Laptop Dad gets a visit from the authorities. (And they say "Meh!")

[Snake Alchemist]

STANLY CO., N.C. —

A local father who captured worldwide attention after posting a YouTube rant about his daughter is now making local city leaders mad.

Jimmy Jordan, from Stanly County, got mad after his daughter complained about doing chores on her Facebook page.

In the video, Jordan pulls out a gun and shoots his daughter’s laptop.

The video received more than 21 million views in four days.

“Pay you for chores?” Jordan said in the video. “Are you out of your mind?”


http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/youtube-dad-who-shot-daughters-laptop-gets-visit-a/nHbcR/

Just as predicted.

[SaintPete]

1. K&R /nt

[seabeyond]

2. “Pay you for chores?” ... “Are you out of your mind?”

lol.... yup. there are chores that are done because they are part of this household and do their (my kids) share. then there are choirs that are above that, that we pay, just like a job. dont do them, gripe, make it hard, lazy job, dont get paid.

[JHB]

133. I got paid for some chores...

...like mowing the lawns at our house and Grandma's. It was a chore because blowing it off was not an option and would have consequences above and beyond not getting the money, but I did get paid for doing this specific chore. Similar case with shoveling snow.

Granted, these were chores that dad would have paid someone else to do had I not been there (and did once I left for college), but it was one of the ways teaching me precisely the sort of lessons Hot Lead Poppa wanted his daughter to understand: you have to work for money.

[seabeyond]

134. that is how we do it, exactly.

and it is with mowing lawn for the oldest.

for the reasons you say.

cleaning room, picking up after self, helping with the house, family chores.

[JHB]

135. And sometimes the "pay" is just a minor perk reward

I and my two siblings rotated throught "work days", where we were responsible for washing the dinner dishes (we had a dishwashing machine when I was little, but when it broke down Dad didn't see a need to replace it when he already had three) and generally being "first pick" for helping Mom and Dad with something. The perk was that whoever had the work day had control of the kitchen TV knob (no remote for that back then), at least among the kids. Which also cut down on annoying "I wanna watch..." fights, so it had added benefits for the parents.

Details would be different for different families, but the basic principle is simple enough.

[seabeyond]

136. ah... nifty. very good.

i like good parenting.

[randr]

3. An important issue in all of this, imho,

is that another person has used a gun to vent their anger. I have seen many posts from gun defenders angry at people using this guy as another excuse to jump on the anti-gun bandwagon. The argument ignores that huge elephant in the room. This guy was pissed off and chose to use a gun to release his tension. I hear all the time about how important it is to have a gun for defense. I have yet to hear an argument for the use of a gun for stress relief.

[Kali]

8. here is an excuse for you

I haven't seen the video so I have no idea what this guy did or his state of mind (dial up here) but my "excuse" is this:

I have a constitutional right to own firearms and I can do any damn thing I want with them as long as I harm no innocent person.

Shooting can be a great stress reliever and I have often thought we would all be better off if we shot up every goddamn teevee in this country.

The personal reasons for gun ownership are as varied (and multiple) as the reasons for owning any number of objects. The fact is they really aren't any of your effing business.

[riderinthestorm]

43. Okay, I pointed that out in another thread! My neighbor likes to shoot stuff (you know we're rural)

Him and his friends think its "hilarious" to "kill" dying appliances: washing machine, microwave etc.

I actually asked if this just might be a culture gap? Some people shoot shit.... especially if they are out in the boonies where its possible to do on your own property.

[randr]

83. Watch the video and decide if he was upset or not for yourself

Personally I used like to put on a good drunk and drive fast around schools to relieve stress and that used to be nobodies effing business back in the good old days.

[Kali]

89. I wasn't addressing the video (dial up - an 8 minute video would take all day to load)

I was addressing your snarky comment about why people own guns. They own them for all kinds of reasons. They are a legal item to own for personal use, whatever that may be - protection, recreation, food-procurement, WHATEVER. your dismissing some reasons as "excuses" brought out my sarcasm.

Nobody owes you an explanation for why they have guns. Some will gladly tell you but none are obligated.

[randr]

97. Sorry you took my comment as "snarky"

I did not think my comment related to why people own guns, I own guns myself. I was commenting that I think too many people think it is appropriate to use their guns to vent their anger.

[Bake]

95. I enjoy shooting. It's fun and relieves stress.

And it's legal.



Bake

[seabeyond]

10. i didnt see him vent his anger. i see a person who uses guns and chose the gun

to make a point. personally, i am anti gun, so i would not have choosen the gun. i would have thrown out front door. (actually, with the letter i would not have thrown out door. would take more than that. but then, my kids would not write that letter, either). and kids could clean it up and put in the garbage can. they have been warned.

