You know, I would love to buy you a laptop for Christmas- but you don't seem to exercise any sort of self control. I don't want to see you spending eternity in front of a screen. For example, you've spent all of your adolescent life in front of one- instead of outside, exploring the world, hanging out with friends. You didn't do any of that.

Dad, you have to understand that I wasn't a very… "socially apt" person until I was like, twelve. I didn't have any friends then, and anyone I was close to friends with was alienated by my temper or my habits or whatever. It was at about that age where I was just like "fuck that."

Well, I understand that, but you still don't seem to

What, have friends? I know lots of people. Probably more than I ought to, because I forget some people every day. But that isn't really the point, is it? I just prefer to spend my time doing something at least somewhat constructive. My friends are all almost universally incapable of helping me with anything I'm doing.

Well, yeah, okay. But Game Maker?

I just use it because it takes care of almost everything for me. If I knew how to put together rooms / objects / collision handling / resource management in C++ I would. Producing something in GM is eons faster for me than in anything else.

How do I know that I can't trust you to not throw away all of your time on a computer, though, like every other time you've had free access to one?

Well, I'm not now, am I? I can't use this thing :P

But you can't use it because I can't trust you to balance yourself.

Do I use computers for playing games or watching porn or listening to music? Not really. I program games or compose music or create art with them. I don't understand how that's such a negative thing.

You might as well be if you actively choose to forego things like homework or chores in favor of it.