this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2025
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managing family relationships around hoarding of hazardous materials (hexbear.net)
submitted 3 months ago by IsThisLoss@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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so, I was eating dinner in a common area of the family house when I noticed a ~decade old laptop with a swollen battery.

I brought it to the attention of the family member that owned it, and I was blown off with "just don't use it".

I've previously had them instigate/massively escalate conflicts over throwing out food that was covered in mold.

I showed a compilation of lithium battery fires and attempted to explain just how big of a hazard we were facing, especially when there isn't a fire extinguisher in the (wood framed) house, and the family member began yelling at me over "wasting perfectly good money over imagined danger", and then I was threatened with a 5950.

I don't have anything remotely resembling the means to get my own housing, but this seems like an acute and imminent danger.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a better course of action than ignoring it and hoping the battery does not vent?

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[–] stupid_asshole69@hexbear.net 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Batteries are cheap, fire extinguishers are cheap. If they’re not willing to get rid of it (it probably is working fine tbh) then get a fire extinguisher and buy a replacement battery.

You don’t need to convince them of anything, just fix the problems.

E: also, as someone who works extensively with and repairs electronics and has encountered lithium battery fires firsthand it’s honestly not as likely as the internet makes it seem. Still dangerous, but not as imminent as you might feel.