[baldguy]

59. I am not a gun nut.

But the only thing I saw that he did wrong was that he seemed to have missed the hard drive. (I would've suggested removing the battery, also - but that's just me. I don't like to have things explode unexpectedly when I standing near.)

Contrary to what seems to be the major criticism against the dad (that he actually had the temerity fire a weapon & put it on YouTube): Most people CAN tell the difference between a laptop computer and a human being.

[Capitalocracy]

90. Hunter Thompson and William Burroughs did it

Burroughs had a tendency to shoot his TV for stress relief.

But one of them did end up shooting his wife (accidentally) and the other ended up shooting himself.

[6000eliot]

107. Burroughs also "accidentally" shot his wife in the head,

so maybe he's not the best example for responsible firearm use.

[EFerrari]

4. You don't know what they said. This is very revealing.

True to the profile, Jordan claims that the police department approved of his behavior. The police and the city manager don't back him up:

“The police by the way said ‘Kudos, sir,’ ” Jordan wrote. “How’s about those apples? Didn’t expect THAT when you called the cops did you?”

Jordan also made reference to the Albemarle Police Department approving his acts, but the police chief said Jordan does not live in the city limits.

The chief said it is unfortunate that the media is identifying Jordan as a resident.

The city manager told the Stanly News and Press Jordan’s comments about the department do not reflect the opinion of the police department.

So, now we know he's a liar and a manipulator. This is a comment I found from a DV survivor about this guy this morning:

One thing abusers are really good at is making their victims feel like no one is on their side. They isolate by triangling in third parties and then getting said third parties to back them up. In this case, this abusive father has brought in the entire fucking internet to yuk it up about his abuse, because if so many people can see it and think it’s admirable/funny/etc, it CAN’T be that bad! The message sent to the victim by this is: no one is going to help you. I’m right and you’re wrong and this is how it’s going to be forever.

[Snake Alchemist]

5. Yeah, that's what it means.

[EFerrari]

17. I can't help it if your post shows that he's a liar.

[Swede]

29. The dad posts over and over what other people say.

No one has heard from anyone but the dad. Not the kid,the wife,the cops,and child services.

[EFerrari]

44. Yep. Hey DV Dad, manipulate much?

[lumberjack_jeff]

94. That's correct. We haven't.

Absent that, these threads ought to be about one post long.

[Snake Alchemist]

32. Not sure where you see a lie. nt

[EFerrari]

37. He's pretending the police went out there to congratulate him

when they were there to check him out. What a loser.

[Snake Alchemist]

39. Uh, no.

He says when they were out there checking him out, they congratulated him. Big difference.

[EFerrari]

40. And both the police and the city manager denied that. Sorry, he's a liar

on top of being pathetic in general.

[Brickbat]

41. I doubt any police department or city manager would confirm that to a news organization.

[EFerrari]

45. I would hope not. They're supposed to be trained to handle people like him. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

50. And per their training they took no action. nt

[EFerrari]

53. Going to check him out was an action.

[Snake Alchemist]

55. Yep, they are required to check out any report whether true or not. nt

[EFerrari]

61. I bet we won't see DV Dad confessing on the intertubes again any time soon. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

62. Keep pounding that DV drum.

Luckily, the authorities are more sensible.

[EFerrari]

80. Yes, they were sensible enough to pay DV Dad a call. Good for them. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

84. And to say "Meh!" when they got there. nt

[EFerrari]

100. Back where you started. You don't know what they said.

You know what this liar reports that they said.

[Snake Alchemist]

112. LOL. Meh isn't necessarily something said. It's also something that is done.

We know a few things for sure. We know that police and CPS HAVE to check out reports so them going out there is not a big deal. We also know they took no action no action after they went out there. So in essence they went "Meh!"

[EFerrari]

123. So, let me get this straight. You are defending the actions of a guy

whose behavior caused hm to be visited by the police and by CPS and who has been called ridiculous and childish by tough love advocates, who used his 15 minutes to endorse Ron Paul and to advocate against big government and for "religious liberty".

Lmao

[Snake Alchemist]

124. Just let me know your address.

And we'll show the value of a CPS visit.

Now you're just grasping at straws. Keep banging that drum though. .

[EFerrari]

126. I'm not anonymous at DU or anywhere else.

And you seem to confuse "grasping at straws" with "on the money".

And you betchur ass, I'm never going to shut up about domestic violence.

