Good Parents?

Not appropriate. Parents taking the easy way out vs. taking time over many weeks and months to instill gratitude as a way of life. The punitive approach doesn't do this but sets up a relationship of fear: "Say thank you or something bad will happen to you."

I think it's sad.

There isn't enough info. in just one pic.

Looks extreme and makes us feel sorry for the boy.

But, maybe he's a little monster and needs some tough love.

It is sad.

The problem is that a lot of people are taught this same principle about God:"Be good, obey my rules, etc, etc., or go to hell" It paints God in a bad light, just like these parents are teaching their child that gratitude is an obligation not a matter of the heart.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. They think they are instilling something good, but causing even more damage. I dont think the punishment is fitting the crime here at all.

Agree. He could be a monster, but not sure if this will fix it?

the only way to teach some boys is public humiliation and violence. but captain america is faggy and so is church so fuck that kid and his family and his ps3.

Harsh, I would have found another way to teach gratefulness, like have him donate time at the local old folks home reading stories or something. Taking back his game system will make him feel very bitter which is counterproductive.

The boy didn't get to his present state of mind all by himself. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that role models of gratitude were missing in his family.

The problem took a long time to form; it will take a long time to remedy. I pray the parents will take that time and become those role models.

Donating time is the best.... Especially doing it with a parent.

The child gets to actually see and feel what its like to be less fortunate.

The parents probably didnt have time and took the easy way out

Also the picture concerns me, why did they take the picture and upload it?

Isnt that further humiliation?!

^^THIS^^

Yep....parents were a part of the problem, they should be part of the solution.

for night readers

I agree. Maybe instead of taking back his gift (3 days ago meant he found out about it before Christmas) the parents could have explained that his behavior demonstrated that he lacked appreciation for gratefulness for what he does have, and made a committment to donate the family's Christmas day (instead of staying home and playing with his gifts) to help at a homeless shelter. He could have given his unwanted gifts to children who would appreciate them and he would have seen first hand what life would be like if he was not as fortunate. This option would have spared the rod and the child!

As many posters have stated this action seems to be for the benefit of the parents showing how "tough love works". My question is why did they give him the gift early? My guess is that they were posturing to teach the kiddo a lesson, but they probably did not follow through with their threat. The parents should have waited for Christmas day and then told him that they had considered giving him the play station, but after they realized that there was an important lesson in life the child had to learn, the money was going to be used to help him learn the value of charity. This would have definately been a more powerful option with less residual effects.

i don't understand the whole picture taking and putting it on the internet thing parents do now of days,it's like that want accolades for doing what they should be doing


imo it's kind of a dick move,they clearly thought he deserved it in the first place,i could see not letting him play it for a while,but totally taking it away is shitty

Why are they allowing video games if they go to church?

I agree. I don't think I could do this to my kid. It would break my heart. I almost envy the guts they have to do it. it's obvious that they want to raise a good kid but like you say might be better to keep the gift but not get to use it until they have put in 20 hours helping needy kids.

Do churches ban video games??

Wow, publicly humiliating a child.

Brainwashing a child (church).

And you have to ask if this is "good parenting"?!

Does anyone besides me think that the photo was staged so the parents can make money to pay off that expensive video game system.

My wife says it's a troll and that the message was photoshopped and moreover that does not look like a 10 year old male's handwriting. I tend to agree.

I think it was a bit harsh but I don't know the whole story. Also what happened to giving out of kindness not because someone got in trouble?

Just curious, how can anyone make money posting a photo on the internet?

Sorry for double post. But I just realized there is a weird random white spot so I have to agree most likely shopped.

Who cares.

His life will see a lot worse probs in the next few years.

I personally think this is cruel and unusual punishment. Save up your cash mom and dad, because junior might need it for counseling when he's older.

He's a CHILD. So he was more excited about the PS3 than the Captain America action figure....kids react with pure emotion, he was probably excited! Taking his gift away from him is emotional abuse IMHO. And if that wasn't enough, to take the further step to write up a stupid note, make him hold it, and post his photo on some dumbshit website for the world to see in order to shame him more? WTF? WAAAAY too harsh, it goes right past "teaching a lesson" and goes directly to abuse IMHO.

It's like that stupid ass website "dog shaming" but with a child. I think it's abusive.

I have to assume that this is like the 100th time the parents have seen their kid being ungrateful and are at a loss as to what else to do.

Even if its just the first time, this 'little lesson' packs a huge punch and may actually have far more impact on him than actually punching him.

I think that this may actually fall between 1 and 100 and is the parents attempt to teach lessons, important lessons to their kid.

Considering that the parents are trying and that they are not beating the kid with a whip, I think this is pretty good parenting and a novel way to address the specific problem and hopefully teach their kid specific lessons.

It goes viral, than the kids gets invited to shows like Oprah and they give him like $20,000 worth of toys.

In my opinion, I like it. The greedy fuck wasn't appreciative over a free gift. Rotten fucking American child at its finest.

Parenting

Emotional abuse is never ever ok IMHO, no matter how deplorable this kids attitude may or may not be. Take away his PS3, make him spend the cash on other kids, that's one thing.....posting this CHILDS photo online with the intention of shaming him is just cruel and out of line in every way, shape, and form.