Poll: My mom's trying to take away MY computer

[jamradar]

Double post.

 

[commasplice]

It might depend on the state you're in, but legally speaking, I believe the rule of thumb is that, if something is given to you as a gift, they don't have the right to take it away. I know I'm echoing what a lot of other people said, but I'm basically just trying to add on the point that, from a legal standpoint, you'd probably be right, even if you hadn't replaced any parts.

 

[lief1250]

do you pay the electricity bill, internet bill, rate/rent to your house, if so, then she can't do anything, if not, she can turn off the electricity, the internet and/or kick you out, is it really worth becoming homeless? just do wht she says, but every now and then "forget" to do things so she wont expect more of you.

 

[BrownGaijin]

There is no middle ground. Either talk to her rationally or take her to court.

And by middle ground I mean this...

Spoiler

or this...

Spoiler

or even this...

Spoiler

 

[Sjakie]

easy:

buy a (cheap) new case and transfer all the hardware into that and tell your mom you bought a complete new PC. That'll shut her up since she cant see further then the case.

hard:

Explain to your Mom how a computer actually works and keep at it till she gets it. Praying for that might work just as well.

 

[eljawa]

its your computer, but your her dependent. just move out with it

 

[mabrookes]

I dont know where the confusion is. Anything you buy, and according to the law anything given to you as well, is completely and unquestionably yours. She can of course tell you she does not want it used, unless you are paying rent. She can also ask you to move out if she is pathetic enough, but it is still yours.

 

[LetalisK]

Get an apartment. Trust me, it's fucking awesome and solves so many problems. Makes it a lot easier to tell her to go pound sand too.

 

[nicholaxxx]

the case and CD drive are worth next to nothing, you're 18, you paid for everything else, it's yours. She can deal.

 

[Ironman126]

Give her an empty case and a cd drive and say "Heres your computer".

If she actualy takes it away add passwords to EVERYTHING (and write them down somewhere) and use the most confusing settings options on your computer.

I second this option.

 

[Lem0nade Inlay]

Best thing to do, take away all the innards (everything you own), and give her back the case and CD, and say "You can have the computer shell and DVD drive as these are yours. However, because I bought these parts I am keeping them, as they are my own and I paid for them with my own money."
It works better if you bought them with work money, not random pocket money she may have given you when you were younger.

If she refuses, take it apart anyway and hide all the bits that are yours, and if she asks say you threw them out or something, because you had no use for them.

EDIT:

Give her an empty case and a cd drive and say "Heres your computer".

If she actualy takes it away add passwords to EVERYTHING (and write them down somewhere) and use the most confusing settings options on your computer.

I see I've been ninja'd, damn! But yeah, do this.

 

[acosn]

Just spend the money it'll cost to put everything in a new case.


Problem solved.

 

[Zakarath]

I keep getting the feeling we're getting a rather one-sided account in all these "me vs. my parents" threads.

Just sayin'

 

[Therumancer]

Like it or not as a minor living under her roof with her as your legal guardian you have few rights to be honest. Technically as a child everything you own belongs to your parents, even if purchused with your own money. It could vary state by state in some cases, but it generally falls under the guidelines schools constantly use to enforce dress codes, locker searches, and similar things, kids (even teens) simply do not have the same rights as adults. On the other hand however, your parents can be held criminally liable for your actions in a lot of cases even if you acted totally alone.

I'm not a huge expert on civil law, and while there have been rare exceptions with kids sueing their parents in extraordinary circumstances, if this situation ever came up in a court I'd imagine you'd get spanked hard, assuming the court even agrees to hear the case and doesn't just toss it over to social services.

Understand, I'm not taking her side, just being pragmatic. I don't know enough about the situation to take sides.

If I had to go by my gut feelings however your probably shirking other things you need to do because of that computer. Taking it away from you, at least for a time, is called "parenting". It's just like if you manage to buy an "M" rated game and your parents decide to take it away from you despite argueing "hey I worked my summer job and bought it with my own money", I'd say they're doing exactly what they're supposed to.

Such are my thoughts.

 

[WOPR]

Do what I used to do when my sister would try to take my stuff when we were kids. Just lick the computer. Then your mom will be too grossed out to touch it.

Seriously, though, just try having a rational discussion with her.

I should edit the post and add some things

all rational discussions end in her getting mad and yelling and going on about it being "her" computer, and end in her threatening to take it away if I don't say she's right and I'm wrong

EDIT: and this has been going on for a year now (got the computer upgraded fully at 17)

 

[WOPR]

*snip*

Did I mention that...
*guru voice* I AM AN ADULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLT!|


(I hope someone gets that joke)

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

The simple solution is to take out every single part you paid for, and dump her files onto a CD or memory stick, and give her what is hers.
Then buy what you need to reassemble it.

 

[WOPR]

I keep getting the feeling we're getting a rather one-sided account in all these "me vs. my parents" threads.

Just sayin'

Her side is.

He lives under my house

That computer was given to me (my personal correction, it was given to us for me because I needed it for school, but with her being the adult she was put in charge of it)

-oh so if that counts, the shell/CD-drive were a gift she didn't even pay for them

 

[sageoftruth]

I can't comment until I hear more of the story. Why exactly does she want to take it away?

 

[ultrachicken]

The question is, why is she threatening to take it away?
I doubt she is doing it just to be a *****

Surprised no one asked this yet.

Yeah, I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't just some kid whining about how his mom is actually punishing him for once.