# My selfish little brat of a sister. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 26, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688 "2011-09-26T19:36:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/21 "2011-09-26T21:48:46Z")
And ferchrissakes, get out of the damn bathroom. There are other people in this family who need to use it sometimes too, ya know. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/22 "2011-09-26T21:50:12Z")
Quick! Someone call the waaaaaahmbulance! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/23 "2011-09-26T22:06:00Z")
If she won’t let you use her computer, then it’s not fair that she should have a computer. Drop her computer accidentally-on-purpose over and over until you hear something break. I mean, that’s the answer a 13 year-old boy wants to hear, right? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/24 "2011-09-26T23:29:12Z")
Kids these days! Back when I was 13, I didn’t have a little sister, and computers hadn’t been invented. (Well, they had been invented, but you didn’t give one to a 13-year-old to play games on, partly because they wouldn’t fit into the average bedroom.) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/25 "2011-09-26T23:35:36Z")
> [@Dsman2203](#): > > Hi guys. I’m new. I have a little sis (11) who is down right \*\*\*\*ed up. She is a total \*\*\*\*\*, and makes me wanna punch her in the face ( I know,I know, It isn’t fair that she is 11). She such a suckup to other people but treats me like \*\*\*\*. First off, you’re allowed to say fucked, bitch and shit on this message board. Secondly, just how old is your computer that it can’t run Combat Arms? Combat Arms runs on a freaking Pentium 3. I can’t believe there’s a computer built in the last five years that can’t play this thing. It uses the freaking Lithtech engine, for crying out loud. Assuming that you’re actually a 13 year old gamer, and not a spammer for Nexon/Doobie, this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to maintain and upgrade your computer. Post back with the specs so we can go from there. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/26 "2011-09-26T23:51:56Z")
Swap the CPU’s and graphics cards. And get a hair cut. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/27 "2011-09-27T00:04:37Z")
If you want a faster computer find some jobs to do to pay for what you need. Watch dogs, take a babysitting class (little kids love older boys) etc. If your sister is nice enough to let you use her computer but occasionally you want more time maybe you could clean her room for her or do some of her chores. Seriously you’re both too young to have your own computers and if you were my kids you would be sharing a computer with limited gaming time. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/28 "2011-09-27T00:11:32Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > First off, you’re allowed to say fucked, bitch and shit on this message board. Yeah, DSman, you little bitch, get your fucking shit together. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/29 "2011-09-27T00:35:14Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > 1. Her computer, her rules. > 2. You don’t “have to” play on her computer. > 3. There’s no such thing as an important online game. > > Next time you want to yell at your sister, imagine it’s some other 13-year old boy yelling at her and making her mad. Would you put up with that? Would you let some other kid make your sister cry? Hopefully not. No good brother would. So why do you think it’s OK for you to do it? > > Be a good brother. Quoted for truth. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/30 "2011-09-27T00:37:07Z")
**DSMan** , either curse your fucking head off or don’t bother cursing at all. This is a grown up site. You’re more likely to be criticized for cursing without creativity than you are for calling someone an asshat. Second, you don’t solve problems by going “WAAAAAAH! I don’t get what I want! Everybody’s mean to me!” even if that’s actually what’s going on. You solve problems by treating the people who can help you with respect and courtesy, using your grown up voice, saying please and thank you, and asking nicely. Understand that your sister is doing you a favor (hell if I’d have let my little brother on my computer when I was 13 and he was 11, and I actually liked him for the most part). When she lets you use her computer, say “thank you”. Do something nice for her in return. You may be shocked to discover that she’ll let you on her computer more often. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/31 "2011-09-27T00:52:23Z")
Go brush your teeth. ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/32 "2011-09-27T01:17:05Z")
Is your homework done yet? Are your chores completed yet? Economize on your use of question marks and exclamation points also. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/33 "2011-09-27T01:41:40Z")
When come back, bring real problem. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/34 "2011-09-27T01:53:44Z")
