So I dont believe in free will ,through a combination of experience and events in my life(most to do with leaving religion) however like most, I recognise the need for the concept of free will, as artificial as it may be
People who say this are more or less always confusing two different definitions.
Libertarian free will, being the ability to make a choice without context is obviously impossible.
What most people think of as free will "the ability to make a choice" is very obviously real.
I can chose to raise my hand, I can chose to lower it.
For example, alots people say that trauma doesn’t excuses abuse, only contextualise, it but if you have statical evidence that a large or even most of abusers have been abused/been through a traumatic event that is by defined an excuse.
People misuse the word "excuse" a lot. Like a huge amount.
People say "that is not an excuse" when what they mean is "that doesn't make it ok." or they say "I dont want excuses" when what they mean is "I am going to be mad no matter reasonable your actions are"
Yes, abusing somebody because you are abused is an excuse (in that it explains why), its also not an excuse (in that it doesnt make it ok).
You need to be more specific in what "excuse" means.