I'm concerned about my nephew, the uber-geek

[NuclearNed]

I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but I have some real concerns about my nephew's lifestyle.

To put it as simply as possible, he's married to his computer at age 13. He bragged to me the other day about how he plays games on his pc from the moment he wakes up to the second he goes to bed. His skin tone is starting to get that pale green geek glow. He completely looks like a geek, has no social skills, and has no life.

Granted, I was a lot like him when I was his age. But to my credit, while I spent a lot of time playing games, I also spent a lot of time teaching myself programming languages and how to repair pc hardware. I don't think he has any real pc skills, other than knowing how to use Windows. And I still played baseball / football with the guys and made (usually failed) attempts at getting female companionship. So I guess I feel like my computer time back then was somewhat constuctive, while his computer time focuses largely on learning the ins and outs of deathmatch.

Do I worry too much? I see this guy having a very lonely life ahead of him. He really looks up to me, so I'd like to steer him the right direction if possible.

 

[ElFenix]

break his computer.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
break his computer.

I have the feeling he'd sell himself into prostitution to get another one.

 

[pulse8]

Just like any other addiction, you can't help the person unless they want to be helped.

Wait until he's 27 and still hasn't gotten laid to step it.

 

[saxophonoia]

My gf's brother is exactly like that..........I try talking to him and he just nods his head and stares at his monitor.

 

[marquee]

show him a picture of a hot girl, and tell him if he ever wants to meet one in real life, he needs to get off the computer.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: ElFenix
break his computer.

I have the feeling he'd sell himself into prostitution to get another one.

well at least he'd be getting outside and doing some physical activity

 

[Lash444]

Well your best best is to talk to his father. Make him enforce some rules

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: marquee
show him a picture of a hot girl, and tell him if he ever wants to meet one in real life, he needs to get off the computer.

it won't make a difference
something needs to be done with the PC
or put him on Jenny Jones and send him to boot camp

 

[MacBaine]

Im my latest movie, my son returns from a fancy east-coast college, and I'm horrified to discover he's become a nerd.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: ElFenix
break his computer.

I have the feeling he'd sell himself into prostitution to get another one.

well at least he'd be getting outside and doing some physical activity

But then he'd be getting more action than me.

 

[eLiTeGoodGuy]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: ElFenix
break his computer.

I have the feeling he'd sell himself into prostitution to get another one.

he'd then be gettin some wouldn't he

He's out of the house, Making new friends (clients), Making a ton of cash, and hopefully having fun. Just Break his computer, buy him some condoms, and tell him to watch his cornhole.


j/k of course

 

[StageLeft]

I don't think you're worrying too much. Has he been a social recluse forever? He's now 13. I don't know what course of action his parents have now. I am hoping that he was a recluse forever, which would indicate to me that to prevent my children from becoming the same way I could encourage social interaction at a younger age, which I'd planned on anyway (obviously).

 

[Borracho]

The parents should limit his time on the computer. That is my plan with my kids at least, I don't want any sissy computer nerd for a son or daughter. I?m not talking about no computer because kids should be able to function in a computer literate society, but unlimited access is just as bad as a 13 year old smoking or drinking imo.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Don't worry about it.

 

[eLiTeGoodGuy]

Originally posted by: Borracho
The parents should limit his time on the computer. That is my plan with my kids at least, I don't want any sissy computer nerd for a son or daughter. I?m not talking about no computer because kids should be able to function in a computer literate society, but unlimited access is just as bad as a 13 year old smoking or drinking imo.

agreed, at 13 an hour or two a day would be fine (maybe less)

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I don't think you're worrying too much. Has he been a social recluse forever? He's now 13. I don't know what course of action his parents have now. I am hoping that he was a recluse forever, which would indicate to me that to prevent my children from becoming the same way I could encourage social interaction at a younger age, which I'd planned on anyway (obviously).

Maybe this is what worries me so much. Just 3 or 4 years ago he was a bright outgoing kid (even though he had a mild gameboy addiction). Now, he can't even hold a normal conversation with anyone unless it is about his pc.

And his parent think his addiction is great. They don't know much about computing and are assuming that he is learning lots of valuable information. I've given them a few warnings about some of the things he does (i.e. downloading warez), but I think he hides a lot of his activities from them.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: eLiTeGoodGuy1

Originally posted by: Borracho
The parents should limit his time on the computer. That is my plan with my kids at least, I don't want any sissy computer nerd for a son or daughter. I?m not talking about no computer because kids should be able to function in a computer literate society, but unlimited access is just as bad as a 13 year old smoking or drinking imo.

agreed, at 13 an hour or two a day would be fine (maybe less)

Agreed, though it would depend what they're doing. I'd rather see them spend 3 hours programming than 3 hours dicking around on evercrack. Eitherway at the age of 13 it would be hard to limit them perhaps, if you've not tried in the past.

 

When you were his age you probaly had a 286 and the intarweb wasn't even invented......

Had you had what he has now, you'd be the same

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I don't think you're worrying too much. Has he been a social recluse forever? He's now 13. I don't know what course of action his parents have now. I am hoping that he was a recluse forever, which would indicate to me that to prevent my children from becoming the same way I could encourage social interaction at a younger age, which I'd planned on anyway (obviously).

Maybe this is what worries me so much. Just 3 or 4 years ago he was a bright outgoing kid (even though he had a mild gameboy addiction). Now, he can't even hold a normal conversation with anyone unless it is about his pc.

And his parent think his addiction is great. They don't know much about computing and are assuming that he is learning lots of valuable information. I've given them a few warnings about some of the things he does (i.e. downloading warez), but I think he hides a lot of his activities from them.

Well it may a phase, or he may be heading down a road of loser-ness and heading back up the hill away from that can be hard.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
When you were his age you probaly had a 286 and the intarweb wasn't even invented......

Had you had what he has now, you'd be the same

When I was his age, we all had Commodore 64's, bulletin boards, and pirated games coming out the wazoo. But if I were that age today I think I would still make some attempt at being a normal kid.

 

[rh71]

Does he sometimes cut class to stay home and play games also ?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: rh71
Does he sometimes cut class to stay home and play games also ?

I did in university

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: rh71
Does he sometimes cut class to stay home and play games also ?

I don't know, but I wouldn't be real surprised.

 

[bunker]

Format his harddrive, install WinXP, give him a non-adminstrator account so he can't install games.