this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
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My dad literally hits me and punishes me by starving me. However, my friend says he’s β€œjust trying to shape me into the perfect young man” and that he β€œtruly loves me”. This almost makes me think she’s either my dad in secret or dating my dad.

In all seriousness, what do I do? Stop talking to her? Talk to her? Be her friend despite it?

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[–] pineapplelover@lemm.ee 7 points 9 hours ago

Bruh I think you need CPS

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 13 hours ago

Seek help from a trusted adult. Teacher, parent of a friend that you trust, wherever you can.

[–] HotCoffee@lemm.ee 53 points 20 hours ago

With a friend like that you don't need enemies.

How would you react if you read this post as a stranger? Would you be okay with a father abusing a child?

Please also look for help outside an internet forum <3

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 11 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

Maybe someone should create a relationship advice community, because !asklemmy@lemmy.ml isn’t supposed to be that. It’s supposed to be an r/AskReddit clone.

[–] CraigCabbage@sh.itjust.works 1 points 15 hours ago

there is, but certain users get downvoted

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 21 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

In all seriousness, what do I do? Stop talking to her? Talk to her? Be her friend despite it?

Find her father, seduce him, become pregnant with his child, cause him to divorce his wife, forever remind your "friend" that you are her mother now, cut her out of the will, watch her become destitute, laugh at her as she ages prematurely from stress.

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

You missed them mentioning they are a guy, so he needs to seduce his friend's mom. I guess he could seduce the friend, get her pregnant, leave her for the mom, get the mom pregnant, and then leave her for the dad. It would take some serious game to pull off and bisexuality, but he would really make a point.

[–] Badabinski@kbin.earth 19 points 18 hours ago

In the short term? Grey rock your "friend." This person is an enabling shit who does not have your best interests at heart. You are being physically abused. What you describe isn't corporal punishment (which I personally consider to still be physical abuse), it is abuse. Starving someone to punish them is abuse. Anyone who takes part in, or enables said abuse is not someone you want in your life.

Do you have anyone safe in your life that you could go to? Other friends that would not condone what you are experiencing? An estranged parent? Even a trustworthy teacher? I'd recommend trying to build up a support network of people who actually care for your well being before pushing this enabling piece of trash out of your life.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 30 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

In all seriousness, what do I do?

You document your dad's child abuse and then report him so he can be prosecuted, convicted, and given a proper punishment back.

[–] snek_boi@lemmy.ml 7 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

You seem to value fairness and justice. I worked at a shelter and it’s often not as simple. Often, the dependency that children have with their abusive parents (or partners with their abusive partners) is something that needs to be worked on first, before any attempt to leave is made.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

Of course. Thank you for your dedication. ❀️

[–] nsrxn@scribe.disroot.org -3 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

he needs to understand why his actions are wrong. punishing him isn't teaching.

[–] 0x01@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Sometimes people do things they know are wrong. Beating one's child is pretty goddamn obviously wrong.

The irony of your post is that it would apply well to the child who indeed should be taught instead of physically abused (punished).

But why should society let abusers decide what the abused learn when the lessons being imparted are almost always self-serving.

We all make mistakes, we are all human, but sometimes the mistakes we make should have consequences that prevent future errors. Drive drunk? You shouldn't have a license or a car. Shoot up a school? You shouldn't have a gun, be near schools, or really even be in general society. Beat your child? You shouldn't be around children

[–] nsrxn@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 8 hours ago

but cutting a kid off from their only known support system and jailing the abuser doesn't serve the kid or society, on balance. I want to fix the problem, but calling the cops just doesn't look like a fix to me.

I watched my dad get cuffed and taken away and he's an asshole but that didnt fix the problem. I leaned on my mom, moved in with my grandma, and I'm better for it. it's not clear this kid has an extended network that can help them make it better.

being in jail and paying fines didn't help my dad. the biggest best change I saw from him came from explaining the dsm npd diagnosis to him.

I want this kid to get help, but I don't think the cops are it.

