Teen whines about parents on Facebook, Dad shoots laptop

[George.J]

Facebook parenting: For the troubled teen
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57...shoots-laptop/

The new viral video. Now that's beyond a standard punishment! Do you support that the dad did the right thing, or he went too extreme with his actions?

[eyeb]

well... he most likely paid for it... kid should learn to appreciate what they got

[MidnightCowboy]

I sympathize with both sides but listening to all of the narrative from dad, I guess the daughter may have issues with past and present relationships (mother/step mother) as well as father. This is not to excuse her behavior, but only to suggest that maybe some opportunities were missed in the past which are now affecting this in the present.

[Panzer]

This is more disturbing than the article you posted, George:
http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-defri...014442236.html

[wdhpr]

I watched this video clip on the nightly news.
I owned and lived around guns all my life and have learned great respect for them. The message I got, is if something tee's you off take out your gun and shoot it. IMO this was a poor use of a deadly tool designed to save and protect lives.

[MidnightCowboy]

I agree with wdhpr, although I think the clip does help to demonstrate something else. If this was in a movie, the first shot would have exploded that laptop into a thousand pieces

[wdhpr]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

I agree with wdhpr, although I think the clip does help to demonstrate something else. If this was in a movie, the first shot would have exploded that laptop into a thousand pieces

At the very least the battery should of short circuited and caught fire.

[eyeb]

you mean a thin piece of metal/plastic doesn't deflect the bullet?

[George.J]

Why You Shouldn’t Shoot Your Daughter’s Laptop

[Remah]

Originally Posted by George.J

Why You Shouldn’t Shoot Your Daughter’s Laptop

I read the article. It's more of an advertorial for the ScreamFree Institute.

If the article really was intended to be helpful then it would be reasonably evenhanded and it would provide links to useful resources. The author doesn't even reference/link to the study she introduces.

I wouldn't do what he did but neither do I condemn him for it. It is interesting that his response, like his daughter's, is also drama writ large on Facebook. The dangerous and destructive gun is an effective instrument to make the point that her laptop won't be coming back to life.

The most surprising part of it all? “He’s become this focal point for resentful parents who are finally seeing a leader. It’s frightening,” says Hal Runkel, M.S., founder of The ScreamFree Institute.

Is it really that surprising? Many parents feel disempowered and don't know what to do. The author and expert attempt to marginalize them by calling them "resentful", trying to get them to fear losing their childrens' respect, and blaming their leadership.

Children need to know that there are some boundaries that are non-negotiable (compare that with ""Set and explain negotiable boundaries"). She chose to defame all three of her parents by lying about her situation. I'd consider that a non-negotiable boundary. Plus she had been warned for similar behavior already.

In this case, "being the leader they need" is likely to require sticking to that boundary.