i feel like driving people around wouldn't be so weird if he just thought it was nice since he was bored but that he specifically looks for women and how he describes how they're nervous and then relieved is kind of creepy.
And deliberately going into low income areas because he's more likely to find a young woman in need of help. It reads very much as him figuring out an ideal hunting ground.
@KatieDrama87 yeah this is absolutely how serial killers start. Eventually the rush of their relief isn't going to be enough and it's going to escalate.
Yeah if he just happened to be out driving and saw someone that needed help and just wanted to help them, anyone, not just young alone girls, then that'd be great! But he's literally purposefully going to the BAD side of town to look for vulnerable young women... that's not okay
@KatieDrama87 and if I were his gf I'd speak to a therapist myself and see if he'd be willing to do a couple's session to discuss it. If not I'd end it and keep tabs on him
Do you think that man would feel bad if he's rude to someone he feels annoyed or threatened by? It's okay to be "rude". I know it's hard, because we learned to not make someone uncomfortable. But it's fine to reject people's advances. It's not rude to decide for yourself who is in your social space. And you don't owe anyone to be nice. Neutral and uninterested isn't assholish. And in threatening situations being an asshole is fine as well.
As a therapist, I agree that the most concerning part is the “I get so much enjoyment from watching them go from anxious to relieved when they get out of my car.” Even if he has decent intentions, it’s still about control and power (especially since he feels so powerless with his dad and finances) and it’s important that he learns how his inherent privileges/power can come across from the women/girls he is picking up. It’s normal to get a dopamine rush or a rush of adrenaline when you do a good deed. A lot of people become “adrenaline junkies” because of this very reason. But him getting the rush not for the good deed but from watching them be anxious/afraid/nervous… and then they realize they are safe when they make it home… what happens when one girl is not showing that relief or doesn’t express the gratitude you feel you are owed or something like this? Would the guy think a logical step is to confront her about it? He might even feel more powerful seeing direct fear… a lot of people justify things to themselves that almost seem harmless, until they aren’t harmless anymore… I do think OP should talk to a professional. I’m curious to know if it is something he has shared with his current therapist? If he has not told them, I wonder why not? Does he feel any amount of shame or guilt about it? This would indicate certain things to a mental health Specialist that might help him.
This was what stuck with me too. It's not that he takes pleasure in being trustworthy and likeable and that people are relaxed around him. It's that he takes pleasure in these girls being afraid and then relived. That's terrifying.
@@owlintrenchcoat And it could become dangerous. What happens when he picks up a 15-year-old girl who never shows relief and doesn't give him that rush? What happens if a girl refuses to go with him and she tries to flee? I don't think he's at that point at the time of the post, but this could potentially progress to an addiction that causes him to eventually cause harm to these girls when they don't give him that pleasure. The feeling of power grows out of control 9 times out of 10, and it's putting these girls in danger.
I vaguely recall an interview with a serial killer who spoke of toying with his victims, choking them to the point of almost passing out to see the relief on their face when he would stop. Only to start again and well...
I saw a post once and I will be raising my boys this way. It was about an aunt who’s nephew asked a girl out and she said no. The nephew was like aunt “what do I do? How can I win this girl over” Her response: “You don’t. You leave her be. She said no. Move on. Don’t try to make her like you. Just live your life. You tried. She said no. That’s IT!”
Yea, this is good. Probably too aggressive-sounding but I think most people should/would be willing to sacrifice the comfort and happiness of their sons to keep other girls safe.
@@kiraphobia222that's not sacrificing comfort and happiness Chasing someone who doesn't want should not be a source of comfort And that's not just to protect the girls, it also protects the boys in this situation To know they don't need to chase a girl who said no, they can find someone who does want them, and they'll both be better off that way That's a bit of a strange response
@@Isabella-vx3bc I meant in the sense of saying it like that and bashing the words in their hands could make them feel scared to talk to women in general, it sounds crazy but we all know about things parents do or used to do that fucked us up in the present. There's obviously a nicer/softer way to say it or you can just say "Just leave her alone" or "stop talking to her and move on" but it is what it is.
For Lauren: Girl! The story of the man wanting to pay. Check and monitor your bank statements! This is a scam I was made aware of when I was working retail, they’ll pay first and while they’re paying they tamper the machine so that the next transaction info goes to their phone. If you replace the card you paid with, do it!
She did 😊 she answered me on IG. I think it works like a shimmer, and even the phone number to get venmo info. There’s just so many ways I guess now 🥲🥲
The first guy, the fact he’s going out for night drives whilst suffering with insomnia is a red flag in itself. Driving whilst sleep deprived or tired can be just as, if not more, dangerous than driving drunk.
i was thinking the same thing. you lose time and reflexes severely in the state he’s in. he shouldn’t be driving himself, much less randos who have no clue the level at which he should not be driving!
I think what worries me a bit more is that he’s already in a state of trauma to the point where he’s unable to sleep… and instead of coping with these feelings in a healthy way, he’s using these women in vulnerable situations to help him self feel better and that’s very dangerous… it’s extremely predatory Particularly because a lot of these women are minors He’s using these women to help him self feel better instead of going to therapy and getting a deeper level of therapy that he needs because obviously he needs trauma counseling … sometimes Therapist aren’t equipped for the level of therapy that you need an obviously whoever he saying he may not be honest with about what he’s doing or whatever is happening because any therapist that you explain this to you he’s gonna put you on some kind of red alert… This particular type of behavior is extremely dangerous and the way she tells it tells me he’s not being honest with himself or with probably with us about exactly what’s happening. I worry that there’s more to the story, and that is even more dangerous . What happens if one of these people is not thankful that they get a ride and he gets angry ? That’s literally a worst-case scenario here and that’s more than likely gonna happen with someone who’s sleep deprived and not getting proper treatment …
@@jillbecker9535 I think because the video and everyone had already picked up on the part about how predatory it was, the commenter was saying that also the driving in itself is super dangerous
I think the dude who "pranked" his girlfriend just got off on her breaking down and that's why he kept doing it, cause the fun is in seeing how broken she can get.
Pretending to be dead as a prank is so incredibly wild. Especially to someone with PTSD. Some of my friends have made attempts in their lives and it’s the most stressful, heartbreaking, gut wrenching feeling to receive that text. I can’t imagine what I would do if I was her and my bf did that to me.
For Lauren’s story: he wanted to cuddle so other people would see and think they were a couple so no one would think anything if he put her in his car and left. Absolutely crazy he tried to pull that
OMG and buying her stuff (if he would’ve) so it looks like they're together, and then there’s no credit card trace of her there so no real last known whereabouts.
The best advice I was ever given was “You don’t owe strangers anything, not even a smile.” If you feel uncomfortable I’d rather accidentally seem mean to a stranger than put myself at risk. No definitely is a full sentence. So sorry you had to experience that scary moment!
LITERALLY!!! I had to scroll so much to find this comment because this was the story that resonated with me the most. I CANNOT IMAGINE. Immediately no. I really really hope she leaves him. She's 18yo and I need her to realize that there's so much better out there.
I know! That was horrible to listen to! I’m totally with Lauren; ‘pranks’ are only fun if everyone finds it funny. My fiancé and I will hide and scare each other every now and then because we both laugh at ourselves after yelling/jumping. But any pranks outside that i don’t like so WE DONT PARTAKE!!! It’s really not that hard to respect your partner’s boundaries 🤦🏻♀️ or at least it shouldn’t be.
Story one: it doesn’t sound like he’s getting pleasure from helping people, rather causing them unfounded fear. He says he enjoys how their anxieties about what he might do to them are replaced with relief when he lets them go. It’s a sort of control fantasy. As long as they’re in his car he controls what happens to them and he likes how it nags at them and makes them eye him with suspicion. Because in his eyes he’s “one of the good ones” others might kill one of these girls but he’ll let them go free, he may even feel they should be grateful to him for it. After all, all it takes is not dropping one of those girls back up. The more time they spend with him the less time they might be in danger, I don’t think it’s unfounded to believe he sees himself as some kind of a hero to these women. And if he’s taking the route I think he is, it’s only a matter of time before he believes he is owed something. That or this guy is truly some sort of narcissist. It’s hard to explain just how concerning his behavior and some of the ways he describes it are when in other aspects of the post he portrays himself as a righteous savior, but it is in those points that the cracks show. He’s not just happy to do a nice thing, the way he’s describing it is like an addict looking for his next fix. He’s happy that he has the power to destroy these women’s lives and walks out the hero every time
My friend and I once had to help a pregnant woman whose car had ran out of gas in the middle of an intersection. We were both super young, male and stupid. We ended up driving her to a nearby gas station, and the whole time I was *extremely* uncomfortable because I was scared she would think that we were evil. It was not fun for me, and the only reason I did it was because she was honestly in need and no one else was helping her. In retrospect, as an older person, we should have pushed her car out of the way and went and bought what she needed ourselves. Sure we would have needed to pay, but asking a pregnant woman to get into a car with 2 college age men was stupid. I think the only reason she did it was because we were nearby our college campus, and when we originally stopped there were 5 of us, 2 female, 2 wearing the colleges sweatshirts, and one guy the two women walked back to the school. So it was probably fairly low risk, but still. I do not want to make people scared, I wand them to be helped and safe and also *feel* helped and safe.
I concur. He might not be at the psycho kidnapping stage but he’s on his merry ol’ way. He’s checking all the wrong boxes…It’s at night time where no one sees him picking up all these underaged girls or girls in general, they’re also by themselves and have no where to go, he finds it a hobby looking for girls other than his GF (which is cheating in other cases), and him going for a drive is not a distraction anymore (because he can’t sleep), he now has purpose. His purpose might sound good for now but the way that he’s going doesn’t sound like it’s going to end well.
I completely agree! You did a great job of explaining exactly why it’s so creepy. It’s hard to write so eloquently about the feeling that I’m sure the majority of us women got when he said what he likes about driving the girls home. The hairs stood on the back of my neck when she read it.
The night driver story is especially scary because he gets a thrill out of it and is going out of his way searching for this fulfillment at odd hours. What happens when it is no longer thrilling? Does he stop? Does he do something more drastic to keep the excitement alive? With the lack of sleep due to being a caregiver, a student and with insomnia - it is not far fetched that he could start experiencing time lapses and memory loss. What if he starts doing things wrong but cannot remember? This is not a safe coping mechanism. Not for him or any of these women, maybe not even for his girlfriend. I completely understand the girlfriend's concerns because I don't even know if I would be capable of trusting someone enough to give them the benefit of the doubt if I knew they were unaccounted for for hours every night with young/vulnerable women. I would assume the worst or at the very least, know that things will get worse. While he doesn't sound like a naturally bad person, I just worry about how that could develop if things in life get any harder or if it looses his sparkle and he begins craving more.
I did NOT like how he said he likes the thrill of them being anxious and then being relieved when he lets them out… like it sounds like he considers not letting them out or something.. like yes there are bad people out there that would do that, but to put yourself in that mindset every time, but feel like a hero because you don’t do anything bad to them does sound predatory.. it’s so weird..
@@kelseybotelho835 this is what got me as well! It just sounded soooo creepy. My immediate thought was „what is if he realizes that their fear gets him more excited than their relief?“
He definitely needs to analyze the root of the enjoyment when the girls become relieved. I could see it being a sort of risky high he gets, where the girl being anxious makes him feel anxious too, and so the relief they both feel when it's over transforms into a kind of high for him. But if he feels perfectly fine when the girls are nervous and enjoys that they're nervous he should check that out. It can be something really dark in him, but it can also be something that's simply just him being a nuisance. Much like pranksters who get a kick out of seeing their victims scared or upset right before revealing that it's just a prank. Hate pranksters... For his own sake he needs to stop, cause if anything ever happened to those girls before or after he picks them up, then he's automatically implicated. Even worse, one of the seemingly innocent girls could also hatch a scheme to make him a victim of his own kindness. I'd also say that while his girlfriend had a point about it being weird, demonizing his actions when his intentions weren't malicious isn't the right move to inspire change. If he's going to be reasoned with, it can't be from the point of view that getting girls safely to their destination is inherently wrong. Innocent and vulnerable groups can be targeted by both negative entities (criminals etc.) and positive entities (charities etc.) but the act of targeting them is not inherently bad in itself; intentions, psychology, and residual effects play a huge part. If he really wants to do this crap, he at least needs to join an officially sanctioned neighborhood security group or something, if they exist.
