Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

no_hypocrisy

(52,880 posts)
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 08:25 AM Wednesday

"I have the right to do whatever I want to do."

I've heard this before.

Not from Trump.

From my authoritarian father.

At a certain age, he felt unconstrained. His parents and all his siblings were gone. He made my mother feel impotent.

He owned his medical practice. His medical partner mostly allowed Dad to do whatever he wanted.

He punished simply because my siblings and/or I ruined his illusion of a perfect world. Like when my sister wanted to convert from Judaism to Catholicism (in order to get married faster). She married a nice Jewish boy in the end. Like when my brother did convert to Sufiism (mystical Islam) from Judaism. Like when I didn't support a co-worker at his doctor's office because she spent more time on the phone to organize her son's bar mitzvah than doing what had to be done in the office.

As for the latter, Dad wasn't satisfied only with punishing me for causing undue stress on this woman (which I didn't b/c the rest of the office agreed she wasn't pulling her share). He wanted to destroy me.

I won't go into the details (now) but Dad was driving a bulldozer, and I was in its path. Needless to say, I outmaneuvered him, but I never forget what he did and why he did it. Because he believed he had the right to do whatever he pleased.

No, TSF hasn't triggered PTSD, but I remember acutely Dad's MO.

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"I have the right to do whatever I want to do." (Original Post) no_hypocrisy Wednesday OP
Other than being Lutheran, the business being construction, and a beating element, I think I may have ... marble falls Wednesday #1
We've heard hildegaard28 Wednesday #2
There is no cure. Turbineguy Wednesday #3
A neighbor who has KT2000 Wednesday #4

marble falls

(67,831 posts)
1. Other than being Lutheran, the business being construction, and a beating element, I think I may have ...
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 08:32 AM
Wednesday

... some insight to your situation.

I've managed to work it mostly though, but in my seventies, it still gets me on occasion.

He would not pay my tuition at Akron U because the "professors are all communists."

hildegaard28

(765 posts)
2. We've heard
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 08:39 AM
Wednesday

This before, too. From a certain king. A king that was doing many of the same things he was. Remember what our response was?

Turbineguy

(39,292 posts)
3. There is no cure.
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 09:30 AM
Wednesday

He will get sicker and sicker. Expect cabinet brown nosing to get worse and longer to fulfill his needs.

KT2000

(21,687 posts)
4. A neighbor who has
Wed Aug 27, 2025, 11:30 AM
Wednesday

schizophrenia and bipolar says the same thing. He is in his 60s now, untreated, and in his mind, his authority is absolute. The only thing he wants to do is make others miserable.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Mental Health Support»"I have the right to do w...