[Snake Alchemist]

132. it was genocide! nt

[EFerrari]

137. Abuse is so hilarious.

[Yo_Mama]

98. Different set of cops, surely?

The city manager is saying it wasn't their cops that went to check him out, because they don't have jurisdiction.

Since it isn't their set of cops (probably the country sheriff's), of course what the city manager says has nothing to do with what police who did go out said to the guy.

I realize a lot of people aren't rural, because it is quite common for rural people in "those" states to shoot on their property. There is nothing odd about what this guy did, except that he put it on Facebook.

So nothing about what you posted makes the guy a liar.

I think a lot of this clash has to do with the cultural issue over guns. If you were raised in an area in which they are useful (for legal purposes), odds are your feelings about guns are entirely different. You do not look at them as being threatening objects except in context (if he had pointed the gun at his kid rural people would be going looney too - that would be equivalent to him posting a video of him threatening to run his kid over with a truck). You may look at them as a useful tool, and if you lived in an area like mine, in which you have to shoot a couple of poisonous snakes a year just to get out your own door or in your car, you probably look at them as safety equipment akin to the fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

Since most kids in those areas are taught gun safety and how to shoot when young, and since this is commonly done on home turf, the emotional reaction to the execution of the laptop is just not the same, apparently. Most people shoot at cans or targets on their own property at least when they have kids. You want to teach them what not to do with a gun and how to use it properly.

See, to some the video of him shooting the laptop looks like violence, but to a rural person, it's just not going to leave that impression at all. In my home county, it's more like he identified it as a danger and offed it. You're not going to react as if he was threatening his kid, because he wasn't. The kid certainly would not react that way.

Smacking the laptop with a sledgehammer is no less violent, running it over is no less violent, and for that matter, simply dissembling it and destroying the components in another manner is no less violent. I doubt very much many of the people who are claiming violence would be reacting in the same way if he had used those methods.

[EFerrari]

99. No, the city manager said neither the city nor the police department share

DV Dad's opinion. That's pretty clear.

And your rationalization of his violence is sort of disgusting. Btw, I am a "rural person". This has nothing to do with where you live. Destroying property to control a family member is domestic violence, period.

[Yo_Mama]

101. You're entitled to your opinion

But if the city manager says the home is outside the city jurisdiction, then the city cops were not the ones who went out to talk to him, right? So the guy can't be proved a liar by that statement - the city manager doesn't have anything to do with the county cops.

You think that the man's destruction of the laptop amounts to domestic violence. I do not. And in all honesty, I find that perversion of the concept of domestic violence to be deeply troubling.

When I was a kid, some kind relative gave my brothers and me bows and arrows for Christmas. My father gave us strict rules for their use and eventually destroyed them when we did not live up to his safety standards. I do not think that was domestic violence. It was an attempt to prevent us from possibly shooting each other with them carelessly. Parents must control their children's behavior, and have both the right and duty to do so when they perceive danger. Disposal was completely dramatic. He broke these fiberglass bows over his leg. To this day, I will never point a weapon when ANYONE is down the firing line.

The drama of this tragic laptop demise might be antithetical to my personality, but of course the controlling of the behavior here was in the removal of the laptop. The video was an attempt to demonstrate that two could play that game, and also to demonstrate to the kid that there is no such thing as privacy on the internet. This is a good lesson - one the kid needed to learn.

Domestic violence is violence against people. Removal of objects that minors can't handle properly is parenting.

If a man destroyed his wife's computer, or if a wife destroyed her husband's computer, that's a totally different thing. That's a peer-to-peer relationship, and the attempt to control your spouse's behavior in that manner would be very perturbing.

It's a sick perversion to confuse peer-to-peer relationships with guardian-minor relationships. They are necessarily different in quality and in scope. I know in some societies men are perceived to have some sort of authoritarian role over their wife's (or wives') behavior, but not in ours.

This was not domestic violence. Domestic violence is an ugly and brutal thing.

[EFerrari]

104. You are entitled to your opinion but not to your own facts.

The city manager wisely did not allow himself or the police department to be used by this scum bucket and the evidence is in the article. Fact.

Destroying property with the aim to control a family member most certainly is domestic violence. And no, domestic violence is not limited to spousal relationships. Go read up. There's plenty of information available to you on the intertubes.

Oh, and btw, this abusive asshole that you are defending came out on Sunday as a right wing nutcase against Big Government and for "religious liberty", and endorsed Ron Paul. What a surprise.

[oldhippie]

115. Domestic Violence

"Destroying property with the aim to control a family member most certainly is domestic violence."

