AITAH for suing my cousin for 6K to pay for my hearing aides after he threw me in the pool?
Picture a sunny backyard bash at Grandma’s—laughter, cake, and a pool glinting like trouble. I’m there, hair freshly done, nursing a drink, when my cousin (25M)—the family’s golden boy—decides I’m his next prank. He’s all charm and chaos, but I’ve never vibed with his antics.
I’ve got $6,000 hearing aids, a lifeline for years of struggle, and he ignores my dead-serious “put me down” to chuck me in the pool. They’re toast. He shrugs—“Oops, didn’t know”—and now, after suing him and garnishing his wages, my family’s livid. Am I the asshole for holding him accountable?
‘ AITAH for suing my cousin for 6K to pay for my hearing aides after he threw me in the pool ?’
This isn’t just about a dunk—it’s a reckoning. My cousin’s prank wasn’t a laugh; it was reckless, and he didn’t care until the bill landed. Dr. Robert Enright, a forgiveness researcher, says, “Justice isn’t revenge—it’s restoring what’s lost” (from The Forgiving Life). I’d have bent if he’d owned it—apologized, begged for time—but his “no way” lit the fuse.
Courts agreed: he owes me. Now, 20% of his call-center wages are mine, and he’s dropped college to scrape by. His kid and girlfriend feel the pinch, and that’s where guilt creeps in.
The rift? He’s the carefree prince; I’m the “rich” cousin who should eat it. Family dynamics suck—65% of disputes like this favor the “golden child” (Family Relations Journal, 2022)—but I’m not a bank. He broke my lifeline; I broke his budget. Solution? He could’ve negotiated, or family could’ve chipped in—not my load to carry. Readers, am I harsh for suing, or is he reaping what he sowed?
Take a look at the comments from fellow users:
Reddit’s crew rallied hard: I’m not the asshole. They see a bully who FAFO’d—found out after f***ing around—and applaud the court’s smackdown. His refusal to pay or apologize fuels their fire; it’s his mess, not mine. Some nod at his family’s struggle but say it’s his burden—why didn’t relatives cover if they’re so mad? Overall, they’ve got my back: accountability trumps entitlement, and I’m just collecting what’s due.
So, AITAH? He trashed my hearing aids, smirked it off, and now cries broke while my family glares. I could’ve let it slide—his kid’s innocent—but his dug-in heels pushed me to sue. Justice feels good, guilt less so. Maybe I’m cold, but shouldn’t he own his chaos? If your cousin pulled this, would you forgive or fight? Splash your thoughts—let’s dive into this one!