Great points! My initial thoughts when he said that he wasn't sleeping and going on long drives at night was that the bad part he was leading up to would be him having memory loss from one or more of those drives. But the escalation of what gives him that satisfactory feeling is very real and very scary to think about! My reaction to this was that the satisfaction he got from watching them go from anxiety to relief means that he gets off on being able to control the emotions of young and vulnerable women and girls. Because he's the one inflicting both the anxiety and the relief, yet he nowhere mentions feeling bad, in any shape or form, about making them anxious. So it's both that he likes = he just enjoys being in charge of their feelings and playing with them.
The first story! That guys behaviour could escalate quickly! A few girls get out and don’t seem relieved so the next time he scares them a bit to get the same feeling, then the next time he hurts them a bit to get them to appear relieved when they can leave! It’s a very scary behaviour!!
No, that's odd Argentinian men flirting. They're forward like that so he was telling her it's tradition to do those things to flirt- dead giveaway is the cuddling joke. He's probably just clueless about the cultural differences so it kind of made me chuckle a little because I can see how something like that might make American women rightfully scared because there are so many psychos in America. That's why latinas in general are more assertive when turning men down- that kind of flirting is what we deal with on the daily. The phone thing could be because it's an international number- it means nothing.
Lauren, thank you for sharing your story in the beginning of this episode. I had something similar happen to me a few years ago at Walmart. Three guys kept running into me throughout the store. Then at the checkout out on said “you should be a model, your beautiful bla bla bla.” I smiled and said thank you and then grabbed my stuff and went on my way. Thinking that was done and over with. I go to my car alone and and open my door, turn around to put my bag in the back seat and the one guy is at my door and like I’m my face trying to touch me. I said I have a boyfriend please leave me alone and jump in my car. (Window was open and he is like in my window in the car.) I turn the car on and put it in reverse saying I really got to go not knowing where his two friends were. I was very scared and alarms in my head were going off. I got him out of my window and left as fast as I could. I was pretty shaken up. I decided to post on Facebook the next day to let other girl aware. Turns out multiple people saw and asked on Facebook if I was ok they saw but didn’t say anything. Also found out it happened later that day to someone at Home Depot which was next door. Also the guy was a registered rapist. And I found out sex trafficking was and actual issue in the area that I never even realized was an issue here. It was very scary and I feel like I was lucky even though I think I could have handled it differently and better. My guy friends say I over reacted and my female friends say I should have called the police. It’s scary that you can’t even go shopping without worrying about your safety. Anyways sorry for babbling but thank you for sharing. Many of us out here can relate. Love the show and love you guys!
The guy friends are probably saying that because they’ve had friends who did that kind of stuff before and are trying to justify it in their mind. You did not overreact at all, especially since you found out there are rapists and traffickers in the area. He was a stranger, no matter his intentions, you did not owe him anything. I’m glad you got out of there okay. No one with good intentions would sneak up to touch a stranger in a dark parking lot and reach through their car window. If he had anything to say he could do it from a distance.
Scary!!! You are not overacting and the guy friends who think you are would be suspicious in my mind. Glad you are safe, next time call the store and police, report their asses so others are protected.
I’ve had too many situations like this. I’m just so lucky how deeply my mom instilled standing my ground into who I am. I do not take my life & possible threats against it lightly at all.
Omg that is terrifying. I am so glad you got away and are safe. And you are NOT overreacting, F your guy friends who said you were. Keep a pepper spray on you and stay alert.
Two of my coworkers that are women told me that instead of asking for a woman’s number to ask them if I can give them my number, it gives them the ability to have the control of engaging in any future conversations, I have yet to do it just because I get too nervous around pretty women but it does make sense! Love the podcasts❤️ love that each episode has been getting longer!😂
As a woman I HATE that we are brought up to be so kind to everyone the point where we tend to put others feelings above our own SAFETY! BE RUDE! It’s okay to be rude it’s okay to say no. I’ve been in a situation where I wish I would have listened to my gut and I didn’t and I will regret it for the rest of my life because I now have PTSD.
I agree, however, its not always done out of "not hurting feelings". Many women feel they need to placate a possibly dangerous man until they can get away safely out of fear of them doing something worse.
Hey Morgan ! Just so you know, dog poop is NOT fertilizer ! It contains a number of bacteria that is actually very harmful and that we don't really want transmitted in our food. The difference between cow and dog poop is what they eat : cows are herbivores, so their poop is basically digested grass. But even for their poop to become fertilizer, you'd have to let it sit for a while (kinda like compost). Anyway, enough about shit, thank you both for an amazing episode, as always ! ❤️
Exactly! Just came here looking for this comment. I just listened to the podcast and was freaking out bc you should always throw dog poop away! Especially when your dog poops on a field that is beinh used by a farmer. When dog poop gets into the food of cows/ horses they can actually have miscarriages bc some parasites are being transmitted.
Yes yes yes!! Was looking for this comment - dog poop can put e. coli in the local water systems via rain run-off, and may harm us and the animals that drink it. Always pick up dog poop even if you’re in the wilderness!!!
Yeah Morgan is kind of dumb honestly. She’s constantly making statements that are very obviously wrong and doing it so confidently. It’s kind of embarrassing at this point
Vasectomy story: if he didn’t want to get a vasectomy, the couple could have talked an d agreed that they would have always use protection and in case of a pregnancy, the wife would get an abortion. BUT NOPE HE JUST LIED AND GOT EVERYONE INTO A HOT MESS
He did tell her he didn’t want it she said that he refused and said “no I’m not comfortable with that” and she kept bringing it up pressuring and pushing him to go through with it despite how he felt
@@riskiiiwis4294 well she could of gotten her tubes tied instead off pressuring him to do it instead, it’s possible for women to get the same procedure done as well!!
@UNICORN_GURL1 having tubes tied is way more complicated a procedure than getting a vasectomy. And women are often on hormonal birth control for years, affecting their bodies, and men still whine that their partners should go one more major step further so they never have to take responsibility.
Story 3 has me absolutely FLOORED. How dare you fake a death to somebody who has PTSD and struggles with other mental illnesses? I’m glad that girl is leaving her boyfriend. He doesn’t deserve any happiness. That is absolutely evil & vile.
Story 2: that is essentially SA, she didn't consent to having unprotected sex. He's SO messed up, and I truly hope she found out and left him, plus that she aborted that fetus, cause she didn't want it, and if she had it, she's gonna resent it, if she doesn't already, and no kid deserves to grow up with a parent that doesn't want them.
"She's the love of my life, I don't know what I'd do without her".... then WHY DID YOU LIE TO HER FOR 2 F***ING YEARS? Why would you have unprotected sex that she didn't consent to? Why would you put your needs before hers and not even tell her? You don't do stuff like that to people you love
The silent FURY and heartbreak I feel for the girl with the boyfriend who played the joke on her. So glad she has such a good friend to help support her through discarding the trash person who took her for granted.
On the kidney story, this is why there should be some sort of way for adopted kids to know something about their background. How unfair to them for something like this to happen
I almost married a man and found out he had distant relatives with the same last name as me (I was given my dad's last name but he was never around) so I was super freaked out. Turned out it was a coincidence but i sure felt better knowing that! My last name was super uncommon and I'd never met anyone else with it other than my dad.
i’m a sperm donor baby and even we have a website where we can register to find half siblings, it’s honestly crazy there isn’t anything like that with adoptions
For that 3rd prank story…if someone doesn’t get bothered when they see that they caused you pain and discomfort, leave them. If they don’t respect your boundaries, leave them. It’s not worth it.
Absolutely agree!!! That situation was straight up abuse!! Mental, emotional abuse. First red flag was that he apologized about something then did it again. A true apology includes changed behavior. Instead this…..(insert long winded string of curse words and insults) doubled and tripled down!!! What a psycho!!!!!
Morgan: “What is H.S.?” Lauren: “Hereditary sister?” Morgan: “Sounds right.” Me in the audience: *face palms* “Half-sister. His wife’s his half-sister.”
58:30 i asked my therapist what actually counts as trauma and she told me, every experience, every event or situation that happened to you or around you and you couldn’t go on like you did before, that changed your life and you as a person. Idk if that makes sense English isn’t my first language and I just got home from an 11 hour shift at work
For Lauren: My rule of thumb is that if someone makes you uncomfortable, you are allowed to make them uncomfortable and/or be rude to them. I understand where you're coming from and I have all the same tendencies, but getting into my late twenties and thirties allowed me to start to stand up for myself and recognize that if someone makes me uncomfortable they can also be made uncomfortable. If that person thinks you're rude, that's on them not on you.
Yep! Be loud and make sure other people in the store see and hear you. Make an employee aware. Your anxieties over being perceived as rude or telling someone "no" is not worth (potentially) losing your life over.
@@strawbemoji Even as a man, I've been known to scream rape/rapist in people's faces who get too close to me or touch me and won't get away after me asking them ONCE. Sucks to sucks, stop being weird.
Just wait until you hit your 50's! I used to be like Lauren, but now if someone is giving me the creeps, I give zero fucks about offending them. Chances are I will never see them again anyway. Also, always, always, always trust your gut‼️
The prank story… he really let her call the cops before he broke character? The cops needed to show up to section him. That is now additional trauma for life. I’m so sorry she had to experience that.
I can't believe he went that far in the first place, but to actually slash his wrists? It's literally mind blowing anyone could do that to someone else. Dude is a psychopath and actually should be sectioned.
Love your podcast ❤. About the fertilizer comment: only animals that eat plants can be used as fertilizer. Meat eating animals poop would just kill the grass.
2nd story: I’m so thankful my mom was never one of those cagey abstinence types. She told me about menstruation years before it ever happened to me, when it did happen in 4th grade it was such a chill normal day. When I turned 16 I sat down with my mom and had a candid conversation about wanting birth control even though I wasn’t dating “just in case” she never once judged me. She thanked me for being honest, scheduled my gyno appointment and told me everything to expect. My dad even came with to hold my hand when I got my nexplanon implanted into my arm. This is all to say: I obviously never got pregnant, and I am so so overwhelmingly glad my parents were understanding and free of any kind of judgement. I felt prepared, I was educated on my options and I’ve been able to advocate for my health way better than some of my less fortunate peers. To any parents here: don’t withhold this kind of medical information from your kids, be open and honest, answer their questions and they will be way more prepared for their futures.
I had a similar experience and am thankful every freaking day that I got the genuine CHOICE on when to have children. I am 28 now and still child free for atleast a few more years and the older I get the more thankful I am that my mom raised me without judgement and gave me the proper info.
Same, my mom prepared me for everything and I’ll forever be grateful because I had such a difficult time with puberty. To this day I am healthy and have no children, though with my fiancé it’s a possibility later on. Definitely will be teaching my children so they always know they can ask me anything.
The first story, he’s only picking up vulnerable GIRLS not boys or men??? That is the ultimate red flag of the whole scenario, along with his enjoyment of seeing their discomfort
He has a million red flags but I don't know... Even men are afraid of men. I would better say why not pick up elderly people? Or not-poor/vulnerable women?
