Boy Calls Out Douchey Brother for Casual Prejudice, Parents Accuse Him of Bullying

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  • 01
    Font - r/AmltheAsshole u/ughascreen1 • 18h AITA for telling my sister it's her fault her son is being "bullied"?
  • 02
    Smile - My (26F) sister (33F) has 2 sons: Bracken (13M) and Neville (11M). My husband (24M) and I went to a basket raffle at our local library this past weekend, with my sister, Bracken, Neville, Bracken's girlfriend (13F), and my sister's husband (33M).
  • 03
    Font - This raffle is held every year and has many local businesses and organizations donate baskets to help raise funds for the library. There are all sorts of baskets from free messages to gift cards to sports jerseys and so much more. Bracken got some tickets for all of the sports related ones, he plays baseball and has done this every year, and he's been pretty successful in the past. Bracken then went around with his gf.
  • 04
    Font - I was hanging out with my husband, sister and rest of the family while looking at the baskets, when Bracken and his gf came back to us. Shortly after this, while still looking at the baskets, we saw some science-y baskets, with projects and books for kids. and adults. This type of stuff is what Neville likes, it was going fine until in that section, they had a few baskets that were aimed at girls in science/STEM.
  • 05
    Font - When Neville saw the baskets, he called them stupid and started making some pretty awful comments about how girls are "too dumb" for science and that's why they needed special baskets. He made some more comments like, “this is why robotics club is all boys". My husband and I just dismissed it, but we could see a few people giving us looks, and Bracken made a comment telling Neville to shut his mouth.
  • 06
    Plant - The raffle happened, Bracken won a lot, the rest of us didn't. On the car ride home, my hubby and I were asking each other where Neville could have learned that language and we were stumped.
  • 07
    Font - Last night, I got a call from my sister and she seemed stress, she was telling me about how horrible Neville's first month of middle school was. She was telling me he was being targeted and bullied. I asked her to explain what happened, and she was just crying, I asked if she could give the phone to someone else. She gave it to Bracken, who told us that she wasn't telling the truth. He said that kids were mocking Neville for what he said at the raffle. Bracken admitted he was telling his
  • 08
    Font - After she calmed down, she asked me what to do. I told her that this was on her and her fault for not correcting Neville's behavior. She said that she didn't know why he said it, and said that she "can't just take away his phone or friends" when I mentioned both as a possible source. She just doubled down and said she needed to "teach Bracken and his friends not to gossip". I told her she was being ridiculous and hung up. She tried calling back, I didn't pick up, then I got angry texts. A
  • 09
    Font - HeirOfRavenclaw 18h Pooperintendant [50] I thought this was going to be about bullying because she named her son Bracken lol Edit: this comment took off, so to keep in line with the sub I will add judgement ΝΤΑ
  • 10
    Font - Richi_i 17h ESH (except Bracken) we have a 11 year old falling into the misogynistic sexist rabbit hole. Poor parenting. No one including you, your husband, and his mom didn't say anything instead ignored his comment. I applaud Bracken for at least telling him to shut up. Bracken ngl is the only one who made sure Neville knew what he said was wrong even if it caused bullying I bet Neville knows what he said was wrong now because of Bracken. I just see it as a bully learning his lesson. Yo
  • 11
    Font - ΝΤΑ Kazekae 18h Partassipant [2] When Neville saw the baskets, he called them stupid and started making some pretty awful comments about how girls are "too dumb" for science and that's why they needed special baskets. He made some more comments like, "this is why robotics club is all boys". If you don't want to be bullied, don't bully people. Your sister needs to teach her son better than treat him like an angel that can do no wrong
  • 12
    Font - Prudent Plan_6451 17h INFO: Why didn't you, as a responsible adult who was present, immediately shut down the sexist comments? They were said in front of you and they were offensive. Had a stranger said them it would have been appropriate to respond. But you let your nephew get away with it? ESH except big bro. Everyone else gets a big fail. ⠀ Reply 4338 SteakTastic Meat 11h From the way the mom is reacting, I wouldn't be surprised if OP said something that their sister would've been mad
  • 13
    Font - ΝΤΑ Sidneyreb 17h Certified Proctologist [27] What your sister is doing is pushing the responsibility of Neville's words onto other people, like Bracken, instead of keeping Neville accountable for them. This is step one of enabling his behavior; each time he's allowed to get away with it, he'll feel emboldened to do it again and get worse each time. Ask me how I know. Actually, please don't ask. The person I know is almost 70 so it's an interminably long story.
  • 14
    Font - Pleasant Birthday_77 18h Asshole Aficionado [10] INFO: Those are made up names, right? On the actual question, NTA. She will have to rein him in, he is already a thoroughly unpleasant character and if she doesn't take action now, the likelihood of him improving is low. The consequence there will be that he will never be able to make friends or get along with other people. And if her own sister won't tell her, who will?
  • 15
    Font - PanamaViejo 15h ESH -Except for Bracken and maybe his girlfriend. Bracken and his friends shouldn't gossip but plenty of other people overheard his. misogynistic comments. My (26F) sister (33F) has 2 sons: Bracken (13M) and Neville (11M). My husband (24M) and I went to a basket raffle at our local library this past weekend, with my sister, Bracken, Neville, Bracken's girlfriend (13F), and my sister's husband (33M). When Neville saw the baskets, he called them stupid and started making som
  • 16
    Font - So none of the adults- you included OP, said anything to Neville about his comments the moment he made them? None of you mentioned how it is still hard for women in science and attitudes like his aren't helping the situation? That maybe there wouldn't be a need 'for special girl baskets' if everyone had a fair chance and were treated equally? Neville's parents need to get ahead of this and find out who he has been listening to on social media and in real life. Neville thinks girls are dum
  • 17
    Font - NTA KyotoDreams Tea 17h Asshole Enthusiast [8] Neville played stupid games and won stupid prizes. BTW, your sister's negligence will make things worse in the future for him if they don't nip this in the bud. Plus she's backwards for punishing her other son while he was being forthcoming to you on what's been happening with his brother at school. Looks to me that your sister has no resolve to make tough decisions on parenting (i.e. taking his phone away). No accountability. These are the m
  • 18
    Rectangle - Fit_Squirrel_4604 15h ESH. When he started to spew his sexist crap, he should have been shut down, whether it be from her, you or your hubby. At least 1 out of the 3 of you. adults should have said something. JA
  • 19
    Font - ESH lyncati 15h Every single adult in this situation has had multiple times to educate/advocate but instead chose to ignore the comment and provide no learning opportunity. Therapy could be a great resource, since none of you adults want to actually be a proper adult / role model for this child.

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