Getting phone taken away?

Question

My older brother is 15 years older than me. He is my sister and I’s current legal guardian. I was talking to a friend over text that my older brother told me to stay away from and not talk to. When my little sister was walking by she saw me texting this friend. Then she started saying how I wasn’t supposed to be talking to them and I told her to mind her business and not to say anything to my older brother. I even gave her $5 dollars. However, at dinner time my little sister and I were fighting over the tv remote and she said out loud that she was going to tell our brother who I was talking to earlier if she didn’t get the remote. Our older brother heard this and asked us who I was talking to. I said that I was talking to one of my friends that he approves of and then she said no it’s the friend you told her not to talk to. So then I pushed my sister and she hit me. My brother asked me to give him my phone so he could see who I talked to. I said no it’s my phone. Then he dragged me to my room and said either I give him my phone right now or I spend the rest of the day in my room with no phone. So anyways I gave it to him and he said I will get it back in 24 hours. I know I probably shouldn’t have been talking to this person but I was lonely and I feel like this is my sisters fault for opening her mouth. Even though our older brother is our legal guardian I don’t think he should be able to take my phone away. He said it was his house and his rules. What’s your opinion on this

? · Answer

OK, the central issue you are asking about is privacy.  Do you have the right to control a phone and use it the way that you want to?  That is privacy.  You want to assert control over your own cell phone and use it to talk to who you want to talk to.  Private.

How do you know if you have the right to privacy?  It's easy.
1)  Do you pay rent on an apartment where the lease is in your own name?
2)  Do you buy all of your own food with money that you earn yourself?
3)  Did you buy your cell phone using money that you earned yourself?
4)  Do you regularly pay the cell phone bill using money that you earn yourself?

If you answer "yes" to all of those 4 questions, then you absolutely have the right to privacy, and your brother was wrong to take your cell phone away from you.

If you answer "NO" to ANY of those 4 questions, then you do not have a right to privacy.  Some kind of parental figure must monitor and control your cell phone use.  For your brother to NOT control the way you use your cell phone would be irresponsible.  Your brother has all the responsibilities of a father for you, because he is your legal guardian.  He is RIGHT to monitor your cell phone use and prohibit you from using it to contact people who he does not approve of.  You have not earned the right to your own privacy yet.

Pearl · Answer

i wouldnt bother with a phone if someone was just going to take it away from me

J.R · Answer

He’s your older brother, he’s just looking out for you. That is why he took your phone because you weren’t doing the right things with it. If he’s your legal guardian then hes 
taking care of you and your sister and I think you should respect him the same way as you would a parent.

Burgoo · Answer

he's right, you lose, follow the rules

T J · Answer

His house his rules, is correct. Do not blame your sister for what you did, you knew it was forbidden. He is your guardian, you listen to him. You are lucky to have him take you. He could have refused it, and you would be in foster care now. You should do anything you can to thank him. Not cause him any problems.

Oliver · Answer

Wow, I think he's right about caring you.

Never Polled · Answer

You write pretty well and should stay in school and focus on writing and literature. You are lucky to have a brother that cares. Sisters eventually become less aggravating but will always annoy you to some degree. Thank your brother for being there.

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Getting phone taken away?

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