The prank story is insane. I really hope she finds someone who can understand and empathize with her. I admit I used to believe PTSD only happened to people who went through serious insane events (war, kidnapping, assault, etc.), But then in therapy I found out my anxiety was actually a result of complex childhood PTSD from my father with NPD. Totally shocking. It's really upsetting when people downplay mental health and struggles. It's usually completely out of their control and waving it off can make it worse
The third story, me and Morgan both yelled “asshole” at the same time. My jaw dropped, and my heart sank. That’s absolutely gruel and foul behavior. For you to do such a truly traumatic and heart breaking thing to a PARTNER, that you know is struggling. That is so sick.
Please please PLEASE do not just "try to be nice" if someone is making you uncomfortable and unsafe MAKE A SCENE. Yell, talk loudly, laugh obnoxiously, signal to an employee for assistance. People who are just being nice and casual, and want to survive the interaction I understand the panic of "maybe if im nice he wont kill me" but if you are in a situation like this literally be as assertive and loud as you can. Its easier said than done, in that moment you feel terrified, but stay safe everyone ❤️
listening to the third story and my heart is broken. i lost someone to suicide yesterday, it's not a joke at all. for anyone experiencing any thoughts, you are needed and you matter, please stay
I feel very validated after listening to the prank story because right before the pandemic hit, someone I was dating had visited my dorm apartment I shared with friends for a weekend. This person took any and every opportunity to jump out and scare me all the time, I even jumped so hard I spilled wine on the carpet. Of course when I asked if he was gonna help me clean it his response was, “Well I didn’t make the mess, not my problem.” I kept telling him to stop because it wasn’t funny anymore after the 6th time in the same day, but he didn’t stop. He later that night jumped out and scared me while I was in the middle of getting ready for a shower. It was the last straw and I was completely naked and sobbing and shrieking at him to “get the fuck out,” while he laughed and had the time of his life. It had been many years since I’d had any flashbacks from the trauma I went through, but I was experiencing it all again. I wailed and sobbed loudly and uncontrollably for 4 hours nonstop naked on the bathroom floor. My roommate was there the whole time for me, and she just held me for hours. I hope he learned his lesson after having to hear me wail in a locked bathroom for hours. He apologized and felt extremely awful, but I still look back on the memory with distain and disgust. Anyways, even though I am so sad that OP had to go through all of that traumatic experience, it felt validating to know I wasn’t the only one who has gotten triggered so badly before over a prank.
Lauren that's actually very scary and I commend you for how you acted. You kept it together, did what your gut knew would best and you were so so brave (smart too). Really happy you're ok ❤❤
It's not common here what she went through, i'm from Argentina and we are friendly but that dude was not normal. If he did that here he would get rejected and if he push more he would get punch.
It’s a shame cause I always wanna give guys the benefit of the doubt & feel bad rejecting them; but personal safety should always come before a strangers feelings & being polite, obviously. Especially as he’s clearly not concerned with how uncomfortable he’s making you feel. I’ve noticed that when they’re overly pushy and can’t take rejection calmly, it’s your signal to gtfo
I didn’t really appreciate Morgan trying to dismiss her feelings. Lauren I’m glad you’re alive, next time you do not owe a stranger anything especially sparing his feelings! How terrible
"'No' is a complete sentence." changed my life when I first heard that. ❤ Also, the lying out of convenience is one of the biggest reasons I ended my 3 and a half year relationship. Love this podcast!!!!
I have 0 friends at this point in my life and it’s been harder than I care to admit always being alone and having incredible experiences, alone. But with your podcast I feel like I have friends again ❤️❤️ such a friendly atmosphere and community, please keep it up!
Same here, girl!! Especially since converting to Islam (there is one other Muslim lady where I live and she's MUCH older) and then becoming pregnant, it's been incredibly isolating. I LIVE for the 2 hours a fortnight I get to see my elder daughter, and my 6 siblings come along too. If I didn't have that, since I lost my job for being ill during this pregnancy (hyperemesis), I wouldn't see anyone but my bf that I live with, and it's incredibly depressing and lonely at times
lauren your landfill anxiety is so real sometimes i look at stuff and imagine it in a landfill. i’m so glad i’m not the only one. trying to not let it take over my life
Commented already, but the boyfriend story hit me HARD. I have CPTSD too. I feel so much empathy for OP, and after hearing that story I want nothing more than to hold her and comfort her. As for that boyfriend… I can’t say just what he deserves on RUclips. That man is ab*sive. I hope OP NEVER sees him again. For many of us with trauma based diagnoses, we do face judgement from ignorant people. I myself was someone who thought PTSD was only for people who go through big and severe trauma. It’s not the truth. That needs to be spread and shared.
Story 2- I honestly feel like I would end up in jail for something like this! How dare this man take away this woman's right to make the decision about having another child. She already gave him 2, when originally she Only wanted one or none. There is a special place in hell for ppl like that.
I knowww, this one made me so angry! Also why is she making all of the compromises? She put her body through all of that TWICE (!!!three times if he talked her out of abortion!!!) when she barely even wanted to do it once & he can't even get a vasectomy? If anything, like Morgan said "I do not want to get a vasectomy, can we just use protection?" He sounded so so so selfish. I hope she found out and divorced him tbh.
@Meganism/ it is %100 S.A. now that he has confessed on Reddit if she found it and could prove it's his account she can press charges and he should go to prison. Men and women have gone to jail for poking holes in condoms and men have gone to jail for faking a vasectomy before.
I was very worried about the night driver too, but not for the same reasons Morgan was. What stood out to me was the part about him not wanting to get them an Uber instead because "that wouldn't be the same thing" = It was never about them or their safety. And when Morgan also pointed out that thing with him saying his motivation was watching them go from being worried to feeling relieved I got chills down my spine! He gets a kick out of being able to create different emotions in young, vulnerable women/girls! And that's just a serial offender (of what I can't say for certain but probably the worst possible scenario...) in the making! Another thing he said that stood out to me was when he spoke about being in therapy: He never said specifically that he's told his therapist about this - which leads me to believe that he hasn't. If he had and the therapist had been leaning more towards his girlfriends perspective I don't think he'd have posted on Reddit after that, and if the therapist would have said _anything_ redeeming about the night driving he _for_ _sure_ would've made sure to mention that. + The fact that he talks about being in therapy a bit but manages to never mention speaking (or not speaking) about this very topic with them. It tells me that he absolutely hasn't. Which in and of itself is a huge red flag!
exactly him saying “i’m in therapy what else can i even do” but not stating that he has told his therapist abt this… that tells me he absolutely sees what he does as morally/ethically wrong but instead of facing the facts, he doubles down that this isn’t something he needs help for. also, he shouldn’t be driving while being an insomniac period, much less be driving around other ppl who are not aware of his severe sleep deprivation.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought he was talking about him BECOMING an Uber, not ordering the girls an Uber. In which case, it wouldn't be the same. In his mind, he wants to be a good Samaritan and just help people in need of help, not be paid to pick up drunks or whoever else would be requesting Ubers at 3am.
The toilet brush is indeed meant for cleaning, not specifically getting rid of poop streaks 😅 You're supposed to clean the toilet bowl with it and a disinfectant cleaner at least once a week. You're supposed to replace them every few months to prevent bacteria build up, assuming you are regularly soaking the brush in bleach.... meaning rinsing it in a flushing toilet is not enough, and it should probably be thrown away if you use it on streaks. I don't say this to shame, it's not 'common knowledge' I'm saying it because it *should* be common knowledge. These are important things to teach. A lot of really nasty illnesses can happen from poop, so proper cleaning and disinfecting is important. As for streaks, flush. Or you can try placing a bit of toilet paper strategically so when the toilet flushes the water sucks the toilet paper past the streaks and wipes them on it's way down.
I was watching a murder doc last night on a woman who was in a store, some man kept bugging her and then followed her when she went out side. The next day, she was found dead inside her car and he'd lit it on fire too. I'm SO glad you didn't go outside Lauren! So glad! Ladies! DO NOT be afraid to ask a member of staff to walk with you or wait in store for them to leave first!!!! Stay safe ❤
This is something I learned about child kidnappings but is applicable for Lauren’s story: IF SEEM LOST OR LIKE YOU NEED HELP AND SOMEONE IS PURSUING YOU THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE A PREDATOR THAN IF YOU SEEK SOMEONE OUT.
THIS! If I ever got lost as a kid or when I was a bit older out by myself but uncomfortable, I’d look for a mom with her kids or a group of women to hang around and if necessary ask them for help.
After Lauren said that the guy at homegoods was telling her that it was an Argentinian custom to pay for someones cart after they do them a favor…. I gasped. I was born in Argentinian but raised in the states. Both of my parents are Argentinian and so is the rest of my family and I have never ever heard anything like that. Glad you’re safe!!
The night driving story is horrifying specifically because he likes to see the ‘relief’. What happens if someone doesn’t look nervous or relieved? Will he start making wrong turns on purpose to scare them? Say things to get them worked up? All for the eventual ‘relief’ when he stops??? Terrifying.
As a former Walmart employee, never be afraid to ask a worker to walk with you to your car. We can let our supervisors know the situation and you’re not having to go out alone. So sorry that happened Lauren. That’s so scary
As a sister to four sisters I am the most assertive one. Two phrases I have taught them is “Absolutely not.” and “Like I said [rephrase your statement].” Unfortunately, we live in a world where we need to be perfectly clear with a specific sex. Never be afraid to stand up for your boundaries. 👏
When I was in college, my insomnia reached its peak. I was only sleeping 4 or so nights a week, and only for a few hours at a time. There’s no other way to describe life like that other than miserable. I had frequent auditory hallucinations, I made dumb choices constantly, I would sometimes blink and realize I’d been talking to my friends for five minutes straight and had no idea what I had said. Anxiety, depression, and my ED all got much much worse, and none of it got better until my doctor put me on a mild anxiety medication that knocked me out at night. It’s a life changer. That depression that seems unbeatable is still rough but so much more manageable when you are nourishing your body and getting the right amount of *good* sleep. Please see a doctor or therapist of your sleep is out of whack, I can’t explain how different of a person you are when that gets sorted.
I only know this because I took AP Environmental Studies years ago.... Dog poop takes a while to decompose and dog poop kills grass if you let it sit out for too long, spreads bacteria and parasites and has the potential to pollute drinking water. Cow poop and most farm animals also pollute water ways with poop. Most poop is mixed into the soil/ compost so it breaks down easier. I think maybe paper bags would be a better solution for dog poop, Im sure there a better ways to handle it.
was looking for this comment❤adding on, depending where you live wildlife will eat it which makes them rely on humans and can make them sick :( composting dog poop is a really great option if people have the resources!! :)
I stumbled upon this podcast bc I was looking for AITA stories for some background noise. I’ve been listening for a few days and I just want to say I really enjoy how at home and safe I feel to listen to you guys and all of the guests I’ve heard on here. As a non-binary person myself it’s a struggle out here and just hearing how welcoming and understanding you guys are is so refreshing. It’s hard to find podcasts like this bc it seems like someone always ends up saying something a little off. Please keep up the great content! I don’t really comment but wanted to say something. Thank you for being wonderful people! ❤
Never ever ever feel like you owe kindness to anyone that's making you feel uncomfortable! That guy from Lauren's story is terrifying. You had every right to be a justified A-Hole to him. I've had someone follow me around and be pushy like that before too, so much so that he kissed me without warning. I was so shocked I didn't say anything and played nice until I was finally able to excuse my way out of the situation. Looking back now I wish 19-year-old me would've hit him!
Came here to say the same thing. Who cares if a guy you don’t even know thinks you’re a little cold? Worst that could happen: you’ll get to walk away unharmed, & he’ll think twice about being so forward with someone else. We as women are taught that the worst thing we can be is unlikable, so we do everything we can to preserve our likability. But at what cost? As Jerry would say, keep your dignity, and move along!