No, it's not. There is no violence to any person. Period.

[EFerrari]

118. It absolutely is. Go look at any index that describes domestic violence ETA

or spousal abuse. As I said elsewhere on this thread, Child Protective Services didn't go out there and interview Jordan and his daughter separately to offer him a good parenting medal.

You don't have to give a woman a black eye to commit domestic violence.

ETA: I guess I'll just keep reposting this on these threads until people actually look at it.

[oldhippie]

120. Psychobabble written by folks paid to write psychobabble ...

nt

[EFerrari]

121. Aka, professionals. nt

[HuckleB]

49. +1,000,000,000,000

[sendero]

18. yeah he's an abuser..

... with something to hide, so he posts this mess on the internet.

You are way off base IMHO.

[EFerrari]

20. I didn't say he was a very smart abuser.

lol

Yesterday, I pointed out that his gun brandishing, property destroying, publicly humiliating behavior was on every index for domestic violence I've ever seen.



This morning we can add, blame shifting.

[JohnnyLib2]

28. One more aspect---

the abuse can be subtle and "just over the line," and sometimes masked by charm in other situations.

I think the varying opinions posted about this guy reflect a typical problem; he's just convincing enough to slide past.

[EFerrari]

38. Yep. Some guys hide their tracks really well.

And another one of the things trained people look for is a guy who enlists agreement -- just like Mr. Jordan is doing.

[sendero]

67. Too bad the whole world..

... doesn't get to take parenting lessons from you.

[EFerrari]

68. What exactly are you objecting to?

You argued that I was wrong and I made my case. Can you deal with that or do you need to resort to personal attacks?

[sendero]

73. Your "case"..

... is entirely subjective like most "psychology". You made nothing but you are sure that you did. Maybe I'll consult the DSM and see where you fit in the perfection scale.

[EFerrari]

74. Excuse me, but objectively this guy destroyed his daughter's computer, (ETA)

brandishing a weapon with the announced intention of humiliating her in public WHILE he shifted the blame to her.

He did that, by his own admission. There is nothing subjective in me pointing that out, just as there is nothing subjective in my posting a widely used tool to identify abusive behavior.

"Perfection" has nothing to do with it.

ETA: And after reading these reactions yesterday and today, I have to wonder about people who rush to the defense of this guy who needs a gun and the approval of the whole internet to handle a fifteen year old kid.

[sendero]

76. You know what it is about your posts here...

.. that really bothers me?

IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS how this guy raises his kids. Would I have shot up (I have multiple firearms and where I live I am free to shoot them) that computer, no I would not. But it is NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

Unless there is ACTUAL ABUSE, and not the 70s kumbaya flavor, I believe people should MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

And as for your little "abuser" chart, that chart describes about half the workplace managers/bosses/supervisors in the country. The sooner a kid learns to deal with it the better.

[EFerrari]

78. It became my business when DV Dad posted his video to the intertubes to enlist support

for his fucked up behavior. Take it up with him and stop trying to browbeat me because you are wasting your time.

And that "little chart" isn't mine. It's used by professionals who have to deal with dickless idiots like DV Dad and, of course, with his enablers.

I'm sure it would be more comfortable for a lot of people if women didn't back each other up and let kids like Hannah just "learn to deal with" abusive asshole dads like Tommy Jordan. That's on the chart, too. And that it describes so many people, in your opinion, is an argument to be louder about this, not to shut up. Thanks.

[noiretextatique]

129. people don't have to "deal with" abuse

but they should know how to recognize abusers. how do you define actual abuse?

[sendero]

143. "Abuse".

.... is a pointless relative word that has little applicability to this context. The idea that any unpleasantness in human relationships is "abuse" annoys me as getting away from assholes is an impossible endeavor.

Characterizing this guy's actions as "abuse" is a real stretch IMHO. It's as simple as that.

[Lizzie Poppet]

27. Yep...of laptops.

Won't somebody think of the laptops?!?

[Ricochet21]

96. He's an abuser

the girl's "tone" in the letter was what she heard for years coming from the redneck

[LadyHawkAZ]

48. And people are still defending him as some kind of

fantastic parent.

The kid is a spoiled lazy brat- no wait, the kid is defending Dad, so she's a brilliant young lady and we should listen to her. The police said he was a hero- no? he's out of their jurisdiction? The police must be lying to the media. It was only an object, that he paid for- well, sure, he paid for everything else she owns, including her, but that would have been DIFFERENT if he shot at the (walls, windows, phone, girl). But his wife supported him! But venting anger by shooting at valuable items is normal! But CPS didn't take her! But...

