Dad Shoots Teen's Laptop

If you haven’t see the video below, it seems to be a poignant (and theatrical) representation of the conflict between parents and teens over what is acceptable communication on social media sites like FaceBook.

The father made the video after his teen daughter posted a long message on her FaceBook wall declaring she is not a slave and using curse words. She also suggested she be paid for doing simple chores in the home.

He reads her message into the camera and succinctly states he will not tolerate being disrespected and explains why. That he made his message public has created a very large response. The video has been watch over 14 million times to date. Many of the YouTube user comments support the father emphatically. Shooting the laptop with .45 pistol many times seems like an overreaction, but it clearly was meant to be dramatic.

Coincidentally, a short while ago a comparison of American and French parenting styles was written in the Wall Street Journal. The American author living in France noticed French children, (in her estimation) obey their parents and don’t talk back to them nearly as much, which makes taking them to public places like parks and restaurants much easier. This view was her own personal opinion. She said it has to do with being firm with children consistently and being able to say ‘No’ and mean it, instead of letting children do mostly what they want. The father in the video definitely says no, and explains why. Perhaps that is why he is being celebrated by some.

Spending a lot of time on FaceBook might not even be healthy for teens, recent research showed. So the father might have done the daughter a big favor, in terms of social media access.

Image Credit: Kristoferb Wiki Commons

Read more: Conscious Consumer, Do Good

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

8:36PM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Quite the maniac...

March 4
send a green star

Katheleen S.

1:47PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

I know the daughter was so in the WRONG....but the dad didn't handle the situation correctly. I wonder if part of her rebellion is due to her family life......not making excuses....just that the dad rubbed me the wrong way. I also agree with the comments about the computer. If the dad just spent money and so much time updating the computer that it would be much better to give the laptop to someone who needs it instead of shooting it. I think this is a 'family' problem.

February 16
send a green star

Sheleen A.

7:56PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

I understand the father's frustration as so many people now think FB is the only way to communicate and have forgotten how to talk and share their problems. Using a gun is drastic but it has certainly gotten the point across!!!

February 15
send a green star

Rosie L.

12:01PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

wow!

Deborah D.

10:35PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

I can appreciate the parent's frustration, but it would have been more appropriate to donate the laptop to a shelter or other non-profit.

The daughter is so lucky to have a home...she needs to spend some time volunteering with an organization that helps people who don't really have the basics of comfort...or necessity

February 14
send a green star

Rebecca S.

12:19PM PST on Feb 14, 2012

still not sure about the gun part of it...

KS G.

4:59AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Danuta W.

2:17AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

Thanks for the article

Lori U.

7:57PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

This father appears to have been pushed to his limit.So many kids these days think they are entitled to every thing and give nothing in return.I have worked hard for every thing I have and can assure you because of that I appreciate what I have.
I agree with others that the father should have donated the computer but this must have been what he felt was necessary to get the point across since the daughter didn't get it the first time she lost her computer.

February 13
send a green star

Juliet D.

7:55PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Violence and destruction of someone's personal property is never the answer.
I raised my daughter with common sense. By the time she had a good grasp of the English language, I ALWAYS gave her a reason when I told her to do something. She gradually came to understand that I always had her best interests at heart. "Because I told you so " is never an adequate reason- all that does is teach a child to see you as a bully, and develop a toadying attitude toward authority. In order to help a child develop impulse control and foster long-term thinking about consequences of actions, you actually have to discuss things with them, not be a tyrant. This approach meant we had very few arguments, and my Daughter is in college on a partial scholarship- due to her own hard work!