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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

fuzzpig · 01/07/2012 22:44

Obviously there is no need for you to get it for him but it's only a 'wish' - and you can't stop anyone else getting it for him. I completely understand your feelings though.

scummymummy · 01/07/2012 22:46

My kids play COD routinely at other children's homes. They have never played gta. Not sure why but it is the case.

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:50

Probably just because COD is newer scummymummy

Ilovepie · 01/07/2012 22:55

I did not let my DS's have any first person shooters at all until 16 and non that we're rated 18 plus until 17/18ish. I will never let grand theft auto in the house, it's a revolting game. My kids don't have a problem with this as there are loads of other great games about. I play video games myself and know how addictive and compelling they are. In my opinion first person shooters are not suitable for younger children. Its one of the few things I am quite judgey about.

There are so many other fantastic games about that I really don't see the need for the violent games, at least until they are older.
The argument that all the other kids play it is really lame.

scummymummy · 01/07/2012 22:58

Could be, Stuntgirl. Or maybe my children and their mates have the wrong games console for gta? I have heard parents being worried about their children playing gta though and not so much about cod. But I think we've all kind of given up now our kids our teenagers anyway.

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 22:59

"There are so many other fantastic games about that I really don't see the need for violent games"

Exactly this pie!

StuntGirl · 01/07/2012 23:03

You're right scummymummy, GTA sort of became the poster child for the "video games are evil" brigade, imo it's no better or worse than many others of the same ilk. Saints Row 3 has some pretty grim parts to it but it doesn't generate the same level of feeling, and it's bought by and for the exact same demographic.

DilutedDante · 01/07/2012 23:11

The last GTA was in 2008. COD comes out every year and also they'll play it online every night. Which probably explains why you are always hearing of COD, and not GTA.

Frankly, the language they will encounter on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network is a hundred times worse than what you'll see in the game, which is past the point of acceptable already. If you don't want your child to encounter racial, homophobic or gender based slurs, or graphic sexual descriptions, you really shouldn't be letting them online. Especially with the shooters.

It's not confined to that though. I used to play Uno, which may as well have been called "I want to see a picture of your penis".

Saints Row 3 is much worse than GTA. It took the concept to it's puerile extreme, whereas Rockstar focused on making a much more mature game with GTA. It's violent for sure, but in the same way the films that it's aping are, ie The Godfather, Goodfella's and the like. Saints Row on the other hand gives you a giant purple dildo and lets you run down the street naked with it slapping passers by with it.

Original poster

DowagersHump · 01/07/2012 23:39

Bloody hell Diluted! I think we'll stick with Mario in our house

OP posts:

Trioofprinces · 02/07/2012 08:09

OP- YANBU.

This debate has been had a few times here and as usual there are totally varying opinions. I have an 11.5yo DS and he is in the minority at school because he is not allowed to play it. I just can't bring myself to think it is in any way suitable for someone of his age.

Hownoobrooncoo · 02/07/2012 08:14

My son has been getting hassle at school recently from his 'friend's' as he's not cool enough. In part because he doesn't play COD, have a mobile or is on FB. He's 9 yrs old. Thank you fucking sheep parents.

AWomanCalledHorse · 02/07/2012 08:23

Yanbu OP.
I would only feel comfortable buying COD/letting a child watch age restricted stuff if I were the parent (esp. if he has Aspergers) & knew the child inside/out, but blimey Hownoo! WTAF does a 9yr old need FB for?
Hope there is something else you could buy him instead OP?

I think another reason COD is more successful than GTA is that's it's multiplayer. I love COD online but think the one player mode is a bit rubbish.
There is going to be a new GTA 5 game soon, wish Rockstar made another Red Dead instead...

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 02/07/2012 10:15

My DS has call of duty 3 on wii - its fine. I would never let him play on line though as I have heard the language etc is very bad!! He doesnt have a mobile of a fb account and wont have for a very long time!

CaramelTree · 02/07/2012 10:42

Hearing bad language and slurs online is a matter of who your child is talking to. If your child has their game set up so that they only play with friends online, they are not going to hear slurs unless their friends are horrible people.

DS (14) has played some war games. Other games that are popular with secondary school boys are Minecraft (on PC) and all the Lego games - Lego Star Wars, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean and so on. If your child has no particular interest in war games and this request has arisen from nowhere, you could go for something else instead. I suspect a 12 year old with aspergers would like minecraft a lot.

freddiefrog · 02/07/2012 10:49

Fortunately, neither of my 2 (10 and 6) have ever shown the slightest interest in these sorts of games, DH isn't a gamer either so I don't think they know they exist iyswim, but having seen it played at friends houses, I think COD/GTA/etc will always be banned until they're old enough to get a job and pay for it themselves

I do admit that I'm not massively strict with age ratings - I tend to watch the film/play the game first and then if I'm happy with it, let them.

imnotmymum · 02/07/2012 10:52

I would not get hung up on it and buy what the hell you like I hate people sending me pressie lists and purposely ignore them

valiumredhead · 02/07/2012 10:52

Not in my house, no.

valiumredhead · 02/07/2012 10:53

Oh sorry, I thought it was your dc OP.

It's only a wish list - that's the whole point you can wish for whatever you like!

Original poster

DowagersHump · 02/07/2012 12:51

He didn't send the list though - his mum did. Not sure if she's actually read it though!

OP posts:

whathellcall · 02/07/2012 16:46

Agree with Pie. Having seen DP playing GTA it will never be allowed in this house for my dcs. Games like COD etc are also extremely violent and graphic, and IMO definitely not suitable for anyone under at least 16 yrs.

Serendipity30 · 02/07/2012 17:01

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.
but what child will rationalise that.

It amazes me how many parents let their young children watch and play 18 certification films and games, some of their reasons being

its not that bad really
all their friends have

bizarre

CogPsych · 02/07/2012 18:48

When i was a kid i used to play Super Mario, which consisted of stamping on small animals and throwing fireballs at turtles until they hit in their shell whereupon i would kick their shell off the cliff.

Different sort of violence, but violence all the same.

Lots of kids who played violent games of old (Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, etc) turned out alright, and every case of some psychopath murdering people shows a much higher prevalance of childhood abuse and bullying being a factor than having played violent video games.

Original poster

DowagersHump · 02/07/2012 18:56

That's cartoon violence Cog - I think there is a difference. I play Mario and Princess Zelda and I don't feel the same sense of 'Die you Fucker' that I used to feel when I played Doom (which was a PC game where you shot German soldiers)

OP posts:

TheBigJessie · 02/07/2012 19:09

DowagersHump I thought they were demons in Doom. One of us is remembering wrong. Who is it?

TheBigJessie · 02/07/2012 19:09

*wrongly

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