On rules - yes, 'their house their rules'...but once rules cross That Line, it turns into a Tyranny situation. Rules should not be so concrete that compromises can't be reached, especially with an older teen.
On 'prison' - or rather the quote "As for comparing home to a prison, you got to be kidding." Why do you have to be kidding?? Home can indeed be a prison if that's how you're treated. If your parents act more like wardens, controlling every aspect of your life, then home is in fact a prison. I know someone whose life was like that. His parents repressed him in every way. Everything had to be their way or nothing. No compromise, no 'let's talk about this'. He was a prisoner in his own home...and the scariest part is that they never noticed what they were doing. They still don't see it to this day, and never will. He got out of there when he finally realized he had nothing left to lose - they'd taken it all away. And let me tell you...I saw all this. I'm VERY glad he chose to get the heck out of there... it allowed him to actually start living.
Sorry...that's a touchy subject for me...
Anyway, when parents refuse to compromise even when the 'child' tries to have a serious discussion on the topic, that's when respect no longer applies. Bottom line - respect is EARNED. By either party, parents or offspring.
If I were in this situation, I would start looking into options for getting another place to live once I was 18.
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