What do they want from me?

[MasterKeyX]

I'd go about it by being bluntly honest. Just tell him exactly what's on your mind. He can't yell or get mad or make fun of you for telling him exactly what you think. Blunt. Be blunt.

[Keaton]

If being blunt doesn't work, try using something blunt.

You know, like a sledgehammer

to the base of his skull

[MasterKeyX]

Tach, if you don't mind me asking, did you have some issues with a step parent at some point?

[DW]

I'm wondering whether you're being serious, Tacheon...

[Keaton]

Tach, if you don't mind me asking, did you have some issues with a step parent at some point?

Nope, never.

In fact, I've never met my father.

[MasterKeyX]

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I'm sorry if I offended you at all.

But I still don't think that violence is the answer.

[Keaton]

I'm sorry to hear that, man. I'm sorry if I offended you at all.

Don't worry about it, you have not.

But I still don't think that violence is the answer.

It is not the answer.

It is the question.

The answer is yes.

[MasterKeyX]

I'd support whichever route Shika takes, but I'm afraid he might get hurt.

[Vaati]

I have to say this: it's basic psychology. Usually step-parents won't like their step-children as much if a) they haven't known them for a long time or b)it's just deep in their mind that it's just because you're not related. This doesn't just happen in Hollywood, guys. It happens in real life, too. I've noticed, and so has my cousin Christy, that my Aunt Caroline, who I'm related to, often acts snobby towards my Uncle Steve (her husband's) daughter, Alison, who is a year younger than me (so she's old enough to know better) and her step-daughter. Of course my aunt Caroline would never actually SAY that she doesn't really care too much for Alison, but it's probably in the back of her mind.

[DW]

I'm not even going to attempt violence. I lack both the physique and the will to.

I've been working with him for a little over a month now, I thought it'd help us bond more, but...now I just hear him talking about how everything in life is pointless more often. I don't know how to respond to talk like that, but it offends him that I don't. How do you connect with someone who's depressed?

[Keaton]

I'm not even going to attempt violence. I lack both the physique and the will to.

I've been working with him for a little over a month now, I thought it'd help us bond more, but...now I just hear him talking about how everything in life is pointless more often. I don't know how to respond to talk like that, but it offends him that I don't. How do you connect with someone who's depressed?

By the way, Shika, I'm not pro-violence, I'm just adding levity to a non-jovial topic.  And so--

How do you connect with someone who's depressed?

With a sledgehammer?

[MasterKeyX]

You're comical, I'll give you that.  :P

Shika, if he's depressed the best way to connect with him would be to just listen to him, and respond when you think it's right. Even if it's a little stuff. Respond positively. Make him feel like he'll be okay.

[MagmarFire]

Serious déjà vu there, Tacheon. (About violence not being the answer.) :P

I'd go about it by being bluntly honest. Just tell him exactly what's on your mind. He can't yell or get mad or make fun of you for telling him exactly what you think. Blunt. Be blunt.

I concur. Fear of consequences aside, people often discard the idea of being blunt to approach people, and from what I see, they don't realize its potential. Just look at how it was with my dad: He wanted me to stay with him and not move in with my mom, where I would be able to enroll school on a clean slate and not get bullied on a daily basis. I was enraged that the courts wouldn't let me decide what I wanted, so I called him on the phone while I was with my mom, saying that I didn't want to stay with him anymore. Plain and simple. He was upset, yes, but that was just the price.

Hope this helps, but people often don't take the direct route. So...sorry.

[darkphantomime]

In fact, I've never met my father.

Neither have I man, neither have I : (

So he talks all about depression all the time? I think too that this would be an excellent time to be blunt with him. Let him no straight away that you won't take any more of his BS, and if he tries to counter you by saying something depressing, be even MORE blunt.

[MasterKeyX]

Good advice JQ. Shika should listen to you.

Fix your post, btw.