An abuser is still an abuser even when they have a teenager, even if frustration with a teenager is easy to relate to, even if his actions provide a vent for other parents. How hard is that to understand?

[EFerrari]

51. Yep. It's amazng to watch all these folks siding with a bully.

[HuckleB]

52. Apparently, is far too difficult to understand, for far too many.

It appears to be completely lost on almost everyone that simply posting your parenting decisions on youtube is indicative of an attention seeking parent whose focus is only on himself, not mention the lack of basic boundaries that such an act shows.

I'm just stunned to see anyone defend this act.

[PavePusher]

86. And that's the only option? Really? n/t

[HuckleB]

88. No, it's not the only option.

Well, it is the starting point of any set of options.

If you think parenting by facebook is ok, PLEASE don't have kids.

[Matariki]

57. You make a good point

I've been thinking this whole thing is creepy.

First, the guy has zero respect for his daughter's privacy - bragging about being in IT and therefore able to get into her Facebook account, computer, probably email - i.e. she has no right to any privacy. A sense of privacy and boundaries are very important for teens.

Second, he takes *way* too much offense at his daughter complaining about chores - something that probably every teen on the planet has done at some point.

And finally, instead of acting like a decent parent and talking with her, he uses the "entire internet" in just the way you point out. Sure there are lots of people who are frustrated with their teenagers' behavior who are going to think it's funny and/or justified, but really if any thought is given to it, it's clear that it's creepy and very poor parenting. And that's not even mentioning the gun.

[EFerrari]

64. He's constantly denying responsibility for everything.

He blames his daughter at the end of his video. He drags the mom in to share the blame with him. He spins the cop call to make it look like they approve. He is creepy.

[boppers]

127. You apparently haven't read the IT backstory.

The girl posted something available to everybody who was a friend, but not available to members of her family.

Her father had two accounts, one for himself, one for the family dog.

Since the girl had added the dog as a "friend" but not "family", the father found the post when he logged in as the dog.

No getting "into her Facebook account, computer, probably email "... he just logged in to add pictures of the dog.

[Kellerfeller]

77. When you claim taking a teens computer away is "abuse"

You demean all of those people who really are abused.

[EFerrari]

79. Except that isn't my claim.

Maybe you should read the thread.

[Kellerfeller]

85. "this abusive father has brought in the entire fucking internet to yuk it up about his abuse"

Your words.

Clearly, bringing it to the internet is not the abuse since he is bringing it to the Internet.

[EFerrari]

108. No, those weren't my words. That was a post made on a DV site

by a survivor as far as I can tell, one that I found reading around about this violent jackass.


As a DV survivor myself, it's appalling that people know so little about this as to confuse his coercive acting out with good parenting.

And yes, destroying property, brandishing weapons, using public humiliation, blame shifting and enlisting support through manipulation in order to control another are all red flags, all abusive behaviors.

[noiretextatique]

128. he didn't "take away" her computer...he shot it with a gun

this guy is a nut. and probably an abuser too.

[JHB]

141. There is a not-insignificant difference between "taking" and destroying. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

6. You infer a great deal from that.

Any visit from CPS is not lightly dismissed by any serious person; also, please note that the father didn't seem to mention what the representatives from CPS had to say, only what *he* said what a cop said.

Besides the city police being out of their jurisdiction on top of it.

Seems you take everything the father says at face value.

This story is far from over.

[Snake Alchemist]

7. You can get CPS to come out for almost anything.

The trick is actually getting them to do something.

[dmallind]

9. Espcially when plastic is in danger!

[Snake Alchemist]

13. They take that very seriously.

[Kali]

11. that was my limited experience during the period that I was trying to get custody of my niece

hell they wouldn't even come out when I called about the drunken screaming fights and yes, shooting going on up the road where they had allowed her to remain with her "mother" and her psychopath human leech of a mate. That was after the second trailer fire.

[Snake Alchemist]

12. Exactly.

The people who thought they were going to come and intervene because someone shot a laptop are dreaming.

[K Gardner]

54. In the middle of that kind of hell myself right now, Kali, round # 4..

I'm beating my head against the wall as we speak.

[Kali]

71. in our case the fuck-ups eventually abandoned her with us

CPS was no help whatsoever, in fact hindered everything. I have sympathy for the stories of kids taken away with little reason (say for being poor or something circumstantial like that) but it sure wasn't the deal in our case. It was ALL about "keeping the family unit intact" - utter bullshit in terms of her welfare.