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Awful! I think you should forgive 19 year old you though. Playing nice may very well have kept her/you safe. If she/you had hit that dude, he might have hit you back. I have unfortunately discovered that even boys the same height and weight as me are much stronger and able to hurt me.
Lauren, and all women, sooooo many women get harmed literally every day because they are scared of being mean. It’s better to have someone think you’re TA than to be the body on the side of the road. I’m so glad you are okay but next time might not be the same. 🖤
i agree! also i don't give men the benefit of the doubt anymore, i had to learned the hard way that most of them are not just socially awkward when they show creepy behavior or start to not take no for an answer. i don't care if i'm being "the rude b*tch" anymore now, i was polite for the longest time and i regretted it so often because it put me in situations where i got sexually harassed, threatened physical violence or SA etc. better be safe than sorry!
I love the idea of having the guest bring one story for each episode, like this one! I think it's a fun way to involve them the way you did in the 100th episode. If you're worried about duplicate stories, you can have the guest and you send the stories to the same person to make sure there's no dupes!
For the Kidney Story: I am one of those people that had their family implode due to an Ancestry DNA test. My mom got it for me and my siblings (we're all properly related lol) but she noticed after a while her dad wasn't popping up. Turns out around the time my mom was conceived my grandma was being a bit of a wild child and just thought the grandpa I grew up with was my mom's dad. He passed a year before we found out, so thankfully he didn't have to learn this. We located my bio grandpa and my mom now has 3 more siblings, all brothers one only 8 or so years older than me and living part time in my city. I've dated men with a larger age-gap than exists between me and my uncle (vom). I can totally see how something like this could happen, especially if OPs bio dad had impregnated another girl and she put the baby up for adoption and didn't tell him about it.
I unintentionally did this to a family, I was adopted at birth and my husband and I got 23&me out of curiosity of my background and I wanted to know about genetic issues. Well Turns out my bio dad didn’t know about me and has a kid a few months older with his wife sooo it was a bit awkward
@@HeatMiserr She was not a cheater. She was not monogamous with anyone involved. Everyone was aware what was going on, she genuinely just thought the grandpa I was raised with was my mom's dad. My bio grandpa started dating his wife around the same time I believe, no one was exclusive. It was the 70s and they were young college age kids. Weird you think you know my family better than I do lmao
OMG to your point about the dog poop in the bag!!! My sister in law was paying so much money for biodegradable cat litter and was always scooping the cat litter and putting it into a plastic bag to throw out. One day I was like "I don't understand why you pay $30 for a bag of biodegradable litter for it to go into a plastic bag and never break down" blew her damn mind 😭
Now that you mention it… I think my coworker does the same thing. I’ve been her pet sitter before and the thought never crossed my mind. 💀 I’ll have to mention it to her. Lol
@@CircusoftheMoon No fr I was like aw that's so cool that u buy that kind of litter I'll start buying it too!! Then I saw her just using all the plastic shopping bags when scooping it I was like o......... lmao I feel bad bc I know the intentions are pure 😭
For the 1st story, i was waiting for someone to mention how being sleep deprived can affect you soooo much.... so yeah,it may start off as somethinng innocent but after being sleep deprived for so long....idk. 👀
It's not very innocent after he learned she was a minor and offered to give her a ride, if you're gonna help someone like that, especially a woman as a man. You just call them a Uber and then leave, you don't stay, you don't try to converse. You just give the info for the Uber then leave cuz you're likely still being looked at like a creep regardless.
This was never an innocent act. This man doesn't enjoy helping he enjoys control. He knows that while they are in that car he could do anything to them and he's clearly getting more addicted to that control. Eventually, that will likely evolve into something worse.
Side note/fact: dog poop can’t be used as fertilizer because of what it contains, it also can spread bacteria and parasites to drinking water. I don’t know why cow/sheep poop is good for gardens, but dog poop is not.
Just wanted to say that I so very much appreciate you breaking up the podcast into story sections w/ the description of each story. It's sooooo freaking convenient!! THANK YOU!
Dear Morgan and the THT team! I CANT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR U! At my worst days you are my savior! I struggle with a lot of mental health diagnosis and it gets tough almost every night yet i know where to go everytime i feel alone. God bless you, thank you, genuinely. You can't imagine what you are doing for me❤️
The description of the feeling of enjoyment he gets when their fear or anxiety turns to relief is down to one thing - power. It's not that he actually wants to help people, it's that he feels out of control in his own life, and the knowledge that he had to power to hurt that woman but didn't THAT’S what he's getting off on. Especially as he seeks this out as a direct reaction to stress. This isn't something we should play devil's advocate over, this is extremely unhealthy behaviour.
I just want to say about the last story... I was so often punished when I was younger for doing something wrong and admitting it that I just learned to lie straight away. It still takes me a lot of effort to admit when I make a mistake and own up to it in the subconscious fear of being punished. Getting better at it, but it's a work.
I wasn't raised by my parents (born on a ship) and the fluctuations in parenting styles in experienced before I was 9 is crazy. Every week another intern who needed validation and punished me until I felt physically unwell, I have to make a conscious decision to own up because my first reaction will forever be to deny and attack my accuser. I'm 41 now. It's okay to make mistakes, I have to tell myself that often. You are not alone.
I once had take someone to the hospital who didn’t sleep for three days straight. She was hallucinating the wildest of things. Eventually, the doctor came in and gave her medication to make her sleep. I can’t even begin to explain how many things are wrong with the first guys story. I hope he stopped immediately and never did it again.
Dude, Lauren, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. I ranted to my husband about this topic recently. I was taught to be polite, not to be mean... basically what Lauren was saying... to be a "nice girl" 🙄. Being "nice" has gotten me in *more* trouble than if I was just an asshole. In 2018, I was granted a *50 year* restraining order against a guy I never even dated. I had two 2yr restraining orders against him prior to being granted that one. Now, I rather hurt someone's feelings (in the most kind way possible) than deal with another stalker. I'm a mom to two boys, and I'm going to do everything in my power to raise them right. No lashing out if they get rejected, or think they're entitled to....whatever. Lots of love to you guys ❤
The kidney story; I understand the wanting to tell her the truth immediately from Reddit but I think im this particular case, he’s doing the right thing. Usually I’m always for “the truth immediately all the time” but I think he’s got a damn good reason to keep this from her for now.
For the story with the friend who ruined his friends’ bathroom: I did something similar a few years ago. Some friends and I got drunk, myself for the first time, and we were at my buddy’s where he lived with his parents. While using the washroom, I got super sick. In my drunken state, I tried to clean up but couldn’t. So I immediately went to his mom to apologize for my mess. In the morning I apologized again. To this day, his mom teases me for it. I could never imagine not owning up to that kind of mess
HOLY SHIT the first story is insane. idk why i think this feels like the birth of a serial killer. i'm sure many people who have done bad things do them out of trauma and mental illness, so its not a stretch that he might triggering himself into psychopatic tendencies.
i am mostly an audio listener and so i forgot to say this on the previous episode (cant truly remember which one was it) when you guys were talking about proposing in iceland and i wanted to say JUSTIN ILL HELP YOU. i live in iceland (im not icelandic tho) but it made me really really excited when you guys were talking about coming back. makes me crazy happy. come here and we'll go to sky lagoon, as an employee i must say its great!!!
It's so scary how many women have stories like Lauren's. And Morgan is so right how we are taught all our lives to be nice to the boy but that is what gets us in the most trouble. I have been in so many bad situations made way worse because I didn't know how to stick up for myself and say no. Teach your children they have autonomy over their lives and their bodies from such a young age and it really sould save their life in the future.
i feel like driving people around wouldn't be so weird if he just thought it was nice since he was bored but that he specifically looks for women and how he describes how they're nervous and then relieved is kind of creepy.
And deliberately going into low income areas because he's more likely to find a young woman in need of help. It reads very much as him figuring out an ideal hunting ground.
@KatieDrama87 yeah this is absolutely how serial killers start. Eventually the rush of their relief isn't going to be enough and it's going to escalate.
@@writerchick94 exactly! He's already had a major stressor in his life, and therapy only works if you're 100% honest and committed to it.
Yeah if he just happened to be out driving and saw someone that needed help and just wanted to help them, anyone, not just young alone girls, then that'd be great! But he's literally purposefully going to the BAD side of town to look for vulnerable young women... that's not okay
@KatieDrama87 and if I were his gf I'd speak to a therapist myself and see if he'd be willing to do a couple's session to discuss it. If not I'd end it and keep tabs on him
“Im AfRaId ShE’lL lEaVe Me” SHE SHOULD LEAVE YOU, that’s gross and disgusting and horrible and I can’t imagine ever doing that to someone, wtf
That's what I'm saying D I V O R C E is the minimum of what he deserves
@@sarahhaybron9894 I don’t even remember what this is commenting on but yeah, I agree with this
Lauren as Crime Junkies taught me: be weird, be rude, stay alive
And like My favorite murder taught us "f**k politeness "
@90charmedndangerous I was about to comment the same thing! Also, Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered!
@@90charmedndangerous the Murderino crossover! I love it
Do you think that man would feel bad if he's rude to someone he feels annoyed or threatened by? It's okay to be "rude". I know it's hard, because we learned to not make someone uncomfortable. But it's fine to reject people's advances. It's not rude to decide for yourself who is in your social space. And you don't owe anyone to be nice. Neutral and uninterested isn't assholish. And in threatening situations being an asshole is fine as well.
Was just going to comment this!
As a therapist, I agree that the most concerning part is the “I get so much enjoyment from watching them go from anxious to relieved when they get out of my car.” Even if he has decent intentions, it’s still about control and power (especially since he feels so powerless with his dad and finances) and it’s important that he learns how his inherent privileges/power can come across from the women/girls he is picking up. It’s normal to get a dopamine rush or a rush of adrenaline when you do a good deed. A lot of people become “adrenaline junkies” because of this very reason. But him getting the rush not for the good deed but from watching them be anxious/afraid/nervous… and then they realize they are safe when they make it home… what happens when one girl is not showing that relief or doesn’t express the gratitude you feel you are owed or something like this? Would the guy think a logical step is to confront her about it? He might even feel more powerful seeing direct fear… a lot of people justify things to themselves that almost seem harmless, until they aren’t harmless anymore… I do think OP should talk to a professional. I’m curious to know if it is something he has shared with his current therapist? If he has not told them, I wonder why not? Does he feel any amount of shame or guilt about it? This would indicate certain things to a mental health
Specialist that might help him.
This was what stuck with me too. It's not that he takes pleasure in being trustworthy and likeable and that people are relaxed around him. It's that he takes pleasure in these girls being afraid and then relived. That's terrifying.
@@owlintrenchcoat And it could become dangerous. What happens when he picks up a 15-year-old girl who never shows relief and doesn't give him that rush? What happens if a girl refuses to go with him and she tries to flee? I don't think he's at that point at the time of the post, but this could potentially progress to an addiction that causes him to eventually cause harm to these girls when they don't give him that pleasure. The feeling of power grows out of control 9 times out of 10, and it's putting these girls in danger.
I vaguely recall an interview with a serial killer who spoke of toying with his victims, choking them to the point of almost passing out to see the relief on their face when he would stop. Only to start again and well...
I had to look it up, it was Rodney Alcala
@@buuurrrrppppp221 oh the date show killer.
I saw a post once and I will be raising my boys this way.
It was about an aunt who’s nephew asked a girl out and she said no. The nephew was like aunt “what do I do? How can I win this girl over”
Her response: “You don’t. You leave her be. She said no. Move on. Don’t try to make her like you. Just live your life. You tried. She said no. That’s IT!”
Yea, this is good. Probably too aggressive-sounding but I think most people should/would be willing to sacrifice the comfort and happiness of their sons to keep other girls safe.