Stop slamming the door so hard – we like having our windows intact. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/35 "2011-09-27T02:30:59Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It seems to me like the easy solution is for her no longer to let you use her computer, and for you to retaliate by not letting her use yours. > > What’s that? She doesn’t want to use yours? > > So what do you think she’s getting out of letting you use hers? Is there anything she’s getting out of it beyond the good feelings that come from behaving selflessly? > > If there is, please share. If not, then **by definition** she’s not selfish. If you’re not giving her anything in exchange for her letting you use her computer, and you’re getting angry when she fails to let you use it, **by definition** you’re the selfish one. > > Your parents are totally correct to flip out when you call her a brat. You are totally incorrect to say she treats you like a bunch of stars, since she’s already letting you use her computer. > > You owe her an apology right now, and you owe her some favors in exchange for the use of her computer, and you need to wait to touch her computer until she makes the offer again. Wow. A post that offers real advice without making fun of the OP’s adolescence. Didn’t think it was possible! Yeah, **Dsman** , doesn’t sound like your problem should be with your sister. She didn’t ask for the faster computer or take anything that belonged to you. Playing a bandwidth-eating game is a luxury. Not even your parents are obliged to convenience you in this area, so asking your sister to do this is just strange. It seems you’ve got some choices: 1. Swap computers. Maybe her needs don’t require a super fast computer. 2. If she’s smart, swapping won’t just cut it. You might have to make the deal sweeter. And why not? She has something you don’t have…it doesn’t matter that you want it more. Be ready to offer her some payment of some type. Money is nice, but so are chores. 3. If she won’t negotiate, don’t freak out. This is when you show your growing maturity and actually do something yourself to upgrade your computer. You can do odd jobs around the house or in the neighborhood (cut grass, clean out garages, etc.) Maybe tell your parents what you’re trying to do, and they’ll be kind enough to match whatever you raise. Do the research and find out how much it will cost to upgrade so that the knowledge will be at hand when they ask. Maybe they’re sick of your complaining, but they would be majorly impressed if you said, “This is what I’m going to do. This is my project for the next couple of months.” Parents love that type of “can-do” initiative. 4. Or you can find a fun game that works well with your computer. This is called “taking the path of least resistance”. Sometimes this is a wussy strategy, but in your case, it wouldn’t be. Hope people haven’t chased you away from here. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/36 "2011-09-27T02:42:37Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Wow. A post that offers real advice without making fun of the OP’s adolescence. Didn’t think it was possible! My job involves straight-talk to 8-year-olds; 13-year-olds are no problem :). **DSMan** , **monstro** has the right of it. If you wanted her computer because you were busy coding software that, when sold, would prevent the family from losing the family house, then maybe you’d have a case for guilting her into letting you use it. But since all you want is entertainment, you’ve got zero right to it whatsoever. It’s hers, and she’s got total control over it. (This is incidentally a lesson that’ll serve you well when you start dating). You really need to stop calling her a brat. No matter what. Not because she’s not a brat; for all we know she’s the brattiest bratissima this side of Bratsville. No, you need to stop **because calling her names isn’t getting you anything you want**. What’s more, it’s losing you some social capital: your parents think you’re being a jerk and are therefore less inclined to do nice things for you, and that goes double for your sister. You need to apologize, because in this particular case, you acted like a jerk. If you’re using something that belongs to someone else, and they want to use it, you IMMEDIATELY (not once you finish the level, not in a few minutes, IMMEDIATELY) give it up, apologize for inconveniencing them, thank them for letting you use it. It sounds like you didn’t do that, which was jerkish behavior. Then you need to follow **monstro’s** advice. Do you want to negotiate a trade with her, such that it becomes your computer? Make her an offer worth her while–recognizing that she’s totally within her rights to reject it, or even to refuse to hear it. Do you want to upgrade your computer? Research options, present your parents with a plan A (ideal) and plan B (budget), and ask them for help finding ways to earn money. Do you want to go path of least resistance? There are plenty of amazing games written before you were out of diapers; visit [gog.com](http://gog.com) for some ideas, or start a thread in the Game Room for suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/37 "2011-09-27T02:48:29Z")
When I was your age, there was only one computer for the whole family… and it was a Timex Sinclair 1000. No, we didn’t have to walk 5 miles in the snow uphill to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/38 "2011-09-27T03:02:19Z")
Obvious ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/39 "2011-09-27T03:07:07Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Punch her. Thank you. Now I need to clean spit up beer off my keyboard. > [@Scarlett67](#): > > When come back, bring real problem. Please, the kid is 13 so he has an excuse for immaturity, unlike most of the Pit denizens. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688/40 "2011-09-27T03:51:46Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > Watch dogs, take a babysitting class (little kids love older boys) etc. Am I the only one that found this phrasing… odd? :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-selfish-little-brat-of-a-sister/597688.md?page=3)