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General discussion

Would you have done that to your daugther's laptop?

Feb 13, 2012 8:54AM PST

To give you some context to this poll, read this blog here:
Teen whines about parents on Facebook, dad shoots laptop

Would you have done what father Tommy Jordan did to his daughter's laptop?


-- Yes. (Shot the laptop? Or something else?)
-- No. (Why not? What would you had done differently?)
-- It depends. (Depends on what?)
-- I don't know; I'm not a parent yet. (Let's pretend you were, would you?)

Note: This post was edited by its original author to edit one of the selections on 02/14/2012 at 9:28 AM PT

Discussion is locked

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He didnt shoot her laptop
Feb 14, 2012 6:41AM PST

He didn't shoot her laptop, She has no job therefore he shot HIS laptop that he provided for her. This whole thing follows a new trend started by stupid people to film themselves doing stupid things. 99% of the time this videos end up being labeled as people's exhibit A. If you want to be stupid doing stupid things stop filming it. From vandalizing a house to pissing on dead enemies. Filming stupid **** is stupid. Now this guy and daughter will probably be on the media fast track with all expense trips to Dr. Phil and the like. It could just all be a setup for that. Maybe he should have just sent up a balloon and had her hide like she was in the balloon. No wait that's already been done.

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Would you have done that to your daugther's laptop? - New!
Feb 14, 2012 6:46AM PST

No. A classic example of lousy parenting. Why blame the child for its poor behaviour when you were the original instigator. Treat a human with dignity and respect and you will get it back in spades. The guy probably had issues with his parents and is just passing the problem on......

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Laptop
Feb 14, 2012 7:15AM PST

I would have sold the laptop and got something for it.

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This is an example!
Feb 14, 2012 7:23AM PST

I don't know if I would have shot the laptop physically like he did. It was something he or him and his wife had purchased. Therefore it was his property and it is his choice to do what he did. I would have formatted it and sold it rather than destroying it. It is the point this made though so I understand it. The child was obviously a repeat offender here as well so lets not forget that. She had just come off of being grounded for a similar incident from what it sounded like that involved the same thing (Facebook post's she thought no one would see and she would not have to answer for). The one thing about all of this that I think more people need to realize is that if you put it out there it is then public period.

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Knee-jerk reaction.
Feb 14, 2012 7:25AM PST

While I understand his anger (I would be too), destroying a piece of expensive electronics doesn't exactly teach anything, except how to be stupid.

How about taking it away until her chores get done? Also, make sure you have full access to her Facebook account (and any other accounts she may have), so that you can take down those kinds of posts when they get made. She's free to EMAIL her friends and whine like that, but public postings of that nature shouldn't be tolerated, as it is disrespectful to her parents.

Shooting things doesn't teach good behaviors. That's not what guns should be used for. Laptops are not appropriate target practice items. Happy

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Target
Feb 14, 2012 1:10PM PST

Yes, laptops and ANY non living this is an appropriate target.
There needs to be a law that forces social networking sites to require a valid credit card as proof of age. Under 18? NO ACCESS PERIOD. Also, take away all cell phones from those underage. They don't need them. What they DO need is a lot more homework. Maybe they will become smarter in life later on?

Destroying a laptop, regardless of the cost is the father's right to do so. it is his property. It teaches at lease one valuable lesson to the kid - DAD IS IN CHARGE AND NO MORE LAPTOP.

Everyone whines about the cost of the laptop. I can see what your real concerns are for - the laptop, not the issue. And certainly not the kid.

I would care if it cost a million dollars. If it got the point across then I would do what I had to. A permanent point. Anyone concerned about the laptop is pretty much unconcerned about real issues. Laptop can be replaced. The life lesson for the kid cannot.

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Shoot the laptop? Give me a break!
Feb 14, 2012 7:40AM PST

Let's assume that I had a gun (I don't).
I have always believed that punishment should fit the crime...
is that not the mainstay of administering criminal justice in
a democracy?

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Kid...
Feb 14, 2012 1:15PM PST

If we follow what you say and the child is past the point of no return then by your reasoning he should have killed his daughter. Something is not right. And teaching the kid it is ok to vandalize things was not the dad's message. The message was to repect authority and COMPLY. DAD IS IN CHARGE. The kid is NOT. He should take her out to a deserted island for a while. Let her learn to appreciate what dad give her. She would have to learn how to survive without electronics and internet, as well as respect authority.
I figure after about 3 years she might have learned her lesson.

