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Original poster

AIBU in thinking that this gentleman should win The Parenting Award?

284 replies

StealthPenguin · 11/02/2012 08:11

This video is eight minutes long, so for those that don't have time to watch it, I shall summarize.

Last year, this gentleman, Tommy Jordan, warned his daughter of the consequences if she were to do something stupid and inappropriate on Facebook. At the beginning of this month he was fixing her laptop (and installing $130 worth of software) when he managed to find a post on her Facebook wall that claimed her life was unfair, that she's a slave, and her "lazy-ass parents" make her "do shit for them". Not only this, but she goes on to exaggerate her chores list and curses to high heaven. She then deliberately hid it via her privacy settings so that her parents couldn't see it on her Facebook wall. She did this incorrectly, and the post showed up while Mr. Jordan was fixing her laptop.

He decided to read out this "letter to my parents", and he then addressed some of the issues on it. Firstly, that she refuses to get a part-time job, and only applied to one job because he handed her the application and watched her fill it out. Secondly, that her chores list is not that large. Thirdly, that she expects a new camera, new battery for her laptop, new phone and software upgrades whenever she needs it. She also referred to a woman who couldn't afford to pay Mr. Jordan in conventional terms as their "cleaning lady".

After 6 minutes of discussing how wrong she is, how insulting and upsetting and disrespectful she is being, and how she was warned of the consequences, he proceeds to put eight rounds of ammunition into her laptop. Seven for him, and one on behalf of her mother.

Not only does she now not have a laptop, but she won't get one until she pays for it herself. She also owes him for the ammunition that he used.

Now, I don't know about you, but I think that's perfect. I would never be so disrespectful to my parents, and if I were then I'd probably suffer a similar punishment!

He has explained that his reasons for doing it are a) to teach her of the value of a dollar. If she has everything handed to her, she'll just assume that her parents are going to bankroll her. b) to teach her that what is said on the internet will last a lifetime, if not a good few years. So by being so horrible on a public forum she has humiliated herself and her family. c) That his word is to be taken as gospel, and that there are consequences to her actions.

I think he's very sensible to have done that - it's a dramatic and drastic action, but in his own words "sometimes with teenagers you have to be dramatic".

What do you all think?

OP posts:
saintlyjimjams · 12/02/2012 00:27

Watched it now

He's still a plank

Truckulentagain · 12/02/2012 07:12

I wonder what the father would do if someone taught him a
lesson for doing something not deemed acceptable.

'Well BillyJoeJimBob thanks for that, I accept the lesson taught completely...now where's ma gun'

Truckulentagain · 12/02/2012 07:40

I don't really discuss MRAs, and I'm assuming you mean radical ones.
In the same way I don't use the views expressed on forums like the RadFemhub as representative of all feminist views.

The question was asked if there is a Husbandwork.

And I think the majority of men (me included at the time) think when children come along they should go out to work and provide.

Fortunately my ex had different views.

Proudnscary · 12/02/2012 09:05

Total and utter cunt

Truckulentagain · 12/02/2012 12:32

Wrong thread!

LineRunner · 12/02/2012 14:09

Not necessarily, Truckulent. I wonder if dear dad with a gun would expect a 15 year son to get up at 5am to clean floors.

flippinada · 12/02/2012 14:23

My considered opinion, having read this thread, is that the father is a massive twat.

Fancy giving the dog a FB account.

flippinada · 12/02/2012 14:23

Is there an equivalent of the Razzies for parenting awards? Cos he should probably get one of those.

HoneyandHaycorns · 12/02/2012 14:26

The father sounds seriously unhinged to me.Hmm

flippinada · 12/02/2012 15:41

Agree Honey. Bit baffled anyone thinks this is good parenting.

fuzzypicklehead · 12/02/2012 15:50

As an American expat, raised in the midwest, I find the whole thing... unsurprising, I'm afraid. Growing up, it was not unusual for kids to have early morning chores, jobs at 15, or a dad with a gun. I certainly fit all those categories. Teens over there start driving lessons at 15 so they can get a license when they turn 16--so most would have a job at 15 so they can save up for a car, fuel, insurance, etc.

And in the case of a teen who publicly disrespected her family, I would certainly expect an object lesson to follow. Usually I would expect the computer to be given to charity or something similar, as opposed to shooting it... But I would class it as a little flamboyant, as opposed to horrific.

