In adult relationships, supporting your partner’s passions is the right thing to do. You don’t have to join them in their hobbies or even “get” why they enjoy doing something. Simply put, if you love them and care about their personal fulfillment, then you should respect their autonomy to do what brings them joy.
Unfortunately, one Redditor appears to have learned this lesson the hard way. Writing in the infamous /AmITheAsshole Subreddit, user @FitAngle6943 asked for some unbiased insight into a fight with his girlfriend. It all started because he openly demeaned her for writing fanfiction — in front of his family, no less.
AITA for making fun of my girlfriend for writing Fanfiction and claiming it’s actual writing?
by u/FitAngle6943 in AmItheAsshole
The Original Poster gave this for context: He (33M) has been dating his girlfriend, Abby (31F), for a few months. During Easter weekend, he invited her over to meet his family for the first time.
“Abby is quite smart. She has a PhD and works in her field,” he wrote. “I only have a BA, so you can imagine my surprise when hot and smart woman wanted to date me. Anyway, I digress, Abby’s passion is writing, although she’s never allowed me to read anything she wrote. She dreams of writing a book and says she’s practicing and trying to draft things.”
One day, OP was sleeping over Abby’s house, and he noticed his GF get up and go into her office to write. When he stirred, came into her office, and looked over her shoulder, he realized she was writing fanfiction, or works of self-published fiction using another author’s characters and world-building.
It’s an incredibly popular medium for writers, but OP wasn’t on board — and had some very rude things to say.