General News Father makes Son destroy his own Xbox for bad grades

In my opinion, I think it was a great idea. The kid's gonna learn one way or another that if he wants to keep playing on it, he needs to earn those privileges. Life's not fair so you're going to have to deal with it.
I mean, sure, that thing cost a few hundred dollars, but judging by the looks of the kid, does he REALLY need an Xbox? I mean, whatever happened to going outside and playing? You don't see many kids doing that because their faces are glued to the TV or their smartphones or computer screens.

 

In real life, mature adults do not smash things that belong to you when you don't do as you're expected.

That's called being a cunt. Or a criminal.

 

It's always funny to see stupid parents surprised that their children are stupid also

 

I see two problems with this:
1. He uploaded a video of it to humiliate his child or get attention for himself; probably to have people hail him as a "great parent." That kind of motivation should not even be present in the slightest. You should be punishing your child because you think it's in their best interest (tough love), not to be dramatic and get publicity.
2. It's a waste of an xbox, and thus a waste of money. I feel it would be more effective to take it away until and give it back as a reward if his child starts to do better in school. He could have donated it or sold it! Stupid!
For those reasons, I have to disagree with what the father did. Punishments need not be elaborate. Taking the xbox away and having self-control to not give it back despite your child's whining is better.

 

I have two nephews, and I punish them all the time. They spend a little over 50% of their time with me. The oldest appears to be around this kids age. I find what this "father" did disgusting.

First, the greatest offense here is uploading it to YouTube. He did that specifically to shame and humiliate his son, and to get praise for himself. That's disgusting and unacceptable. I don't even like to discipline my nephews in front of other people, particularly their friends, unless I have to put an end to something immediately. I don't believe in shaming at all.

Second, I have taken things away before, and even on multiple occasions made them give some of their things to Good Will as punishment. So, I have done similar things, and have set similarly firm boundaries--especially around grades and school. However, it was always the result of me being constantly involved PRIOR to that point. I don't wait for them to screw up and make bad grades before I invoke punishment. I speak to their teachers, I expect to know what they make on assignments and tests in class, I help them with their homework... I know what is going on, and progress report time is usually when I'm bringing down the hammer. That's when I expect them to turn C's into B's and B's into A's. If they are making less than a C then they are in serious trouble. They know the only really acceptable grade is an A. I don't let them get away with the "I'm doing my best... at least I'm passing with a C!" excuse.

Third, I don't just punish. I reward good behavior, progress, and excellent grades. This makes them want to do well. So, I'm giving them both the carrot and the stick. Hell, they have to "earn" time to play video games through chores and school work. That's how they get most of their rewards. I don't just let them play video games whenever they want, for as long as they want. They can't even get access to the X-Box controllers without my permission because I keep them locked up.

This "father" is just an asshole looking for attention. There is nothing good about his parenting, because if he was a good parent, his kid wouldn't be failing in the first place.

 

What a dick, you want your kids to hold resentment against you down the road? This is how you do it. What if this kid already struggles in school? Now he's going to get even more frustrated when he doesn't get good grades knowing how his dad is going to react and start to hate school... Parents shouldn't punish their kids for bad grades but try and understand why they're failing

 

I'm not against punishing kids but I'm against this. Video game consoles are extremely expensive on top of everything that's been said; It's throwing hundred of dollars in the toilet just for bad grades.

Second, it can cause a negative effect on the child as they will learn that doing something wrong means their property gets destroyed. This can make the kid grow up learning such criminal behaviors as destroying other people's property if he doesn't get what he wants.

Taking the xbox away and locking it in the closet would be more appropriate; this was my punishment growing up and it works well. It taught me to do better and I still get my games back as a reward if my grades improve. Punishment and rewards are both necessary; can't be a lose-lose situation.

 

now this kid can begin his ascension up to the glorious and majestic PC master race

but jokes aside, I think this was a really stupid and over-the-top punishment

 

I get confiscating it for bad grades, but smashing it? AND he made him destroy it? I get some kids can get out of control, but SERIOUSLY?! (!)

 

But you did not grow up to learn to steal and lock other peoples' property in a closet, did you? Nor did you grow up believing doing something wrong means your property gets locked away? I think its a bit of a stretch to say this teaches criminal behavior.

 

I cannot imagine putting something on the internet with my kid in it that my kid did not want on the internet. I hate to sound dramatic but the idea honestly makes my skin crawl.

 

Now... That was bloody fun to watch... Anyway...

Because it's for getting bad grades, it's stupid, over the top, etc., as other people have said, confiscating it or doing something simmilar, selling his games and the like, would be better, because he can re-sit the exams or do better the following year.
BUT
If it was for something more major such as beating somebody up, getting (X) amount of detentions for not doing homework or whatever, so getting into deep shit, would of been perdectly fine.

On the subject of parents destroying their childrens stuff...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KOOCzbonMeU a guy shoots his daughters laptop over Facebook

Man, the internet is a great spectator sport.

 

Getting kinda sick of this "discipline porn" that the internet seems to love so much...

 

*Typing with one hand*

I agree!

 

his dad went too easy on him, i would have made him smash his xbox put it in a blender collect his tears put them in a blender and have him drink a sorrow milkshake. no.1 parent XD also i would make him kill his cat for good measure(with a piece of metal from the xbox)

 

You are sick

why would you treat a blender that way?:roflmao:

 

This kind of parenting is what can scar a kid for life. I could understand taking his XBox away, but making him DESTROY IT? That's fucked up.

 

He should've just taken it away and given it back if the kid's grades went up. I mean, those things are expensive! Totally unnecessary and a waste of money...

Edit: And I think a good point is made at the end of the article. This is just gonna make the boy hate his dad; it would've been better if the father had instead helped the boy raise his grades or tried to figure out a more reasonable and sensible solution. One to show he cares.