[Bonhomme Richard]

14. Me personally, I wouldn't waste my ammunition or ruin ........

a perfectly good laptop...but that's me.
What I see is a control freak with anger issues. Just the fact that he said he left home at 15 tells me he didn't have the greatest childhood himself. It is one thing to have chores for your children, I did for mine, but what I hear him read from his daughter and how he responds makes me think he thinks she is his personal slave and it goes beyond making your bed and doing the standard chores kids do. I can just hear him sitting in his chair and saying to his daughter "Get me a cup of coffee." irregardless of what she may be in the middle of. I think he is creating the same scenario that caused him to leave home.
At the end of the day I think this video says a lot more about him, and his definition of Dad, than it does about his daughter.

[EFerrari]

21. Check out the stuff under "male privilege" in the chart posted in #18. nt

[Marrah_G]

15. He is very lucky that bullet didn't ricochet into someone

[Snake Alchemist]

16. Not really.

Ricochets aren't nearly that easy or common. ESPECIALLY with a hollow point which is designed to prevent that.

[Marrah_G]

19. Somehow I doubt he was taking either into consideration

Firing a gun in anger around your family is never a good thing.

[Snake Alchemist]

31. A lot of people shoot JHP's with that in mind.

I would shoot JHP's all the time except they are tend to be dirty and FMJ's are cheaper.

[Marrah_G]

33. omg !

I actually knew what the acronyms stood for !

~pat on the back~

I can't wait to take some actual firing classes this spring.

And thank you for sharing all your knowledge on this. It's good to know it was not as dangerous as I first thought.

[Snake Alchemist]

65. Next thing you know you'll be reloading your own ammo.

Just watch that powder weight.

[Marrah_G]

72. hehe

I had to load and unload a couple different kinds. It is definitely not as easy as movies make it. With my youngest heading off to the army this summer I thought it might be a good idea to have some protection and regular size dogs are not an option in this apartment. I am being smart about it and getting some training before I purchase one though. I want to be a responsible owner.

[PavePusher]

87. Errr, I don't think there was anyone around in that video. Didn't see any serious anger either.

YMMV. n/t

[FarCenter]

22. Shooting at an angle, through the laptop, into the ground?

Not a chance. You didn't see any exit holes or upward bulges in the laptop lid did you?

A .45 would go several inches into the ground.

[Marrah_G]

23. Still firing a gun in anger is a bad thing

I am no expert but firing your gun in anger around your kids is a bad thing.

I just took a hand gun safety course so I can get my license and this scenario goes against everything the people were teaching us.

It just seems really reckless, dangerous and over the top to me.

[FarCenter]

26. I watched the video, and his wife and kids were not in the video

In fact, I doubt they were around, because he was making a video to post on the kid's facebook page.

[DocMac]

46. I watched the video too.

There is a major highway about 100 yards behind him. You can see how much traffic goes by.

I know that is far for a .45, but still...

[oldhippie]

30. You probably should have stopped at ....

"I am no expert ..."

"It just seems really ..."

[Marrah_G]

34. I'm still entitled to my opinions

This is a discussion forum. I've already learned things from this thread.

[Lizzie Poppet]

25. Lucky? Um...no.

Virtually zero chance of a ricochet under those circumstances, actually. Even if the rounds hit something in the laptop capable of deflecting them before they entered the ground (highly unlikely), they would have already penetrated far enough to be partially surrounded by other material, massively inhibiting velocity after the change-of-vector. That would have made it very nearly impossible for them to break back out of the casing into the air. Furthermore, the shots were fired from an angle not that far from perpendicular to the ground. Unless the surface the bullets strike is very, very hard, high velocity ricochets happen when the angle is shallow, not steep.

Arguments can be made against what the guy did, but not on safety grounds, really...

[Marrah_G]

36. I've learned alot from this thread

And thanks to all of you with the knowledge. I still don't agree with what he did, but I now know it's not as dangerous as I first thought.

[Chorophyll]

24. If the guy wanted to make a REAL point to his daughter

he could have taken the laptop away and donated it to a school or a shelter.

I'm sure his daughter is an asshole; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[LanternWaste]

35. Childish, petulant behavior from parents is rarely a criminal or civil offense...

Childish, petulant behavior from an adult parent is rarely a criminal or civil offense; it's merely childish and petulant behavior, denying a learning moment that may have benefited the family.

[NCTraveler]

42. I really can't believe some internet warrior...

would call on him after watching that video.

[EFerrari]

47. How do you know it was an internet warrior

and not a DV counselor or a social worker or that the cops got a call from city hall? I'd be more surprised if no one called since the guy has red flags all over him.

