I "stole" an Xbox?

[jackleapp81 456]

I need advice, and since my level isn't high enough to post in the life advice forums, I'm asking you here.

 

Here's the story:

I moved to college recently. My parents encouraged me not bring my Xbox up here during the first two weeks, so that I could focus on my studies. I obliged, but I wasn't too happy about it.

 

After two weeks, I returned home to take my Xbox where it belonged: In my dorm room at school. To my surprise, my parents begged and pleaded for me to leave it at their house. "Derek, please!" my mother said. "You spent so much time on the Xbox this summer, and I would hate to see it ruin your grades and your social life!"

 

"Mom, it's not that big of a deal. Like, 1 out of every 2 people in my dorm have a game console of some kind. It's very common."

 

"Then 1 out of every 2 people on your floor are going to be dropping out of college too. Please Derek, people who play games amount to nothing. They waste their time away living in somebody else's fantasy world, they don't contribute to society, and they don't take care of themselves. I don't want you to become one of them."

 

"But mom, I--"

 

My Dad cut me off.

 

"Derek, I am prepared to give you $400 right now if you give me your Xbox and all of your games. And you have to promise...promise me that you will NEVER play an Xbox again. Do you hear me?"

 

I stared at him for a while, then i backed away. "...I don't accept your offer....but I won't take the Xbox up there if you don't want me to."

 

My parents hugged me. "Thank you so much." they said.

 

A few hours later, my Dad and mom decided to go to Walmart to pick up some groceries. While they were out shopping, I quietly packed my Xbox and my games into my car with me, and drove back to college. It has been 5 weeks since then, and they haven't noticed that it is missing.

 

Did I do the right thing? Or was I acting immature?

 

 

Update: Well, as luck would have it, today they caught me. They came down for a surprise visit to my dorm room, and they saw it with their own eyes. We stared at each other for a good long moment as tension filled the air. I cleared my throat and said, "So...do you want me to show you around campus or anything?"

 

My Dad looked like he was about to explode in anger and give me a lecture, but my mom grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes. "Yes...we would like that, wouldn't we?" she said, giving my Dad a pleading look. "Just drop it." I heard her whisper.

 

My Dad looked at her, then back at me. "Ok..." he muttered.

 

As of now, I'd say that I'm not in the clear quite yet. They're probably both upset about it (my Dad more-so), but the hard part is over. At least it's out in the open. Kind of. None of us said anything, but there was nothing to say, really.

 

Unless...do you guys think I owe them an apology?

Edited September 30, 2012 by jackleapp81

[Retro*Derpy 3,185]

Well, Atleast you didn't take the money and buy a xbox... But I believe what you did was a semi-mature thing to do.You shouldn't of lied to your parents. But as long as you focus on your grades there is no reason to have some time for your self and your xbox.

Besides, how do you steal your OWN xbox?

Edited October 5, 2012 by Retro_Derpy

[jackleapp81 456]

Well, Atleast you didn't take the money and buy a xbox... But I believe what you did was a rather mature thing to do. As long as you focus on your grades there is no reason to have some time for your self and your xbox.

Besides, how do you steal your OWN xbox?

 

I just want to clarify that I did pay for the Xbox and all of the games with money out of my own paycheck. I only use the word "stole", because my parents (and a few other friends I've spoken to) perceive it that way. I remain adamant that I did not steal it though, since it was my property in the first place.

[Jokuc 8,173]

You should really change the title there mate, this one made me think you stole an Xbox. Maybe "Playing Xbox without permission" should be a more fitting title?

 

Anyways, um well I don't know exactly how much you play and I don't know if you even will spend time on the studies when having your Xbox there. I know I would have done the same thing myself actually.

 

If you know you will play Xbox instead of doing studies when you need to, it was a really bad move of yours. Both because you lied to your parents and also because you need to study.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Mr. Nibblers

[Solar Wind 595]

How much have you been playing it? If you have been playing for ridiculous ammounts of time than your parents were right.

Honestly though 400$ could have bought you a new Xbox... And some other stuff :3. I dont think that was a serious offer though.