[–] victorz@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Surely his son's resentment should serve that purpose.

But in lieu of that, sure. However, I'm also of the opinion that teaching someone like this anything is second priority to just getting them to stop doing the bad thing.

[–] nsrxn@scribe.disroot.org 0 points 11 hours ago

of course, stop it. but what good is a jail sentence or fine going to do?

[–] theywilleatthestars@lemmy.world 14 points 19 hours ago

Tell her to fuck off. She doesn't care about you.

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 7 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

There is a lot of evidence that this type of punishment is counter productive and leads to more problems than it solves. EG https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.corporal-punishment.tm4923

Maybe you can show her those things and point out that those behaviors do not create healthy relationships. If she agrees with him, maybe her relationship is also not healthy, and should be limited.

[–] BlastboomStrice@mander.xyz 15 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Yikes, that terrible...

I think you need some more "official" help to this (I dont know where to direct you though..)

As to the "shaping" part, that's your dad traumatizing you to conform to patriarchy and eventually become emotionally numb and cruel, ~just what patriarchy wants in order to survive... ughh, that's really bad (you can learn more from the book "The will to change", where bell hooks explains it very well)

[–] Ledivin@lemmy.world 8 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

Fake or go to the police. Gather evidence of your father's actions first, then report him. Full stop, end of post. The friend is literally irrelevant.

[–] PawsAndProgress@hexbear.net 8 points 19 hours ago

I'd be concerned that she's been conditioned to believe such things in her home life as normal. No joke, congrats to you for recognizing the abuse you're going through. It's tough to spot and name it, let alone talk about it to others. Great first steps on your part. For your friend, it sounds like she's going through or has gone through something.

I'd suggest talking with a trusted adult, any trusted adult about this. They're going to give you better perspective and, more importantly, assistance with your situation, which is absolutely not ok.

For your friend, I can think of 2 responses:

  1. Ask her if she's been abused and conditioned to think that abuse is ok. Tell her that abuse isn't ok, and that if she's been abused, she needs to talk to someone about that, like a trusted authority figure.
  2. If this is a "debate me, bro" situation, there are endless resources that prove that victims of abuse are, indeed, victims. In other words, abuse doesn't strengthen anyone in the relationship; it weakens the victim through abuse and trauma. You can find all sorts of studies on any angle you'd like to pursue.
[–] OmegaPillar@lemmy.ca 8 points 20 hours ago

Sounds to me like this friend has gone through similar experiences and this is their coping mechanism.

Compromising your health as a 'means to teach' is not good parenting. Physical abuse and starvation are recognized means of torture, as far as I'm aware. Please seek help,if possible.

As for your friend, if you've already tried explaining your situation and that still doesn't register as abuse, you can tell her that you require support at this time, not additional work from someone in a position to support. It's ok to take a break from her for a time while you try to better your situation.

Best wishes bud, hang in there.

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 6 points 19 hours ago

She's the definition of gaslighting. Starvation and physical violence are not part of a healthy education.

[–] Cocopanda@futurology.today -1 points 10 hours ago

DM me. I would be happy to help you get help.

[–] JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 4 points 19 hours ago
[–] smegger@aussie.zone 2 points 19 hours ago

Maybe her view on proper parenting is also skewed by abuse? Not that it makes it ok. Was just talking with my psych, apparently the way my mother treated me growing up is considered abuse, just not the physical type. It really fucks with your head when you grow up with that sorta treatment.

Either way, don't settle for abuse. Keep notes about incidents times, dates, what happened, any photographic evidence of bruises from beatings. Go see your local police if you trust them, if not try to look up any youth assistance groups.

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

Probably ask her why, then stop talking to her.

[–] Kuori@hexbear.net 0 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Punch her in the mouth and then say you're just trying to shape her into the perfect young lady. shrug-outta-hecks

But more reasonably, let her know she's a monstrous piece of shit and an awful friend and that you'll be cutting ties due to her pro-child-abuse beliefs. Then do that.

I hope you can find a safe situation somewhere far away from these assholes soon.