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Convince Parents to give me back my mac

yoyo5280

yoyo5280

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 24, 2007
1,910
0
Melbourne, Australia & Bay Area
My mac mini has always been in my room, and mostly has always been mine but ever since we moved into a newer smaller house my parents have taken it outa my room and into the family area.

My dad is thinking about getting the iMac, and I thought this was my chance to ask if I can have the mini back...he still won't budge. He says no teenagers in his house can have computers in rooms...only kids....WHAT?

Help...
 
He's probably freaked out over all the negative media attention towards websites like Myspace, or sex predators, maybe you should consider buying a computer yourself, then what could he do about it? you paid for it, it's not his.
 
Hmm. Has he ever given a reason for not letting you have the computer in your room?
 
jfull15 said:
He's probably freaked out over all the negative media attention towards websites like Myspace, or sex predators, maybe you should consider buying a computer yourself, then what could he do about it? you paid for it, it's not his.
Click to expand...

If you are a minor, your parents can still not allow you to use things. Believe me, I have tried multiple times. :(

Why don't you just calmly ask your parents why they don't want you to have it in your room and go from there, OP.
 
Well, at the moment while you're still living at home you should do what your parents say. Yes, that saying is old and annoying. But, in the end it's their rules until you're on your own. I am sure your father doesn't want his kid looking at porn and other sites in his own room. It's a common thought in parents these days.

If you really want a computer in your room you need to come up with REAL reasons why you SHOULD have one in your room. Else, your request won't have any weight.
 
you could camp out in the living room or wherever the comp is.. haha. protest it. thats sure to make them happy.
 
yoyo5280 said:
Well the mac mini was a birthday persent and I bought the moniter (expensive) my self.
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If there's some reason why you want to be able to use the computer in a room all by yourself your dad probably has good reason to not allow you to. :p

My kids have computers in their rooms but I do keep a good tight leash on their usage. Especially here in Japan with all the lightning fast unmetered bandwidth kids need supervision. ;)
 
bamaworks said:
That's pretty ridiculous IMO.... get an iPod touch and browse with the wireless ;)
Click to expand...

Actually, buy a Core Duo black MacBook on the sly.... If you set the brightness to one notch above no backlight, you can just get rid of the backlight when your parents/authorities/snitch siblings come. That's what I'm doing now, except mine is a SR model. Gotta be frugal, if you're on the sly.... :p

EDIT: Oh, and they are IMPOSSIBLE to see at night.
 
Tell them that with Parental Controls enabled they can control what you do and see everything you've done. :D
 
I'm sorry you lost your intarwebs.

Your dad sounds like a tool. I hate when parents go all "super-parent", and try to get everything all ship shape, and in the process look like idiots in the eyes of the people that they are trying to instill respect in...

ah well... he probably has good at heart...

Unless you aren't tell us the whole story. Why can't you use it where it is at now anyway?

Or just take the monitor back into your room when you aren't using it!

good luck!!
 
jfull15 said:
you could camp out in the living room or wherever the comp is.. haha. protest it. thats sure to make them happy.
Click to expand...

hehe, agreed.
;)


I have my all of my computers in my room and have had my own personal mac since I was around 11 years old. I've never had parental controls or anything of that sort. Anyways, your dad must have a reason for acting the way he is. My suggestion, ask him what it is. Then, (has he used a mac before?) show him the cool things you can do with your mini and convince him to buy one. He'll probably be so happy that he'll let you keep your mini and monitor in your room.
 
Why don't you ask him why he took it? I mean he probably has a valid reason (other than the fact that he is your father.) .
 
jfull15 said:
good point. but its still an arguing point
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GirthP said:
When it devolves into fighting over who pays for things like electricity and internet... everyone has lost their perspective.
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oh i agree but thats where the parents could enforce no internet. im sure the only reason you cant have a comp in your room is because of the internet access

i dunno best way to go is to be mature about the situation and ask if you buy a computer yourself, would thay realize you need/want a computer for yourself?
 
perhaps you should realize there are more important things in life than having a computer within feet of your bed. what's so bad about having it in the family living room? if you're not doing anything you shouldn't be doing, there shouldn't be a problem.
 
As a parent, I have to ask why he's removed it? Any reason you forgot to tell us? If not, ask him for a reason why not?

I do understand his position though. The net can be a dangerous place with all sorts of bad things. I know...I know...see...i'm a a parent ;) BUT..i'm right.

my kids will never have their own computer in their own room...not until they are much, much older (near university).

Aside from the dangerous issues, there is the addiction of the net or gaming that comes with it (granted, maybe not gaming in your case with a mini), but you get the drift. There are too many fat kids these days from sitting around too much. See..there I go again...d&#&@! parent in me!

Talk to him and plead your case. Explain why you want it in your room and make a list of things you'll do to abide by any rules. (and then abide by those rules :) not saying you didn't, but you get my pt :)

Cheers,
keebler
 
The distinction of "kids" being allowed is a bit odd. "Kids" are far more vulnerable and using the Internet at younger and younger ages.
 
Be honest...you got caught looking up p0rn and he took it away. There has to be a reason why it's out of your room now.
 
OP, I understand how you feel, but please read carefully: do NOT make a big deal out of this.

If your dad has decided that you can't have a computer in your bedroom, that's his choice. Ask him why, and if he gives you a reason that's even half plausible (scared of sexual predators, porn, etc) then just drop it. It isn't in your interest to fight this battle at this time. You would do better to wait until you're slightly older and then try again.

Out of curiosity, how old are you? I'm guessing 13 or 14 since you wrote "teenager" in your OP. For your dad, allowing you to have a computer in your room is probably a scary thought. You have to change that by earning his respect. Show him you're responsible and he might allow you to have it back. Either way, always remember that it's his choice, and that if you want it back, you need to convince him by proving it to him, not by engaging in a yelling match.
<terrible advice to follow>
If you want to know how to manipulate fathers into giving you what they want (totally off the record btw) you need to trick them into thinking that your idea is really their's. For example, you might start by getting your dad to express a feeling of frustration at the fact that the mini is in the living room. You might accomplish this by using it more often and showing how "obtrusive" it is to have a mini in the living room. You then suggest another room in the house (knowing it can't go there at all) and then let him sit on it for a while. If you know how to manipulate well enough, you can get your dad to give you that mini within six months.

</terrible advice>
 
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