to stop my 10 year old from playing Call of Duty?

[2kidsandcats]

The game is 15 rating. My husband let him play it once, and I felt very uncomfortable about it.It is 'just' shooting, and my dh argues it's 'just like cowboys and indians', or pretend gun games that boys play. We've 'compromised' and let him play a 12 game that uses guns. When my ds is on x-box you can see what games his friends are playing remotely - and I'm pretty shocked that many of them are playing Call of Duty - and worse, and some of these kids are from the kind of families you wouldn't expect to be so lax.

So am I being unreasonable?

[exoticfruits]

I'm sure it was an 18. I stood firm on the age on the case-it didn't make me very popular, but it isn't a parent's job to be popular.

[robotlollypopman]

TalkinPeace2- Are you suggesting video games caused the riots?

[TalkinPeace2]

robot - no
but they create an attitude in those who play them that shooting and destroying (even virtually) is acceptable to progess in the game
and for those without proper home boundaries, the gap between screen and real life can blur
especially if they feel disenfranchised

[DoMeDon]

It is a general attitude - DC who grow up with permissive parents/homes without boundaries/immature parents have a messed up way of looking at life. Have little respect for themselves and others, sense of entitlement, lack of empathy, inner anger.

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

My DS1 nags me constantly for this game. He is 9 and "all his friends have it".

I have told him he CAN have it......when he is 18.

Would you let a 10 year old watch stuff such as 'Saw' or 'Hostel'? They are also classed as 18, so no difference really. Just because it features animated and not real people, it's still violence which could affect young impressionable minds.

[robotlollypopman]

I'd say the issue is parenting then, not video games. There has always been violence and the fact that people truly believe that antisocial behaviour is a recent invention indicates rose tinted memories and naivety.

Did Jack the Ripper play too much Grand Theft Auto?

Blaming any form of media is a way to excuse lazy parenting. I've played video games my entire life and come from a single parent family. I know not to riot. I was taught the concept of right and wrong. If there are children for whom access to violent images DOES affect mentality, this is an issue that requires proper counselling and treatment.

Still some newpapers would have you believe that all the world's problems can be solved by banning certain games and movies and that those who were looting jewellery stores were emulating Sonic the Hedgehog collecting rings.

It's all bollocks.

[SaffronCake]

This program might interest you. The bit I think you'd want to see runs from 08:20 (just after 1st ad break) to 12:45, then from 32:36 to 37:49

www.channel4.com/programmes/jo-frost-extreme-parental-guidance/4od#3149380

[robotlollypopman]

And to back up my earlier point, it IS a case of bad parenting because, I repeat, COD is an 18 rated game and so parental responsibility is a factor if a child is playing it.

[robotlollypopman]

Also, my DS plays any game that has been released. If it didn't I'd return it.

[robotlollypopman]

''But compared to his friends I am very strict .''

Maybe, but his friends probably aren't parents.

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

I played COD as a teenager. It taught me that I didnt want to grow up to be in the army cause I didnt want to be shot at in real life.
Based on this, I will actively encourage DS to play it

[Roo83]

I've played COD-actually I used to play it online a lot. I was in my 20's at the time and still ended up having nightmares about it! This probably makes me sound a bit daft, but honestly, if you've played it, it's so realistic. I could feel my heart pounding, sweaty palms and breathing rate increase when I was hiding. I'd physically jump if someone 'killed' me, and get a buzz from the number of 'kills' I'd got. I'm not crazy-i'm an adult, with a degree, and (pre kids) a decent job.....the effect this could have on a young developing mind does not bare thinking about. I will not be letting ds play COD (or similar) until he's 18.

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

When I was 14 my best friend talked me into going to cinema to watch Friday the 13th. I was practically in tears on the way home and could not sleep without a light on for quite a few days after.

So you can't tell me that young impressionable minds won't be detrimentally affectd by these type of games.

[robotlollypopman]

I'm not saying you weren't scared Nick. But did you become a serial killer? Did you think being a serial killer was acceptable because you saw it on the screen?

[CurrySpice]

You can't even get on the CoD web site if you say you are 10

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

No I didn't become a serial killer, but it's a memory, a very uncomfortable memory, that has stayed with me for the past 30 years.

[FabbyChic]

My son is now 18, his brother is 23, I used to buy them 18 games when they were 14. It has not harmed them they are children to be proud of, they don't swear, they don't loot, they both work hard educationally, one has a maths degree and has just started his first job paying 50k a year. Im sorry but children don't turn out bad or wronguns because of what games they play at a young age, they turn out to be arseholes because their parents did not raise them properly and didn't give them any values.

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

But surely, letting them play on games that are innapropriate for their age is not raising them properly?

[elastamum]

I have a 12 and 10 yr old DS. The eldest plays CoD online with a number of his school friends in the evenings. They are scattered all over the county in different villages and play and chat to each other through their headsets.

I have looked at it and I'm not particularly worried by it to be honest. I dont believe for a moment my boys cant seperate real life from on line games or films. My limit on films for them is 15 and Ive usually watched them first. I dont allow swearing in the house, although I will (and have) explain any rude word they care to ask. i have never witnessed any violent or unreasonable behaviour from either my children or their friends

All of the boys who play are perfectly normal teens, very polite, dont swear in front of adults, do their homework, play team sports, but they are all rural kids and it is their way of interacting together in the evening as they live miles apart. Obviously, a fairly large number of them, teachers children included, have the game as a number of boys from his yeargroup play together.

DS2 (10) has played, but isnt remotely interested in CoD. He is usually too busy climbing stuff, which is far more of a worry to me, especially when he disappears up the hill on his own looking for trees to climb!

[elastamum]

Curry spice, No internet savvy child will ever register their own age. Ds2 is 105 on facebook!

I think it is far more important to discuss things with children than simply ban and thus mystify them. In our house we all watch the news over breakfast in the mornings and talk about what is happening and why. We had long discussions about the recent events in Norway and why these sort of things happen and we have talked about the recent rioting

My family also dont hide death from our children, so my children have seen real dead and dying people (relatives) from a young age and have been bought up to understand death from a perspective that is very far divorced from games.