[NCTraveler]

56. "after viewers of the video called with concerns about his actions"

From the article.

What red flags?

[EFerrari]

58. But you don't know who those viewers are.

I was a DV peer counselor for a while and I almost called Stanly Co. myself to see if they were going to follow up. And I posted a chart upthread in #20 that describes abusive behavior.

[NCTraveler]

63. I really don't think someone in social services would be foolish enough....

to call him in after watching that video. Therefore the internet warrior comes to mind. I could be wrong. There are many people who see something and make it out to something bigger than it is. Try to tell a story of great abuse when there is no evidence for it.

" I almost called Stanly Co. myself "

You didn't see enough to warrant a call. That is the point.

[EFerrari]

66. Definitely check out the chart I posted.

When you destroy a family member's property to control them, that is domestic violence. And he did a number of other things that are on there.

I actually feel sorry for the guy. His daughter is only fifteen so he's got years of dealing with her ahead of him. He doesn't seem to have very good tools to use for the job.

[NCTraveler]

75. The graph is not applicable to this situation.

The graph, wherever it came from, is with respect to two adults in a relationship. Not a father and daughter.

I also don't think shooting a laptop is domestic violence. Now if it was his wifes laptop I would view this in a completely different manner (which would be an indicator on the graph). But I can differentiate between a spousal relationship and one between parents and their 15 yo daughter.

[EFerrari]

81. You're right. Violent behavior between adults is even less acceptable

between a parent and a child.

[NCTraveler]

82. Not sure how this post references my post or the op. nt

[EFerrari]

109. According to the LATimes, CPS did go check him out.

Child Protective Services also apparently paid a visit to interview him and the daughter separately, and Jordan writes that the visit went well. “At the end of the day, no I'm not losing my kids, no one's in danger of being ripped from our home that I know of, and I actually got to spend some time with the nice lady and learn some cool parenting tips that I didn't know.”

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/02/father-shoots-daughters-laptop.html

[Snake Alchemist]

111. And they didn't immediately remove the child?

Cooler heads must have prevailed.

[EFerrari]

113. CPS didn't go out there to give him a medal. nt

[Snake Alchemist]

114. What did they go out there for? There is a specific reason and it's not what you think. nt

[EFerrari]

116. LOL. Even the tough love people agree that this guy is a jackass.

To me it would have made more sense to take duct tape and wrap it up and show it to her," said Winget, the tough talking author of "Your Kids are Your Own Fault" and "You're Broke Because You Want to Be." "And I would say look at what you can't have. In some ways it is meaner that way. The fact that it is absolutely gone, it's gone. But wrapping it up in duct tape and not letting her have it is meaner, and a stronger punishment."

But Winget said that the biggest mistake Jordan made was taking a private matter of parenting and making it public.

"I don't believe that you teach a lesson through humiliating and embarrassing your teenager," he said. "He should be ashamed for reducing himself to her level. He looks childish, he looks ridiculous — and don't go on YouTube when you've got a cigarette hanging out of your mouth and preach to me."

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-laptop-shooting-dad-duct-tape-20120214,0,6768374.story?track=rss

And on Sunday, Jordan outed himself on his Facebook page, as a right wing nutcase, against big government and for "religious liberty", lol, and endorsing Ron Paul -- that paragon of relational responsibility. What a loser.

[Snake Alchemist]

117. So you couldn't answer the question?

I understand. It was kind of a trick one.

[EFerrari]

119. No, it was a stupid question.

CPS went out there because they got a ton of calls. They don't show up to your house, interview you and your kid separately to pat you on the back.

[Snake Alchemist]

125. How many calls does CPS need before they go out there? nt

[Matariki]

60. That guy is a shitty parent

Good parents don't use youtube to chastise their children because they didn't like a facebook post about not liking chores.

[hamsterjill]

69. Thank you!

And he's a piece of shit bully, if you ask me. I cannot believe the number of people who are defending this person, especially with the information and education we are all currently being exposed to regarding the effects of someone being bullied. It's NOT okay to bully someone...anyone. And that includes your children.

He needed parenting classes and/or anger management classes long before the situation with his daughter reached this point.

[Matariki]

70. I expect that people are defending him because every parent has been frustrated with their teens

at some point. Especially frustrated at teens who complain about having to do a reasonable amount of chores to contribute to the household. Seeing something on youtube is kind of removed from reality the way television is - people think "yeah, I'd love to say that to my kids" and applaud him without really thinking about the fact that it's a real situation, a real daughter who is being publicly called out by her dad.

