Unmotivated Cousin/Summer Trip Help!!

Why are you the lucky one? Sounds to me like he could benefit from a trip where you swing a hammer and help people out. The world is full of underdeveloped or ravaged areas that desperately need manpower. Contact Habitat for Humanity. Nothing will slap the smug out of him better than the tears of a needy family moving into a home he helped built.

 

Its not what you asked but if hes so in love with video games why dont you try to inspire him to go to one of the gaming colleges and learn to make them ? Its a growing field and pays well.

 

I have a friend thats a tester at EA games and another that tests for Blizzard. Both make about $20 hr. There probably are some in demand testers that make much more but they are few and far between.

It sounds like you;re in for one hell of a trip !

 

Can't help but note he's in US, and you're in UK - do you want to keep him as far away from UK as possible?

 

If he's really that far gone and you can't get out of it, have them arrange for accommodations on Hawaii, do what you want and leave him in the room with his Gameboy!

 

Game testing is not as pleasant as it sounds to be. EA's has their head office here in Vancouver, and I've heard some stories about game testing, it depends on how luck you are. Some duties I've heard are going through an entire game making sure that the shoes on every player match.

Machu Picchu sounds great, although I'm not sure how much he'd enjoy a hiking trip from the description you've given, with him being lazy; and if he doesn't like physical activity I'm sure he'll regret all the panting and sweating he will be doing. However, the scenery and experience is amazing, he'll see the culture and history that exists beyond the US and he'll have a great story to tell once he gets back to school.

 

Take him to Tijuana and leave him there and make him find his own way back.

 

I did that about 5-6 years ago when I was looking for something to do- the hours were insane (14 hour days were a norm) and I know it wasn't anywhere near $20/hr (well maybe, with OT).

It sounded like a lot of fun at the time but once I was out of there I didn't touch a console for three years. Maybe it'll break him as well.

 

Have you considered that this might be more then him being lazy? Perhaps this is a sign that he is suffering from depression or has some form of social anxiety (or just general anxiety). By him playing video games all day, he shuts himself out from the rest of the world, and lives in a fantasy world through playing this video game. His lack of motivation could be his anxiety or fear of not doing well. I could be completely wrong, but I suggest that you get him or his parents to look into this.

 

If you care about him, take him to Thailand. The heat, poverty, simplicity of life, all will open his eyes. Who knows, he might get a bug or two and feeling like crap and being unable to play video games while lying in bed will make him a better person once he recovers. You can have a grand time visiting some amazing places.

 

Take a trip to some little town in Siberia. Take the historic trans-contintental railroad and just stop somewhere outside of Novosibirsk or maybe in Bashkortistan somewhere.

Live there for a month. He will see what life is *really* like for much of the world and he will have a new outlook once he gets back. I'm not kidding either - I spent a month bootstrapping it in the boonies of Russia and it's an eye opening experience. When you see real farmers pulling ox-driven plows to plant seed and old women sitting at the bus station on crates trying to sell you bags of cherries or sunflower seeds for the equivalent of a nickel just to be able to afford a loaf of gritty bread to be able to eat that day (and many of them not making enough to eat that night), he will change his perspective right quick.

And if he doesn't buck up, LEAVE HIM THERE, or at least ditch him a couple of times for a day or two and let him fend for himself. Ain't no calling home to momma to put you up in a nice hotel when you're in a decrepit old town with barely any reliable phone service!

 

It sounds like he doesn't deserve any rewards (free trips etc.). The more you give him for doing nothing, the more he'll expect to get for doing nothing!

I'll bet he just 'squeaked by' to graduate. Let him find his own self, you can't do it for him. If he's a slacker now, he probably always will be.

 

Get ready to spend anywhere from $500 to $1000 for a drive across the US this summer. Apparently gas could hit $5 to $6.

 

I drove across the country to California, probably the best part of the entire trip was the Grand Canyon. It shows you just how insignificant you really are, plus it's Beautiful.

The idea of habitat for humanity sounds like a great experience though.

 

+1, Grand Canyon is super. I took a helicopter ride over the top (you can't go below the rim anymore) and its absolutely breathtaking.

Any of the national parks in the United States are amazing.

 

Sounds like he's never done anything active in his life.

He needs to see the world that doesn't revolve in the virtual realm. He needs to see people suffering. Lend a helping hand. His parents need to kick him in his ass, because it sounds like they've never forced him to do anything.

Does he know how to mow the lawn? Wash clothes, dishes? Does he have friends; true life friends not in a far off distant land? He definitely needs time away from the tv screen. Maybe taking him to the Red Light district and getting him a bj from a hooker wouldn't be a half bad idea. lol, j/k.

 

Buy him a one-way ticket to a 3rd world country and make him work his way back home.

 

Wow. That's pathetic. Sounds like his parents have inhibited his selfish ways themselves.

Sounds like this may be the most painful thing that you'll ever endure. That is if it happens. Best of luck.

Why are you being the one that's suppose to take him under your wing? Are/were yall good friends at some point in life?

 

I heard college kids and high school kids are going to China to help aid others in the Earthquake Relief. Might want to look into that if you want.

 

Seth,

Sounds like the kid is a total loser! Go on with your life and let him destroy his all by himself.

It's hard to believe he has a GF; if she's not a loser too, she'll be gone before long!!!