AITAH for how I reacted when my niece announced she was engaged?
The individual posting (33M) has a close relationship with his niece, Ella (18F), due to the relatively small age gap between him and his brother (44M), which made him an uncle at age 14.
Although the brother's family moved away, they maintained contact, and the niece eventually mentioned having a boyfriend.
When Ella's boyfriend, Mark, was finally invited to a family event, the poster was shocked to discover Mark was 36, nearly double Ella's age. The situation escalated quickly when Ella announced they were engaged.
The poster reacted strongly by swearing and calling the relationship inappropriate, leading to accusations from the family that he ruined the celebration, leaving him questioning his reaction and concerned for his niece's future.
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The Internet Sounded Off — and It Got Loud:
This one sparked a storm. The comments range from brutally honest to surprisingly supportive — and everything in between.
The poster is experiencing significant emotional conflict stemming from his protective feelings toward his young niece and the strong disapproval he feels regarding her engagement to a much older man.
While the family focuses on the legality and the couple's happiness, the poster is focused on the potential for future harm and the perceived inappropriateness of the significant age difference.
The central question is whether the poster was justified in publicly expressing extreme disapproval over his niece's engagement based on the age gap, or if his actions constituted an overreaction that damaged family relationships.
Readers must weigh the value of fiercely advocating for perceived safety against respecting the autonomy of two legal adults.