The Performance of Paternal Persecution

There’s always a special kind of irony in watching a man post “Dad & Son — Best Buds Forever!” while simultaneously sharing another post lamenting that “It’s illegal to be a father unless you purchase your rights.”

In one breath, he’s a hero bathed in golden light, holding his son’s hand as the sun sets behind them — the image of love, stability, and connection. In the next, he’s the victim of a system conspiring to keep him from being that father, as if the only thing standing between him and a hug is a checkbook and a hashtag.

This isn’t fatherhood; it’s marketing. It’s not about a child’s well-being — it’s about the image of a man who wants sympathy without accountability, adoration without effort, and “Best Buds Forever” without having to actually be present.

The Court of Public Opinion vs. The Court of Record

In court, accountability matters.
In Mark’s posts, only the narrative does.

He’ll hold a silhouette of a boy he hasn’t called, hasn’t supported, and hasn’t shown up for, then frame himself as the oppressed party. “Fatherhood under attack,” he says — but what he’s really describing is the natural consequence of his own neglect.

When you refuse evaluations, ignore court orders, defy no-contact rulings, and spend years posting about injustice instead of pursuing actual reconciliation, you’re not “illegalized.” You’re just unwilling to do the work.

There’s no law that says you can’t be a dad — there’s just a requirement to be a responsible one.

Victimhood as a Business Model

It’s become his full-time gig: the brand of persecution.
While real fathers show up quietly — packing lunches, attending therapy appointments, paying support, and showing consistency — Mark’s version of “fatherhood” is digital. It lives in hashtags, filtered sunsets, and false martyrdom.

It’s content, not connection.
It’s propaganda, not parenting.
It’s Dr. DARVO’s favorite formula: deny, attack, reverse victim and offender — all while hiding behind stock photos of love he hasn’t earned.

Closing Thought

If you have to tell the internet you’re “Best Buds Forever” — while the real-life evidence shows distance, silence, and legal boundaries — you’re not proving devotion. You’re proving delusion.

Fatherhood isn’t something you post about. It’s something you practice.
And it doesn’t cost a dime — unless, of course, you’ve spent years trying to avoid paying one.