@@kiraphobia222that's not sacrificing comfort and happiness
Chasing someone who doesn't want should not be a source of comfort
And that's not just to protect the girls, it also protects the boys in this situation
To know they don't need to chase a girl who said no, they can find someone who does want them, and they'll both be better off that way
That's a bit of a strange response
@@Isabella-vx3bc I meant in the sense of saying it like that and bashing the words in their hands could make them feel scared to talk to women in general, it sounds crazy but we all know about things parents do or used to do that fucked us up in the present.
There's obviously a nicer/softer way to say it or you can just say "Just leave her alone" or "stop talking to her and move on" but it is what it is.
For Lauren: Girl! The story of the man wanting to pay. Check and monitor your bank statements! This is a scam I was made aware of when I was working retail, they’ll pay first and while they’re paying they tamper the machine so that the next transaction info goes to their phone. If you replace the card you paid with, do it!
interacting with this so hopefully they see this, so unnerving
Yes should check it
This!
She did 😊 she answered me on IG. I think it works like a shimmer, and even the phone number to get venmo info. There’s just so many ways I guess now 🥲🥲
😱
The first guy, the fact he’s going out for night drives whilst suffering with insomnia is a red flag in itself. Driving whilst sleep deprived or tired can be just as, if not more, dangerous than driving drunk.
i was thinking the same thing. you lose time and reflexes severely in the state he’s in. he shouldn’t be driving himself, much less randos who have no clue the level at which he should not be driving!
@@reaganb6173 Exactly! He’s not helping people he’s literally putting them in danger!
I think what worries me a bit more is that he’s already in a state of trauma to the point where he’s unable to sleep… and instead of coping with these feelings in a healthy way, he’s using these women in vulnerable situations to help him self feel better and that’s very dangerous… it’s extremely predatory
Particularly because a lot of these women are minors
He’s using these women to help him self feel better instead of going to therapy and getting a deeper level of therapy that he needs because obviously he needs trauma counseling … sometimes Therapist aren’t equipped for the level of therapy that you need an obviously whoever he saying he may not be honest with about what he’s doing or whatever is happening because any therapist that you explain this to you he’s gonna put you on some kind of red alert…
This particular type of behavior is extremely dangerous and the way she tells it tells me he’s not being honest with himself or with probably with us about exactly what’s happening.
I worry that there’s more to the story, and that is even more dangerous .
What happens if one of these people is not thankful that they get a ride and he gets angry ?
That’s literally a worst-case scenario here and that’s more than likely gonna happen with someone who’s sleep deprived and not getting proper treatment …
@@jillbecker9535 I think because the video and everyone had already picked up on the part about how predatory it was, the commenter was saying that also the driving in itself is super dangerous
These were my exact thoughts.
“that’s a big word for elmo” caught me so off guard and i genuinely can’t stop laughing
Watching this a year later and same, made me lol so hard. Me and Morgan would get along so well. I’m just like this 😭😂
Same like😭😂
I think the dude who "pranked" his girlfriend just got off on her breaking down and that's why he kept doing it, cause the fun is in seeing how broken she can get.
Pretending to be dead as a prank is so incredibly wild. Especially to someone with PTSD. Some of my friends have made attempts in their lives and it’s the most stressful, heartbreaking, gut wrenching feeling to receive that text. I can’t imagine what I would do if I was her and my bf did that to me.
For Lauren’s story: he wanted to cuddle so other people would see and think they were a couple so no one would think anything if he put her in his car and left. Absolutely crazy he tried to pull that
Holy shit 😮
Omg this actually made me nauseous. Didn’t even make that connection.
OMG and buying her stuff (if he would’ve) so it looks like they're together, and then there’s no credit card trace of her there so no real last known whereabouts.
Yea… stuff in the cart too
Oh wow I was thinking scamming but now I think he really was trying to take her! Thankfully she didn't fall for it but im sure alot would
The best advice I was ever given was “You don’t owe strangers anything, not even a smile.” If you feel uncomfortable I’d rather accidentally seem mean to a stranger than put myself at risk. No definitely is a full sentence. So sorry you had to experience that scary moment!
Sometimes being mean is putting yourself at risk. God it sucks being a woman
The prank story made me so sad and sick to my stomach. He caused her even more trauma doing this 😭
LITERALLY!!! I had to scroll so much to find this comment because this was the story that resonated with me the most. I CANNOT IMAGINE. Immediately no. I really really hope she leaves him. She's 18yo and I need her to realize that there's so much better out there.
Yeah that was DISGUSTING. I hope this person can get therapy to talk about it and that it doesn’t worsen their PTSD. Holy shit. Poor them.
Agree!! Even if she didn’t have a history of depression & self harm, a “prank” like that is just not acceptable.
I know! That was horrible to listen to! I’m totally with Lauren; ‘pranks’ are only fun if everyone finds it funny. My fiancé and I will hide and scare each other every now and then because we both laugh at ourselves after yelling/jumping. But any pranks outside that i don’t like so WE DONT PARTAKE!!! It’s really not that hard to respect your partner’s boundaries 🤦🏻♀️ or at least it shouldn’t be.
Yeah, that girl didn't leave 'because of the prank'
She left because he is an inconsiderate, stupid, mentally abusive AH
"These little boys have not been told no and grow up to be men that can't take no for an answer." most important quote EVER
Story one: it doesn’t sound like he’s getting pleasure from helping people, rather causing them unfounded fear. He says he enjoys how their anxieties about what he might do to them are replaced with relief when he lets them go. It’s a sort of control fantasy. As long as they’re in his car he controls what happens to them and he likes how it nags at them and makes them eye him with suspicion. Because in his eyes he’s “one of the good ones” others might kill one of these girls but he’ll let them go free, he may even feel they should be grateful to him for it. After all, all it takes is not dropping one of those girls back up. The more time they spend with him the less time they might be in danger, I don’t think it’s unfounded to believe he sees himself as some kind of a hero to these women. And if he’s taking the route I think he is, it’s only a matter of time before he believes he is owed something. That or this guy is truly some sort of narcissist. It’s hard to explain just how concerning his behavior and some of the ways he describes it are when in other aspects of the post he portrays himself as a righteous savior, but it is in those points that the cracks show. He’s not just happy to do a nice thing, the way he’s describing it is like an addict looking for his next fix. He’s happy that he has the power to destroy these women’s lives and walks out the hero every time
My thoughts exactly 💯 😕
My friend and I once had to help a pregnant woman whose car had ran out of gas in the middle of an intersection. We were both super young, male and stupid. We ended up driving her to a nearby gas station, and the whole time I was *extremely* uncomfortable because I was scared she would think that we were evil. It was not fun for me, and the only reason I did it was because she was honestly in need and no one else was helping her.
In retrospect, as an older person, we should have pushed her car out of the way and went and bought what she needed ourselves. Sure we would have needed to pay, but asking a pregnant woman to get into a car with 2 college age men was stupid. I think the only reason she did it was because we were nearby our college campus, and when we originally stopped there were 5 of us, 2 female, 2 wearing the colleges sweatshirts, and one guy the two women walked back to the school. So it was probably fairly low risk, but still. I do not want to make people scared, I wand them to be helped and safe and also *feel* helped and safe.
I concur. He might not be at the psycho kidnapping stage but he’s on his merry ol’ way. He’s checking all the wrong boxes…It’s at night time where no one sees him picking up all these underaged girls or girls in general, they’re also by themselves and have no where to go, he finds it a hobby looking for girls other than his GF (which is cheating in other cases), and him going for a drive is not a distraction anymore (because he can’t sleep), he now has purpose. His purpose might sound good for now but the way that he’s going doesn’t sound like it’s going to end well.
I completely agree! You did a great job of explaining exactly why it’s so creepy. It’s hard to write so eloquently about the feeling that I’m sure the majority of us women got when he said what he likes about driving the girls home. The hairs stood on the back of my neck when she read it.
1:14:02 “hereditary sister” girl- HALF SISTER 😭
Lmaoooo 😂 that part was killing me! I was yelling "HALF SISTER!!!" at my tv 😅
@@heezypeasy8611 same!!!
THANK YOU!! I was like “how are they not getting that it’s half sister!” And then they finally got it lol
RIGHT😂😂💗
Hahaha when she said it I was like oooooohh 💡
The night driver story is especially scary because he gets a thrill out of it and is going out of his way searching for this fulfillment at odd hours. What happens when it is no longer thrilling? Does he stop? Does he do something more drastic to keep the excitement alive? With the lack of sleep due to being a caregiver, a student and with insomnia - it is not far fetched that he could start experiencing time lapses and memory loss. What if he starts doing things wrong but cannot remember? This is not a safe coping mechanism. Not for him or any of these women, maybe not even for his girlfriend. I completely understand the girlfriend's concerns because I don't even know if I would be capable of trusting someone enough to give them the benefit of the doubt if I knew they were unaccounted for for hours every night with young/vulnerable women. I would assume the worst or at the very least, know that things will get worse. While he doesn't sound like a naturally bad person, I just worry about how that could develop if things in life get any harder or if it looses his sparkle and he begins craving more.
I did NOT like how he said he likes the thrill of them being anxious and then being relieved when he lets them out… like it sounds like he considers not letting them out or something.. like yes there are bad people out there that would do that, but to put yourself in that mindset every time, but feel like a hero because you don’t do anything bad to them does sound predatory.. it’s so weird..
@@kelseybotelho835 this is what got me as well! It just sounded soooo creepy. My immediate thought was „what is if he realizes that their fear gets him more excited than their relief?“
This was my thought, the possibility of that escalation is too real
He definitely needs to analyze the root of the enjoyment when the girls become relieved. I could see it being a sort of risky high he gets, where the girl being anxious makes him feel anxious too, and so the relief they both feel when it's over transforms into a kind of high for him. But if he feels perfectly fine when the girls are nervous and enjoys that they're nervous he should check that out. It can be something really dark in him, but it can also be something that's simply just him being a nuisance. Much like pranksters who get a kick out of seeing their victims scared or upset right before revealing that it's just a prank. Hate pranksters...
For his own sake he needs to stop, cause if anything ever happened to those girls before or after he picks them up, then he's automatically implicated. Even worse, one of the seemingly innocent girls could also hatch a scheme to make him a victim of his own kindness. I'd also say that while his girlfriend had a point about it being weird, demonizing his actions when his intentions weren't malicious isn't the right move to inspire change. If he's going to be reasoned with, it can't be from the point of view that getting girls safely to their destination is inherently wrong. Innocent and vulnerable groups can be targeted by both negative entities (criminals etc.) and positive entities (charities etc.) but the act of targeting them is not inherently bad in itself; intentions, psychology, and residual effects play a huge part. If he really wants to do this crap, he at least needs to join an officially sanctioned neighborhood security group or something, if they exist.
Great points!
My initial thoughts when he said that he wasn't sleeping and going on long drives at night was that the bad part he was leading up to would be him having memory loss from one or more of those drives.
But the escalation of what gives him that satisfactory feeling is very real and very scary to think about!
My reaction to this was that the satisfaction he got from watching them go from anxiety to relief means that he gets off on being able to control the emotions of young and vulnerable women and girls.
Because he's the one inflicting both the anxiety and the relief, yet he nowhere mentions feeling bad, in any shape or form, about making them anxious.
So it's both that he likes = he just enjoys being in charge of their feelings and playing with them.
The first story! That guys behaviour could escalate quickly! A few girls get out and don’t seem relieved so the next time he scares them a bit to get the same feeling, then the next time he hurts them a bit to get them to appear relieved when they can leave! It’s a very scary behaviour!!
No, that's odd Argentinian men flirting. They're forward like that so he was telling her it's tradition to do those things to flirt- dead giveaway is the cuddling joke. He's probably just clueless about the cultural differences so it kind of made me chuckle a little because I can see how something like that might make American women rightfully scared because there are so many psychos in America. That's why latinas in general are more assertive when turning men down- that kind of flirting is what we deal with on the daily. The phone thing could be because it's an international number- it means nothing.
