Kid adds dad's friend on video game and pesters him, friend blocks the kid: ‘He's going to learn these boundaries this harsher way if he keeps this up’

Author image for Baiz Hoen
Baiz Hoen
Feb 3, 2025 10:00 AM EST

If you've ever had to hang out with younger siblings or younger cousins or little kids in general, you've probably had to let them join in on an activity you were doing for fun, only for them to ruin the vibe. You may also know that there are a few expert ways to get around this. Maybe you are playing a video game that they insist on playing, so you give them an unplugged control and convince them they're playing when it's just a CPU. Maybe you turn everything into a game, like telling them they're on a secret mission to bring you some Oreos and to make sure no one sees them. It's a win/win: they feel included, you still get to do your activity, and hey, maybe you get some Oreos out of it, too.

There are times, however, when a kid can take it too far, and it's time to teach them an important lesson on boundaries. One man talked about how a friend's kid asked to play a new video game with him, and now, every time he logs on, the kid won't stop pestering him. Should the man's friend say something to her son? Is this man right to protect his peace? Read on to decide.
 

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  • 01
    " GAME OVER
    via sigmund
  • 02
    my I'm very into videogames, so is bestfriends little boy (m9). He recently started playing a game play, and asked if we could be friends on there, I said yes. But from that very moment I had him as a friend, he wouldn't leave me alone on there. He would continuously invite me to a party, or message me like "can we play together." "let's play together, accept my party invitation." "I can
    via [deleted]
  • 03
    accept my party invitation." "I can see you're online, let's play together." I understand he's just a child, but this isn't what I signed up for. I've told him I will play with him at times, but sometimes I like to play on my own, and thats just NOT setting in his mind. I've told my best friend the same thing, and she was like "Yeah, thats valid." I
    via [deleted]
  • 04
    she was like "Yeah, thats valid." I asked her if she will have a word with him about boundaries, and explain that if I want to play WITH him, I will contact HIM. She said Yes. But she clearly hasn't, because he's still doing it and its starting to wind me up tbh.
    via [deleted]
  • 05
    Unfortunately in the game, you can't appear offline, it also shows your friends what game you are in and they can just join you in that particular game. And he does, all the time. And if I'm trying to play it
    via [deleted]
  • 06

    Yeesh. Who wouldn't be annoyed by that.

    the time. And if I'm trying to play it he just makes his character constantly jump in my face. begging for my attention and getting in my way, he's not actually playing the game. Don't
    via [deleted]
  • 07
    actually playing the game. Don't get me wrong, we do play together at times, I'll add him to a party so we can talk and play the game together, it's not like I'm ignoring him ALL the time, and when I don't want to play with him, I will message and say, "I don't want to play together right now, mate. But
    via [deleted]
  • 08
    play together right now, mate. But I will tomorrow." OR something like that. I ended up saying something to my friend again, and again, she was like "I'll talk to him." But nothing changes.
    via [deleted]
  • 09
    I feel so bad, but in the end, I had to block him. Again, I know he's a child, but I've said SO many times and he doesn't listen. I went over to their house last night, and explained to my friend what I'd done and why I did it, and when he gets home (he was out with his dad at the time) I'm going to have a word with him myself, about
    via [deleted]
  • 10
    a word with him myself, about boundaries, and tell him that I currently have him blocked, and why I did that, and that I will unblock him, but if he carries on doing what he's doing, I will block him again until he understands boundaries. Of course I'm going to do all this gently.
    via [deleted]
  • 11
    My friend was fine with me doing this, but also said that she thinks it's harsh that I blocked him. But I explained that it was constant, and I literally couldn't play this game properly without him badgering me every second. When he got
    via [deleted]
  • 12
    me every second. When he got home I had a word with him, and he got annoyed that I'd blocked him, I explained why, and had my talk with him. In the end, he seemed to understand, so I unblocked him. But today, I've gone on there again and he's just badgering me again. So I've blocked him again.
    via [deleted]
  • 13
    He's going to learn these boundaries this harsher way if he keeps this up. I feel bad, but at the same time I don't? He's 9, he can understand what I'm saying. He's choosing not to listen.
    via [deleted]
  • 14

    People in the comments were supportive of this man's decision.

    Cheezburger Image 10462185472
    via frdx
  • 15
    NTA. Boundaries that aren't defended aren't boundaries. If someone oversteps your boundaries, you need social strategies to reinstate your peace and provide consequences to the person who overstepped. These should be (reasonable!) actions that you take that reinforce the boundary.
    via [deleted]
  • 16
    In this case, blocking them temporarily sounds like the perfect solution.
    via [deleted]
  • 17
    If you want to take the time to educate the kid around boundaries and consent, then every time you block him tell him how he's overstepped, and how long before you will unblock him. When you do unblock, remind him why you blocked him and tell him that you will block again if he repeats [behavior]. If the kid
    via [deleted]
  • 18
    repeats [behavior]. If the kid is only 9 years old, I would suggest a couple of days blocked at a time. However if they don't learn to behave better, definitely feel free to extend the time blocked to preserve your peace.
    via [deleted]
  • 19
    NTA but you've tried many times and have gone to your friend his parent many times and nothing ever changes. So block him leave him blocked and no longer discuss it with either of them. Ignore it or change the subject if brought up.
    via [deleted]
  • 20
    If it gets to the point you can't ignore it say it once only "I came to you both so many times and warned what would happen, he burned his own chances that's his own fault, I don't need to tolerate some deliberately ruining every game for me and the fact you seem to think I should shows why he's the way he is"
    via [deleted]
  • 21
    Please, please, please teach him about consent now, especially as his mother is not very effective at it, so that in a few short years he doesn't join the vast number of men who disregard it entirely.
    via [deleted]
  • 22
    Though it is enlightening to see that so many are stunted at age 9. NTA, thank you for your service.
    via [deleted]
  • 23

    Having decorum online is important, too.

    ΝΤΑ He's just a kid being a kid but he also has to learn some digital manners. The game has one solution so that's all you can do.
    via [deleted]
  • 24
    NTA, your friend was refusing to be a parent, so you protected yourself. But honestly you shouldn't have explained anything. You should have just silently blocked him, and then you unblock him when you want to play, and then you block him again.
    via [deleted]

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aita weird kid annoying kids friends reddit story computer boundaries reddit thread video games Reddit
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