In the end it all depends on how much time you have spent on it. And if it has been affecting your grades/social life.

IMO I think there might have been an easier way to resolve this without resorting to that, not that is matters I doubt your parents are gonna rage over it but I would have taken that $$.

 

Well, Atleast you didn't take the money and buy a xbox...

 

Is it bad that if it was me I would have done that exact same thing...

Because if so then I would buy a ps3 instead, that makes it perfecty ok!

[Starshine 16,333]

Believe me when I said there is a good chance that they already noticed the missing console

 

You're not doing the right thing at all, you lied to your parents. They even hugged you :/

 

I suggest you call them and say you're sorry

[Arcus (Silver Lining) Wind 983]

If your in collage then your parents realy can't "tell" you what to do. Although if they are paying for your education...you better be foucusing on your grades and just play when you know for sure that you have plenty of free time to play.

[Cherry Blossom 864]

Well to start off, your display name is "jackleapp81" and you just decieved your parents, so that wasn't very honest now was it? I understand the temptation to to find entertainment, but couldn't you just have played with a neighbor? You could've also used your laptop(if you have one) and play PC games from there, watch a movie or find any other means of entertainment. Your parents even begged you not to take your Xbox, but you just went ahead and went without them noticing. And did you at least say bye or something before you left?

 

I would've seen you as immature, but since I am problaby younger that you. Then it would have been very disrespectful of me, to call you that. I apologize.

 

I hope you haven't taken any offence from this post, but it wasn't intended you offend you in any shape or form.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Octavinyl

[jackleapp81 456]

You should really change the title there mate, this one made me think you stole an Xbox. Maybe "Playing Xbox without permission" should be a more fitting title?

 

Anyways, um well I don't know exactly how much you play and I don't know if you even will spend time on the studies when having your Xbox there. I know I would have done the same thing myself actually.

 

If you know you will play Xbox instead of doing studies when you need to, it was a really bad move of yours. Both because you lied to your parents and also because you need to study.

 

I would like to change the title, but I am not sure how to do it, or if it can be done.

 

I have been exercising a decent amount of self-control regarding the Xbox, and thus far, I have had no problems getting assignments turned in and such. The main thing I'm concerned about is my parent's wrath when they discover what happened

[AegisReflector 886]

If you're in college, your parents really have no right to tell you what to do. You're an adult now, you have to make your own decisions in life. Not only did you pay for your own XBox and games, but your parents are wrong for stereotyping basically everyone who plays a video game console. When I read that, I really felt like they insulted me in a way. I most certainly do not live in a fantasy world just because I play a half hour of Kingdom Hearts, and neither does anybody else on these forums. I'm sorry, but they have such an absent-minded opinion about video games, which I'm sure most parents of members here do, unfortunately.

 

You didn't take the money, and you didn't promise them ANYTHING. You have every right to take it with you. Maybe just have a more legitimate conversation to them as to why you deserve it in your dorm room.

[jackleapp81 456]

Uh oh, it looks like the general consensus so far is that I did the wrong thing. Not very good to hear, but maybe I needed to hear it. The looks I get when I tell people this story has been indication enough as well. It is something a dishonest, manipulative person would do, and I wouldn't like to get a reputation like that at all

[Vy'drach 133]

Provided you have the self-control to not play the Xbox when you need to do something else, there's no issue with taking your Xbox that you payed for yourself, and that people there who have game consoles are going to be dropping out is a very loaded and presumptuous statement. The same could easily be said of World of Warcraft (the game that some people played nonstop until they dropped dead of exhaustion). But, I knew of a man back in the original Warcraft (when it was its most difficult and time consuming) who could get a Warrior from level 1 to 60 and in full tier 1 in two weeks, while having college, a job, and a girlfriend, and neglecting none of them.

 

Granted it's a bit underhanded the way you took it with you after promising not to, but keep your parents posted on your grades, and provided you keep your grades good, I'm sure things will work out fine, provided you do not touch the thing while you have assignments that need to be worked on.

[AegisReflector 886]

The thing is, though, is that he didn't promise them anything.

