# What would you say to this spoiled brat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252 "2011-08-03T01:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/1 "2011-08-03T01:32:42Z")
## Say you went to McDonalds for someone. You get back and give them their order (which, by the way, _you_ paid for, they didn’t). They try the fries and it turns out they cooled a little bit on the drive back. The person tries them and then says “Oh, the fries are cold…you have to go back and get me another. Keep them warm this time.” Surely it isn’t just me who would say something like “Go yourself, and pay for your own fries this time”? My brother (who is still living at home with my mom and his dad at age 21) does this all the time, apparently (or so sayth mom the last time I visited). Last year, I made [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=579256). The reason was because, as I said, my brother still lives at home. He doesn’t have a job, he brings in no income, he sleeps all day and is on the computer all night, and makes demands like the above on a constant basis. Honestly, I have no idea how my mom puts up with it. She and my stepfather want him out of the house badly, but my mom is halted by the fact that he wouldn’t have anywhere to go. Still, at the very least, I tell her she should stand up to his insane demands of things like (another real one): “Oh, you forgot the Mac and Cheese…you have to go back to the store and get it (just for that). And if they don’t have it, go to another store.” What would you say to someone making demands like that? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/2 "2011-08-03T01:38:20Z")
Go fuck yourself comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/3 "2011-08-03T01:44:03Z")
I cannot improve on **Leaffan** ’s suggestion. Unless it is accompanied by shoving each cool French fry up said spoiled brat’s nose, one by one, until he cannot breathe, falls over, and stops wasting precious oxygen. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/4 "2011-08-03T01:47:03Z")
Said brat has his parents on a string. They need to stop enabling his behaviour. - he pays rent or gets out - they cease being his servants; in particular no meals, no laundry Otherwise why would he change? ---
**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:** [August 3, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/5 "2011-08-03T01:48:25Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Go fuck yourself comes to mind. Thread over. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/6 "2011-08-03T01:49:36Z")
Does he have naked pictures of her with a donkey, or what? I mean, sorry, I know she’s your mom and all but daaaaaaaayum! That’s either blackmail or some of the worst enabling I’ve ever seen. Why on earth would he move out? He’s one of the few people in America who can answer “yes” to[this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=618598&highlight=servants)! ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/7 "2011-08-03T01:54:35Z")
carefully pack up in a plastic grocery bag; 1 clean pair of underwear, 1 clean pair of socks, 1 pair clean pants, 1 clean shirt and 1 pair of shoes. Hand bag to said brat, gently show him out and politely invite him to visit some day when he has his own place to live, a legitmate and legal job, pays his own bills and is willing to take everyone present to lunch somewhere nicer than McDonalds or Burger King (thinking at least Olive Garden or better) ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/8 "2011-08-03T01:55:55Z")
I’d say something like: There’s been a breakdown in communication here, I just don’t understand what the fuck you’re saying. What does your mother say? Or do? More than spoiled, the kid sounds like a bully. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/9 "2011-08-03T02:03:33Z")
Take his fries back and start eating them yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/10 "2011-08-03T02:05:02Z")
Even if your parents aren’t willing to dump him out on the street, they need to start pushing him in that direction. Step one is him getting a job. He needs to start filling out applications and going to interviews. If he can’t find a job, tell him to go out and do at least forty hours a week of volunteer work. Give him a list of chores he has to do around the house. He can do the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry, the lawn care. He doesn’t get with the program shut off computer and TV privileges. If he still doesn’t act like a grown-up, tell him those are the rules of the house. He either follows them or he gets kicked out on the street. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/11 "2011-08-03T02:08:21Z")
Go fuck yourself douche nozzle, and you owe me $2 for the fries. I would probably smile while I said it, but the smile wouldn’t reach my eyes. Seriously, I read threads like this and think WTF?? Who ARE these people who behave like this? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/12 "2011-08-03T02:09:22Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Said brat has his parents on a string. They need to stop enabling his behaviour. > > - he pays rent or gets out > - they cease being his servants; in particular no meals, no laundry > > Otherwise why would he change? > [@WhyNot](#): > > I mean, sorry, I know she’s your mom and all but daaaaaaaayum! That’s either blackmail or some of the worst enabling I’ve ever seen. Believe me, I don’t disagree. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/13 "2011-08-03T02:09:45Z")
There’s a magical box in the kitchen that makes cold things hot. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/14 "2011-08-03T02:10:31Z")
I would take the offending fries off his hands and say, “Great! More for me!” It’s amazing what can happen to people when they get kicked out of the house. They sleep on friends’ couches for a while and then usually get their act together. Your folks should try it, because he’s not going anywhere if they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/15 "2011-08-03T02:11:04Z")
> [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](#): > > I’d say something like: There’s been a breakdown in communication here, I just don’t understand what the fuck you’re saying. > > What does your mother say? Or do? More than spoiled, the kid sounds like a bully. She usually gives in and does what he’s demanding (usually after much bugging and pestering). So yeah, I made this thread for her. Mostly just to get some ideas for witty and sarcastic replies she can give him next time he tries to pull demanding shit like that. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/16 "2011-08-03T02:12:05Z")
I would tell you him you can get your own french fries when you have a job. I’d also probably pour them on the ground and stomp on them and make him clean it up. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/17 "2011-08-03T02:16:56Z")
Sadly, I think a lot of the blame for this rests with your parents. Most of us get the shit slapped out of us or otherwise corrected by adults much earlier in life, so when you’re an adult you don’t even think of such an absurd statement. The fact that he talks to your mom this way, is 21, jobless, and living at home rent-free suggests that he’s catered to and enabled to an unbelievable degree. I don’t think the prognosis is good unless they cut him off, but they probably won’t… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/18 "2011-08-03T02:19:35Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I would tell you him you can get your own french fries when you have a job. I’d tell him he can **make** his own fries when he gets a job… at McDonalds! ETA: But seriously, my recommendation would be to slowly but gradually make staying at home more unpleasant. Start charging him rent that he can pay off by doing chores. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/19 "2011-08-03T02:19:45Z")
I thought briefly about a tossed order of fries facial followed by a “You’re right. That didn’t burn you at all, huh?” But I really don’t wish violence on any sack of crap, no matter how entitled or deserving. **Leaffan** , you got it in one. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252/20 "2011-08-03T02:35:11Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > She usually gives in and does what he’s demanding (usually after much bugging and pestering). > So yeah, I made this thread for her. Mostly just to get some ideas for witty and sarcastic replies she can give him next time he tries to pull demanding shit like that. She doesn’t neet witty or sarcastic replies; she just needs to stop doing his bidding. And I don’t mean the going back a second time part - I’m talking about not going at all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-say-to-this-spoiled-brat/591252.md?page=2)