i dont think this would work, he could just take it back at night, playing stuff while sleeping at daytime. if it gets locked away, he might steal money from his parents or the console from some retailer. (if he'd do something like stealing, but after reading about TF.. might be a possibility.)

edit: also, reading about a time limit (and afterwards just taking the console for the rest of the day), this might actually work, if it doesnt get ridiculous, like '1 hour a day'. since he's an addict. instead, i'd start with 5 hours a day, demanding that he does SOMETHING else with the time left for him. While i absolutely disagree with physical force, your parents still have to be the leading force, for both of you, which includes.. (Yay, beeing captain obvious myself here) your brother. especially your brother.

His parents need to protect their money then. If they have a locked drawer then they should keep their valuables in that. But I mean remove his xbox from the house, sell it if need-be and give the money to the parents. 

Worst case scenario might have to send him to military school or bording school for a year. He'd be screwed up/depressed for a bit but he's get over it quickly in that environment. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002224/

I did a quick google searchh so I can get a better idea of what the deal is, is he depressed?
Cause if he is I dont think taking his stuff away is gonna do him any good, i think you should just sit your brother down and have a honest talk w. him and let him know how you feel lol maybee try to work out a compromise?, I hope everything works out & that it turns out he isnt milking the CFS for all its worth, I live in nyc so its very common for people in high schools here to look for reasons to miss school w. parents permission if they arent cutting w. friends

I'm surprised people actuallt think that by hitting him, or taking him away or things like that will actually work

Because of his condition, it might not be convinent that he does exhausting physical activity, so you could try to persuade him to try a sport or activity that doesn't make him tired, you could get a pong table or some table games where you or his friends or relatives can play with him, that could help to ease the situation in your family too. You mentioned he didn't like drawing; music or other forms of art could be a good option too.

About the Xbox itself, you'll just make it harder if you take it away altogether. It would be better if you reduce his playtime gradually to the point where he didn't have any problem with gaming (about two hours a day). Besides playing is a good incentive to him and that could help to shape other behaviours. For example, you can reward him by leaving him play his Xbox only after he has done all his homework or helped your mom clean the house; you can also "punish" him by not letting him play at all when he does undesired behaviour or doesn't do the expected behaviour (in the example would be homework). But in order for this to work, you have te be very consistent with the rules and the rewards you determine or negociate with him. Hope this helps.

I'm a graduated psychologist from México.

Well I would kick his ass however that type of punishment works on normal people. After a normal person get beats you feel ashamed and such.
However I noticed with my parents, if they started flatly insulting I become way more hostile, as one I am offended and two I have now seen my parents act in a irresponsible childish way, so I lose respect for them.

To such people, they do not feel such things, so its not effective.

Taking games and such away is dangerous.

Everyone knows about the famous story from North of Toronto, Ontario Canada, where a boy played COD MW1 all day and parents got angry and pulled the Xbox plug and the kid ran away in the night and froze to death. The parents are now devastated and had no idea things could go so far.

I suggest trying things to make things tolerable until you get proper help.


About the parents, they should be more physical. I mean though showing aggression rather then actually kicking his ass.

What the hell is wrong with your parents? If that was me, my dad would have whooped my ass. I skipped a day of school once because the bus left me and I didn't feel like walking. When he found out, I got yelled at for like an hour minutes, I was 17 at the point, so we were past ass whoopings since I very rarely would pull something like this off and I never did after that. Just sounds like you parents don't give a shit about him apparently or just terrible parents. Any sensible and responsible parent would have taken immediate drastic action after the initial $500. Start by taking all his games away and tell him to get his shit together or you will sell them/give them away. I'm assuming he will rebel or threaten to leave the house or something. At this point, your dad/mom should get serious and pissed. I mean fucking pissed and use an ultimatum. You can't let him step all over you guys. I know what it feels to have a little bro and to want to protect him and make sure he grows up as well as you did or even better. Also, your parents should not be like his laid back friends. There needs to a line of respect and to remind him of the relationship they share, father/mother and son. This is the time to get his act together, don't let this spin out of control any further.

Many here who suggest physical punishment need to learn more about actual punishment before they can even give out their ideas on what you should do about this issue.

1. An ass whooping for punishment is never effective. It will make the individual more aggressive and you won't get the behavioral response you want after the punishment.

2. Taking away his videogames is effective, BUT...But since he has an addiction. taking the drug user's "drug" away outright will cause complications; he'll go through withdrawal; From irritability, and anxiety, to agressiveness.

3. Its not that easy for him to realize that he has a problem just by hearing you say *you got a problem.* He has to realize that by himself-that he does have a problem. Once thats accomplished, then it'll be easier for him and you to deal with the issue

4. Say what you want but he's still a child, he's still developing; he doesn't understand everything. So what you need to do, is to go by his level and what I mean by that is to get into his mind; play videogames him, make him feel comfortal around you enough to start talking. But don't go too deep. Go slow/through a couple sessions with him; people do socialize when playing games together.

This is the best advice I can give,

I do agree, strict parenting does generally work.

Sure you rebel but at least you have some sense knocked into you.

I do not agree with this "free reign parenting style"

He needs help, professional help. Get in touch with some sort of addiction group.

Also your parents need to man the hell up and help their son.