Willing to bet that most of her peers find it pretty funny.

ThePathanKhansWitch · 12/02/2012 15:55

Awful. Just awful, a massive over- reaction. Terrifying.

notfluffyatall · 12/02/2012 15:55

It is quite apparent sometimes that despite having quite a lot in common with the US we can have very different cultures. Although that applies within America, the south has an almost completely different mindset to the north. I would think that the average family living in New York would be almost as outraged at this as I think the majority here in the UK are.

The whole gun culture is entirely different, I seem extreme to many Americans when I say I have never and will never lay my fingers on a gun.

slowestwildebeast · 12/02/2012 20:12

I love his facebook page statements. Just goes to show that if you try and be a jackass this is what happens, he's not not only humiliated his daughter but put his family in a very awkward situation...

"On the advice of our attorneys, we're issuing blanket copyright statements across the board and warnings to everyone who's tried to impersonate any of us or duplicate ANY of our online content. This isn't because we wanted to.. it's because some idiot(s) pretending to be me or my family members has been online chatting with people, uploading videos pretending to be me etc... if ONE of those sets off a spark of rage, then I've got some gun-toting idiot stalking my house and trying to cause harm to my family because of something they're convinced I've said. This has to stop."

What an absolute fool this person is.

cory · 12/02/2012 22:58

Since the father clearly has the attitude that it's ok to wash your dirty linen on Facebook, why is he surprised that his daughter has inherited that attitude?

I was very restrained about criticising my parents to other people when I was a teen- but that was because their disciplining of me took place in private and was not passed around their friends for their entertainment.

tethersend · 12/02/2012 23:24

"I've got some gun-toting idiot stalking my house and trying to cause harm to my family because of something they're convinced I've said"

Did the dog write this?

LineRunner · 12/02/2012 23:27

Yes.

Because the dog has a facebook page.

LadyBeagleEyes · 13/02/2012 11:09

Grin at tethers and linerunner.
I wonder if it's a gundog.
Boomboom.

gmor6787 · 20/01/2016 12:24

My grandson is 3.5 and still not toilet trained. Quite happy in his nappies, weeing and pooing when he likes. We have tried stickers, rewards, saying he's big boy now and needs to use toilet. At the moment he's in underpants with liners in and suggestion of toilet regularly. He sits on at first, doing nothing then each time ask to go he creates, then if I check his pants he's wet. I'm wondering if he hasn't got 'the feeling' yet. Problem is he starts school in September so time is if the essence. Any suggestions out there? Don't want to traumatise him making a big deal out of it but we are running out of time. His older sister was clean day and night by 3. I know boys are slower(lazier) but my other grandson was a dream to train and is clean day and night and only 2..5. I don't think modern disposable nappies help because bottoms are dry. My two children were both clean by 2. Terry nappies were uncomfortable once wet so the potty was preferable to a sore bum.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 20/01/2016 12:26

Are you on the right thread gmor

PinkSquash · 20/01/2016 12:30

Don't shoot 8 rounds into his computer gmor. Also take time to learn aboit Mumsnet and posting.

YakTriangle · 20/01/2016 12:36

This is a very odd thread to reanimate Confused

Oldraver · 20/01/2016 12:52

That must take some doing...dragging up a 4 year old thread to post on.

gmor will never find it again will they ?

MNHQ
OliviaMumsnet · 20/01/2016 12:53

@gmor6787

My grandson is 3.5 and still not toilet trained. Quite happy in his nappies, weeing and pooing when he likes. We have tried stickers, rewards, saying he's big boy now and needs to use toilet. At the moment he's in underpants with liners in and suggestion of toilet regularly. He sits on at first, doing nothing then each time ask to go he creates, then if I check his pants he's wet. I'm wondering if he hasn't got 'the feeling' yet. Problem is he starts school in September so time is if the essence. Any suggestions out there? Don't want to traumatise him making a big deal out of it but we are running out of time. His older sister was clean day and night by 3. I know boys are slower(lazier) but my other grandson was a dream to train and is clean day and night and only 2..5. I don't think modern disposable nappies help because bottoms are dry. My two children were both clean by 2. Terry nappies were uncomfortable once wet so the potty was preferable to a sore bum.

We have a potty training topic here
Hope this helps
Kindest
MNHQ

gmor6787 · 20/01/2016 13:11

I am new to Mumsnet as a nanna. Just wanted some advice not sarky comments.