[Terra Alta]

91. That's Stanly County for you.

I live here, have almost all my life. This is the single most redneck county in NC, if not the entire US. This is a county in which 68% of voters voted for Gramps and Caribou Barbie in 2008, and there is no doubt in my mind the results this year will be the same for whatever clown the GOP nominates.

It does not surprise me the local authorities aren't doing anything about this; in fact it would surprise me if they had done something about it. They probably gave the "dad" a pat on the back and said "good job".

Stanly County sucks, plain and simple. I can't wait for the day I leave here for good -- and I'm not looking back.

[The Midway Rebel]

92. I bet we will NOT be seeing demonstrations of his parenting skills on YouTube anytime soon.

That is some powerful "meh".

[Liquorice]

93. This guy is a showboat and he's obviously narcissistic. It wouldn't

surprise me if he has serious untreated mental health issues.

[LadyHawkAZ]

102. In other news, G.W. Bush and O.J. Simpson still free

Country says 'Meh'. Thus proving that if you aren't in jail, you must have done nothing wrong.


(do I need the smiley?)

[Kingofalldems]

103. Thread in GD says this guy is a Ron Paul supporter

Not surprised.

[LeftyMom]

105. That sounds so much like the story Mike and Debi Pearl tell about a visit from CPS

that this must be some kind of abuser meme. The Pearls go one further and claim they were asked to teach parenting classes, but they're extra special bonus crazy.

[EFerrari]

110. My ex took some pictures I shot of one of his rampages,

that showed my stuff smashed and even burned all over the house, to his probation officer. He told me the probation officer said, "It looks like you were trying hard not to hurt a person"; the implication was that I was provoking him to violence.

I was at work at the time and not in contact with him in any way but, in his version, it was my fault AND he got points for not hurting me, too.

[limpyhobbler]

106. Laptop Dad is insecure, enjoys humiliating daughter. Forces her to work for free at his clinic.

The video was like watching an adult throw a temper tantrum. He's a loser in my book.

[Enrique]

122. so he says

[brettdale]

130. for me

It is a form of abuse, he embarrassed his daughter in front of the world, and the reason he is
not taking interviews from the media is so he can keep control, with his army of facebook followers,
I just wonder how his daughter is getting on?

[EFerrari]

139. DV Dad is a big wingnut:

"Dear Canada,
Please wait before you decide to sell your oil to China. We're working hard down here in the US to remove this disgrace of a president and replace him with one who actually gives a crap about the American people, our oil economy, and our oil independence from the Middle East. As soon as we have him out of office, you can feel free to send all that crude oil this way!"

Gee, I'm shocked.

[brettdale]

131. and by the way

It seems the only Journo he trusts (according to his facebook) is Glenn Beck, every other one just wants
to take away your freedoms.

21 million hits on youtube, he has made a fortune, do ya think his daughter will share in the profits?

[EFerrari]

138. How did he make a fortune?

Ugh.

[LeftyMom]

145. youtube pays posters of videos that go viral

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8887012/YouTube-pays-families-100000-as-funny-videos-go-viral.html

[EFerrari]

147. Thanks, I had no idea. nt

[Sea-Dog]

140. I swear on this phone

I thought it said "laptop gets a visit
from the authorities.(And they say
"Meh!&quot "

[JHB]

142. "We have a complaint against Mr. Dell C. Puter, purported to live at this address..."

"Is he home? We have a matter to discuss with him" the deputy said, nonchalantly fingering his taser...

[Kingofalldems]

144. Sneaky freepers posing as Democrats love him

[Liora24]

146. An utterly violent madman with guns and an anger problem is what this guy is.

That makes him a very dangerous person. And I agree that what he did definitely constitutes domestic violence: destroying another person's property to silence them or enforce "authority". We would all be rightly angry if the police came in and shot our computers for criticizing the government. Why are we defending someone who basically did the same thign?

Poster #20's diagram shows that the father's behavior fits domestic violence to a T:

Using Intimidation:

-Smashing things (or shooting them) Check.
-Destroying her property Check
-Making her afraid (I am certain she was afraid after this) Check
-Displaying weapons definite check
Only thing that doesn't apply is abusing pets but you can probably bet that if the neighbor's dog walked by he would have shot him "just to show what a man he is".

Using Emotional Abuse:
All things apply here, just look at the original video.

The man is 100% a domestic abuser. In my opinion he should have been jailed!! Like I said if this was her x-boyfriend we would be furious. We shouldn't give this misogynistic old rat a pass because he's the girl's father. Abuse is abuse no matter who does it.