Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


Statement from dad who shot daughter's laptop

February 12, 2012 @ 7:05 pm (Updated: 7:26 pm - 2/12/12 )

The North Carolina IT worker who shot up his daughter's computer after finding a disrespectful message doesn't care about the praise or criticism he's getting as a parent. He says his daughter "laughed it off" and he wants the media to leave him alone.

Tommy Jordan's daughter Hannah wrote a Facebook post she thought he couldn't see. I did mention he's an information technology worker, which means he's one step ahead of his daughter. He found her message complaining about the chores she had to do. Here's what she wrote:

"To my parents,

I'm not your damn slave. It's not my responsibility to clean up your s**t. We have a cleaning lady for a reason. Her name is Linda, not Hannah.

If you want coffee, get off your ass and get it yourself. If you want a garden, shovel the fertiliser yourself, don't sit back on your ass and watch me do it. If you walk in the house and get mud all over the floor that I just cleaned, be my guest, but clean it up after you are done getting s**t everywhere.

I'm tired of picking up after you. You tell me at least once a day that I need to get a job. You could just pay me for all the s**t that I do around the house. Every day when I get home from school, I have to do dishes, clean the counter tops, all the floors, make all the beds, do the laundry and get the trash. I'm not even going to mention all the work I do around your clinic.

And if I don't do all that every day, I get grounded. Do you know how hard it is to keep up with chores and schoolwork? It's freaking crazy.

I go to sleep at 10 o'clock every night because I am too tired to stay up any longer and do anything else. I have to get up at five in the morning, to get ready for school. On the weekends, I have to sleep with my door locked so my little brother won't come get me up at six.

I'm tired of this bulls**t. Next time I have to pour a cup of coffee, I'm going to flip s**t. I have no idea how I have a life. I'm going to hate to see the day when you get too old to wipe your ass and you call me, asking for help. I won't be there.

Signed,
Your Pissed Kid,
Hannah"

He responded with this YouTube video, which has gotten about 20 million hits:

From networks to neighborhood bloggers, everyone wants to talk with Jordan. I'm sure Dori Monson would like to talk with him, since Dori talked about this story on his show Friday and got a lot of strong listeners' response.

Jordan isn't talking. He posted this on his Facebook page:

 

Jordan"While we appreciate the interest you're all putting forth to get in touch with us regarding the video, we're not going to go on your talk show, not going to call in to your radio show, and not going to be in your TV mini-series.

Some of you think I made an acceptable parenting decision and others think I didn't. However, I can't think of any way myself or my daughter can ...respond to a media outlet that won't be twisted out of context. The Dallas news TV news already showed that in their brief 5 minute interview with the psychologist.

Additionally, there's absolutely NO way I'm going to send my child the message that it's OK to gain from something like this. It would send her a message that it's OK to profit at the expense of someone else's embarrassment or misfortune and that's now how I was raised, nor how she has been raised.

ComputerSo I say thank you from all of us. If we have anything to say, we'll say it here on Facebook, and we'll say it publicly, but we won't say it to a microphone or a camera. There are too many other REAL issues out there that could use this attention you're giving us. My daughter isn't hurt, emotionally scarred, or otherwise damaged, but that kind of publicity has never seemed to be to have a positive effect on any child or family.

If you're a news outlet that wants to ask us a question, feel free to so via email. I'm sure by now my email address is easy enough to find. It might take me awhile to get to a response because I'd have to sort through the "Die you bastard" emails to find it, but we will respond if its something that we feel merits it. Otherwise, sorry... no interviews, no talk shows, no call-ins.

If we respond to anything, it will be on here, and it will be in a way that our words can't be misconstrued or edited for appeal to specific audience or shock value.

Now, I'm going to try to get to work for the day.

Best of luck to all of you out there... and PLEASE give my phone a break."

Much as it makes my job challenging, I do admire people who don't talk to the press.

By Linda Thomas

Photos, screen grab from Tommy Jordan's video

More from Linda Thomas

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (31)


  • Add A Comment

  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    This guy has some unusual parenting techniques...
    February 12, 2012 7:30 pm
    He apparently thinks, "I caught my daughter airing the family laundry on Facebook to try and embarrass her mother and I. I'll respond by modeling some authoritative adult behavior... I will embarrass her on Facebook!"

    And then there's the final solution. "If there is a difficult issue within the family, one that doesn't seem to work out with an approach centered around discussion and reasoning, the proper step to take is to break out the handgun, load it with exploding hollow point ammunition, and start firing off a few rounds. And don't forget, the last one is for (er, I mean "from") her mother!"

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    What a crock
    February 13, 2012 7:01 am
    Gould, you clearly never had a teenage daughter. "Discussion and reasoning" don't always work with teenagers of either sex; sometimes you have to try something else. I applaud this guy for trying something else, unconventional though it may be. "Discussion and reasoning" is what Neville Chamberlain tried. What do you try when "discussion and reasoning" fail?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    @guold
    February 14, 2012 12:36 am
    Chuck, you don't know what these parents did to correct this child's behavior, ther could have been many examples not noted. As many times as you posted, you have always sided on the unknown, mostly siding with the liberal side, until now. This might have been the last resort for these parents. I'm sensing a anti-gun attitude in your post.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Symbolism
    February 13, 2012 12:11 am
    All of the dirty laundry is still on the Facebook servers.Busting caps into the laptop is just a waste of money.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • turp63 wrote...
    Proper reasoning
    February 13, 2012 2:03 am
    should have started with the Daughter taking up her beef with her parents. Not airing it out on Facebook. As for "exploding hollow point ammunition," where can I get my hands on some of those? All I can get is the stupid unexploding hollow points like everyone else.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    turp, you're right- it should have started there,
    February 13, 2012 5:39 am
    but since it didn't, should the parents let the kid set the standards for behavior? How does sinking down to the kid's level and acting out even worse help his daughter? There are at least 2 kids in that family, probably 20 or more years apart.

