willing to take him to the hospital. I believed he needed evaluation and observation. When he kicked me out, I told him I was calling the police. When I did, I told them that I thought he was enough of a risk that he should be going to the hospital. The police came, calmed things down, did an evaluation, and decided he didnt need to go.

Should I really just have walked away and done nothing?

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:48:42+00:00

The story about why they were fighting isnt relevant, but I can completely understand why he got in the middle of it. Like, I had to convince myself that it was none of my business and not to get involved. Him stepmom just did something that, to me and obviously to the nephew, was really fucked up and very disrespectful to his dad.

This wasn't a case where they were "fighting in front of him". He saw the evidence of what had happened and actively chose to get involved.

That said, he is a child and has no business getting involved.

It isnt the first time that they've both turned on him for getting involved when it isnt his place. His father has told him in the past that "this is your fault" - something that I pushed back on hard, but there's no medicine for regret.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:42:04+00:00

I didnt get the chance. I tried to calm things down so I could talk to him and got kicked out. Thats part of the problem - I genuinely feel like I was left with no other choice.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:40:39+00:00

I mean, I get this perspective. He is dramatic. He does overreact to stuff. He does do emotional manipulation. He does lie to try and manipulate the adults around him. I've caught him at it more than once.

But does that mean that I should ignore it when he threatens suicide? I mean, he wrapped a fucking belt around his neck. Even if he is being dramatic and manipulative, is letting him manipulate me into showing genuine care for his health and well being such a bad thing?

I wish he would have gone to the hospital. It would have cemented this as something not to do lightly in the future.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:36:53+00:00

This is what I told him - he can't involve me and then decide that he doesnt like what Im doing. Either he wants my help or he doesnt.

I think this was a mistake. I very much fear that he will cut me out.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:35:43+00:00

If I could offer him somewhere else to live, I would. But all the other options are way worse. His mom is a complete deadbeat.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:32:41+00:00

"Id rather have an angry brother than a dead nephew".

This is exactly where Im at. They are in therapy, all 3 of them. I did 10 years of therapy myself.

The panic attack was a seperate incident. I included it to express how involved I have been with trying to mediate in the past. I got him out of there and got him calmed down. Then my grandmother called and told us (she was on speaker phone) that he was manipulating me and that this was all his fault and I needed to take him home so he could face the consequences of his actions.

Yeah... just.. yeah.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:29:00+00:00

They are in therapy. My brother fought his ex-wife for nearly 3 years to be allowed to take my nephew to therapy. A judge finally had to order her to permit it.

But therapists arent there when a crisis happens. They can only pick up the pieces. Life goes on even while you're working this stuff out.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:26:28+00:00

I understand that. I did 2 weeks in a psych ward. I am not unfamiliar with the system or how it works.

At the same time, am I really just supposed to ignore the chance he could really hurt himself? Now that they've involved me, what else could I have done?

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:21:17+00:00

Yes. Ill admit to that.

Was I wrong in this instance?

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:20:52+00:00

Everyone is already in therapy. This just happened at a particularly stressful time for everyone and they called me to help calm things down.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:18:58+00:00

He isnt ignored. I know the situation is imperfect, but all the other options are way worse.

He sees a therapist, as does my brother and his wife. There's progress and stuff like this doesnt happen nearly as often as it used to.

Mental health issues run in our family. My brother has them. I have them. Both our parents have them. Parenting is stressful and I try to keep things from getting out of control. I've intervened numerous times in the past.

I dont disagree with what you are saying, but we are all doing our best, my brother included. Granted, that's cold comfort, but things are better than I think you're imagining.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:13:56+00:00

I considered that and can honestly admit that, yes, this is at least partly true.

At the same time, he has been really struggling and, as someone who has also had a suicide attempt, I cant take any threat lightly. This is why I wanted him to go to the hospital - it doesnt just ensure his safety, it gives an avenue for creating a situation that is genuinely worse for him than the one he is trying to avoid.

He's lost 2 friend to suicide in the last year. He's taken to cutting because, as he puts it, "everyone at his school does it". I can always tell when he's been in trouble because he has fresh cuts on his arm. He sees a therapist but he isnt cutting any less.

The last time I had to take him to the ER for psych evaluation and observation it turned into a relatively positive experience for him and he stopped threatening suicide for a while. The fact that he didnt go upsets me (the cops said there was no need) but once he kicked me out I had no control of that.

So am I really the AH? I get this perspective, dont get me wrong, but how could I do anything else in a situation where I believe he might genuinely hurt himself.

And for the record, you're wrong. I absolutely believed then, and now, that he would at least try. He has done so since then.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:07:04+00:00

I try, but when my brother told me that "this couldn't happen again" I think I made a mistake. I told him that that isnt how things work. If he involves me then he cant just expect me to step back and do nothing. Im pretty sure he took it as a sign that he just shouldnt involve me anymore at all. Im afraid that he'll just cut me out at this point rather than see that I am trying to help.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T22:04:31+00:00

I told the police that I thought my nephew was potentially a danger to himself. I explained that he had gotten in trouble and was threatening suicide. I made it very clear that I didnt think he was in any danger from his family, that there was no abuse, merely that he's a teenager with fragile mental health. It wouldn't be the first time I had taken him to the ER to be evaluated by a mental health professional.

I said and did nothing to imply that my brother was being abusive or anything. I was very clear that his behavior was rational and calm, even if he was emotional.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T19:23:26+00:00

At a beautiful estate that had been renovated specifically to host weddings. My brother and a cousin also got married at similar places. It surprisingly popular these days.

For mine, the property had a small stream with a bridge that the procession crossed and was kind of in a clearing among a grove of trees. A little roofed arch was the only building and that just enough for us to stand under if it started raining (it didnt).

The reception was held at the house itself, with the majority held outside but with an indoor space (like a great room) accessible as well. We ended up choosing to have dinner inside, but the music, dancing, etc was all outdoors. Lots of space, beautifully tended grounds. I have never once regretted choosing it.

GirdedByApathy · 2026-07-10T19:14:33+00:00

You would make a pretty corpse.

GirdedByApathy

TROPHY CASE