Lauren’s flat earth joke is the funniest thing she’s done so far. She really got Morgan 😂😂
that was gold 🤣
I will not be surprised if the prankster boyfriend ends up on a true crime documentary in the future. That’s insane.
Lauren, thank you for sharing your story in the beginning of this episode. I had something similar happen to me a few years ago at Walmart. Three guys kept running into me throughout the store. Then at the checkout out on said “you should be a model, your beautiful bla bla bla.” I smiled and said thank you and then grabbed my stuff and went on my way. Thinking that was done and over with. I go to my car alone and and open my door, turn around to put my bag in the back seat and the one guy is at my door and like I’m my face trying to touch me. I said I have a boyfriend please leave me alone and jump in my car. (Window was open and he is like in my window in the car.) I turn the car on and put it in reverse saying I really got to go not knowing where his two friends were. I was very scared and alarms in my head were going off. I got him out of my window and left as fast as I could. I was pretty shaken up. I decided to post on Facebook the next day to let other girl aware. Turns out multiple people saw and asked on Facebook if I was ok they saw but didn’t say anything. Also found out it happened later that day to someone at Home Depot which was next door. Also the guy was a registered rapist. And I found out sex trafficking was and actual issue in the area that I never even realized was an issue here. It was very scary and I feel like I was lucky even though I think I could have handled it differently and better. My guy friends say I over reacted and my female friends say I should have called the police. It’s scary that you can’t even go shopping without worrying about your safety. Anyways sorry for babbling but thank you for sharing. Many of us out here can relate. Love the show and love you guys!
That is terrifying. I am so glad you are safe 🙌
The guy friends are probably saying that because they’ve had friends who did that kind of stuff before and are trying to justify it in their mind. You did not overreact at all, especially since you found out there are rapists and traffickers in the area. He was a stranger, no matter his intentions, you did not owe him anything. I’m glad you got out of there okay. No one with good intentions would sneak up to touch a stranger in a dark parking lot and reach through their car window. If he had anything to say he could do it from a distance.
Scary!!!
You are not overacting and the guy friends who think you are would be suspicious in my mind. Glad you are safe, next time call the store and police, report their asses so others are protected.
I’ve had too many situations like this. I’m just so lucky how deeply my mom instilled standing my ground into who I am. I do not take my life & possible threats against it lightly at all.
Omg that is terrifying. I am so glad you got away and are safe. And you are NOT overreacting, F your guy friends who said you were. Keep a pepper spray on you and stay alert.
Two of my coworkers that are women told me that instead of asking for a woman’s number to ask them if I can give them my number, it gives them the ability to have the control of engaging in any future conversations, I have yet to do it just because I get too nervous around pretty women but it does make sense! Love the podcasts❤️ love that each episode has been getting longer!😂
As a woman I HATE that we are brought up to be so kind to everyone the point where we tend to put others feelings above our own SAFETY! BE RUDE! It’s okay to be rude it’s okay to say no. I’ve been in a situation where I wish I would have listened to my gut and I didn’t and I will regret it for the rest of my life because I now have PTSD.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 same. absolutely agree. be fucking rude and carry something you can put in your fist for when you need to punch someone.
I agree, however, its not always done out of "not hurting feelings". Many women feel they need to placate a possibly dangerous man until they can get away safely out of fear of them doing something worse.
Hey Morgan ! Just so you know, dog poop is NOT fertilizer ! It contains a number of bacteria that is actually very harmful and that we don't really want transmitted in our food. The difference between cow and dog poop is what they eat : cows are herbivores, so their poop is basically digested grass. But even for their poop to become fertilizer, you'd have to let it sit for a while (kinda like compost). Anyway, enough about shit, thank you both for an amazing episode, as always ! ❤️
@@user-cp5js2be1v I just had a burger .
Exactly! Just came here looking for this comment. I just listened to the podcast and was freaking out bc you should always throw dog poop away! Especially when your dog poops on a field that is beinh used by a farmer. When dog poop gets into the food of cows/ horses they can actually have miscarriages bc some parasites are being transmitted.
We have a large aquifer where I live and not picking up dog poop within the recharge zone can get you a hefty fine for polluting ground water
Yes yes yes!! Was looking for this comment - dog poop can put e. coli in the local water systems via rain run-off, and may harm us and the animals that drink it. Always pick up dog poop even if you’re in the wilderness!!!
Yeah Morgan is kind of dumb honestly. She’s constantly making statements that are very obviously wrong and doing it so confidently. It’s kind of embarrassing at this point
Vasectomy story: if he didn’t want to get a vasectomy, the couple could have talked an d agreed that they would have always use protection and in case of a pregnancy, the wife would get an abortion. BUT NOPE HE JUST LIED AND GOT EVERYONE INTO A HOT MESS
He did tell her he didn’t want it she said that he refused and said “no I’m not comfortable with that” and she kept bringing it up pressuring and pushing him to go through with it despite how he felt
That’s because he wanted 5 kids. He just thought she’d change her mind and want a pregnancy eventually. And in the meantime… pulling out would work 😂
I read in a deleted comment, that the vasectomy was because he refused to use any kind of protection
@@riskiiiwis4294 well she could of gotten her tubes tied instead off pressuring him to do it instead, it’s possible for women to get the same procedure done as well!!
@UNICORN_GURL1 having tubes tied is way more complicated a procedure than getting a vasectomy. And women are often on hormonal birth control for years, affecting their bodies, and men still whine that their partners should go one more major step further so they never have to take responsibility.
Story 3 has me absolutely FLOORED. How dare you fake a death to somebody who has PTSD and struggles with other mental illnesses? I’m glad that girl is leaving her boyfriend. He doesn’t deserve any happiness. That is absolutely evil & vile.
the panic and rage i felt hearing the story too... so many levels of absolutely Fucked Up.
Story 2: that is essentially SA, she didn't consent to having unprotected sex. He's SO messed up, and I truly hope she found out and left him, plus that she aborted that fetus, cause she didn't want it, and if she had it, she's gonna resent it, if she doesn't already, and no kid deserves to grow up with a parent that doesn't want them.
In my country (Brazil) This is literally SA. It is legally considered r@pe.
"She's the love of my life, I don't know what I'd do without her".... then WHY DID YOU LIE TO HER FOR 2 F***ING YEARS? Why would you have unprotected sex that she didn't consent to? Why would you put your needs before hers and not even tell her? You don't do stuff like that to people you love
Things like this make me scared of intimacy bc i don’t know if i want kids.
@@alexis-xs8er There’s a lot of options for contraception luckily, just make sure to also use a condom until you both get tested and are monogamous.
So every unwanted kid should be dead? Wtf
The silent FURY and heartbreak I feel for the girl with the boyfriend who played the joke on her.
So glad she has such a good friend to help support her through discarding the trash person who took her for granted.
On the kidney story, this is why there should be some sort of way for adopted kids to know something about their background. How unfair to them for something like this to happen
I almost married a man and found out he had distant relatives with the same last name as me (I was given my dad's last name but he was never around) so I was super freaked out. Turned out it was a coincidence but i sure felt better knowing that! My last name was super uncommon and I'd never met anyone else with it other than my dad.
i’m a sperm donor baby and even we have a website where we can register to find half siblings, it’s honestly crazy there isn’t anything like that with adoptions
@@xtessalynn ohh I'm also a sperm donor baby. What's the website? Never heard of it
For that 3rd prank story…if someone doesn’t get bothered when they see that they caused you pain and discomfort, leave them. If they don’t respect your boundaries, leave them. It’s not worth it.
Absolutely agree!!! That situation was straight up abuse!! Mental, emotional abuse. First red flag was that he apologized about something then did it again. A true apology includes changed behavior. Instead this…..(insert long winded string of curse words and insults) doubled and tripled down!!! What a psycho!!!!!
A 2 hour episode?! We’re so blessed. 💗
right????;1😊😅
Fr
I'm SO happy 😭
🥹 so blessed indeed
We feast well this Thursday, my fellow THT listeners!
Morgan: “What is H.S.?”
Lauren: “Hereditary sister?”
Morgan: “Sounds right.”
Me in the audience: *face palms* “Half-sister. His wife’s his half-sister.”
Lol 😂😂😂😂😂 that's what I was yelling !!! Hahaha
I'm so happy someone said it cause I'm sitting here screaming "HALF SISTER"
This 😂
This lol
Was definitely yelling at them 😂🤣
58:30 i asked my therapist what actually counts as trauma and she told me, every experience, every event or situation that happened to you or around you and you couldn’t go on like you did before, that changed your life and you as a person. Idk if that makes sense English isn’t my first language and I just got home from an 11 hour shift at work
This is an interesting way to look at things. Thanks for sharing 💕
It does make sense and I hope you could rest well after such a long day!
For Lauren: My rule of thumb is that if someone makes you uncomfortable, you are allowed to make them uncomfortable and/or be rude to them. I understand where you're coming from and I have all the same tendencies, but getting into my late twenties and thirties allowed me to start to stand up for myself and recognize that if someone makes me uncomfortable they can also be made uncomfortable. If that person thinks you're rude, that's on them not on you.
Yep! Be loud and make sure other people in the store see and hear you. Make an employee aware. Your anxieties over being perceived as rude or telling someone "no" is not worth (potentially) losing your life over.
@@strawbemoji Even as a man, I've been known to scream rape/rapist in people's faces who get too close to me or touch me and won't get away after me asking them ONCE. Sucks to sucks, stop being weird.
Just wait until you hit your 50's!
I used to be like Lauren, but now if someone is giving me the creeps, I give zero fucks about offending them. Chances are I will never see them again anyway.
Also, always, always, always trust your gut‼️
The prank story… he really let her call the cops before he broke character? The cops needed to show up to section him. That is now additional trauma for life. I’m so sorry she had to experience that.
I can't believe he went that far in the first place, but to actually slash his wrists? It's literally mind blowing anyone could do that to someone else. Dude is a psychopath and actually should be sectioned.
Did we spell unsupervised wrong? yes I hope you guys still like it though!! It'll be fixed for the next one eeeew
Haha shit happens!!! 🩶
Sorry just Commented 🥰🥰🥰 its cool its still such a beautiful video!
Best episode!! 😊😍😂
Love your podcast ❤. About the fertilizer comment: only animals that eat plants can be used as fertilizer. Meat eating animals poop would just kill the grass.
2nd story: I’m so thankful my mom was never one of those cagey abstinence types. She told me about menstruation years before it ever happened to me, when it did happen in 4th grade it was such a chill normal day. When I turned 16 I sat down with my mom and had a candid conversation about wanting birth control even though I wasn’t dating “just in case” she never once judged me. She thanked me for being honest, scheduled my gyno appointment and told me everything to expect. My dad even came with to hold my hand when I got my nexplanon implanted into my arm. This is all to say: I obviously never got pregnant, and I am so so overwhelmingly glad my parents were understanding and free of any kind of judgement. I felt prepared, I was educated on my options and I’ve been able to advocate for my health way better than some of my less fortunate peers. To any parents here: don’t withhold this kind of medical information from your kids, be open and honest, answer their questions and they will be way more prepared for their futures.
I had a similar experience and am thankful every freaking day that I got the genuine CHOICE on when to have children. I am 28 now and still child free for atleast a few more years and the older I get the more thankful I am that my mom raised me without judgement and gave me the proper info.
Same, my mom prepared me for everything and I’ll forever be grateful because I had such a difficult time with puberty. To this day I am healthy and have no children, though with my fiancé it’s a possibility later on. Definitely will be teaching my children so they always know they can ask me anything.
The first story, he’s only picking up vulnerable GIRLS not boys or men??? That is the ultimate red flag of the whole scenario, along with his enjoyment of seeing their discomfort
He has a million red flags but I don't know... Even men are afraid of men. I would better say why not pick up elderly people? Or not-poor/vulnerable women?
