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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that Call of Duty:Black Ops is not a suitable present on a 12 YO's wishlist?

63 replies

DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 21:24

Just that really. It's his 12th birthday so he's only 11.

He also has Aspergers so struggles with emotional intelligence at the best of times. I can't think this is going to help.

I am hoiking my judgy pants very high. Tell me I shouldn't

OP posts:
Hownoobrooncoo · 01/07/2012 21:27

Nothing wrong with him wishing for it, whether he gets it is another matter. Lots of kids play much, much younger.

Seona1973 · 01/07/2012 21:30

I know 8 and 9 year olds that play it

poorbuthappy · 01/07/2012 21:30

Mmmm well that doesn't make it right though.
With you OP. some thing are just not suitable and adults have to make decisions.

Original poster
DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 21:32

The wishlist has been sent by his mother. I don't feel at all comfortable buying anything that says that I have to confirm I'm 18 when I buy it.

I don't know that much about it but I'd imagine there's a very good reason it's over 18 ...

OP posts:
WhiteWidow · 01/07/2012 21:34

It's not bad really

McHappyPants2012 · 01/07/2012 21:34

I wouldn't because with aspergers syndrome it will be hard explaining that it is a game and not real life

LadySucre · 01/07/2012 21:34

Well it is just a wish list, not what he will be getting.

My ds has it and he was 11 when he got it.

Original poster
DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 21:36

Why is it over 18s if it's not bad? Is it swearing? Really full on realistic violence? Porn?

I really don't know.

If my sister wants to buy it for him then she can, I just think it's a bit of a weird thing to send to her elderly parents and her (slightly less elderly) sisters!

OP posts:
Hownoobrooncoo · 01/07/2012 21:38

It's pretty full on, has torture scenes. Are people happy to let their kids watch 18 certain movies has well?

WorraLiberty · 01/07/2012 21:47

Why is it over 18s if it's not bad? Is it swearing? Really full on realistic violence? Porn?

Then YABU to judge before finding out what it is that you're actually judging them for.

Certifications are guidelines and whilst a child may not be legally allowed to buy an 18 game, they're certainly allowed to legally play it.

Therefore, the parents will no doubt have weighed up the suitability for their own child.

Petsinmypudenda · 01/07/2012 21:49

Just don't buy it?

Original poster
DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 22:04

I'm assuming there's a reason that it's over 18s - not unreasonably. And with a child who is emotionally immature, I think it's a really bad idea.

No, I'm not going to buy it, pets, but I think it's an odd thing to put on a wishlist that's sent to family members when you have to agree that you're an over 18 year old to buy it.

I'm probably an old fuddy duddy and violent scenes of torture are just like Tracy Beaker or something

OP posts:
ecclesvet · 01/07/2012 22:13

If you want to know why it was rated 18, here's the BBFC report on it.

enimmead · 01/07/2012 22:19

I know lots of year 5 and 6 who play it - why - because their parents probably got it for them.

The same parents who let them watch Saw. :(

ravenAK · 01/07/2012 22:23

I would have a go on it myself before I decided if it was suitable for one of mine - I wouldn't necessarily rule out all 18-rated material for a 12 year old.

But this isn't the situation here - you are rightly unsure if it's appropriate for dnephew, & you probably don't have time to check it out thoroughly as you might for a dc of your own (whom you'd also know better than you do dnephew).

So YANBU I think, an odd thing to put on a wishlist - if I'd decided it was OK for my own child to have a game which was rated older, I'd get it myself (apart from anything, I'd want to save myself the judgy-pant hoicking from relatives!).

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:26

Black Ops is an 18 because it contains 'strong bloody violence' and 'strong language'. One part has you torturing a guy by putting broken glass in his mouth and punching him in the face, for example. Plus, y'know, its a war game. FPS's aren't really about pleasant subject matters in general (zombies, war, apocalypse...)

So no, I wouldn't buy it for him and I don't think YWBU if you didn't either. Regardless of how many people tell you it's not that bad really or he hears worse in the playground.

scummymummy · 01/07/2012 22:30

He has probably played it loads at friends' houses. It is endemic. One of those games where a majority of parents ignore the rating, ime. Don't know whether this is a good thing but it is the reality (unlike with eg: grand theft auto).

Shoesme · 01/07/2012 22:32

Is Black Ops the one where you machine gun down 100's of innocent people at the airport or was that the game before it?

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:34

What do you mean "unlike with gta" scummymummy? GTA is as endemic on the playgrounds as COD, Saints Row, etc.

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:37

That was Modern Warfare 2 Shoesme and you could skip that section if you wanted.

Original poster
DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 22:37

ravenAK - that is exactly it. I can imagine my parents thinking 'oh okay, we'll get him a game, that's the first one on the list (it's a link so not immediately obvious unless you understand links) and then thinking 'wtf'? Well, they're 80 so they won't think that but they would be a bit shocked I suspect.

scummy - he doesn't play it round other children's houses because he doesn't really have many friends. He doesn't have facebook or email. He still plays Club Penguin

OP posts:
Original poster
DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 22:38

And what's an FPS?

OP posts:
ecclesvet · 01/07/2012 22:38

That was the one before it, Shoesme. And you don't have to shoot them, or play that level at all, if you don't want to.

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:40

FPS = first person shooter DowagersHump

Shoesme · 01/07/2012 22:43

Yeah I can remember you had the choice regarding that level, I always shot them though Grin