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AIBU?

To wonder how many people here don’t have a games console

145 replies

Ofti · 18/05/2020 16:21

Bit of a thread about a thread, but no judgement on yes/no. I see a lot of assertions that kids will be ‘weird’ or outcast without access to a console.

I know there’s phone gaming, PC etc as option but (to satisfy my nosiness ) how many here have children of 6 or older and no console?
YABU- I have a console
YANBU-I don’t have a console in the house

Personally we have 5 children, 3 primary age and 2 adults, and never have had a console Or gaming PC. No bans with friends or anything though, they can play games on other devices and have in phases. I’m just wondering if this is as unusual as it seems on here. I didn’t think it was, but maybe it is. DH and I grew up without and just haven’t really thought about it a lot or been nagged much over them. I’m not anti-gaming, only as it’s not a lure for me I haven’t splashed out. Played drunken Xbox boxing etc over the years at parties etc though.

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

283 votes. Final results.

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47%
You are NOT being unreasonable
53%
lockdownstress · 18/05/2020 16:23

2 adults, 2 kids upper end of primary. No console and no intention of getting one.

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GrapesAreMyJam · 18/05/2020 16:26

My sister and I had a PlayStation 1 back in 1998 (I was nine, she was six). And then we got a PS2 when that was released and we had a family computer but time was limited.

Currently, I have an Xbox One X, PS4, WiiU, Nintendo Switch and a gaming pc. Also have my old DS and gameboy, and old PS consoles up in the loft.

My daughter is only two, but when she reaches five or six I will most likely let her have limited and supervised time on the switch or WiiU.

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NaviSprite · 18/05/2020 17:09

I have several Grin from Atari and Omega 3 to modern, I kept a lot of them as I grew up Smile

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Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/05/2020 17:12

DS has a Switch.

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bluestarsatnightfall · 18/05/2020 17:13

We have a PS4, Xbox and switch.

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DDIJ · 18/05/2020 17:13

This reply has been withdrawn

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HalfOfWhoIUsedToBe · 18/05/2020 17:14

I don’t think my kids know anyone who doesn’t have at least one type of console.
I know a family who doesn’t but they have quite extreme views on screens and lots of other things. It’s awkward when their kids come here as they’re desperate to be on my kids consoles but their parents don’t want them on them.

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Rebelwithallthecause · 18/05/2020 17:14

No console here
Definitely won’t be getting one after seeing how it’s turned my brother who is now mid 20’s and pretty much addicted to gaming

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ItchySeveredFoot · 18/05/2020 17:17

It would be quicker to name the ones we don't have! But it's dp and I who are the gamers. My dad is a gamer. He had a nintendo 64 and a sega megadrive when I was little and brought home the brand new ps1 when I was 6. We've been gaming as a family ever since!

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winetime89 · 18/05/2020 17:19

Nearly 7 year old has a Nintendo switch. he got it two years ago but has only just started playing on it a lot, wish I'd have waited till he was a little older but in general I don't mind it. We can play games as a family. I do however hate tablets/iPads, he will just sit and watch mindless YouTube all day if I were to let him, I wish I'd have never got him one.
I'd rather he played on the switch going up levels on games and building things on minecraft.

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zen1 · 18/05/2020 17:20

We have some retro consoles (spectrum, Atari, Sega, NES and SNES); N64, Wii, WiiU, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox1 and lots of Nintendo hand-heads. Despite this, teenage sons are really only into retro and racing games and have never done online gaming.

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CatFaceCats · 18/05/2020 17:22

We have an Xbox, PS4, switch, desktop PC and 2 high spec gaming laptops.
I also have every game boy.
I am very much a gamer, as are the kids dad, so even before they were born, we had all the consoles.

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Fifthtimelucky · 18/05/2020 17:23

We have a wii? Does that count? Nothing else though.

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CatFaceCats · 18/05/2020 17:23

Oh, we also each have an iPad and phones.

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justjuggling · 18/05/2020 17:24

We have none.

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TeenPlusTwenties · 18/05/2020 17:25

I've got girls, youngest is 15.
We've only ever had Wii and Nintendo DS.

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IHaveBrilloHair · 18/05/2020 17:25

DD did when she lived at home, still does and still plays on it/them.
I dont, though did have Nintendo Ds's in the past.

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OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow · 18/05/2020 17:26

No kids. We had xbox, but never really got into it so sold it.
I do play on pc sometimes though.

I had tamagochi when I was a kid. Does that count?Grin

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Ostanovka · 18/05/2020 17:27

Don't think my 7yo would know what one is. She's never mentioned them.

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stargirl1701 · 18/05/2020 17:27

None here yet.

DC are only 7 and 5 though.

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SuperMumTum · 18/05/2020 17:28

I don't have one and the kids aren't bothered at all. They play games on their tablets occasionally but no interest in the big games that kids at school talk about (fortnight etc). None of my friends are interested in gaming, they might have consoles at home but they've never mentioned it. My ex has a wii for the kids which they probablyuse about once a month. We have plenty of screen time in general but also lots of other things going on like reading, craft, outside activities.

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MummyInTheNecropolis · 18/05/2020 17:28

I have one DD aged 14, she’s never shown any interest in gaming so we don’t have a console. She does spend a lot of time on her phone and especially social media though, which I think is just as bad if not worse.

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WisestIsShe · 18/05/2020 17:28

Two adults two teens, one Xbox. No one plays it very much.

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Seeline · 18/05/2020 17:28

Have a DS18 and DD16. We have no consoles apart from an ancient Wii. They seem to have survived socially....

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DominaShantotto · 18/05/2020 17:28

We have plenty. Wii, Switch, DS, Xbox, PS... we've got/had most of them over the years.

DD1 has discovered Animal Crossing during lockdown and Two-Point Hospital and I'm praying she never becomes Health Secretary as she keeps yelling at the patients in exasperation for dying! DD2 loves some games on her iPad - but after an initial going mad for gaming splurge when they first got devices... they play for a bit then pootle off to do some drawing, or play with toys or whatever - they are developing an ability to self-regulate because we've never made them forbidden fruit.

DD1's also discovered chess and is determined to beat her dad at that - but he's not taking the 'go easy on an 8 year old' instruction well!

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