@@alysonnataliavasquezsolano8066 it's because he enjoys having power over these vulnerable girls.
The prank story is insane. I really hope she finds someone who can understand and empathize with her. I admit I used to believe PTSD only happened to people who went through serious insane events (war, kidnapping, assault, etc.), But then in therapy I found out my anxiety was actually a result of complex childhood PTSD from my father with NPD. Totally shocking.
It's really upsetting when people downplay mental health and struggles. It's usually completely out of their control and waving it off can make it worse
The third story, me and Morgan both yelled “asshole” at the same time. My jaw dropped, and my heart sank. That’s absolutely gruel and foul behavior. For you to do such a truly traumatic and heart breaking thing to a PARTNER, that you know is struggling. That is so sick.
Lauren, please don't stop the Mean Girl's jokes/references! They're so funny and I absolutely love them
Hahaha okay amazing I won’t
@@Lauren-ib3ok sameeee! I always laugh! This one especially
THIS
@ Lauren I got it😂 and I answered like Gretchen. No honey 😂😂😂
haha yes!
Please please PLEASE do not just "try to be nice" if someone is making you uncomfortable and unsafe MAKE A SCENE. Yell, talk loudly, laugh obnoxiously, signal to an employee for assistance. People who are just being nice and casual, and want to survive the interaction I understand the panic of "maybe if im nice he wont kill me" but if you are in a situation like this literally be as assertive and loud as you can. Its easier said than done, in that moment you feel terrified, but stay safe everyone ❤️
listening to the third story and my heart is broken. i lost someone to suicide yesterday, it's not a joke at all. for anyone experiencing any thoughts, you are needed and you matter, please stay
I am so so sorry to hear 😔 my heart goes out to you ❤️
I'm so sorry for your loss. Been there and it still hurts.
I'm so sorry, it must be really hard for you
I'm so sorry for your loss. ❤ Blessed Be ❤️
I feel very validated after listening to the prank story because right before the pandemic hit, someone I was dating had visited my dorm apartment I shared with friends for a weekend. This person took any and every opportunity to jump out and scare me all the time, I even jumped so hard I spilled wine on the carpet. Of course when I asked if he was gonna help me clean it his response was, “Well I didn’t make the mess, not my problem.” I kept telling him to stop because it wasn’t funny anymore after the 6th time in the same day, but he didn’t stop. He later that night jumped out and scared me while I was in the middle of getting ready for a shower. It was the last straw and I was completely naked and sobbing and shrieking at him to “get the fuck out,” while he laughed and had the time of his life. It had been many years since I’d had any flashbacks from the trauma I went through, but I was experiencing it all again. I wailed and sobbed loudly and uncontrollably for 4 hours nonstop naked on the bathroom floor. My roommate was there the whole time for me, and she just held me for hours. I hope he learned his lesson after having to hear me wail in a locked bathroom for hours. He apologized and felt extremely awful, but I still look back on the memory with distain and disgust. Anyways, even though I am so sad that OP had to go through all of that traumatic experience, it felt validating to know I wasn’t the only one who has gotten triggered so badly before over a prank.
I hope you’re doing better now this sounds so awful
The prank, omg my heart was pounding just listening to the story - never mind it being in person, and having depression and trauma
Lauren that's actually very scary and I commend you for how you acted. You kept it together, did what your gut knew would best and you were so so brave (smart too). Really happy you're ok ❤❤
Thank you 🥺❤️
It's not common here what she went through, i'm from Argentina and we are friendly but that dude was not normal. If he did that here he would get rejected and if he push more he would get punch.
It’s a shame cause I always wanna give guys the benefit of the doubt & feel bad rejecting them; but personal safety should always come before a strangers feelings & being polite, obviously. Especially as he’s clearly not concerned with how uncomfortable he’s making you feel. I’ve noticed that when they’re overly pushy and can’t take rejection calmly, it’s your signal to gtfo
I didn’t really appreciate Morgan trying to dismiss her feelings. Lauren I’m glad you’re alive, next time you do not owe a stranger anything especially sparing his feelings! How terrible
@@ashleyc9523 did I miss something? When did Morgan dismiss her feelings?
A funny prank is like changing the autocorrect on their phone or pretending you put diesel in their gas car, not traumatizing them
"'No' is a complete sentence." changed my life when I first heard that. ❤
Also, the lying out of convenience is one of the biggest reasons I ended my 3 and a half year relationship.
Love this podcast!!!!
I have 0 friends at this point in my life and it’s been harder than I care to admit always being alone and having incredible experiences, alone. But with your podcast I feel like I have friends again ❤️❤️ such a friendly atmosphere and community, please keep it up!
💕💕💕💕
Same here, girl!! Especially since converting to Islam (there is one other Muslim lady where I live and she's MUCH older) and then becoming pregnant, it's been incredibly isolating. I LIVE for the 2 hours a fortnight I get to see my elder daughter, and my 6 siblings come along too. If I didn't have that, since I lost my job for being ill during this pregnancy (hyperemesis), I wouldn't see anyone but my bf that I live with, and it's incredibly depressing and lonely at times
Wait until Lauren finds out that most “recycled” plastic doesn’t actually get recycled
not just most but like 90%… my condolences to her for real
lauren your landfill anxiety is so real sometimes i look at stuff and imagine it in a landfill. i’m so glad i’m not the only one. trying to not let it take over my life
Yes!!! Thank you 🙏
Literally not a day goes by where I’m not imagining all my trash in a landfill and feeling guilty omg
Commented already, but the boyfriend story hit me HARD.
I have CPTSD too. I feel so much empathy for OP, and after hearing that story I want nothing more than to hold her and comfort her. As for that boyfriend… I can’t say just what he deserves on RUclips. That man is ab*sive. I hope OP NEVER sees him again.
For many of us with trauma based diagnoses, we do face judgement from ignorant people. I myself was someone who thought PTSD was only for people who go through big and severe trauma. It’s not the truth. That needs to be spread and shared.
Story 2- I honestly feel like I would end up in jail for something like this! How dare this man take away this woman's right to make the decision about having another child. She already gave him 2, when originally she Only wanted one or none. There is a special place in hell for ppl like that.
I knowww, this one made me so angry! Also why is she making all of the compromises? She put her body through all of that TWICE (!!!three times if he talked her out of abortion!!!) when she barely even wanted to do it once & he can't even get a vasectomy? If anything, like Morgan said "I do not want to get a vasectomy, can we just use protection?"
He sounded so so so selfish. I hope she found out and divorced him tbh.
Couldn't it even been labeled as SA since he lied and she had SX with him thinking she couldn't get pregnant? Isn't it coercion?
@Meganism/ it is %100 S.A. now that he has confessed on Reddit if she found it and could prove it's his account she can press charges and he should go to prison. Men and women have gone to jail for poking holes in condoms and men have gone to jail for faking a vasectomy before.
@@meganism8349 I think it be more along the lines of coercion but agreed.
@@meganism8349 absolutely. She wouldn't have had sex with him if she'd have known, therefore she did not consent
I was very worried about the night driver too, but not for the same reasons Morgan was.
What stood out to me was the part about him not wanting to get them an Uber instead because "that wouldn't be the same thing"
= It was never about them or their safety.
And when Morgan also pointed out that thing with him saying his motivation was watching them go from being worried to feeling relieved I got chills down my spine!
He gets a kick out of being able to create different emotions in young, vulnerable women/girls! And that's just a serial offender (of what I can't say for certain but probably the worst possible scenario...) in the making!
Another thing he said that stood out to me was when he spoke about being in therapy:
He never said specifically that he's told his therapist about this - which leads me to believe that he hasn't.
If he had and the therapist had been leaning more towards his girlfriends perspective I don't think he'd have posted on Reddit after that, and if the therapist would have said _anything_ redeeming about the night driving he _for_ _sure_ would've made sure to mention that.
+ The fact that he talks about being in therapy a bit but manages to never mention speaking (or not speaking) about this very topic with them.
It tells me that he absolutely hasn't. Which in and of itself is a huge red flag!
exactly him saying “i’m in therapy what else can i even do” but not stating that he has told his therapist abt this… that tells me he absolutely sees what he does as morally/ethically wrong but instead of facing the facts, he doubles down that this isn’t something he needs help for. also, he shouldn’t be driving while being an insomniac period, much less be driving around other ppl who are not aware of his severe sleep deprivation.
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought he was talking about him BECOMING an Uber, not ordering the girls an Uber. In which case, it wouldn't be the same. In his mind, he wants to be a good Samaritan and just help people in need of help, not be paid to pick up drunks or whoever else would be requesting Ubers at 3am.
The toilet brush is indeed meant for cleaning, not specifically getting rid of poop streaks 😅
You're supposed to clean the toilet bowl with it and a disinfectant cleaner at least once a week. You're supposed to replace them every few months to prevent bacteria build up, assuming you are regularly soaking the brush in bleach.... meaning rinsing it in a flushing toilet is not enough, and it should probably be thrown away if you use it on streaks.
I don't say this to shame, it's not 'common knowledge' I'm saying it because it *should* be common knowledge. These are important things to teach. A lot of really nasty illnesses can happen from poop, so proper cleaning and disinfecting is important.
As for streaks, flush. Or you can try placing a bit of toilet paper strategically so when the toilet flushes the water sucks the toilet paper past the streaks and wipes them on it's way down.
I was watching a murder doc last night on a woman who was in a store, some man kept bugging her and then followed her when she went out side.
The next day, she was found dead inside her car and he'd lit it on fire too.
I'm SO glad you didn't go outside Lauren! So glad!
Ladies! DO NOT be afraid to ask a member of staff to walk with you or wait in store for them to leave first!!!!
Stay safe ❤
This is something I learned about child kidnappings but is applicable for Lauren’s story: IF SEEM LOST OR LIKE YOU NEED HELP AND SOMEONE IS PURSUING YOU THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE A PREDATOR THAN IF YOU SEEK SOMEONE OUT.
THIS! If I ever got lost as a kid or when I was a bit older out by myself but uncomfortable, I’d look for a mom with her kids or a group of women to hang around and if necessary ask them for help.
After Lauren said that the guy at homegoods was telling her that it was an Argentinian custom to pay for someones cart after they do them a favor…. I gasped. I was born in Argentinian but raised in the states. Both of my parents are Argentinian and so is the rest of my family and I have never ever heard anything like that.
Glad you’re safe!!
The night driving story is horrifying specifically because he likes to see the ‘relief’. What happens if someone doesn’t look nervous or relieved? Will he start making wrong turns on purpose to scare them? Say things to get them worked up? All for the eventual ‘relief’ when he stops??? Terrifying.
You just made the last two hours at work fly by - thank you!
Argentinean here and as Lauren was telling the story I was thinking WTF we don't do that.
Also from Argentina, what he said is bullshit, good thing you got out of that situation
As a former Walmart employee, never be afraid to ask a worker to walk with you to your car. We can let our supervisors know the situation and you’re not having to go out alone. So sorry that happened Lauren. That’s so scary
“And he had six toes” is equivalent to “And they were roommates” 🤣🤣
It may have been 3 toes does that change anything hahahah
There is an update that is 156 days old on the story with guy who donated his kidney. It’s 2 parts and definitely worth the read.
Lauren: "Like why the Earth is flat?"
I ALMOST DIED LAUGHING!
As a sister to four sisters I am the most assertive one. Two phrases I have taught them is “Absolutely not.” and “Like I said [rephrase your statement].” Unfortunately, we live in a world where we need to be perfectly clear with a specific sex. Never be afraid to stand up for your boundaries. 👏
When I was in college, my insomnia reached its peak. I was only sleeping 4 or so nights a week, and only for a few hours at a time. There’s no other way to describe life like that other than miserable. I had frequent auditory hallucinations, I made dumb choices constantly, I would sometimes blink and realize I’d been talking to my friends for five minutes straight and had no idea what I had said. Anxiety, depression, and my ED all got much much worse, and none of it got better until my doctor put me on a mild anxiety medication that knocked me out at night. It’s a life changer. That depression that seems unbeatable is still rough but so much more manageable when you are nourishing your body and getting the right amount of *good* sleep.
