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Mother Calls 911 to Stop Son Playing Video Game

Posted by samzenpus on from the wait-until-the-police-get-home dept.

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.

5 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. Don't bother arguing with the kid by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Calmly and quietly walk into the room and yank the power plug for the console out of the wall. Continue doing this every time he starts playing the game. Eventually he will get the message -- he can't kill hookers and protect the power source at the same time. (There is also the tactic of pulling out the fuse or flipping the circuit breaker to avoid a direct confrontation.)

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Don't bother arguing with the kid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      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.

    2. Re:Don't bother arguing with the kid by v1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

      --
      I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
  2. How many complaint responses would there be ... by DutchUncle · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ... if she HAD discarded or hidden the game system? By the time I was 14, I was bigger than my mom; by the time my son was, he was bigger than his mom. As others have noted, the time to instill a balance between independence and control/discipline/whatever is when kids are smaller. Also as noted, I just hope all the readers who don't have kids yet realize that (a) maybe their parents had a point, and (b) all the things you swore you'd never do with your kids look a lot different from the other side.

  3. Re:Spanking is not necessarily Child Abuse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Anybody who has to resort to hitting their child is a crappy parent and shouldn't have kids. As a matter of fact, they should have their punk asses kicked for striking a defenseless child. I was spanked as a child (hands, belts, sticks). It didn't stop my behavior. It just made me hate my parents for years. I have kids. I have never had to resort to striking them. They are well behaved, don't take back, and have never thrown a tantrum. My daughter is an A student, has never been in trouble, and is starting college next year. We have a great relationship because I don't feel the need to smack her around. To all you parents who hit your children: you are scum. You are cowardly. You are inept parents.