Salam Alaikum:
I would have your parents put a time limit on it, but they have to be firm and consistent. If he became disrespectful, I'd remove it completely and he wouldn't have it at all. I've done this and it worked like a charm. Mind you, my son was about 7 at the time. Since then, he MIGHT play about once a week.
I wouldn't tolerate any child disrespecting me in my own home and, quite frankly, I don't care how old they are! To this day I would not disrespect my mother and I guarantee you, if I did, she's not too old to give me a back hander to remind me!! lol
Absolutely ZERO tolerance for disrespect. It would be like a disappearing act for the game station!! At 17, it's time to focus on exams and decide what direction in life he would like to take and use the game console to relax occasionally. If he's being disrespectful, he's old enough to know better and learn how respect works. You want respect...you earn it!! If you give it...you'll get it. I'm very strict when it comes to respect because how someone treats their parents is a direct reflection of the person they are. Better he learn that than to learn how to advance to the next level of some game.
This age is a critical time for him and if he's changing for the worse, it's time to haul him back into reality!
Tough Love works when necessary and there's no greater love than wanting to save someone from them self.
He'll fight it, but the more he fights and is disrespectful, your parents just have to keep taking things away, ie: cell phone. Or add chores. I wouldn't fight with him. I would sit him down and tell him the way it's going to be and discuss it. Let him voice his concern, but in no way back down from limiting the time on the game station. Maybe tell him he can play for 30 minutes, but as long as he remains respectful in discussions they can allow him to negotiate 60 minutes so he feels it's a give and take situation. When/If he breaks the "rules", I wouldn't yell and scream. I would simply take away a privilege with no questions asked and would keep doing so until he stopped. It might even help to do up a Family Contract that he and your parents sign. It's a list of rules and consequences as well as a list of how they promise to help each other, etc. I haven't used this method yet, but I know a few people that have and it's very effective because all they have to do is point to the paper and refer to rule number whatever. lol
Inshallah, everything will work out. Remember how we knew everything at 17 years old....it's only as we grow older we realize we didn't know anything. lol I'm sure he'll be fine, but sometimes it takes a little push into reality to get them there faster. :statisfie
Wa'alaikum salam,
Hana