The loss of video games...(OR: Why I hate my stepfather)

[Zero Alpha]

YAY i got a mention



and i found the happy smile, well thats a turn up for the books

[Cerek the Barbaric]

sauceman - First of all, I just want to say that you are extremely mature for your age. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] It sounds like your stepdad has several "issues" involved with his being a STEP-dad...and it sounds like he needs to get over some of them. The fact that you can look past HIS immature behavior is admirable.

Now for the daily dose of sagely, barbaric advise [img]smile.gif[/img]

I sincerely hope your stepdad didn't actually throw your games away this time. I know myself I've told MY kids that I had gotten rid of certain toys when I had actually just hidden them away for awhile. Of course, my boys are much younger than you (oldest is only 6), but I HAVE thrown some of their toys away before - when the toys were thrown in a fit of anger, especially if they were thrown at me. I've told them before "If you get mad enough to throw your toy across the room...make sure it lands in the trash can. If you don't, I will." I've only had to do that a few times to prove I wasn't bluffing and that ended the "flying toys" problem.

Your stepdad may (or may not) be right in taking your games away...but he was NOT right in doing it in such a sneaky, underhanded way. And he is NOT right in tossing them since the note said you don't need them until after graduation (which fosters the hope that he may be bluffing you this time). Still, if he did, there is nothing that can be done about it now...and eBay is a GREAT source for replacing games at a good price.

As for your grades, your stepdad (and most everybody else on this thread) is right. A "D" will definitely go against you when you start applying to colleges. Colleges and universities look very closely at your high school transcript when deciding whether or not to "accept" you. Now I can also completely sympathize with your struggle in Economics. Chemistry and Physics were my weaknesses in high school. I was an above-average student who never made below a "B" in any academic class - until I got to high school chemistry and physics. As you said, I simply could NOT get a handle on those subjects no matter how hard I tried. I struggled valiantly through chemistry (and managed to BARELY pull a B in the class), but I ended up dropping Physics entirely my senior year. I could barely make a D in the class and I didn't want to ruin my G.P.A. Since I had enough credits to graduate, I just dropped the class before it got too bad.

As for you step-sister's problems...those will only get worse until her dad starts putting the responsibility on HER instead of your mom. And he can place the blame anywhere he wants, but it is HIS daughter, so he ought to be taking a serious interest in the matter rather than trying to blame your mom for her behavior. But that's not really your problem. While you still live in the house, try to follow the path of least resistance with your stepdad. Do whatever you have to to avoid his ire.

When you're done with college and are living on your own, he won't have any control over you anymore. Then (if your mom hasn't already kicked him out), you can always go back and BEAT THE EVERLOVIN' SNOT OUT OF HIM!!!! [img]graemlins/whackya.gif[/img]

Just Kidding . This time next year, this incident {hopefully} won't seem nearly as important as it does now. And maybe your stepdad will "ease up" a bit once he sees you bringing home good grades from college.

Best of luck to you sauceman - Don't let him get you down. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Luvian]

You guys are too nice, I would have draged him to court for theft already if I was you.

[Ken Rauhl]

Originally posted by the sauceman: Anywho, When I open the CD case that most of my games are in, theyre all gone, with a little note instead. Steven, (Thats my name) Due to your abuse of these f*cking games, your mother and I have decided that it is best if you dont have to worry about them until after you graduate. (o) /----\ l l l l l l l l l l l l l.l.l.l (Little picture of a trash can with a CD going into it) Signed, John (My step father. The name was changed to keep some privacy) Now, my step father is a little bit bigger than I, and has a very mean temper. (He gave my cat a heart attack because he hates cats, that F*CKING bastard) So the first thing I do is check the trash cans in the house, and then the sideyard. After a futile search, I give up and go to bed. The next morning "John" has already gone to work when I wake up. Sighing in defeat, I get ready and make my way to school, knowing that the games are history. That night, I ask John why he decided to throw away the games that I had bought with my money. His reply was that I had to learn to grow up, and finish High School. Rather unhappy, I tried to explain to him that a D is a passing grade, and I have MORE than enough credits to graduate already. Of course he would hear none of it, and sent me to my room to brood. Turning on my computer, I heave a sigh, and then open the CD case in my computer (it holds about 7 CDs) and lo and behold, there are some of my older games, Fallout, Fallout 2, Master of Orion 2, Icewind Dale 2, and Age of Mythology. Almost weeping with joy, I pop in fallout and begin a new game.

HE absolutely has NO right to do that. He violated your privacy, and as far as this thing goes, he abused his right to be your parent. If he's been acting like this ever since he was in your life, then he should NOT be there. good parents, that sense of family and belonging and comfort, are the most priceless gift a child can have. nothing can replace a good father, a man who would guide his child, love him/her, play with him/her, protect him/her and most importantly teach him/her the value in which it takes to bem a man! but a terrible (if this is true with ur step dad) parent is NOT BETTER THAN NOTHING.

there is, I shall repeat this point, NOTHING you or your mother can do to change his temper, his personality. he may change, but not after 20 or 30 years.

aside from you not performing well in your single class, he had NOT been a good parent to you. there is not much you can do about him stealing your CDs and making you feel violated, and HE KNOWS IT.

I do not know much about your situation, and can only make vague guesses from your post. my advice maybe harmful, and what I said above was based on an assumption of him being an angry and uncaring dad to you. tell me more abt him and you, I may offer you something. best of luck

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Zero Alpha: and i found the happy smile, well thats a turn up for the books

Zero Alpha, at the very top of the page is a link to the smilies. Just click on "GRAPHICS LIBRARY". Choose your smilie, copy its code and then paste it in your response.

Hope it helps.

So much anger and hate generated by a single side of the story. Good thing we don't need anything like the other side of the story to make our judgements.


I do not mean to insult the originator of the thread nor question his veracity....all I know from my own life experience is that, there are two sides to every story, and it doesnt do to get all worked up untill you have heard more than one side of the issue.

Edit: I would be a bit cautious about declaring what rights legal guardians have over their charges and lest ye forget...'tis not the child that owns the home and everything therein.

[ 05-28-2003, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Ken Rauhl]

Originally posted by Bungleau: As a father, I can also relate to both sides. Hey, if he didn't care, would he be doing this? I know it sounds corny, but if he didn't want you to succeed, he wouldn't put the effort into trying to remove things that may be stopping you. Heck, my dad took out the VCR in my final year of high school -- pained him more than it did me, but he felt (and rightly so [img]smile.gif[/img] ) that I was spending too much time watching TV. All good stuff had to go through the VCR.

hey man, no offense, but the note wrote to Steven/Sauceman, said something like "spend too much time on these f**king games". is that something you usually say to your kid? do you give your son's pets a "heart attack"? chances are a child will become the way how his parents treat him, and if Steven's sf treat him so, then the evil stepdad may need to go.

Originally posted by Ken Rauhl: hey man, no offense, but the note wrote to Steven/Sauceman, said something like "spend too much time on these f**king games". is that something you usually say to your kid? do you give your son's pets a "heart attack"? chances are a child will become the way how his parents treat him, and if Steven's sf treat him so, then the evil stepdad may need to go.

Have we an authenticated copy of the note to inspect?
I would also submit that Ill use any word I please when addressing my son.
So I don't feel compelled to tell this guy which he can or cannot use.

[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.

[Zero Alpha]

Originally posted by Charlie: quote: Originally posted by Zero Alpha: and i found the happy smile, well thats a turn up for the books

Zero Alpha, at the very top of the page is a link to the smilies. Just click on "GRAPHICS LIBRARY". Choose your smilie, copy its code and then paste it in your response.[/QUOTE]thanx

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