A Reddit user took to the AITA thread to seek advice on whether he was wrong for locking his girlfriend out of the basement so he could eat dinner without interruptions. His post painted a vivid picture of a relationship dominated by complaints and a desire for a little peace during mealtime.
The boyfriend, 39, explained that his girlfriend, 41, has a habit of complaining non-stop, especially during dinner.
He wrote, “I would really love nothing more than to just have a quiet dinner… It’s especially irritating because she gets upset when I don’t answer her fast enough, even when I’m chewing.” Despite expressing his discomfort, he felt the complaints had only intensified, leaving him with no choice but to find a new dining location — the basement.
In a desperate attempt to enjoy his meals in peace, he decided to take his dinner to the basement.
And he locked the door behind him. The girlfriend, however, was less than pleased. According to the Reddit post, she has since begged him to return to the dinner table and even threatened to remove the basement door from its hinges while he’s at work. The man turned to Reddit, asking, “Am I in the wrong here?”
Reddit users were quick to respond, with many feeling sympathy for the boyfriend.
One bluntly asked, “Why are you with someone this miserable?” They pointed out the difficulty of living with someone who complains constantly and suggested he might have a bigger decision on his hands than just where to eat dinner.
Others agreed, pushing him toward more drastic measures: “Change the rest of the locks on your house & ask where she’d like her stuff delivered,” advised one commenter.
While the post stirred strong opinions, many found humor in the situation.
One commenter joked, “I hope you didn’t accidentally kick one of her shoes on your way to the basement,” poking fun at one of the girlfriend’s complaints.
Another added, “You locked her out of the basement. That’s a good first step. Now do the same with the rest of your house.” The laughter may have lightened the tone, but it didn’t detract from the serious undertones of the responses.
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Other Redditors took a more empathetic approach while still being realistic.
“She sounds freaking insufferable,” one commenter wrote, noting that if the girlfriend is unhappy enough to complain all the time, “she should move out.”
Several users agreed, highlighting that constant negativity might be a dealbreaker in any relationship and suggesting that the couple needs to consider if they are truly compatible.
Interestingly, some self-identified “complainers” offered their perspectives.
“If I need to rant I will… ask first, ‘Can I rant about XYZ for a moment?’… Sometimes the answer is no … I take that very seriously,” one user shared. This commenter emphasized the importance of communication and boundaries, even for those who need to vent their frustrations regularly.
Reddit’s consensus appeared to lean towards the inevitability of a break-up.
One user pointed out, “I think you two are on your way to a break-up. She’s not budging on her timing of complaining, and you’re not budging on your very valid boundary.”
The post generated a discussion about when to draw the line in a relationship and whether certain conflicts are simply unresolvable.
Amidst the flurry of comments, some suggested seeking professional assistance.
“NTA. She needs a therapist to work with her,” one user proposed, indicating that the girlfriend’s behavior might require more than just a conversation.
While the replies mixed humor and empathy, the prevailing sentiment was that this couple might be nearing the end of their road together.
“If this woman can make a simple meal this miserable, force you to flee your kitchen every evening using only her words, imagine what she can do to the rest of your life if she tries,” warned one user.
Has time run out on this couple?
While some Redditors found humor in the situation, most suggested that the relationship may need a serious reevaluation. Whether they work things out or go their separate ways, one thing is clear: Everyone deserves to eat peacefully.
