Mother Calls 911 to Stop Son Playing Video Game 48
Angela Mejia had to call the police on her 14-year-old son to get him to stop playing Grand Theft Auto. Police managed to convince the teen that 2:30 am was too late, and there would be plenty of hookers to beat in the morning. Mrs. Mejia said, “Sometimes I want to run away, too. I have support from my church, but I’m alone. I want to help my son, but I can’t find a way.” I guess it is illegal to throw away game consoles in the land of parental irresponsibility where the Meijias live.
Don't bother arguing with the kid (Score:3, Insightful)
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First of all, it was a PlayStation. Second, she DID try unplugging it.
Obviously, nobody reads TFA, so I have no idea how I know this.
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See, this is why those proprietary display adapters were so great.
If you took it away, the kid would have to go out and [i]buy[/i] another, now they can just reach into that electronics junk box and pull out a spare composite/component/HDMI cord that originally came with some other home entertainment device to hook up with.
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My parents used to put a small lock on the plug, which had a hole through one of the terminals. This would prevent you from even plugging it in. I like to think I turned out pretty well.
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The effectiveness of pulling power cords and similar confrontation depends on the kind of 14-yo. I know one in particular that you wouldn't want to be on the angry side of. Physically large and has access to weapons.
The problem started long, long ago, but alas without a time-machine, the mom is pretty much stuck now.
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Physically large and has access to weapons.
If your kid has that, has attitude, and doesn't respect your authority as their parent, video games are the least of your problems.
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The problem started long, long ago, but alas without a time-machine, the mom is pretty much stuck now.
+5, Most Insightful Slashdot Comment of 2009
If the parent doesn't establish control early, the family is screwed.
(Yes, yes, I know: there's a delicate, always-changing balance between parental control and giving children the freedom to grow, explore and fail.)
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Establishing control is in and of itself abuse
Balderdash. Incredible, absolute hogwash.
Without control, you get rude, snotty, out-of-control kids.
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Because they're poor and no other job will take them?
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(Yes, yes, I know: there's a delicate, always-changing balance between parental control and giving children the freedom to grow, explore and fail.)
There is a fine line, but clearly that kid was well accustomed to being far on the wrong side of it. When I was that age, the hard line was adulthood. Verbal abuse of an adult had unpleasant consequences but even the slightest hint of physical violence to an adult was more doom than you cared to imagine, especially if that adult was a parent.
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spanking isn't very effective on 14yr-olds. especially if they're big enough to spank you
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Spanking is actually a very effective tool, when used properly.
I completely agree.
A slap in the face is a sharp reminder that you aren't in charge, and you had better rethink your actions.
Umm... I thought we were talking about spanking here... Spanking is not slapping and should never be used. Slapping is a physical assault on a person, even if it does not cause permanent physical damage (though I'm not saying that it couldn't). Slapping people has always been a cornerstone of domestic abuse. Beyond that, it is also ineffective as a teaching aid. Slapping to remind someone that you "aren't in charge" only promotes the idea that for them to be in charge, you have to hit
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I'm not sure why all the anti-violence posts are modded down, but here's another one.
As someone who has their own child and has been a foster carer for children who are much more challenging than anything most of you could imagine, I can say that I have never hit a child. NEVER. Hitting a child or even shouting at a child is a sign to that child that you have lost control. In the short term you may instill fear, but eventually that will be overcome and your problems are multiplied. There are many many m
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I'm not sure why all the anti-violence posts are modded down, but here's another one.
That is easy, they are wrong and have an agenda. They directly insult those who are wiser.
As someone who has their own child and has been a foster carer for children who are much more challenging than anything most of you could imagine, I can say that I have never hit a child. NEVER. Hitting a child or even shouting at a child is a sign to that child that you have lost control.
In general, I would agree, however one could argue the moment a child does anything outside of instruction you have lost control. In the right circumstances, yelling can be good, albeit rarely. I fell the punishment when applicable should illustrate the consequences, even if not fully realized directly to the child. If a child is yelling for instance, and refuses to stop, yelling at them could convince them why it is n
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You are cowardly. You are inept parents.
You are the coward here. You even go by that name. Inept? Why. because they discipline? You think that because you parents abused you all parents that spank properly do? If this is what you teach your children, then sit you are inept.
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There isn't much difference between "spanking" and "slapping." Getting hit in the butt is the same as getting hit on the face, just less effective. ....
When your child is physically big enough and mentally mature enough to assert dominance by force, then you need new, non-physical discipline tools. Spanking is only for a certain age range where it's effective and doesn't lead to physical fights (see OP -- they mentioned this quite clearly)
To everyone here, there is a lot of difference, as the (GP) pointed out.. I was 14 when my mom decided to slap me. That is when I knew it was time to leave. I would have respected her decision to spank me, but instead she slapped me. If anyone does not believe that there is a difference, why don't you be brave enough to try a little experiment. Allow someone to pop your bottom. Not so bad, was it? Stung a little. Now allow them to slap you. See? A slap in the face is a slap in the face. Slapping someone whe
Slashdot image (Score:1)
Cut the power Spiderman! (Score:1)
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Dogbertius - THAT is parenting.
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Even more, you should start a website. I have found that children really do want parenting, even if they are not aware. Also, parents want to parent, but they think it is hopeless. Only knowledge and truth will dispel myths. Getting it out there could go a very, very long way. Imagine, if it took off and parents parented, what the fruits would be!
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Even more, you should start a website. I have found that children really do want parenting, even if they are not aware. Also, parents want to parent, but they think it is hopeless. Only knowledge and truth will dispel myths. Getting it out there could go a very, very long way. Imagine, if it took off and parents parented, what the fruits would be!
Well, I already run a blog I update with tutorials on image processing, microcontroller stuff, etc. It's mainly designed to give insight into learning these things from the ground-up, regardless of prior experience. I might consider throwing together a collection of simple guides on this subject. With the exception of tearing open the wall and installing new power equipment (plus sealing and repainting it), most of these workarounds are very simple to implement and safe. Thank you for the positive feedback
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It's mainly designed to give insight into learning these things from the ground-up, regardless of prior experience.
Why am I not surprised?
I might consider throwing together a collection of simple guides on this subject. With the exception of tearing open the wall and installing new power equipment (plus sealing and repainting it), most of these workarounds are very simple to implement and safe. Thank you for the positive feedback :)
Positive feedback (in some form) is what keeps us going. I do not know much about websites yet, but I have some ideas. Perhaps opening the wall is too extreme for a child issue... but might be good for other reasons. What I am getting at is that I would like to start something helps people see how easy everything really is, and can be. In the words of Mr. Miyagi, "No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher!" (Unless that student avoids good teachers?) In other words, to learn any
How many complaint responses would there be ... (Score:3, Insightful)
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The Christian way is to not spare the rod, and use it heavily and forcefully. Who are you to question Jesus when disciplining kids?
That is the Anonymous Coward way.
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This incident made good headlines but it really may have been far more serious than it seems. If this kid is having serious mental issues and refuses to comply with parents there is no way to use force these days without ending up in jail. It is a sad fact but every now and then there comes a situation where a good punch in the nose can straighten a kid out and even save his life. I am not advocating beating kids but there really are oddball situations where some measure of brutality is actually the
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