Should you refer to family members by titles such as aunt and uncle even if you barely know them?

That’s the question in today’s story.

One woman thinks the answer is clearly “no,” but the rest of her family seems to disagree.

Let’s see why this disagreement is causing so much stress in her life.

AITA for referring to my estranged uncle by his name, instead of “uncle”?

My mom’s side of the family is hispanic.

And in that culture, it’s considered disrespectful to refer to family members by only their first name instead of their title.

However, my uncle and I have been estranged for years, and I don’t feel comfortable calling him “uncle”.

He got out of prison a couple years ago, so I’m seeing him around more often.

But still.

She tries to avoid conflict.

It’s to the point I do everything in my power to avoid situations where I need to address him, so I won’t be crucified by my entire family for calling him by his name.

I used to think that they were only being this way because I was a child.

But I’m an adult now.

She’s not hung up on titles.

My niece and nephew don’t call me “auntie.”

They understand fully that’s what I am, but they don’t call me that.

It’s fine. The world keeps spinning.

Family members think I’m being rude, but I don’t see why I should use a title for someone I barely know or have a relationship with.

Especially when it makes me explicitly uncomfortable.

AITA?

That’s a tricky situation. It’s hard to defy cultural traditions, but I understand her stance on not feeling like her uncle deserves that title.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story.

This person only calls some aunts and uncles by those titles.

Another person is strictly on a first name basis.

Another Hispanic person weighs in.

He might deserve the title of uncle.

It shouldn’t be a big deal either way.

Why does it have to be a thing?

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.