Aunt: I’m going to Walmart, do you need anything?

Me: no thanks, I’m going there later to do some shopping myself

Aunt: But we could combine trips! It’s wasteful to both drive there on the same day! The responsible thing to do—

Me: ok, I give up. Please get me cat litter and cat snacks.

Aunt: Ok!!! :)) Which ones? And what isle? What color is the package—

Me: exasperated Are you serious? I caved and gave you what you wanted. Now you’re asking for more information? I told you I wanted to do my own shopping, and you fought me on it. I’m making a peace offering by giving you two items to buy for me, and you’re saying I need to go find the names and package colors and isle numbers? Please just be satisfied with what I gave you.

The thing that she wants is to feel good about buying me something. But I don’t want that. That’s the disagreement.

I imagine most people would see me as the asshole here: she can’t buy the right item if I don’t tell her what it is. But I clearly don’t care about those details; if I wanted something specific I would have told her that. The only reason I mentioned them was to appease her. I’m giving her something she wanted, something I wanted for myself, and she’s demanding more.

  • 211@sopuli.xyz
    7·
    6 days ago

    That discussion is way fewer iterations than when I’m over and having it with my parents, and you’re spending way more energy on it than needed. In the end it’s just a back-and-forth non-sappy silly “I care about you”, and reacting as you did is basically replying “Fuck you and your caring”. Yeah, you’re a jerk, or socially inept.

    This is how my responses would be: “Not now, thanks”, “Nah, anything I should look at while you’re gone?”, " Nah", “Nah”, " Nah", “Nah, bye”.

    Also I fail to see how you could not care about the type of litter. Clumping/non-clumping/silicate/pellets are all so different to use. Poor kitty.