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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parents...what are you thinking!!!

61 replies

garrowismylaw · 02/12/2010 21:57

Have just been reading a thread on MN about teenagers. Basically the parent was asking if 18 cert games are okay for 13 year olds. What are they thinking?
The general consensus seems to be that because this particular 18 cert game is not real life it's okay for their younger kids to have because if they don't have it they will be socially ostracised.
Certificate ratings are there for a reason, fgs. And, tbh, I have seen my 8 year old playing on some games ie Burnout and Sims, that are for his age group legally, that I find so wrong. In the Sims one that is cert 7+ he visits a nudist hotel. Hw can that be approprite for a 7 year old?
AIBU in thinking that parents should follow the guidelines re certs and also peruse the games themselves just in case?

OP posts:
Kaloki · 03/12/2010 01:25

Quite bertie

To get a naked hotel in the Sims you would need,

  • the no blur cheat
  • a cheat to make them stay naked or a naked everyday outfit
  • possibly a modded door or object that makes everyone (including the NPC's) naked.

I think the no blur cheat is pretty easy to find, but the other two are unlikely to be found outside of 18+ only websites.

Original poster
garrowismylaw · 03/12/2010 16:31

The sims game has a nudist hotel, but they are blurred. However, the very fact that there is a nudist hotel in the game just seems wrong to me. You can't actually see anything but they are naked IYSWIM. This is not necessary in a 7+ game, irrispective of whether you can actually see their bits or not.

OP posts:
MrManager · 03/12/2010 16:43

garrowismylaw there really is no nudist hotel in any Sims game! Besides, nudity isn't inherently bad for any age. In a sexual context, perhaps.

BertieBotts · 03/12/2010 17:11

There is no nudist hotel! Trust me, I'm a big fan slightly obsessed with the sims franchise. The ONLY time they are naked in an unmodified game is to have a bath or shower. Even when they have sex they keep their underwear on (and hide under the covers!)

I can't even find anything by googling "nudist hotel sims" so I think you're making it up TBH.

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 03/12/2010 17:16

even if there was a nudist hotel - does it really matter? A nudist hotel is hardly a brothel is it!

BertieBotts · 03/12/2010 17:22

No, it wouldn't matter - there are worse things in the game (imo) Grin I'm just bemused as to why she's so insistent about something which doesn't exist!

Original poster
garrowismylaw · 03/12/2010 17:46

the game is called The Sims Bustin' Out and the location is Pixel Acres-The Nudist Colony.

OP posts:
MrManager · 03/12/2010 17:49

Yes, BertieBotts, much worse can be done!

My favourite method is to wall them up until they starve to death in a puddle of their own urine. Or have them go swimming, then delete the pool steps so they drown.

I'm not crazy, honest!

Lydwatt · 03/12/2010 17:54

What seriously got me was when a few kids at my school (secondary) were taking the day off because they had been up late queueing to by the latest one just out and spent the day sleeping/playing it...what were the parents thinking?

  1. its an 18 and they are not
  1. its a school day
  1. its nearly christmas...get it as a present!!

Madness...

Original poster
garrowismylaw · 03/12/2010 17:57

Exactly Lydwatt, it's almost as if the kids pester for it, the parents cave in and don't even realise it's not right age for their kids. Then they wonder where they pick up the bad language and attitude problems.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 03/12/2010 18:21

Ohh, it's one of the sims games for console. Okay, fair enough (but still it doesn't sound something to get worked up about).

Lydwatt · 03/12/2010 18:29

it was tour of duty or some sort of shoot and kill thing..an 18

RockinRobinBird · 03/12/2010 18:34

I thought I was the only one who drowned their Sims in the pool...

MrsChemist · 03/12/2010 18:53

console sims games are rubbish anyway.

RockinRobin, I do that too Blush although the ghosts of drowned sims leave puddles everywhere, and it's a PITA to clean up.

OP YANBU, knowing the content of Black Ops, i wouldn't let a 13 yr old play it, however, I'd prefer to play a game myself to ascertain its suitability for DS (when he's older) instead if blindly going off the certificate.

Mind you, I'm a gamer, so I enjoy playing games. Road testing them before DS plays wouldn't a chore.

mousesma · 03/12/2010 19:09

I think its up to parents to assess what or isn't appropriate for their children to view or play.

In some circumstances it is OK for a 13 year old to play an 18 year old game. Children mature at different rates and not all 18 games are created equal.

I think if a parent has already viewed the content or they will be present when the game is played to turn it off if it becomes inappropriate then there isn't a problem.

Lydwatt · 03/12/2010 19:35

...yeah, like that's going to happen!!!

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 03/12/2010 19:41

it happens in this house. It's really not difficult to do

classydiva · 03/12/2010 19:44

My 13 year olds had 18+ games. I think it is an individual thing, some children are more mature than others. Only parents can determine the effects.

Lydwatt · 03/12/2010 19:45

I'm sure its not difficult to do but I just don't think all parents are that responsible...

BelleDeChocChipCookieMonster · 03/12/2010 19:48

Ds's friend was playing call of duty or something equallyas horrific last time I took ds over to play. His mum was in the kitchen so had no idea what he was playing until I pointed it out to her Blush

Original poster
garrowismylaw · 03/12/2010 19:55

I don't think buying a child a game, watching them play then taking it off them if something innapropriate occurs works well. They will say you are being unfair after they have started playing it and you've probably just wasted £30 .
Also if some parents think kids mature at diffent ages what is point in having certificates on stuff at all?Surely it's there for a reason.

OP posts:
MrsChemist · 03/12/2010 20:01

I must admit, I was playing grand theft auto (the very first one) when I was about 12. My parents didn't have a clue because they don't like or understand games (or computers, it's like they try to not understand computers)

I assume a lot of parents are similar. Don't want to understand what the games are about and also think that it can't be that bad because they think games are for kids.

MrsChemist · 03/12/2010 20:08

Therein lies the crux of the problem. People get pissy over companies "making violent games for children" because they don't think games are for adults. 18 games are adult games, but some people automatically think games = suitable for children.

Sorry if I'm not eloquent, I'm on my phone and it's hard to type on the phone.

Lydwatt · 03/12/2010 20:10

no...I think that just about sums it up nicely...along with the belief that 18 means 15 really...so 12 is ok if you look at it like that..

BaroqinAroundTheChristmasTree · 03/12/2010 20:20

actually I think it works very well. I did exactly that with the 12+ game I have totally banned. I saw him playing it, told him it was in appropriate, explained why and removed the game. End of.