AITA for asking my family to not make loud noises around my girlfriend and getting pissed when they didn’t?
In a festive swirl of a niece’s birthday party, a 23-year-old man hoped to share family joy with his girlfriend, whose trauma makes sudden loud noises unbearable. He secured their promise to avoid balloon pops, a courtesy once extended to his veteran grandfather. Yet, cruel jabs and deliberate bangs shattered the peace, sending his girlfriend to the ER with a panic-induced asthma attack.
His fiery exit left family ties strained and accusations flying. This Reddit tale balloons into a gripping story of trauma, respect, and betrayal, where family fun turned into a test of loyalty. Let’s pop into this drama and explore what it reveals about empathy and boundaries.
‘AITA for asking my family to not make loud noises around my girlfriend and getting pissed when they didn’t?’
This party fiasco exposes a shocking lack of empathy in dismissing trauma. The man’s request was reasonable, mirroring accommodations made for his grandfather’s PTSD. His family’s coordinated balloon-popping was not a prank but a cruel test, invalidating his girlfriend’s condition and escalating her distress to a medical emergency.
Trauma specialist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk notes in The Body Keeps the Score, “Trauma triggers are universal, not exclusive to veterans, and require respect.” Studies show 70% of people with PTSD experience heightened sensitivity to sensory triggers, like loud noises. The family’s comparison to the grandfather’s trauma is a false hierarchy that weaponizes grief.
The man’s anger was justified; his family owes an apology and education on trauma. He should prioritize his girlfriend’s safety, possibly limiting family contact until respect is shown.
Here’s how people reacted to the post:
Reddit exploded like a balloon barrage with this one—imagine a family gathering turned courtroom! Most rallied behind the man, condemning his family’s callous actions.
![[Reddit User] − NTA. Your family is a group of assholes though. They coordinated to deliberately TORTURE someone. They drove her to needing the ER. Your family is used to not doing that crap due to your grandfather, but now since it’s only your girlfriend it’s ok?. No it’s not.. Please go no contact with them as long as you are with girlfriend. Even then, maintain a strict distance.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/278145v-03.png)
![[Reddit User] − ALSO, I don't understand why in a party you should have to pop balloons. I've been to hundreds of children parties and it's loud, kids scream, the music is in high volume etc. But what is the necessity to pop balloons? Wtf.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/278145v-08.png)
![[Reddit User] − NTA. The problem isn't that they made noise, the problem is that they intentionally went out of their way to do exactly the thing that you asked them not to do.. Your family owes her the most abject of apologies.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/278145v-12.png)
But do these Reddit roars hit the mark, or are they just inflating the drama?
This birthday party betrayal blends care with cruelty, where a man’s plea for his girlfriend’s comfort was mocked with dangerous consequences. His fury was fair, but was his family’s gatekeeping of trauma too deep to bridge? Empathy should unite, not divide. What would you do when family tests a loved one’s limits? Share your thoughts—have you faced a clash over respecting someone’s triggers?
