Problem with Brother Addicted to Computer Games

_Aaron_ SG

I have a brother and he's 12 this year.

Its his PSLE year, but i think he spends more time on MapleStory and Rakion than anything else.

I guess its partly my fault, i practically grew up playing games, and i guess some of it must have rubbed onto him.

Now that its his holidays, i think he spends at least 5 hours a day. At Least!
And everytime we nag at him to stop, he'll just say "yea, yea", and then continue playing, giving excuses like i only just started playing!, Etc. until he cannot take our nagging anymore. In which, he'll stomp his legs in anger and back off.

I guess my parents don't scold him or cane him that much. Actually ... hey! I don't remember my parents caning him at all. Probably just once or twice. Unlike poor me, who's 10 years his senior.

What should i do? I don't think my family is controlling him very well. I'm kinda worried about his PSLE, but i hear his grades aren't that bad. But still... i fear this gaming is getting out of hand.

Damn. Perhaps i should NOT have introduced him to Wc3 or anything.

Advice anyone?

jaydunkfull SG

password lock the computer
set aside a limited time to play per day
i wouldnt suggest gradual change eg from 5 hours to 4 hours to three hours that sort of thing. it might lead to more protests. say you want the limit to be two hours per day give it to him straightaway
reward him with an extra hour if he does well, hope it motivates him to study
i think you should also talk to him tell him the reasons why you are doing this, the possible consequences if this continues. dont yell, dont give physical punishments.
encourage other activites eg playing basketball
hope it helps

DriftingGuy SG

I don't know man.. my house has a teenage tenant also facing this problem.. going for his O levels and still play so many hours of DOTA per day... Thing he is.. most of the time he will play outside at cyber cafes..

So if your brother is resourceful enough and your parents give him pocket money then he might actually play at cyber cafes even if you password lock his computer or ban him outright... Also seeking a solution to this problem

FireIce SG

lay down the terms and conditions.......
all work and no play oso cannot mah

say.....3hrs of studying, then 1hr of play.....

work out something.....

_Aaron_ SG

How to lay down terms?
This has been going on for like... 1-2 years? Though it only just recently worsened to such horrible conditions.

I blame MapleStory and Rakion. Grrr.

No, i don't think he'll spend his money on cybercafe's... he's not that type. In fact, he stays at home too long. I think there are only 2 things he does at home; Game and Homework... and sleep of course.

he doesn't go out much, cept when chased by us too much, he'll play some badminton downstairs...

Guess he's an introvert like me.

jaydunkfull SG

sit him down and tell him

hisoka SG

hey if his grades are ok, leave him be.

its his way of studying. the main thing is to do well, not study alot.

for me i play alot and slack alot during the term and what not, but towards the exams then i start studying. and i do pretty ok. its mroe of method of studying i guess.

not saying he will start working hard when the exams are near though. jsut s possibility you should not close your mind to

fudgester SG

Download some software which can keep track of a person's computer usage and switch it off after a time limit. Be prepared to pay for it, though.

Here's one I managed to find:

http://www.download.com/Child-Control-2006/3000-2162_4-10534901.html?tag=lst-0-1

For a cheaper solution, set up a user ID for logging into your computer to which only you know the password. Then your brother would have to ask you to log in for you every time he wants to use the computer. This way, you can make sure that he at least finishes his work before playing the computer.

_Aaron_ SG

That sounds cool, but i'm not willing to pay =_=...

He knows my ID!

I don't even know how to start talking to him..~

hisoka SG

sit down with him and talk nicely to him. tell him you worried about his grades and ask him if he has thought about them or has any plans.

btw pls talk nicely and not condescingly and not to take to long to get to the point Cool

fudgester SG

The software I told you about has a 30-day free trial. I think it'll be sufficient for the rest of the holidays.

Of course, that's just a stopgap solution for the holidays. I'm not sure how (I'm a computer idiot), but I'm sure there's a way to change the user ID and password. You need to find a way to do this, or you won't be able to control his computer usage. Try posting in the IT support forum.

Tell him straight in the face that it's his PSLE year, and that he can't very well be spending all his time playing and not doing his work. As the others have said, come up with some sort of compromise... make him show you the work that he did for the day before you let him play the computer.

And get your parents into the act. It sure would defeat the purpose of doing all this if your parents willingly give him money to visit LAN gaming shops every day.

MosPyramid SG

For maplestory, play with a hack and get his account banned, rakion? I don't know.

If he really so unrepentable, maybe you should let him have a taste of failing first, let him repeat his P6 and it will knock some sense into him.

Since he is only 12, no point telling him about future, he won't understand one.

Maybe you can act colder towards him and make him realised he actually doing the wrong things. Ignore him more.
Say something sacrasitic like "play more lor, i don't care, not my result anyway" then walk off.
Maybe 1~2 weeks it will take effect Wink

_Aaron_ SG

My parents don't give him money to vist lan gaming shops because he doesn't. Okay, i can't say for sure, but there's no need for him to visit one. I don't think he really knows the importance of PSLE, i didn't when i was his age... i was just playing(not computer games), but playing nontheless.

I guess, at 12, its too early to think about yr future... esp when you are the one thinking about it...

Wah liew. I think he'll hate me forever.

I may use this method... i sure hope he'll buck up after he reaches sec 1, maybe he'll find a girlfriend or something.

I don't talk much to him actually. Sigh, i feel like i'm a failed brother. I'm really not a family person, and i spend much more time outside with other friends... or alone.. in my room reading.

Gordonator SG

as a gamer myself, 1 hour of play is definately not enough. depending on what kind of game one is playing. normally 3 hours should be enough to get the satisfaction. especially those RPG where it takes time to train your character.

lwflee SG

5 hours?!?!

- pffft - I used to knock out 16 hour days.

FireIce SG

PSLE coming u know!

HOTfudge SG

uninstall the games. keep a soft copy of the setup files and hide it so he can access the games under yr supervision only.

Ito_^ SG

let him play ba.. he might become a talented games developer in the future. Laughing

no seriously, i don't see a big deal from this.

martin_lim85 SG

ask him go out, or find something to spent his time without using the pc. keep him busy and he will just forget

Parka SG

hmm.

1. Just format the computer and install Linux over WindowsXP. Linux = no games.

2. Sell your computer and get a Mac. Mac = A hell lot less game.

3. Create a login acc for the computer.

Personally, am using no. 2.

Twisted Evil