L.C. Posted March 15, 2010 Report Posted March 15, 2010 I have a younger brother who is rather arrogant and ignorant, and he is 8 years old (I think). He is very intelligent and smart, however, and probably knows quite a bit more than the average kid his age. He's really into science, experiments, how things work, etcetera. In fact, he has his own desk in the living room that is [literally] trashed with piles of garbage (of which include wires, motors, fans, screw drivers and other tools, soldering iron, etcetera). The problem occurs when he makes a mistake and fails to admit it and apologize (if necessary) to the appropriate people. The scenario here is that my car needed one of its lights replaced. He was holding the package containing the bulb and was opening it. He handed the light bulb over to my uncle (a car mechanic), then separated the paper from the plastic cover of the bulb's package, and finally ripped the paper side apart and crumpled both the plastic and whatever was left of the paper. I quickly informed him that what he just did was a very stupid thing. His reply to this was, "No, because we're replacing the bulb." To this, I said that he is incorrect, because nobody knows whether (1) the bulb is dead, (2) it's just a faulty wire or connection problem, (3) I got the wrong bulb, (4) whether the bulb was dead or not, 1, 2 and 3 -- plus "until the bulb's status is confirmed and successfully replaced". Instead of doing the right thing -- which is to admit that he is wrong and apologize for what he did -- he continues to shrug it off and stuff. I ask him to admit that he is wrong and apologize to me. He says "No, not even for a penny." At this point, he is in a state where you cannot put any reason into him (totally blinded to reason). I decided to ban him from the computers and movie watching (an authority I have since I am the system administrator). He also said that he won't ever admit and apologize. Note that I was never angry or frustrated during his whole process. I was and still am calm. I'm just simply disappointed. What do you guys suggest? How should I resolve this? One challenge here is that if he ever gets to, for example, a certain level of frustration for being prohibited from using the computers and watching movies (he uses the computers primarily to lookup stuff on instructables.com), he could very well insincerely admit and apologize just to attain his desire of using the computer or watching movies. This would be wrong because on the inside he didn't really apologize or admit he is wrong ("I'm always/still right!"). Quote
Samapico Posted March 15, 2010 Report Posted March 15, 2010 Make him watch some educational 'everyone makes mistakes' kind of videos... I'm sure it exists But it seems he just doesn't want to try to understand your explanation...But he's also 8 Quote
BDwinsAlt Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 Show him tapes of the "Miracle of Birth." That's pay back enough. Or maybe lock his homepage at some annoying website (Can do this with a registry hack). Just have fun until he admits it. He will h4xX0r you sooner or later tho. Quote
»Purge Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 I think I did waaaaaaaaaaaaay worse when I was 8. You're lucky to have a brother like that and not me. Quote
Audry Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 I quickly informed him that what he just did was a very stupid thing. Just there you screwed up. Telling a 8 years old kid he did something stupid (when actually it wasnt that stupid, he was just trying to be helpful) is never a good idea. I think you should come to him first with apologize. Tell him you shouldnt have said that, that you appreciate him helping and then explain to him why he shouldnt have done that without insulting him. THEN MAYBE you'll get some sort of apologize from him. Just my two cents Quote
whalz Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 we cant all be as wise as you audry, i bow. you sound jelous of your brother really.. he wants someone to look up to, not a nerd who does algorithms in real life over lightbulbs in cars... you just gota be smarter then he is , but not have to prove it... and trust me, nothing good EVER came from restricting internet access because you have to power to.. you will regret it. Quote
Samapico Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 Whal would know about 8-years-olds, he is one. Listen to him Quote
BDwinsAlt Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 (edited) Just don't end up being an 8 yr old about it. Do everything is a mature manner. But you can always embarrass him every now and then. Builds character EDIT: Whal, you can't buy cigarettes for like 5 years, please get a new sig Edited March 16, 2010 by BDwinsAlt Quote
»Xog Posted March 16, 2010 Report Posted March 16, 2010 and he is 8 years old (I think). He is very intelligent and smart, however, and probably knows quite a bit more than the average kid his age. [...] He handed the light bulb over to my uncle (a car mechanic), then separated the paper from the plastic cover of the bulb's package, and finally ripped the paper side apart and crumpled both the plastic and whatever was left of the paper. [...] I quickly informed him that what he just did was a very stupid thing [...] I ask him to admit that he is wrong and apologize to me. He says "No, not even for a penny." [...] I decided to ban him from the computers and movie watching (an authority I have since I am the system administrator). He also said that he won't ever admit and apologize. JEE I WONDER WHY, JACKASS! Quote
whalz Posted March 17, 2010 Report Posted March 17, 2010 makes you wan smoke doesnt it! besides its irrelivant if im 8 or 21.. smoking is for all ages Quote
L.C. Posted March 17, 2010 Author Report Posted March 17, 2010 makes you wan smoke doesnt it! besides its irrelivant if im 8 or 21.. smoking is for all agesBecause smoking makes you look cool, especially if you smoke them Cowboy Marlboro's -- sure makes you a cowboy! Drinking is cool too. Should hire Michael Jordon to make a Just Do It commercial for smoking, sex, drugs, alcohol, and gang violence. And of course, smoking will in no way have any harmful side-effects or harm your health or get you more or less closer to getting cancers or having problems breathing or ... Quote
Kai Ossa Posted March 19, 2010 Report Posted March 19, 2010 Slap him in the face and politely say, "You're doing it wrong." Then slap yourself in the face for wanting to exert authority instead of solely educating. Quote
whalz Posted March 20, 2010 Report Posted March 20, 2010 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/qf/c/PopularScience/2-1968/med_dont_quit_smoking.jpg Quote
Kai Ossa Posted March 22, 2010 Report Posted March 22, 2010 Obv. reference to their love child: http://kaiimage.webs.com/jordon.jpg Quote
»Lynx Posted April 4, 2010 Report Posted April 4, 2010 (edited) [...] and probably knows I decided to ban him from the computers and movie watching (an authority I have since I am the system administrator). GAY I honestly hope to god that he undermines all of your security measures, and makes it a habit to continuously undermine your security. God damn I hate it when people restrict things 'in the name of security' or what they perceive as right and wrong; it's honestly the biggest fucking slap in the face of forward thinking individuals. Fucking no-nothing sysadmins like that make my blood boil. Edit: He's eight years old. Instead of approaching him with a condescending "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude, just let him know the methods that you were taking, and the reasons for them. He'll sooner look up to you that way than if you make it a competition between you both. Edited April 4, 2010 by Lynx Quote
L.C. Posted April 4, 2010 Author Report Posted April 4, 2010 I honestly hope to god that he undermines all of your security measures, and makes it a habit to continuously undermine your security. God damn I hate it when people restrict things 'in the name of security' or what they perceive as right and wrong; it's honestly the biggest fucking slap in the face of forward thinking individuals. Fucking no-nothing sysadmins like that make my blood boil.What makes you think I did it in the name of security? He's eight years old. Instead of approaching him with a condescending "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude, just let him know the methods that you were taking, and the reasons for them. He'll sooner look up to you that way than if you make it a competition between you both. Nope, doesn't work. Also, this thread is old now. Audrey helped me. Quote
Audry Posted April 5, 2010 Report Posted April 5, 2010 LOOOOOOOOOL It's under my bed shuuush dont tell anyone Quote
»Purge Posted April 5, 2010 Report Posted April 5, 2010 ...What are you doing with an 8 year old boy's body, Audry? Quote
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