Please see a doctor or therapist of your sleep is out of whack, I can’t explain how different of a person you are when that gets sorted.
also, my heart hurts for Lauren. fuck thats so scary, you were SO smart and quick, thankfully. be always safe guys.
I only know this because I took AP Environmental Studies years ago.... Dog poop takes a while to decompose and dog poop kills grass if you let it sit out for too long, spreads bacteria and parasites and has the potential to pollute drinking water. Cow poop and most farm animals also pollute water ways with poop. Most poop is mixed into the soil/ compost so it breaks down easier. I think maybe paper bags would be a better solution for dog poop, Im sure there a better ways to handle it.
was looking for this comment❤adding on, depending where you live wildlife will eat it which makes them rely on humans and can make them sick :(
composting dog poop is a really great option if people have the resources!! :)
I stumbled upon this podcast bc I was looking for AITA stories for some background noise. I’ve been listening for a few days and I just want to say I really enjoy how at home and safe I feel to listen to you guys and all of the guests I’ve heard on here. As a non-binary person myself it’s a struggle out here and just hearing how welcoming and understanding you guys are is so refreshing. It’s hard to find podcasts like this bc it seems like someone always ends up saying something a little off. Please keep up the great content! I don’t really comment but wanted to say something. Thank you for being wonderful people! ❤
TWO HOURS. We’re not worthy. This show helps me get through my week. Love you guys 🧡
2 hours!!! aaaand LAUREN!
already so excited about this episode , thank you!
☺️☺️☺️☺️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Never ever ever feel like you owe kindness to anyone that's making you feel uncomfortable! That guy from Lauren's story is terrifying. You had every right to be a justified A-Hole to him. I've had someone follow me around and be pushy like that before too, so much so that he kissed me without warning. I was so shocked I didn't say anything and played nice until I was finally able to excuse my way out of the situation. Looking back now I wish 19-year-old me would've hit him!
"Fuck politeness! Do what you gotta do to get out and apologize later if you were wrong" -Karen Kilgarif
I was always fond of Karen and Georgia
Came here to say the same thing. Who cares if a guy you don’t even know thinks you’re a little cold? Worst that could happen: you’ll get to walk away unharmed, & he’ll think twice about being so forward with someone else. We as women are taught that the worst thing we can be is unlikable, so we do everything we can to preserve our likability. But at what cost? As Jerry would say, keep your dignity, and move along!
@@katrinascarlet5637 Big fan here too! That's exactly what I thought of as Lauren told her story!
@@TheTuneProject 100%!!
I'm so sorry that happened to you. Awful! I think you should forgive 19 year old you though. Playing nice may very well have kept her/you safe. If she/you had hit that dude, he might have hit you back. I have unfortunately discovered that even boys the same height and weight as me are much stronger and able to hurt me.
On the poop story….this scenario is why I have a plunger in each bathroom, cleaning supplies and paper towels in place of hand towels.
I have this same setup! Just to prevent things like that from happening.
Lauren, and all women, sooooo many women get harmed literally every day because they are scared of being mean. It’s better to have someone think you’re TA than to be the body on the side of the road. I’m so glad you are okay but next time might not be the same. 🖤
i agree! also i don't give men the benefit of the doubt anymore, i had to learned the hard way that most of them are not just socially awkward when they show creepy behavior or start to not take no for an answer. i don't care if i'm being "the rude b*tch" anymore now, i was polite for the longest time and i regretted it so often because it put me in situations where i got sexually harassed, threatened physical violence or SA etc. better be safe than sorry!
I love the idea of having the guest bring one story for each episode, like this one! I think it's a fun way to involve them the way you did in the 100th episode. If you're worried about duplicate stories, you can have the guest and you send the stories to the same person to make sure there's no dupes!
lauren's casual flat earther joke make me cry laugh it was so unexpected
The half siblings story was heartbreaking 💔.
I literally listen to your videos while at work and at home while I'm getting things done. Makes me feel not as lonely 😊
For the Kidney Story:
I am one of those people that had their family implode due to an Ancestry DNA test. My mom got it for me and my siblings (we're all properly related lol) but she noticed after a while her dad wasn't popping up. Turns out around the time my mom was conceived my grandma was being a bit of a wild child and just thought the grandpa I grew up with was my mom's dad. He passed a year before we found out, so thankfully he didn't have to learn this.
We located my bio grandpa and my mom now has 3 more siblings, all brothers one only 8 or so years older than me and living part time in my city. I've dated men with a larger age-gap than exists between me and my uncle (vom). I can totally see how something like this could happen, especially if OPs bio dad had impregnated another girl and she put the baby up for adoption and didn't tell him about it.
I unintentionally did this to a family, I was adopted at birth and my husband and I got 23&me out of curiosity of my background and I wanted to know about genetic issues. Well Turns out my bio dad didn’t know about me and has a kid a few months older with his wife sooo it was a bit awkward
“A wild child” she was a cheater. Why we making it sound innocent girl
@@HeatMiserr She was not a cheater. She was not monogamous with anyone involved. Everyone was aware what was going on, she genuinely just thought the grandpa I was raised with was my mom's dad. My bio grandpa started dating his wife around the same time I believe, no one was exclusive. It was the 70s and they were young college age kids.
Weird you think you know my family better than I do lmao
i love when lauren reads!!! her voice is so soothing
awe 🥹🥹 thank you ❤
OMG to your point about the dog poop in the bag!!! My sister in law was paying so much money for biodegradable cat litter and was always scooping the cat litter and putting it into a plastic bag to throw out. One day I was like "I don't understand why you pay $30 for a bag of biodegradable litter for it to go into a plastic bag and never break down" blew her damn mind 😭
she wasn’t using biodegradable bags?
@@annamarie1942 no 😭 just plastic Walmart bags I was like girl………
Now that you mention it… I think my coworker does the same thing. I’ve been her pet sitter before and the thought never crossed my mind. 💀 I’ll have to mention it to her. Lol
@@CircusoftheMoon No fr I was like aw that's so cool that u buy that kind of litter I'll start buying it too!! Then I saw her just using all the plastic shopping bags when scooping it I was like o......... lmao I feel bad bc I know the intentions are pure 😭
For the 1st story, i was waiting for someone to mention how being sleep deprived can affect you soooo much.... so yeah,it may start off as somethinng innocent but after being sleep deprived for so long....idk. 👀
not only that but it’s been proven that driving while sleep deprived can be just as bad if not worse than driving drunk…
It's not very innocent after he learned she was a minor and offered to give her a ride, if you're gonna help someone like that, especially a woman as a man. You just call them a Uber and then leave, you don't stay, you don't try to converse. You just give the info for the Uber then leave cuz you're likely still being looked at like a creep regardless.
This was never an innocent act. This man doesn't enjoy helping he enjoys control. He knows that while they are in that car he could do anything to them and he's clearly getting more addicted to that control. Eventually, that will likely evolve into something worse.
Side note/fact: dog poop can’t be used as fertilizer because of what it contains, it also can spread bacteria and parasites to drinking water. I don’t know why cow/sheep poop is good for gardens, but dog poop is not.
Just wanted to say that I so very much appreciate you breaking up the podcast into story sections w/ the description of each story. It's sooooo freaking convenient!! THANK YOU!
Dear Morgan and the THT team! I CANT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR U! At my worst days you are my savior! I struggle with a lot of mental health diagnosis and it gets tough almost every night yet i know where to go everytime i feel alone. God bless you, thank you, genuinely. You can't imagine what you are doing for me❤️
I'm so happy you made your way here, and so happy we can make you feel less alone.
My dad had always told me and my sisters grown men don’t need your help!! And that to me speaks volume.
The description of the feeling of enjoyment he gets when their fear or anxiety turns to relief is down to one thing - power. It's not that he actually wants to help people, it's that he feels out of control in his own life, and the knowledge that he had to power to hurt that woman but didn't THAT’S what he's getting off on. Especially as he seeks this out as a direct reaction to stress. This isn't something we should play devil's advocate over, this is extremely unhealthy behaviour.
I just want to say about the last story... I was so often punished when I was younger for doing something wrong and admitting it that I just learned to lie straight away. It still takes me a lot of effort to admit when I make a mistake and own up to it in the subconscious fear of being punished. Getting better at it, but it's a work.
I wasn't raised by my parents (born on a ship) and the fluctuations in parenting styles in experienced before I was 9 is crazy. Every week another intern who needed validation and punished me until I felt physically unwell, I have to make a conscious decision to own up because my first reaction will forever be to deny and attack my accuser. I'm 41 now. It's okay to make mistakes, I have to tell myself that often.
You are not alone.
I once had take someone to the hospital who didn’t sleep for three days straight. She was hallucinating the wildest of things. Eventually, the doctor came in and gave her medication to make her sleep. I can’t even begin to explain how many things are wrong with the first guys story. I hope he stopped immediately and never did it again.
Dude, Lauren, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. I ranted to my husband about this topic recently. I was taught to be polite, not to be mean... basically what Lauren was saying... to be a "nice girl" 🙄. Being "nice" has gotten me in *more* trouble than if I was just an asshole. In 2018, I was granted a *50 year* restraining order against a guy I never even dated. I had two 2yr restraining orders against him prior to being granted that one. Now, I rather hurt someone's feelings (in the most kind way possible) than deal with another stalker. I'm a mom to two boys, and I'm going to do everything in my power to raise them right. No lashing out if they get rejected, or think they're entitled to....whatever.
Lots of love to you guys ❤
This whole episode got me HEATED!!!!! Great theme! Love that you both brought your own reddit picks.
“Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of congressman” is the lyric hehe
The kidney story; I understand the wanting to tell her the truth immediately from Reddit but I think im this particular case, he’s doing the right thing. Usually I’m always for “the truth immediately all the time” but I think he’s got a damn good reason to keep this from her for now.
For the story with the friend who ruined his friends’ bathroom: I did something similar a few years ago. Some friends and I got drunk, myself for the first time, and we were at my buddy’s where he lived with his parents. While using the washroom, I got super sick. In my drunken state, I tried to clean up but couldn’t. So I immediately went to his mom to apologize for my mess. In the morning I apologized again. To this day, his mom teases me for it. I could never imagine not owning up to that kind of mess
HOLY SHIT the first story is insane. idk why i think this feels like the birth of a serial killer. i'm sure many people who have done bad things do them out of trauma and mental illness, so its not a stretch that he might triggering himself into psychopatic tendencies.
i am mostly an audio listener and so i forgot to say this on the previous episode (cant truly remember which one was it) when you guys were talking about proposing in iceland and i wanted to say JUSTIN ILL HELP YOU. i live in iceland (im not icelandic tho) but it made me really really excited when you guys were talking about coming back. makes me crazy happy. come here and we'll go to sky lagoon, as an employee i must say its great!!!
Already planning a trip back in August :)))
It's so scary how many women have stories like Lauren's. And Morgan is so right how we are taught all our lives to be nice to the boy but that is what gets us in the most trouble. I have been in so many bad situations made way worse because I didn't know how to stick up for myself and say no. Teach your children they have autonomy over their lives and their bodies from such a young age and it really sould save their life in the future.
even when we say no they’re socialized to wear us down
so come in hot with a F OFF lol
that suicide prank fucked me up. i’m freaking out by hearing it on a podcast, can’t imagine what she’s feeling
“You can never heal in the same environment that made you sick”
Jerry popping in at about 4:50 is so funny to me for some reason
I was honestly SO confused lol