    Whose is ultimately responsible for parental behavior, if not that parents?

    Email the guy, he'll tell you where he buys his "exploding hollow point" rounds. Somewhere close to the last 30 seconds of his hissy fit, he claims he pays about $1 apiece for them.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    gotta love the people still ranting against this guy...
    February 13, 2012 6:46 am
    BUT: "Additionally, there's absolutely NO way I'm going to send my child the message that it's OK to gain from something like this. It would send her a message that it's OK to profit at the expense of someone else's embarrassment or misfortune and that's now how I was raised, nor how she has been raised." i would bet MOST of your kids don't have that kind of firm parenting at home... but could use it. this guy's style might not be yours, but him saying " My daughter isn't hurt, emotionally scarred, or otherwise damaged, but that kind of publicity has never seemed to be to have a positive effect on any child or family." shows he has his daughter's well being in his mind. back off. like any of the rest of us are shining examples of perfect parents. please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • otherpointofview wrote...
    I love it
    February 13, 2012 8:35 am
    I love what this guy did.. you all are way too sensitive... "this guy did this and that" quit crying. the united states of america has turned into the united states of the offended. the only thing i disagree with him is his choice of ammo.. i would have used a 9mm cause .45 acp is expensive..
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Whidbeyboy wrote...
    .45 is expensive
    February 14, 2012 2:03 pm
    But this guyb works in IT and had a good job I'm assuming. Fire away! Oh. shoulda hung it up for better sprawlage.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lazarus wrote...
    And then he charges her?
    February 13, 2012 10:19 am
    Let me see, childish tantrum, while smoking a cigarette, probably a couple of beers on board, and demonstrating violent behavior with a gun. And all this is her fault? Does 'clueless' or 'erractic' parenting come to mind? So in his world let's say his daughter comes home with a speeding ticket, and so he takes HER property and drives it off a cliff, and then demands she pay for his actions...and he wonders why his daughter was complaining or acting out? Catch a clue buddy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    if HE bought her the car...
    February 13, 2012 11:15 am
    HE can do with it whatever HE wants. HE probably would be paying the insurance, gas, and upkeep of said fictitious vehicle. just like HE paid for HER laptop and internet access. WE need to keep our noses out of everyone's business and stop judging. if kids start taking things for granted that they didn't even EARN, MAYBE we've gotten too soft on them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lazarus wrote...
    Whose property?
    February 13, 2012 11:41 am
    It's an A-N-A-L-O-G-Y... your post illustrates perfectly, the 'ownership' mentality, that appears to have worked soooooo well with her.... But let's follow your flawed logic...Accoding to you he destroyed his property, his software and wasted his ammo...so it's his loss. Right?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Whidbeyboy wrote...
    Clue?
    February 14, 2012 2:13 pm
    Your kidding right? Like a typical duff you bring things into the story that have little to do with it, missing the point entirely. Smoking? Who cares, it's legal isn;t it? Asuming he's drunk? Typical inneundo that is either a lie or irrelevant. Violent behavior? I saw no violence. Is target practice being violent? You do not know thier history at all but add half truth and inneuendos to spin the story just lkike he said people will do. YOU are the clueless one and sound like you work for the GOP. Now those idiots are saying Obama started the bailouts....boy, do we have short memories in this country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mkyman wrote...
    Children don't have rights
    February 13, 2012 11:39 am
    They have privileges. Those privileges are bestowed by the parents based upon the childs behavorior and needs. This is the basic problem with our wacky society. Too many parents rely on children to make rational adult decisions....sorry but that is what childhood is all about "training" to be an adult. It is the parents responsibility to ensure that their child gains that experience.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • kiddenme wrote...
    knucklehead
    February 13, 2012 11:52 am
    sure he is right, but he's also an arrss. its no wonder his daughter is a piece of work. this video is a microcausm of how he treates his kids. and for those who say he is a hero, please dont treat your kids like this either....they'll end up just like this nut.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    this guy should be arrested for reckless endangerment
    February 13, 2012 12:59 pm
    I could give a rip how he chooses to parent his snotty daughter. But to be shooting a gun off with cars driving by and children in houses within striking distance of a ricochet is illegal and foolish. Give him a few months in jail to think about it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FrapFreak wrote...
    Firearm discharge laws
    February 13, 2012 1:39 pm
    Are you aware of these laws before you go off saying he broke any of them? If you do, how can you tell from the limited view of the video said laws were broken?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • brink182 wrote...
    Do you need a hug?
    February 13, 2012 2:08 pm
    No offense Dori Monson fan. This video was shot in North Carolina. I am assuming you have no idea or understand the gun laws in NC, I don't. If that is all you took from this video then you have bigger problems. Have a nice day.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • brink182 wrote...
    Can I shoot her laptop too?
    February 13, 2012 2:19 pm
    I think this guy is onto something. She abused her the PRIVELEGE that he took away from her. He may have gone overboard with shooting it but I am sure it was fun! Every teenager I know tries to make themselves a victim to their parents. He posted the video on her facebook to address her post. I think people are too worried or judgemental of what other people are doing. There is no one way of parenting so to judge his parenting practice is to judge your own parenting practice, if you even are a parents.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }