AITA for getting my family to do a “swear tax” after my dad told me off for swearing?
Double standards can spark creative rebellion, as a 15-year-old girl proved when her dad scolded her for swearing—despite his and her brothers’ frequent profanity. Tired of being singled out as “unladylike,” she proposed a family “swear tax”: a dollar per curse to anyone who hears it. Her parents and twin brothers, 17, agreed, turning it into a household rule. Months later, she’s $250 richer, her dad’s fuming over an $18 tab he shorted, and her brothers are caught in a cuss-and-pay spiral.
Her plan flipped the script, but now her family’s irritation has her second-guessing. This tale mixes teenage ingenuity with family friction, asking where fairness ends and pettiness begins.
‘AITA for getting my family to do a “swear tax” after my dad told me off for swearing?’
This teen’s “swear tax” is a masterstroke of social engineering, exposing a gendered double standard while holding her family accountable. Her dad’s criticism of her language—while he and her brothers curse freely—smacks of hypocrisy, and her solution cleverly shifts the power dynamic.
Earning $250 in months proves their habits dwarf hers, validating her point. His refusal to pay the full $18, though, muddies his stance: if swearing’s wrong, why cap the penalty? Family therapist Dr. Virginia Satir notes, “Rules work best when applied consistently; selective enforcement breeds resentment” (Peoplemaking, 1972).
Studies show 60% of teens perceive parental double standards, often sparking subtle pushback (Journal of Adolescent Research, 2023). Her approach is fair—everyone opted in—but her profit motive might now overshadow the lesson. A family meeting to tweak the rule (e.g., a daily cap) could ease tensions, though she’s within her rights to keep collecting. Her dad’s the one who needs to rethink his example.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
Reddit users cheered her as NTA, praising her wit in tackling the hypocrisy. Many loved how she turned a lecture into a lucrative lesson, urging her to stick to the rules her family agreed to. Some suggested petty counters—like free swear credits for her dad’s shortfall—while others warned against exploiting it too far (e.g., eavesdropping). Most saw her dad and brothers’ frustration as self-inflicted, with the consensus hailing her as a petty genius outsmarting a double standard.
This swear tax flipped a family flaw into a teenage triumph, but it’s stirred grumbles at home. Her scheme proved her point—cussing’s a family trait, not just her vice—yet her earnings now irk the culprits. Was she right to cash in on their habits, or should she dial it back? How do readers tackle unfair rules—call them out, game them, or let them slide? Share your thoughts on outsmarting double standards.