 

He said he wouldn't take it up IF THEY DIDN'T WANT HIM TO. You have to be careful in what kind of context that's in. If he said, "Okay, I promise I will never play XBox again,", then yeah, promise is broken. But he never said those words, or at least, that's not what was implied in the OP.

 

Just throwing my two cents in.

[jackleapp81 456]

The thing is, though, is that he didn't promise them anything.

 

He said he wouldn't take it up IF THEY DIDN'T WANT HIM TO. You have to be careful in what kind of context that's in. If he said, "Okay, I promise I will never play XBox again,", then yeah, promise is broken. But he never said those words, or at least, that's not what was implied in the OP.

 

Just throwing my two cents in.

 

I hate to play the devil's advocate here, especially since I'm the one on trial, but I have to disagree. I told them that I wouldn't take it up there if they didn't want me to. They didn't want me to, I knew that, but I took it up with me anyway. That is technically breaking a promise, no?

[AegisReflector 886]

I hate to play the devil's advocate here, especially since I'm the one on trial, but I have to disagree. I told them that I wouldn't take it up there if they didn't want me to. They didn't want me to, I knew that, but I took it up with me anyway. That is technically breaking a promise, no?

 

Taking into account that you're an adult and that you didn't really phrase a "social contract" worthy enough to be considered a promise, I totally think you are in the right for taking your XBox with you. I personally don't think you did anything wrong.

 

But also, it's also my UNDERSTANDING that a promise is made when someone promises another to do something, they also say "I promise to do blah blah blah" or something of that nature. I mean, people can have different ways of expressing promises or approaching one once put out there, but hey, it's all just my opinion. I'm really all for independence when you're in the college life, so I just think it isn't fair that your parents are limiting you on stuff that you bought.

 

Bottom line, once you buy something, it's yours, and nobody can tell you what to do with it. Your money, your possession.

Edited September 29, 2012 by AegisReflector

[Vy'drach 133]

I wouldn't feel too bad about it, mate. After all, the basis for your parents not wanting you to take it was based on, no offense to them, ignorance and a lack of trust in your ability to properly balance school and gaming.

[PlunderSteed 1,252]

It was a little under-handed, and doesn't reflect very well on the OP. I can definitely understand the reason for their concerns, and although they seem a bit exaggerated, it sounds like they're just trying to be helpful without having all of the facts.

 

As far as their fear of you failing out...meh. Plenty of people manage to get through school while working full time, being married, and playing rather "involved" games. As long as your priorities are balanced, do whatever the hell you want.

[Purple Moon 14]

to the op: your parents logic is pure bull dung, i like video games alot and i play ones that actually teach me something, like pet vet for nintendo ds, that game alone taught me more about what vets do than my college class where all we did was goof around and do shit that had nothing to do with animal care

[Sunny Fox 5,950]

You lied to your parents, and whatever AegisReflector thinks (no disrespect intended, but I don't agree that a promise is only valid when it includes the words "I promise...", "I swear..." or similar - "let your yes be yes, and your no be no",) I expect your parents would say that you went back on your word and broke a promise. Their opinion on that single issue is probably the one which gets the highest priority. But hey, I bet money to pocket lint that everyone in the world has lied to their parents before, and broken a promise a time or ten as well. The best route, I would say, is to swallow your pride, phone them up, tell them everything and apologize. Now I know that it is easy for someone like me to say that, and a lot harder to actually do it, but in the long run, it'll be the best for you.

 

You don't have to give up your bought and paid for with your own money X-box, though. I know I wouldn't. And your parents are flat out wrong that people who play games (even quite excessively) don't contribute to society and can't take care of themselves. I'm proof of that, if they need me to tell 'em so.

 

Personally, I'm not sure why you are letting us as a community make a moral decision on your behalf. Asking the advice of a few trusted friends here using PM, I could understand, but this seems odd. You're the only one here beholden to your conscience, and you are the person who has to deal with repercussions, so my final piece of advice is this: toss every opinion in this thread into the trash can, and make your own decision.

 

PS - What do they think about your being a brony?

