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AIBU?

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AITA for not helping a friend?

158 replies

RWat378 · 18/11/2025 17:47

I need to know if I’ve been unreasonable with my best friend…. 3 weeks ago, my she called me at 10pm. I don’t usually pick up at that time but her dad has been quite poorly so I was concerned something had happened. She asked if I was in bed and I said yes. She then said there was a big spider in her bathroom and asked if I would come and get it out of the house for her. We’ve been friends for 20 years and I’ve gone every time she’s asked me previously, however, my toddler had been poorly for a few days and me and my husband had barely slept. I get up at 5.30am for work, and she lives a 15 minute drive away, so it’s likely it would have been 45 minute round trip and I wouldn’t get back until around 11pm. I asked where her cats were (they’ve been handy at getting spiders for her the last couple of years) and she said “they’ve gone to bed for the night”. I asked her to get the cats out of bed to try and get the spider, if that didn’t work and she was still desperate, to call me back and I would go over. I didn’t hear anything else that night.

I messaged her the next day to ask how she got on but she sent a “fine” response. I messaged her again a few days later and she said she was really upset with me for “fucking her off” and also said “I’ve never felt so alone in that moment”. I apologised and explained to her why I was so tired that night, so asked her try something else before getting me out of be, but she didn’t want to hear it and stopped responding to my messages. 3 weeks later, she still hasn’t been in touch. I’ve tried to see things from her POV but I guess I just don’t understand how she’s fallen out with me over this! I hate the silent treatment and find it cruel and manipulative but now I’m wondering if I really have been unreasonable?

OP posts:
RWat378 · 18/11/2025 17:56

Talltreesbythelake · 18/11/2025 17:50

Has she ever got out of a warm bed to do you a favour?

Not that I can recall. She’s absolutely been there for me over the years in different situations but I’ve never asked her to get out of bed for anything.

OP posts:
WrylyAmused · 18/11/2025 17:53

You would have been an asshole if she'd had really bad news about her dad and you wouldn't go over.

For a spider? 100% she's the asshole. And as an adult, it's time she learned to deal with them herself. And also time she learned to deal with her emotions better than a toddler would.

BillieWiper · 18/11/2025 17:51

It's a spider. Presuming you're in the UK they can't hurt you in any way. Of course you shouldn't travel miles in the middle of the night to remove it. I'd just catch it in a glass and release it, or you could spray bug spray at it. Not very nice but if you're scared at least that way you could be at a distance.

Ridiculous that she could expect that of you.

QueenClinomania · 18/11/2025 17:51

Utterly ridiculous.
Don't entertain this ridiculousness.
Leave her to her tantrum.
When she stops sulking send her a link to spider catchers on amazon.

Talltreesbythelake · 18/11/2025 17:50

Has she ever got out of a warm bed to do you a favour?

IsntItDarkOut · 18/11/2025 17:50

I am terrified of spiders, always have been. I have many times had to deal with them and take them out of the house (and down the road so they don’t come back in). It’s awful but it’s one of those things as an adult you have to get over.
If I was really desperate I would Hoover it up. I’d never ask anyone to drive at night to deal with one.

WhatNoRaisins · 18/11/2025 17:49

I'm no fan of spiders but I'd never do that to a friend at night.

Oohh · 18/11/2025 17:48

Yanbu she is being ridiculous