Would you allow your 14YO to have this on their bag?

[ChiefWiggumsBoy]

DTS2, just turned 14 last week and received an Amazon voucher. With it, he bought the attached patch to stick onto his school bag.

He bought it because he’s an avid COD player, but it can’t help thinking it looks a bit…worrying? I was trying to give him a little more freedom with his purchases, but I’m struggling to find this appropriate, especially for school.

(I have already told him it’s not appropriate for school).

I wouldn't find this too offensive unless he actually has a rifle that he takes to school and will use to shoot anyone who reads his schoolbag.

Not appropriate for school and likely to prompt staff to raise safeguarding concerns.

I have one the same age, and whilst I'd also say not really appropriate for school, I wouldn't worry outside of school

No.

No, I think it's really horrible.

I'd be having a conversation with him about fiction/games Vs the real world. Taking something that he does in a game outside of that into real life/school is crossing a line. Maybe you need to review his screen time.

immergeradeaus · Today 11:53
Not appropriate for school and likely to prompt staff to raise safeguarding concerns“

Not appropriate for school , obviously.

Would it really raise safeguarding concerns though? It’s a 14 year old trying (and failing) to be funny.

No and thankfully he wouldn’t as he has the social awareness to know he would be relentlessly bullied for sticking that onto his bag at age 14. (Inner city state secondary).

No chance

Same with my son.

Nah I don't think it would go down well.

I've had to stop DD buying goth patches with questionable slogans and imagery on because I have to make them aware that whilst they are older, year 7s may not like it and staff may feel uncomfortable.

Of course, as someone who walked around for two years wearing a Nirvana hoodie with "I hate myself and want to die" I'm slightly hypocritical, but I do recall the looks I got from people!

So inappropriate.

COD is PEGI 18 so inappropriate in any case for a 14 year old to be an avid player.

If he was at my child's school someone would probably stab him to death. Just in case. So it probably depends on your area.

I love it! I want one.

That would be fine for me as it’s written as a defence and not as an attack.

He's probably thinking he's edgy and he's definitely pushing boundaries, but it's a massive dick move to put a patch with an AR-15 on a school bag. I doubt he'd get away with this. If you're in the states he'd likely be expelled under zero tolerance policies.

OP, now might be a good time to educate your child about school shootings and such.

It's oddly belligerent, I would think.

If you’re ok with him playing the game (18+), I’m not sure why you’re not ok with him having a related sticker (no age limit)!

Safeguarding concerns?!

He’d be made to remove it at our school. I think most kids would think he was a bit of a dick for putting patches on his bag. 😬

Safeguarding concerns?!
Playing an eighteen game if they recognise it as being from COD or if they don't...it's quite threatening.

Oh my god no way! That’s disgusting

What!?

No

Thanks all I’m glad the agreement is in probably not overreacting. I will tell him no on this occasion.

For some background he is in an inner city secondary in Liverpool, but his year, who all made the transition from primary to secondary during lockdown, all seen a bit more socially immature than I’d expect. I don’t think he’d be bullied, but I do think it’s poorly thought out.

For those of you worried about his screen time - I’m a gamer myself, so his Xbox is completely locked down to approved friends only. He plays the online version of COD (might be called something else, i know there’s several versions) with his friends and family. He is not allowed to play the storyline of those games.

Absolutely not. Why glorify guns?