Edited September 29, 2012 by Full Spectrum

[Ethan Pow 332]

Well, I don't think that you did anything wrong, because you are legal adult... They are concerned about you passing college but using the stereotyping any gamer was wrong... what I know of college grads that have gamed hard and passed with a masters degree.

[jackleapp81 456]

You lied to your parents, and whatever AegisReflector thinks (no disrespect intended, but I don't agree that a promise is only valid when it includes the words "I promise...", "I swear..." or similar - "let your yes be yes, and your no be no", I expect your parents would say that you went back on your word and broke a promise. Their opinion on that single issue is probably the one which gets the highest priority. But hey, I bet money to pocket lint that everyone in the world has lied to their parents before, and broken a promise a time or ten as well. The best route, I would say, is to swallow your pride, phone them up, tell them everything and apologize. Now I know that it is easy for someone like me to say that, and a lot harder to actually do it, but in the long run, it'll be the best for you.

 

You don't have to give up your bought and paid for with your own money X-box, though. I know I wouldn't. And your parents are flat out wrong that people who play games (even quite excessively) don't contribute to society and can't take care of themselves. I'm proof of that, if they need me to tell 'em so.

 

Personally, I'm not sure why you are letting us as a community make a moral decision on your behalf. Asking the advice of a few trusted friends here using PM, I could understand, but this seems odd. You're the only one here beholden to your conscience, and you are the person who has to deal with repercussions, so my final piece of advice is this: toss every opinion in this thread into the trash can, and make your own decision.

 

PS - What do they think about your being a brony?

 

I agree with most of what you said, and I intend to apologize to my parents as soon as I can. I do, however, think opinions and perspectives are valuable to solving problems, whether they be acquired through a close friend, or a large community of people. By posting my problem on this forum, I'm casting a wider net, getting more information than I would have gotten if I chose one person to confide in. Admittedly, a close friend or family member might have more insight into the intricacies of my life and that of my parents as well, but I believe I have provided the community with enough information to answer my question properly.

 

My parents were pretty opposed to me being a brony. my Dad mocked me for a few weeks, and my Mom tried to get me interested in other things. They eventually gave up on this, but they still resent me for it. I am very careful not to mention anything about ponies around them, or they get this disappointed look on their face. I can't stand that look, so I just keep quiet about it around them.

[Bronium 512]

Oh you're fine. Overprotective parents are over protective. What you did was fine in my eyes. The XBOX is yours and rightfully so (you bought it, right?) and you don't need permission to play it. I mean, you're an adult for crying out loud. Just as long as you don't prove your parents right (I'm sure you won't), you'll be fine. What you did wasn't right but it most certainly wasn't wrong.

[Lost Profile 644]

A collage dude listening to there parents.... That dosnt add up... Your at collage now... Your a man... Don't listen to your parents... Infact... I think your mom and dad are overprotective of you staying in collage... They say 1 out of 2 people will drop out of collage because of concles... WTF?!?!

 

So yes... You did the wrong thing by not taking your concle in the first place

[Glaceon 793]

Sigh, why do most parents think that playing video games make people fail ect.

I use my computer and ps3 90% of the time at home, yet I still have decently high grades.

You should still tell them though and apologize for lying to them.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Mal (Starbolt)

[Sugarcube 213]

I am assuming since you are in. College you are 18? Your an adult so you get to make your own decisions, something your parents need to respect, which they may be struggling with to let you do, Trust me I understand this, I am going to be 23, no longer live at home, only depend on my parents for health insurance and they still haven't let go, but my parents are a complex story of their own.

 

It could be part of why they put their foot down so firmly about the whole thing. It is your Xbox and games, so in my opinion they don't get a final say in it, now if they had bought it for you yes they would get a say in it.

 

You need to call them and talk to them about what you did and why you did it, i am sure it won't be a fun conversation, but it needs to happen. It is the right step to being an adult, especially if they financially support you in anyway.

 

I don't think this situation is black or white everypony I think it falls in a shade of grey, it wasn't the best way to go about it, but in the end you are an adult and it was your console you bought with your money.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Sugarcube