The generation gap can feel more like a canyon sometimes, especially when it comes to technology. Many parents try to impart old-school lessons about hard work and discipline, often forgetting that the tools required to succeed in today’s world are vastly different from those of the past. One reader shared a story with us about his father, who took the concept of “distraction-free work” to a new, analog level, sparking a war between the 21st century and the 1960s right in the middle of his bedroom.
I’m a 17-year-old high school student. Or at least I was, until my dad decided to sabotage my education with a 50-pound hunk of metal. I am typing this on my phone because my custom-built PC has been replaced with a typewriter. No, you did not read that wrong.
The ‘Distraction Box’
My dad has always had a grudge against my computer. I built it myself two years ago. Yes, I play games on it—it’s my main hobby and how I stay connected with my friends. But it’s so much more than that. I use it for everything: research and writing for my AP classes, video editing for the school’s media club, and I’ve even been learning to code. My grades are decent, mostly A’s and B’s.
But my dad never saw any of that. He just called it “the distraction box” or “the zombie machine.” He’s always going on about how kids have it too easy and how, in his day, he had to write papers by hand. He seemed to think my entire digital life was a waste of time, despite all the evidence to the contrary. I never thought he’d actually act on it.
The Great Unplugging
I came home from school on Tuesday and knew immediately that something was wrong. My desk was almost empty. My dual monitors, my tower, my keyboard, my mouse—all gone. In the center of the desk, sitting like some ancient, dusty idol, was a massive, olive-green manual typewriter.
I found my dad in the garage, looking incredibly proud of himself. He gestured to my entire PC setup, neatly stacked in a corner. “This is motivation, son,” he said with a grin. “No more games, no more social media, no more distractions. Just pure, focused work. Think of the essays you’ll write! This is how the greats did it.”
I tried to argue. I told him I had a 12-page research paper due that required online sources and specific formatting. I had a video project for my club that was half-finished. His response? “You can use the encyclopedia for research and type the paper on this. It will build character!” He told me my PC was being held hostage until my “attitude and focus improved.”
A Paper Jam of a Plan
I actually tried to use the typewriter. It’s a nightmare. The keys stick, it’s deafeningly loud, and if you make a single typo, you have to retype the entire page. It’s not a tool; it’s a torture device. I took it to school to try and work in the library, and the librarian told me I couldn’t use it because of the noise.
My mom thinks my dad has lost his mind, but he is stubborn and refuses to back down. My grades are now genuinely at risk because I don’t have the basic tools required for a modern education. His attempt to “motivate” me has completely backfired, leaving me stressed, isolated from my friends, and unable to do my schoolwork.
My dad truly believes he is teaching me a valuable lesson. I believe he is an out-of-touch parent who has set me up to fail. AITA for using my savings to buy a cheap laptop behind his back just so I can pass my classes?
This is a classic case of a parent applying an outdated solution to a modern situation. While the father’s intention might have come from a place of wanting his son to be more focused, his method shows a profound misunderstanding of what it takes to be a student in the 21st century. He didn’t just remove a distraction; he removed an essential tool for education, creativity, and socializing, effectively punishing his son for living in the present day.
What do you think, readers? Is this a reasonable attempt at “tough love” parenting, or did this dad completely sabotage his son’s success out of a misplaced grudge against technology? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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