Defending the Truth

Me and my friend saw a golden opportunity a while ago. His cousin and his cousin's girlfriend are both avid fans of Cradle of Filth, a band from England. So is my friend. It turns out they have a concert March 3rd, but my parents aren't letting me go because I have school tomorrow. Yes, this is the epitome of teenage angst and rebellion, etc, but that's besides the point.

They kept using the same tired argument that i had school the next day and I'd be too tired in the morning, but I let them know that I'm always tired in the morning (damn archaic school hours system). Still, they kept going on about how I need to keep up my grades, when one day isn't going to ruin everything, especially considering that there have been nights where I haven't slept at all and was fine in the morning. I'd be coming home at around one, and I've stayed up that late before.

Still, they're so myopic and bull-headed that they're not even listening to reason. Any advice before tickets sell out?

Well, you're going to crap your pants here, but I think you're on to something, and maybe even should be able to go to the concert.

On the other hand, you darned well better respect and obey your parents. To NOT do so will come back to bite you in the butt many times over.

There were times when we allowed our sons to go to school late, because there was a concert they really wanted to go to the night before. Also we let our daughter, who is now in high school, go to school at noon - shortly before Christmas - because she was playing cello for a college Christmas concert that went rather late one night.

But here's the glitch, from the perspective of the dad: We always used that special privilege as leverage. We'd make them promise us something if we extended that grace to them.

So maybe you ought to just ask your parents what it would take - if there's anything you could do that could go towards some sort of a fair trade-off.

It might not work, but who knows.


But I gotta say... Cradle of Filth? What the heck is THAT crap?

You could run away, then you will be free to do what you want.

I got a big cardboard box you could live in for starters.

or follow Jefferson's advice and respect and obey the rules of the house you live in.

go clean your room

They're a melodic black metal band from England. Not your speed (or many others, for that matter), but it's an acquired taste. They're good, at least for black metal, which I'm not a big fan of.

Jeff seems to be a trendsetter with this whole age thing, huh?

Listen to your parents. You'll be glad you did one day.

And Anti,

If you ever do get into a discussion with them about your agnostic worldview, and how long you have held to it, they will see that you were obedient and respectful while holding your present beliefs.

OD

I think your parents should let you go, I mean, you only live once, and it's only one day of school. But still, if they say you can't go, then you should listen.

Still, it can't hurt to reason with them. If they are worried that you'll be tired, maybe offer to go to sleep early the night before and take a nap between school and the show. Show that you understand their concern, and try to work out a solution that everyone can agree upon.

What concerns me most is that they think you need to keep up your grades. What's going on here? Are you having trouble with your grades?

On a side note, Cradle of Filth definitely sounds like my type of band. I mean, I don't really like filth, and a cradle full of filth doesn't sound like anything I'd be interested in. But I love that sort of "black metal" music. I do agree that it is an acquired taste. In fact, watching music videos of this band on YouTube is confirming that I like this band. Maybe I should purchase one of their CDs...

My grades are fine. I have a 4.1, and they're worried. I thought I was too anxious.