I 17m, am going to try to keep this short.
Growing up, I almost never had physical textbooks in primary or secondary school. I was constantly told to “make a list” of what I needed, with promises they’d be bought later, but they rarely were. Meanwhile, my sibling always had a full set of textbooks as far as I can remember(and that’s was just academically) .
Because of that, I had to rely heavily on PDFs and digital materials to study. My sibling and I shared a PC, so most of my studying happened there. This led to a lot of screen time, but it wasn’t for gaming or social media. It was literally how I accessed my schoolwork.
At some point, the PC started malfunctioning. No one else did anything about it, so I opened it up and fixed it myself. After that, I felt like I had more of a claim to using it, especially since all my school documents and projects were stored on it.
My father later decided he wanted to use that same PC, even though he already shares another computer with my mother. This caused conflict, because him using it interfered with my studying and risked my files.
On top of that, my mother started complaining that I had “too much screen time,” even though the screen time was directly caused by me not having textbooks in the first place.
Eventually, I snapped and got angry about the situation. It wasn’t just about the PC. It was about years of unequal treatment, broken promises, and feeling like my efforts to compensate for missing resources were being criticized instead of supported.
So, AITAH for losing my temper at my parents over this?
NAH. You’re 17. Be smart. Tell your parents you need a new laptop for college instead of blowing up on them. Trying to get the internet to win an argument for you will do you no good in life.
They know that, they just do not care
Do you really think people who refuse to buy their kid a text book and then complain about the kid having “too much screen time” because they have to rely on pdfs to study are going to buy a laptop? They clearly don’t care about OPs education. Also posting here isn’t to try and “win an argument” OP seems to be in a house full of people who disregard their needs so probably just needs some objective opinions on if they’re right to be frustrated / angry (which they are).
I never heard of a public school that doesn’t provide free textbooks for their students. How did OP do anything in class when every other student had a textbook but not him? How did the school expect OP do his homework without providing any materials? This story to me looks like OP is making shit up.
NTA your parents are dead wrong
NAH. “Blowing up” made you look immature and gave them a reason to dismiss anything you said. A calm, rational discussion on why you needed the computer and had screen time would have served you better. Doesn’t matter if you are right or not if you don’t have the computer. Learn to figure out what your goal is (that computer or a new computer for yourself), control your emotions and figure out how to achieve that goal. Having a temper tantrum will never get you anything but dismissed. Be smart and ask for a laptop for schoolwork and for college as a gift for birthday/Christmas/graduation or get a job and save up $500 and buy yourself one.
That’s the thing, my mother knew I was using it for studying. When I confronted her about it she literally said “I don’t care”. The actual reason why I don’t have textbooks is because of the obvious favoritism between. Even if ask for a pc I’ll probably get ignored like always
OP don’t bother with that “person” (if it’s even an actual person) they clearly haven’t read the post. Totally ridiculous to suggest you ask for a laptop when you’re having to fight to get text books / access to your text books on the existing computer. Your parents are assholes and you aren’t in the wrong for finally exploding over their nonsense.
This has to be a bot response, how are you going to sit there and tell OP that they need to ask the parents to buy them a laptop when the entire situation stems from the parents not buying them text books and complaining about their screen time?
I mean this gently, but ESH, sorry. Your parents should be treating you and you sibling equally and also you shouldn’t be blowing up at your parents. When an argument about a PC turns into an argument about years of resentment you have been sitting on, you already lost the PC argument.
Instead, take responsibility for your own learning – set a schedule for the time in the PC, and maybe start saving for a laptop of your own. Also, backup your files if you are worried they are in danger.
Address the other issues separately- they are probably even more important, (everyone has a need for fair treatment) but nothing will be fixed by more blowing up. Those difficult conversations will go much better for everyone if you can go into them with a plan and a desired outcome. Look into Non Violent Communication, it’s such a huge life hack for dealing with conflict.
Good luck!