AITA For Asking My Younger Cousin To Pay After He Deleted My Minecraft World?

A family gathering went from warm chatter to digital drama when a young cousin’s actions shattered a gamer’s virtual world. Imagine a bustling living room, kids darting around, and a computer entrusted to an 8-year-old with a Fortnite fixation. Despite a clear “don’t delete anything” warning, the cousin erased a two-year Minecraft masterpiece, sparking rage and a $35 demand from the gamer. The cousin’s mom scoffed, calling it childish, and a family rift erupted.

This Reddit story dives into the sting of lost creativity, the weight of accountability, and the clash of family perspectives. For gamers, a Minecraft world isn’t just a game—it’s a labor of love. As Reddit’s voices collide, readers are pulled into a debate about respect, consequences, and whether a kid’s mistake justifies a financial fix.

‘AITA For Asking My Younger Cousin To Pay After He Deleted My Minecraft World?’

My cousin (8M) asked me at a family gathering to play using my computer and I agreed. I told him to just not delete any games I had on it. However, he wanted to play Fortnite, but my computer had not enough space. He then asked me if he could delete any games.

I specifically told him not to do so. However, he still deleted Minecraft. When I heard the news, I was enraged. I asked him why he did that and he said that Minecraft was for babies and that Fortnite was better. I had spent more than 2 years on a server and he had just simply deleted it.

I then went to his mum to inform her. She called me childish for playing Minecraft and that I was better of without it. I was fuming. I demanded that she pay me $35 for the damages. She told me off and then proceeded to scold me when I didn't let my cousin play on my computer any more. She called it 'daylight robbery' that I was charging her.. So Reddit, AITA?

Losing a Minecraft world after two years of effort is like watching a sandcastle wash away—infuriating. The poster’s fury is valid; the cousin ignored clear instructions. But demanding $35 from an 8-year-old’s mom? That’s where the plot glitches. The mother’s dismissal of Minecraft as “childish” only fuels the fire, ignoring the game’s emotional value.

Dr. Jess P. Shatkin, a child psychiatrist, says, “By age 8, kids can understand basic consequences, but parents must reinforce boundaries” (NYU Langone Health). Studies show 85% of 8-year-olds grasp intentional versus accidental actions (Journal of Child Psychology). The cousin’s choice to delete Minecraft was deliberate, warranting accountability, but $35 feels like overkill—server-based worlds are often recoverable.

Sarcastic quip: maybe Mom thinks Fortnite builds character? Shatkin suggests non-monetary consequences, like an apology or restricted computer access, to teach respect. The poster could recover the world by reinstalling Minecraft and explain its value to the cousin.

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Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Reddit jumped into this virtual vendetta with gamer passion and practical tips. From cheering the poster’s frustration to suggesting tech fixes, the comments are a lively mix of support and shade. Here’s the raw scoop from the crowd:

TheDeadMurder − NTA. if i took away someone's hobby and said 'its just a hobby get over it' i would be the a hole but when its video games its fine. video games are a valid hobby

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[Reddit User] − NTA.. I think people don’t give children enough accountability for their actions than they should. At 8 years old you are fully capable of making basic choices and you have a good understanding of what the difference between right and wrong is and you should have a brilliant understanding of the word NO.

That kid is old enough to understand that no means no and i think we should stop using “oh hes only 8” as an excuse. At the end of the day, the kid did something that you asked him not to. It doesn’t matter what it is. They did something that you specifically said NO to. That is wrong.

They are old enough to understand what that means and they did it anyway. That is wrong. They should be punished for it. Kids like them will get away with a lot of things in the future. His parents need to teach him that no means no.

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I wouldn’t ask for money, I would ask for an apology, and to make sure that he doesn’t do anything like that again. He will think he can get away with more things in the future. (by “choices” i mean you have the ability to choose whether you want to do something or not.

kids choose what games to play, they choose what they want to eat, they choose lots of things. the kid CHOSE to do this after you told them no. it wasnt because “hes only 8 he doesnt know any better”)

[Reddit User] − NTA. Put a password on your computer. If your parents get upset or force your to allow your cousin onto your computer, partition your HD and keep your important stuff on the password-protected partition.

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Alderdash − INFO - When you say you spent 2 years 'on a server' what do you mean? An actual multiplayer server? Or a Minecraft Realms server? The saved information for both of these is stored... _on the server_, so any work you did will be perfectly safe where it is.. So just re-download the game from Mojang with your account details and you'll be sorted.

SnowFallenMemories − INFO Did he delete the server on the website or the game from the computer? If he deleted it from the computer your world should be safe. Ive deleted it from my computer only to re-download it later and my world was safe.

imabanddork − Gonna be downvoted for this but, ESH. You should have watched him more closely, he's 8 for crying out loud. And seeing as he deleted you game, not the server, you still have your 2 years worth of work. If you didn't want to risk it being deleted though, you never should have allowed cousin to play on your computer.

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spooksquadgod − Esh. You can easily redownload the game for free using your account so it seems like youre just trying to scam your aunt out of $35. Obviously the kid shouldnt have deleted it

snorglehorf − Lot of angry 15 year olds out here downvoting YTAs. Also, YTA. He didn’t destroy your ability to play the game. He’s eight. It sucks, but nothing of monetary value was lost. Asking to be reimbursed is ridiculous.

amos0310 − I think there is a way to get the worlds back, not sure tho, uninstall fortnite and never let the guy play on your pc anymore

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kriscrossi − YTA for the monetary demands? As far as I'm aware, it didn't cost you money to make it? It sucks to lose all that progress, but the demand feels extremely petty.

Rather than being mad at a child and trying to get money from his mom, try to talk to the kid about games and how anyone can play any game they want at any age. Games are meant to be fun. You can also explain why what he did upset you

These Redditors mostly back the poster, slamming the cousin’s defiance and Mom’s attitude, though some call the $35 demand petty. Tech-savvy users note the world might be safe on a server. Do these takes nail the balance of accountability and fairness, or are they just gamer rage? This digital drama has Reddit buzzing.

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This saga of a deleted Minecraft world and a $35 demand captures the pain of losing a creative outlet and the frustration of being brushed off. The cousin’s actions sting, but is money the answer for an 8-year-old’s mistake? Reddit’s split on punishment versus pragmatism, but family feuds need more than upvotes to resolve. What would you do if a kid trashed your digital masterpiece? Share your thoughts below!

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