Can i just check that ainbu

[Balacqua]

A family member has broken something valuable of another ones.

Of course the person who broke it should either sort it out getting fixed, pronto, or go without to come up with the cash to replace it? Right? No matter how expensive it was? No excuses?

Feel like I'm slightly losing my marbles here!

Oh, and the idea parents pay their kids for doing well in exams always amazed me. Who the hell benefits from those great exam results, anyway? I mean, seriously - especially privately educated kids, whose parents were forking out crazy sums for their future benefit. The entitlement that led so many to expect chunky cheques on top still staggers me.

If it's a one off I'm sure it's not abuse, surely?

It is.

If he hit you once, it would still be abuse.
He has damaged your property on purpose and has offered no compensation. No real regret.

Being spoilt brats without values, moral or otherwise, is what is getting his generation in the mess they are in, not materialism of the parental generation. His behaviour proves he is a spoilt brat, so you cant let him NOT pay for his damage.

Giving him money for holidays, also proves the point about how spoilt they are.

In "our day", kids did not go on foreign holidays on their own, and if they did, they had paper rounds and weekend jobs to pay for it, rather than sponsorship from mum and dad. He is benefitting greatly for your
" bourgeoism"

You may have had a placid relationship, although it looks like it's mostly because you are a softy, but this is the dangerous beginning of a very slippery slope.
Your call, of course, but you have been warned.

My reward for doing well in exams was a degree. If I'd asked my parents for money, they'd have laughed their heads off and told me to take a hike.

I knew the precious darling son would get away with this. No surprises there then!

For fucks sake Lweji, a teenage boy has done something stupid and rash in the heat of the moment. He hasn't hurt anybody, stop trying to turn him into some sort of monster. It's fucking offensive and trivialises domestic abuse. Go and find somewhere else to grind that axe.

I never said or implied he is a monster...

Just saying that it's not as innocent as that. And he hasn't expressed any regret or offered to make amends.

And at that age he should know better.

They always pontificated on about their fantasy left wing identification before taking up high-paying jobs at ICI, and becoming the Toriest Tories that ever did Tory

At my old university no one bothered with the left-wing bit. They started off as the Toriest Tories who ever did Tory and carried on from there!

OMG I think I want the horse decanter.

Did I read somewhere it was the horn one and it was no longer available? Can't be gassed reading it all back again :o

Anyway - it is available here:

www.davidshuttle.com/riedel-crystal-decanters-horn-decanter/?gclid=CKvog-ju2sYCFeTMtAodNy8FRw

and there is 10% off code of you sign up to their mail list with an email you keep for just such junk mail

Can't believe how rude people have been about the decanter! OP loved it and it's her precious object (sorry to talk 'about' you, OP ) I do think he's got off lightly though. He's shown he doesn't value what other people value, which isn't the same as not valuing possessions. OP, how about getting him to lovingly clean or polish all your valuables weekly before he goes on his trip?

Well it's turns out my prized golden dildo was actually a small brass statue of George Galloway, so my son won't be paying for it either.

"when I very mildly pointed out that he would be in receipt of all my worldly goods he lobbed my riedel crystal decanter- honestly- through the patio doors... And he now claims that kind of pointless bourgeois materialism is what got his generation into the mess it's in."

Have you considered writing for the Guardian's Weekend Supplement? That could keep you in Riedel crystal for a few months.

Morning all. It was the horn decanter! But an earlier incarnation so not quite the one they show but jolly close. I feel I must spread the joys of decanting... Just immeasurablely improves the taste- aeration and all that

Sorry I said your decanter was fuggly obviously decanter taste is subjective

NeedsSock, taste is indeed subjective the fugliness is not lost on me... I just loved it! I take no offence. Ds has shown true remorse this evening... He has agreed to not only pay for the new one but has offered to accompany me to choose it and take me for lunch. Order is restored and all well in the world. I promise he's not too bad and not too priveledged despite my occasional weakness for overpriced crystal! Night all oh and a

Ah, that's good OP. He sounds quite a good sort really

Btw - DH is a great believer in decanting red wine too - albeit into a much cheaper Ikea decanter

Well I'm glad you're happy with how it's all been sorted out and I'm sorry you've received so much harassment over owning a decanter!

I would be concerned about the throwing if he ever does it again, but if you think it is all sorted for know then that is good.