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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not allow my 8yo DS to play call of duty

87 replies

mydoorisalwaysopen · 10/06/2013 19:55

He thinks I am the most evil mother in the world. A lot of his friends are allowed to play it but I will not give in. So, AIBU?

OP posts:
Gigondas · 10/06/2013 19:57

No yanbu - it's not for kids.

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 19:57

YANBU they have ratings for a reason folk will say you are being a bit paranoid etc but he is 8 plenty of time for call of duty and I bet not all of his friends are playing it

Kirk1 · 10/06/2013 19:59

Yanbu. His friends wouldn't be allowed to play either if their parents know the content.

BarbarianMum · 10/06/2013 19:59

No. Actually I think it would be abusive to let him play it.

SauvignonBlanche · 10/06/2013 19:59

8 - no way!
I can't remember exactly when I gave in but DS was definitely a teenager.

BarredfromhavingStella · 10/06/2013 20:01

Absolutely NBU-they have age ratings for a reason.

FoundAChopinLizt · 10/06/2013 20:02

I wouldn't have it in the house, that's even if I didn't have dcs.

I don't mind what other people do, though.

It's an 18 certificate, though, I wouldn't let my 8 year old watch an 18 film.

The clips I have seen on youtube glorify violence, have foul, sexist language and seem very mindless.

There are so many other things to do in the world.

Kirk1 · 10/06/2013 20:02

Also, I bet "all my friends are allowed" actually means one of them got hold of it from an older cousin/sibling and bragged, getting serious "cool" points. Anyone else saying they played it probably are just bandwagon jumping to look cool.

21stcenturydropOut · 10/06/2013 20:05

Yanbu. Its definitely not for kids. I was furious the other day to find my Dh sat with my 5 year old Ds playing a fighting game. I can't remember the name of it but I know its rated 18. It was made worse by the skimpy outfits the female characters were wearing. My mil was sat right there when I shouted at him to turn it off. She must have thought I had lost the plot Grin but I couldn't give a toss really. Both of them should have known better.

freddiefrog · 10/06/2013 20:05

YANBU

I won't let my 11 year old play it either

I was surprised how many of the 'all my friends are allowed play it' friends are actually allowed to play it. One of my neighbours actually bought it for her 11 year old son

superbagpuss · 10/06/2013 20:07

I got cross that my dh played cars 2 with my 4 year olds and in some races they have to shoot each other. now when I tell them off they try to shoot me

EllieArroway · 10/06/2013 20:07

Definitely, definitely not. I am fairly lax about such things, but even I would say that 8 is far too young for COD.

Stand firm, OP. And I'd be amazed if all of his little 8 year old friends were actually allowed to play it - maybe one or two at the most.

SmiteYouWithThunderbolts · 10/06/2013 20:09

YANBU. I was dismayed to learn that my 8yo had been allowed to play it at his friend's house. I have no opinion on his friend's mum allowing her children to play (they're a little older than my ds at 10 and 14) but I was furious that she didn't check if I minded my 8 year old joining in. He has been told that he is not playing it again.

cosydressinggown · 10/06/2013 20:09

I'm amazed by how many kids are allowed to play this game who are younger than 18, and think when my kids are old enough they are going to hate me, as I will NEVER let them play a game like this underage.

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 20:19

DH plays it I hate it it is so violent and gruesome I have just started allowing my 15 yr old dd to play infact i think she wanted to play just so she could say to her friends she had Confused cos she isn't that interested anymore, you can put it down to a 12 on Xbox but still It desensitises children to violence, no it wont turn them into a serial killer or anything but I do think video games that are violent does have an effect on little children, It is actually against the law to let them play it ,

CAF275 · 10/06/2013 20:22

YANBU. We all used to pull the "but all my friends..." line. Stand firm. If I got a fiver for every time my DC said they hated me I'd never need to work again Grin

Alisvolatpropiis · 10/06/2013 20:23

Yanbu

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 20:24

I used to say but if your friends wanted to jump of a bridge naked would you want too , until dd1 at 10 said maybe i would Grin cheeky madam

I never bought into the I hate you nonsense they dont hate us they are just pissed off at not getting their own way

CAF275 · 10/06/2013 20:26

I never bought into the I hate you nonsense they dont hate us they are just pissed off at not getting their own way

Precisely mrsjay. I don't buy it either as i know they don't hate me. They soon get over it.

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 20:31

My 12 year old plays it, he has three friends who are completely obsessed but he can take it or leave it which I am delighted about, I don't think he will be asking for any more of them!

I certainly wouldn't let an 8 year old play it but I am sure some of their friends will at that age.

Original poster
mydoorisalwaysopen · 10/06/2013 20:35

Thank you. I have shown him your answers and he had calmed down a bit. He no longer thinks I'm the worst mum in the world:-)

OP posts:
EleanorFarjeon · 10/06/2013 20:36

8!

My son is 14 and has never played it. 'But my friends..' holds no truck with me and he realises that and doesn't even bother to ask.

WilsonFrickett · 10/06/2013 20:39

I am actually looking forward to DS first 'but my friends...' moment. I will answer 'you are not your friends and I am not their mother' and know that my transformation into my mother is complete Grin

YANBU, at all.

JCDenton · 10/06/2013 20:44

I play games, it's definitely a bit much for an 8 year old. Getting into teens I'd be a bit more lax depending on the individual.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of his friends were playing it, some people still think that video games = for kids sadly. I once visited my sister a few years back and my 7yo nephew was quite happily sat playing GTA: Vice City.

Cracking game but now anyone thought it was ok for a young kid is beyond me.

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 20:46

I don't think you can underestimate the pressure they are under - DS was feeling very isolated about not having it, some of the boys were being horrible. I did the whole "if they are really friends".......eventually someone else bought it for him for his birthday. He can say hand on heart now "i've got it but I don't really like it"

Although some of his friends parents have accepted them looking at porn since 10 so they are obviously f*ckwits.

Does your son play Minecraft, that seems to be the one that has them all hooked - they spend all their time building farms and planting crops.