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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say 'No' to Black Ops Call of Duty for my 11 year old?

22 replies

Spidermama · 26/01/2011 21:19

He is sitting here in floods of tears saying it's the only thing he wants for his 11th birthday.

I notice it's an 18 certificate so I'm saying 'no' but he says ALL his friends have it and it's not really violent.

I don't know much about Wii games cos we've only just got the Wii.

AIBU?

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 26/01/2011 21:21

hahahahaha @opens popcorn@ this will be fun ...

notnowbernard · 26/01/2011 21:21

YANBU if the numerous threads on MN lately are to be believed

Sounds like a mare

pizzadelivery · 26/01/2011 21:22

Don't do it....

FooffyShmoofer · 26/01/2011 21:24

YANBU they are 18 for a reason.

and I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of shit ALL his friends DON'T have it.

penguin73 · 26/01/2011 21:26

It is horribly violent, YADNBU.

Original poster
Spidermama · 26/01/2011 21:27

Why's it an 18 then? Is it like a violent film or something?

OP posts:
Original poster
Spidermama · 26/01/2011 21:27

OK penguin x posts.

I'm standing my ground.

OP posts:
ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 26/01/2011 21:27

3rd thread on this in a week. what is going on?

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 26/01/2011 21:29

if you do a search you should find teh otehr 2 threads. pretty much answers what you need to know in those threads.

bubblewrapped · 26/01/2011 21:29

If he is immature enough to be in floods of tears (and I dont mean to sound harsh with that), then he is too young to be playing that sort of game.

Its violent, and gory, and the language is rather ripe. Some kids would be ok with it I imagine. But not all.

Go on youtube and have a look at some clips to get an idea of it.

penelopestitsdropped · 26/01/2011 21:31

My younger brother has it.
I have seen some of the game play and it is horrific.

Stabbing people up close and personal, Throttling people with bare hands. Shooting with sniper rifles through a lense which means you get to see the bullet hit at close range.

The graphics are incredibly realistic and the game is just as gorey as any top film.

Only unlike a film, he is encouraged to be the main character. It is designed to suck him into the game so that eh becomes the person doing the shooting and killing.

DS isn't even allowed to watch Db playing it let alone have a go.

Yukana · 26/01/2011 21:39

YADNBU, like someone before has already mentioned - I highly doubt 'all' of his friends - let alone more than one or maybe two his age, have this game. DP loves those games and wants it, bearing in mind he's a fully grown adult of 24 and he's been in the army himself.

I wouldn't even let him watch it being played, not until at least the age of 13 - taking into consideration what you think, his maturity, and how you think he may react to it.

bliss88 · 26/01/2011 22:03

May i ad my 13 year old borther has this game,yes he is 14 now but hes a very young 14 and hasnt hit pubity and is very much a child still but hes had many games since he was thirteen, and yes its violen, but what game isnt nowadays, but its real life its whats happening in the real world. He has obviously seen it somewhere so i really dont see the harm on him playing with it. you seem like a very sensible mum who wouldnt let her son be or get in trouble, but it really is just a game. his friends or someone close to him obviously plays on it otherwise he would not have told you about it. Use your instinct and if you feel that he shouldnt have it dont give it to him, there are much nastier things he coul dbe watching and call of duty is not one of them, please dotn let it upset you. go into the game shop and talk to them about alternative games or if they think he should play on it, most of them are boys in game shops and experts at games. your are the parent its your call. i hope it all works out x

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 26/01/2011 22:09

"go into the game shop and talk to them about alternative games or if they think he should play on it,"

well considering taht it is an 18 rated game, i sincerely hope a GAME employee would not be advising anyone to purchase it for an 11 year old.

also, what things taht are available for an 11 year old to view are worse than COD?

penelopestitsdropped · 26/01/2011 22:14

or you could maybe just apply the law.

I really don't get why so many parents think there are some rules that are ok to flout.

it's like buying ciggerettes for a 13 year old, most decent parents just wouldn't do it. and yet they seem to buy this whole "its just a game" argument.

So people who watch and know about the effect these games do have on children (witnessing such extreme violence has been proven to desensetise the player to acts of violence) decide that these games are unsuitable for children and yet someone who has limited knowledge of the game industry or criminality or child psychology thinks she knows best?

Joolyjoolyjoo · 26/01/2011 22:17

My DH got it for Christmas. Before I saw it, I really wondered what all the fuss was about, but within minutes of him switching it on, I was wincing at the language and aggression, and I really am usually fairly relaxed about these things. It's really not very nice! I have no problems with DH shooting zombies gruesomely, but this game left me feeling a bit uncomfortable, somehow.

definitely not suitable for an 11yo, imo. Sorry.

FooffyShmoofer · 26/01/2011 22:21

People are employed to judge whether these games are suitable for each age group.

They deemed it unsuitable for under 18s for a reason.

WRT black ops, it's only real life if your child is joining the armed forces and off to war.

bubblewrapped · 26/01/2011 22:32

18 certificates can not legally be sold to under 18's - but it is not against the law to play or watch them at any age.

As a parent, you know how impressionable your child is.

If you think a violent game is likely to make them act violent in real life, or seeing something gory will upset them, then you dont let them play or watch it.

Many kids of 11 will have older siblings who will have the game, so it is fairly reasonable to assume that they will see it being played at their friends houses.

I cant say shootem up games are my idea of fun, but they do appeal to male game players and over the age of 11 I cant see that it would do that much harm for a sensible kid to play them.

penelopestitsdropped · 26/01/2011 22:53

there was a study but for the life if me i cannot think what it was called so can't link it.

It basically had a load of teens and put them in front of a screen with various pictures scrolling. every now and then there were increasingly gorey and disturbing shots.

they did some test on brainwaves or whatever to show how they reacted to the various shots.

the test group that had been playing games similar to COD for the few days before hand were significantly less reactionary to even the most gorey of shots.

If you want your children growing up thinking that Violence is ok. That only the extreme is worthy of reaction, then by all means go let them play such games.

but i shall judge you and find you wanting

Original poster
Spidermama · 26/01/2011 23:25

OK thanks all. I've put my foot down.

Lucky escape.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spidermama · 26/01/2011 23:27

Lol at 'but I shall judge you and find you wanting' penelope. Grin

OP posts:
moondog · 26/01/2011 23:29

That sounds very precise, Penelope.

Not

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