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To shoot or not to shoot????
Feb 14, 2012 7:40AM PST

I support what Mr. Jordan did because the laptop was not the issue but I felt he wanted to make a very strong point to a very disrepectful daughter. The extent of his actions reflected the extent of her disrepect. It does not matter that that is the norm for today's youth. He made the point, in a very direct way, that he had the rigth to rescind what I'm fairly sure was something he had provided. Provided above and beyond the basic necessities every parent should provide.

I personally would have taken the laptop and given it away to charity, or to a person who would have appreciated the gift and the person giving it. I have no sympathy for errant children who think that the world owes them and they have a right to disparage the parents who provide everything.

I would advise the child to work, save, purchase her own laptop... and pay for the electricity, broadband, and accessories to be able to go online. And... after she's financially able and at an age to move out and provide all of her needs, then she's earned the right to have a consenting opinion about her parents.

Until that time the only comments she should every utter are "Yes Mam" and 'Yes Sir".

It wouldn't hurt to also throw in a regular "Thank you".

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Not allowed guns here
Feb 14, 2012 7:55AM PST

Might have used a 14lb sledgehammer instead(might)lol.
Think I would have educated her in her use of words and talked through the problems with her.

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mmmm....
Feb 14, 2012 1:16PM PST

Maybe. He might have made HER smash it with the sledge hammer. That might send a good message too.

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Now there's an idea...
Feb 14, 2012 2:09PM PST

My dad did that to me once (with records). Having her destroy it could have been effective. However, I still don't think that the laptop should have been destroyed. It was an overrreaction. Save the "big guns" (no pun intended) for serious situations. This situation wasn't as serious as people are making it out to be. I know it was extremely frustrating, but it wasn't really that serious. People are reacting to the father's feelings, not the facts of the situation.

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Shoot the laptop
Feb 14, 2012 8:07AM PST

Having restrained himself from shooting his daughter, it was plain daft to shoot the laptop: who'sgoing to pay for the replacement??
Phone call to insurance company - "Well, I was cleaning my gun....................

Oneirene

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Good Idea, very poor method
Feb 14, 2012 8:26AM PST

No, I would not use a gun to e<font face="Calibri"><font size="3">mphasize the qualities of a</font><font size="3">ppreciation, grace, forgiveness, and love to my unappreciative daughter. The use of a gun outside of self-defence, training, and hunting usualy leads to negetive out comes. Why is she not appreciative?</font></font>

<font face="Calibri"><font size="3">hw</font>
</font>

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Oh dear
Feb 14, 2012 8:32AM PST

the main comments seem to centre on the daughter's attitude. I feel that the crucial issue is that anyone who is allowed to have a gun and shoots a computer is a dangerous individual who has no place in modern society. Luckily I live in the UK where gun ownership is strictly limited and controlled and where such activity, were it made public, would result in appropriate legal action.

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OMG
Feb 14, 2012 1:21PM PST

Are you kidding??? Just because someone owns a gun does not mean they are dangerous! It is his right to do whatever he wants with his own property. Sure he could have use anything else to do the job. But why condemn him for a gun? I am glad to live in a country where people can own guns. It lets us shoot all kinds of targets. There is no legal action necessary, appropriate or otherwise.

If you take guns away from the people then the criminals will be the one's who have the guns (government criminals included). Why is everyone go gun-a-phobic?

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Bring back the role of family in society
Feb 14, 2012 8:41AM PST

Is it not strange that parents have given all the training of their children over to the creche, teachers and after school groups and yet in school children are never taught to be responsible adults or responsible parents. We have lost the core principles of the family and we blame the system that we have allowed to be introduced to Society. In days gone by there was no such things as adolescence. When children were past puberty they were old enough to be responsible earners for the family until they could afford their own. Prior to that the children would be taught by their parents to continue in their work or trade. I am incredulous that youngsters can be students into their 30's without earning. I am 67 now but I started working at 13 and contributed to the famly. I continued to go to school part time and evenings while I worked and eventually got to University without financial help from my parents who were not well off. When I had a family of my own I did help my children to get a good education but they still had to do chores abd earn when they reached their teens. My chldren and grand children still respect me and have voiced their thanks for their upbringing. Respect cannot be demande it has to be earned. Start investing as soon as posssible They are a jewel in your crown and an inheritance to the furture.

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respect
Feb 14, 2012 1:28PM PST

I disagree on the respect issue. ALL Judges do not deserve any respect. They are crooked and immoral creatures and have not earned any respect. BUT if you disrespect a judge, what do you think is going to happen to you?

I demand respect from my kids. If they don't like it they can hit the road and don't let the door hit them in the caboose on the way out.

