Despite the ample safety skills and training required to fly an aircraft  -  sans a Breaing Bad-level disaster - it seems a pilot’s license or any plane-flying abilities do not necessarily make a pilot, a lesson one Redditor attempted — and spectacularly failed— to instill in the fine people of AITA.


Last week, aspiring creative writer Redditor u/Substantial_Wheel999 took to the subreddit with a bold question into his morality — publicly pondering whether he’s the asshole for reprimanding his wife for not playing make-believe in public.



My wife and I (together for 5 years, married for 2, no kids) have an amazing, happy relationship. I can’t recall a single time we’ve ever argued to the point of a breakup or divorce,” read the admittedly dubious post, which has since been removed from the original thread, noting that the “issue” at hand has made them “reconsider the health of our relationship.”


“Since my wife and I have been together, I have worked as a manager for a restaurant chain. I am an extremely passionate aviation enthusiast in my free time. I have spent thousands of dollars on flight textbooks, sim gear, and even built my own a330 setup. I have never actually flown a plane or started flight training, but I have considered it for a long time. Even though my skills are not a career, I still consider myself as adept or possibly more knowledgeable than the average pilot,” he added.



Despite being a bedroom pilot (which like, aren’t we all), it seems OP’s wife wouldn’t let his delusions of Lawnchair Larry-esque grandeur fly, committing the cardinal sin of introducing him to one of her work friends, Greg, as a restaurant manager rather than a wannabe pilot.


“We exchange casual conversation and Greg (host) asked what I do for a living,” he recalled of attending a work function with his spouse. "My wife chimes in with ‘He manages a [insert fast food chain], it certainly comes with some benefits (I’m assuming she’s referring to free food)’, in a voice that implied nothing was wrong with what she said.”



Despite “very quickly” correcting his wife, telling Greg that he was, in fact, a pilot (dream on, bud), it seems the issue managed to fester, corroding their romance.


“My wife already knows how insecure I am about my job and how I’d much rather be introduced by my hobby,” he elaborated. “I’ve earned the title of pilot through my 500+ hours on sim and thousands of dollars put into my craft. I think it is incredibly disrespectful for her not to acknowledge my skills and training. Just because I don’t have the title of pilot on an overpriced piece of paper doesn’t mean I’m not a pilot.”



Ahh, yes, public transit safety — just a little piece of paper.

“I laughed it off with Greg and told him under my breath that my wife was often forgetful (which I’m sure he’s realized just from working with her),” he added, his aside alone singlehandedly disqualifying him from any sort of husband of the year titles, one that only worsened upon their fight while leaving the event.


“As we pack into the car to leave, the argument starts,” he added. “She feels as if I don’t deserve my title as a Pilot because I’m not professional. I told her she is completely insensitive to the work i’ve done and she will never understand what it’s like to study so much. Am I in the wrong?”


Yeah bud, you might be.


So u/Substantial_Wheel999, in the slim chance you’re not a troll, don’t be sad over your piloting failures  — maybe the real pilots’ licenses were the awkward introductions we made along the way.