[Luvian]

Originally posted by Cerek the Barbaric: Ken - as long as a teenager is living in his/her parents (or stepparents) house, there is NO "Right to Privacy". Parent that didn't want to violate their teenagers "right to privacy" is what allowed two middle-upscale kids to collect guns, saw off their barrels, and plan a massacre for over a year before carrying out their plans (Columbine High). If the teenager is paying rent and helping with the groceries, utilities and other bills - THEN he/she might have more of a voice in the decisions made...but as long as the parents pay the bills, THEY dictate the policy of the house. Luvian - This same logic applies to charge of "theft" towards the step-dad. Would it be theft if he threw out the drugs his daughter bought with her own money? Would it be theft if he threw away any porn magazines sauceman might have hidden in his closet? {hypothetically speaking, of course. Not implying that sauceman actually has any magazines hidden in his room. ). The answer is no. As long as the parent is providing clothing, food, and shelter - they get to make the rules. Plain and simple.

There is a difference between an adult discarding a kid's stuff, and an adult discarding another adult's stuff. Just because he is possibly not paying a part of the rent does not mean he does not have the right to own his own things.