I do commend you on your lifetime of hard work though. And I agree about the loss of core principles. The idiot social workers & lawmakers who listen to the psychobabble junk spewed out by doctors is where the problem lies. And moronic parents who think that little johnny and suzie can simply be reasoned with are in a fantasy world. Follow one ancient book and guess what? Parenting problems just seem to dry up and blow away.. The book begins with the letter B

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Bible the basis for family values
Feb 14, 2012 10:23PM PST

I know it is not politically correct to mention the bible as a moral standard but without it there is no unchanging standard. Solomon the wise characterises respect for parents in proverbs and the 7th commandment has a promise for those who respect their parents.
Jesus says you should not only obey but do it with love as if you were doing it for God.
My prayer is for my children and their children that they would follow God with their hearts as well as with their minds. To obey is good, to love is better.

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Yes, but let's not forget...
Feb 15, 2012 2:58PM PST

Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath. The Bible presents a balanced view that both sides have responsibilities to the other.

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balance - do as Jesus
Feb 17, 2012 7:36AM PST

Interestngly, when Jesus was **** His ministry at 12 His parents told Him to return home - He did not rebel but only answered there question to explain Himself and went with them. His example must be good.

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Social networking pitfalls
Feb 14, 2012 8:46AM PST

I totally understand Hannah's parents reaction to her Facebook post. I don't know that I would have destroyed the laptop but I definitely would have taken it away. And the cell phone and anything else that would have afforded Hannah easy access to the internet. People need to understand that posting on Facebook or any other social networking site is like printing something on the front page of the New York Times. It is PUBLIC no matter what privacy settings you may be using. Eventually it will get back to just about everyone who was not supposed to see it in the first place.

As to Hannah. She sounds like millions of other spoiled, over indulged teenagers who lack common sense and good judgement. The over indulgence is, at least in part, her parent's responsibility (you guys did give her all these toys and internet access, right?) Being spoiled and over indulged does not, however, excuse Hannah's irresponsible, callous, and just plain stupid behavior went she posted that vitriolic rant on her Facebook wall. What did she think would happen when her parents (the people who feed, clothe and support her) read that trash?

This family may benefit from some outside help to keep this mess from escalating any further than it already has.

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Out of control dad.
Feb 14, 2012 9:30AM PST

To me this is an example of an out of control thin skinned father. That sort of action with justify the children to act in haste when someone pushes their buttons. As a father of 7 I know that my main goal is to teach me children how to control their emotians and choose the better, less destructive way.

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Despite the Over-the-Top Feel, I Get It
Feb 14, 2012 9:30AM PST

I just told my dog that if she's going to eat my food and sleep in my house she WILL come when she's called. This kid is worse. Beyond whining about parents, she looked down with disdain on the household help, complained about not being paid for rather nominal family household duties, then dissed her ol' man's efforts when he found her a job that she refused to persue. And this was the SECOND time she ranted on FB ... not the first ... got caught both times, so what does that say about her thinking?

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No
Feb 14, 2012 10:00AM PST

What's wrong with the old fashioned discipline of simply taking the device away and hiding it? Why destroy and waste a functioning laptop? Was the father trying to teach a lesson or acting out of anger? His act itself was childish.

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No, it is condoning violence
Feb 14, 2012 10:15AM PST

This sends a terrible message to the daughter. It condones violence and using guns as a way to solve problems between people.

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Re: Teen daughter's laptop
Feb 14, 2012 11:21AM PST

I would not have shot the laptop. I would have taken it away and sold it to try and recoup the money spent on it, as well as upgrades done. If the kid wants a laptop: GET A JOB and earn the money for it.
Kids today have too much; too soon. Responsibility is no being taught. Meaning: if you want something, you have to WORK for it! I have 3 grown kids and taught them at an early age (as I was taught): money does not grow on trees. Want something? WORK for it! All 3 of my kids have good jobs and are responsible people. I'm very proud of them!

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No violence, thank you.
Feb 14, 2012 12:00PM PST

I would never shoot the laptop because I studied psychology in college, and it is just too obvious that the laptop is a symbol for the child. If I were this child, I would leave for my own safety. The father is unstable, dangerous, and needs counseling.

The correct technical action to take is to install a network filter that would not allow her to make contact with internet sites that are inapropriate. But this is not the real issue. The real issues are in the relationship between the child and father. I'm not close enough to this situation to give advice on how to repair their relationship, but the father and daughter should get counseling to help them both. The father especially needs some help with his anger management.

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(NT) No, it's wasteful( But I like his style)
Feb 14, 2012 2:12PM PST
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Would you have done that to your daugther's laptop?
Feb 14, 2012 2:20PM PST

Regardless if I bought it or not. her access to the net and specifically Facebook would be ended! However, why waste a bullet when a hammer works just as well?