to think it's wrong of my DP to play COD Modern warfare 2 with his 10 year old son?

[travispickles]

Or am I old fashioned? To me it is irresponsible, as it is an 18 and contains scenes of graphic violence. But I have a bee in my bonnet about it anyway. So...AIBU??

My son has this game, and I would say that no way should it be an 18 rating, I'd let a 10 year old play it if I had one.

i posted about this before. yes, it's a pretty violent game. if i remember rightly it is the game with the hideous additional scene where the character machineguns civilians in an airport. this scene can be skipped though.

my dh was given it, and thought it was OK, but we would not have it on in front of the kids. He plays it when they are not around.

I know it's wrong and don't think yabu for your own circumstances, but would say that at least they are playing together, he's not playing alone.
My DS plays this with his dad, he's nearly 10. They play very occasionally, it's a treat for them both and (apparently) they can turn off the blood.

I'm with you and have banned it in our house, while DCs are awake (DH plays)

But, DS1 (10yo) has played many times at his friends' houses and thinks I am wholly unreasonable, as presuably do his friends' parents. These are all people who I (otherwise) think of as highly responsible parents with largely pleasant, well behaved children BTW.

I've never taken much interest in the actual game, so can't comment on the content, but it's rated 18...

All kids are different, plenty of 10yo are able to play a gory game without having nightmares, will not start repeating the language (because they are mature enough to know that it would not be acceptable), and are not going to go out and re-enact what they play on the screen and kill someone.

Ive watched my son play hours of it, he is 17. It's no less violent than a 15 rated film, it is done in cartoon form too. It isn't real life.

So what's the point in the age restrictions then? Who decides?

In my book it is.

YANBU

ds plays it at his dad's. He's thirteen. I wouldn't let him buy it- he gave me the "but all my friends play" line- apparently, though, they do!

still hate it...makes me v uncomfortable

It is extremely realistic, and unlike watching a film, the player is engaging with the action and driving forward the killing.

Mutt - in a way, yes.
Playing with someone is different to playing alone, when all the thoughts are in your head - with a parent especially so.
It's a special thing for them, they do as a treat and get excited about.
Weirdly, he's very conservative about other games and won't pick any other 16/18s.

all mine play it,they know its a game and its not real,they play online with each other too,more annoying that they all shout at each other to come and help or to stop nicking the care package!

Of course it is about how mature and intelligent your kid is - there can be no question about that. WTF do you think it's about then Mutt? My DS has played this type of game for ten years or so. Funnily enough he's never yet gone on a killing spree - that's because he's intelligent and mature enough to know it's a bloody game. Cartoon. Not real. Not a 'how to live your life' instruction booklet. Game. Do you see?

So, the main consideration in allowing a child to play a video game is whether or not they will then go on a killing spree? You don't think it's possible that the game could be having any other influence on mature and intelligent kids?

OP, YANBU. They give games like COD 18 ratings for a reason and I believe that it's worse than watching a similarly violent film because they take an active role in the game.

What sort of influence do you think it would have on a sensible intelligent child?

I played space invaders when I was 10, I didnt think I was an alien.

I also watched Hammer Horror films with my dad, and didnt turn into a vampire, or have nightmares. I knew it wasnt real.

Do kids suddenly turn into a different person the day they are 18? and after years of being sheltered, suddenly they can be let loose into the real world and cope? I very much doubt it.

There's research that shows that games such as COD do have an effect on mental health. It desensitises, so RL traumatic events have a lesser impact and dreams/nightmares become less scary.

Of couse, some see this as a good thing - if you google "US military video games" you will find a lot of the research and commentary.

I haven't found anything about effects on children. But it seems pretty clear it would be reckless to say there weren't any: though views on the desirability of those effects will vary.