I'm going to be a junior in high school (no idea what that is in the European school system, 16-17), I used to have a computer AND TV in my room when I was in 6th grade. Now, as a junior, I'm "too young" to be able to handle a computer (that is mine) in my room. I get good grades (3.0+) and I do football and swim team, and am very social. I'd say so far this summer, I've spent 1 out of the 3 weeks I've been actually in my home. I mow the lawn, my own laundry (occasionally), and definitely help around the house when asked. Is it too much for me to want a computer in my room? They have no reason to not trust me on a computer. It's not like I'm into meeting people who I don't actually know online. I know more about computers then both of them combined, why is there such an issue with this. Would you let your 16 1/2 son have a computer (that he custom built) in his room? Or do you lack that much trust in your own offspring?

Maybe a laptop is a better idea. It may help you in school too!

I think I had my own computer when I was 14 or 15. Windows 98 SE, it was.

Didn't get the Internet permanently in my room until 16 though. I remember running an ethernet cable across the floor to the other end of the house (where the modem was) when I wanted Internet. Good times, good times.

I'd let my kid have a computer in their room, no problem. I cannot comment, however, on whether or not I would use Wireshark to spy on their Internet activity, though

(I kid, I wouldn't do that.)

Wait, you used to have one but now you're too young? What?

Exactly. I had a brand-new Gateway computer back when I was in 6th grade, but now they assume I can't handle the "responsibility" of having one now.

You have only one choice. Kill everyone.

If you can afford it why not. If your parents are worried about porm and whatnots then have them use the parental controls.

By "your computer" do you mean that you are he only one that uses it, or did you buy it yourself?

They have comandeered this since it runs FarmVille better then their machine can do it. And no, built it. I got parts from different holidays and some from my own pocket.

Tell them that you'll not turn into a hideous pimpled nerd just by getting your own new technology if you've fared good until now. Or tell them that Robin Williams, Dame Judi Dench and Vin Diesel are also big geeks, depending on whether your parents like any of them, of course.
If that does not help, just tell them that you can prove yourself to be resistant to bad, bad things like thinking the real world works like a game. ^_^

They can do that ? Glad my mother know little about computers.


Again with the killing, is that your answer to everything ?

The most terrible simplification of all. I mean, there are no wars or social troubles on Czernia, right Lobo?

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/how-sniff-network-traffic-wireshark

It works, if you do it right.

Their house, their rules.

If they wish to be reasonable about it, you can attempt to show them that nothing you do now, or would do, on your computer is in any way a risk to you personally or academically, or to anybody in the family. But if the matter is not open to discussion, you have a choice between doing as you are told and doing as you are told.

If you were one of my children and you had a 3.0, I would be very concerned that you were neglecting your studies, and I would be taking whatever actions I needed to remove temptations and distractions. If I believed you were wasting time on a computer, I would bar you from using the computer, except as you needed for your studies. It would be incompatible with my duty to allow you to use a computer in your room, and I would not be willing to negotiate on the subject.

If your parents are basing their decision to take away your computer on the idea that you wouldn't be responsible enough with it, then ask them to give you a chance. If you are responsible with it, then they really have no reason to keep it from you (unless, of course, they think of another reason, like the parent favorite 'because I said so').

So what are we missing here? If you had one in your room four years ago (but can't be trusted to have one now) what happened? I doubt they would just pull that on you out of the blue without a reason. I'm a firm believer in getting both sides of the story before passing judgement.

Never heared of Czernia, whats a Lobo ?


Damn, well I live surrounded by old people, and a family who aint that bright, I think im safe.

But then the police show up, its an endless cycle.

If you can mow your own laundry then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to mow a computer in your room

I would actually recommend a wood chipper (although I'm not sure if you can get it to fit in your room) though just cause I think it would destroy the computer better

Maybe your folks just wanna use your computer themselves. Try putting some of your own parental controls on the rig and see what happens.

The only real reason they will give me is because they have to ask me to help. That I don't actively seek out issues in the house and fix them myself. And they think I will stay up all night on it, but they don't realize I can already do that with my Nexus One or iPod Touch.

I see nothing wrong with it. I'm fifteen and moving my computer back to my room in a few months. The only reason it wasn't in my room before was because my room has electrical problems, which will be fixed in a few months. I had an old computer in there a year or so again and it would keep frying, put it in this room and BAM, it worked. But like I said, the electrical problem in my room should be fixed soon.

Yes and no. I know from experience that even if you think you wont be distracted by having a computer in your room, you will get distracted. By having your computer in a common area you can't be on it super long and non-stop, but you can when it's in your room.

But that said, you should really be allowed to. You're 16, you're legally an advlt in some states and in many other countries. Perhaps they don't want you to have it because then they can't play Farmville as well as they can on the other computer?

Wait, I have a solution!

Tell them that you are a cop, and they will respect your author-i-tah!

It's in a room upstairs near their bedroom, and I don't have any limits on when I can be on it. They assume I'm going to be spending less time with them now (even though the common area/kitchen is all downstairs CLOSER to my room).