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AIBU?

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Original poster

Children and 18 games

23 replies

Lexie1970 · 09/09/2012 09:18

We were with a group of friends last night and we started to talk about video games.

It transpires that one of the teachers had commented that it wasn't appropriate for child A to play on these particular games as he has a life limiting condition and can be aggressive at times. This lead me to saying that call of duty was rated 18 for its extreme violence and there is a reason children ( of 9) should not be exposed to them. The father owns a shotgun and has instilled in the boys the danger of guns etc and is also in the forces so effectively has been trained to kill and I said that because of his occupation that he looks at these war games in a different light to me.

The mum then said that as child A has this illness that if he Enjoys these games and he is not able to run around with the others, then why not let him play them as it is something he can do. I totally get what she says and agree to a point but have reservations about playing these games.

We then got onto pornography and these being rated 18 - I questioned why you feel pornography is unacceptable yet these games aren't and they are both rated 18 for a reason.

Parent of child B then said he let son of same age play the games too and said it was 1% of children adversely affected by these games - but how do you know whether it will be your child in years to come? Change of conversation to something lighter......

Aibu

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 09/09/2012 10:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Lexie1970 · 09/09/2012 10:55

Basically If you have a child of 9 with a life threatening illness does that make it ok to play Call of Duty and other 18 rated games? :(

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 09/09/2012 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 14:49

I doubt very much it's only 1% of children that play 18 rated games that are affected by them.

YANBU

lljkk · 09/09/2012 15:11

I think it's a sad world if rated-18 games are a valuable part of maintaining good quality of life for a 9yo. Any 9yo.

MonkeyRisotto · 09/09/2012 15:26

It's like the idiots that let their kids watch South Park - "it's a cartoon so it's for kids" Hmm

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 15:28

Oh yes, don;t get me started on South Park! Angry

catwoo · 09/09/2012 15:33

My boys have been playing this sort of game since they were about 4 or 5 as have most of their friends.i can't see any sign of aggression in them or their friends.

jellyboatsandpirates · 09/09/2012 15:35

I've a 9 year old. No way would I let him play an 18 rated game, and I will pull my judgy pants up and judge anyone who lets their child at that age.
Just what is the point? They're 18 for a REASON. He doesn't need to see that level of violence.
Oh, and no he's not watching South Park either. (Used to like that myself, but at the age of about 20!) Honestly, some parents must be lacking some vital common sense gene somewhere in my opinion.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 09/09/2012 15:36

It's amazing that I know two kids who are in the 1%. One of the boys gets almost in a trance and doesn't hear you and gets really annoyed if he is told to stop playing. The other was at my house at Christmas. Everything which is not violent is 'boring'. We watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes and he kept asking when the 'good' bit was coming i.e. the violent fighting. He couldn't watch normal kids stuff, no attention span.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 09/09/2012 15:37

catwoo you kids have been playing Call of Duty and similar since 4 or 5? Wow. No Night Garden and Rastamouse in your house then.

WhereYouLeftIt · 09/09/2012 15:39

Sorry, but your friends are idiots.

There are plenty of games around that a 9 year old boy could enjoy without resorting to 18 games. Any of the Lego games or Raving Rabbids games for example.

jellyboatsandpirates · 09/09/2012 15:56

Yup, agree whereyouleftit there's enough for them to play with without the violence stuff. My 9 yr old loves Super Mario, and the FIFA football games. He's never asked for more violent stuff as he's never been exposed to it in the first place and is more than happy with what he's got.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 16:03

cat it's not only aggression you have to worry about. Would you let your 5 year old watch an 18 rated film too?

VonHerrBurton · 09/09/2012 16:38

Slightly different angle - who would let their dc play at a friend's house you knew had this game? (call of duty) Would you call the parent up and specifically say you didn't want your dc to play on it?

I'll be honest, I let ds go and make him promise me he won't play on it. Naive? yeah, probably. I watched 18 horror films at about 11/12 at a friend's house who had a 'video shop' - my parents would have gone absolutley apeshit if they'd known.

I dunno. A bit torn, really. They are lovely kids, sweet, polite and do lots of other stuff as well as gaming, so I am pinning my hopes on the trust I have in my ds. But as for having 18 games in our house - no way.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 18:04

Von I do the same - if I find out he has played on them it'll be the last time he goes there. I have control...at the moment.

LaurieBlueBell · 09/09/2012 18:30

Hell would freeze before my dc played these games under my roof at any age. I work with young people and it is always always obvious which have been allowed to play 18 games.
Agree op your friends are idiots.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 09/09/2012 18:33

Laurie obvious in what way? I think I see a lack of attention span and patience in them but I hate violent games so think I might be projecting. I find it strange how widespread this is as well. It seems to be so many young children playing them and I wonder what the repercussions might be.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 18:36

I agree it's obvious - apart from the constant chat about the games, it's the total lack of interest in anything else - and also the bad language (and it's usually kids of the parents who say there is no affect/effect who're the worst offenders ime)

Lolwhut · 09/09/2012 18:44

There are lots of great games that are much better suited for younger DC's other than COD etc. It is NOT just that they are too violent it is also that they are too addictive for young DC's and that the style of gameplay is designed for adults.

It is even worse when young DC's are allowed to chat online with other players. Some parents seriously haven't a clue what goes on. We all game in our house and my teens now play COD etc (they are now old enough) But whats the rush???

Some of the old games are still very playable even by older teens and their DM's Who doesn't like Marioparty, it's great retro fun.

I think it's lazy parenting to let little DC's play COD etc. sorry about judgy'ness

Lolwhut · 09/09/2012 18:49

PS some games are permanently banned from my house, eg grand theft auto. It's a disgusting game. My DC's do not have a problem with me 'banning' it either. It is such a popular game and I wonder how many people know what it is actually like.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 09/09/2012 18:54

There is a distinct lack of interest in anything else.

I agree about online play. The racist, sexist, homophobic, bullying, ignorant stuff that is on there. I shudder to think about 8 and 9 year-olds thinking that is normal.

valiumredhead · 09/09/2012 19:01

And it DEFINITELY filters through to play in the playground.

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