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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 20:50

YY to minecraft they are all playing it and I think it is age appropriate, I do think kids are under immense pressure to play games not to be sterotypica but especially boys it isn't easy but at 8 you still have enough influence on him to say no ,

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 21:00

Agree with JC - I had GREAT fun playing Vice City, which we got in the bundle with the xbox but that was definitely kept out of their reach. Strangely Call of Duty seems to be the one they get the most pressure over.

Luckily DS 2 not even vaguely interested in either, he is TOTALLY obsessed by Minecraft - starting to wonder if he is going to be an architect as some of his creations are wonderful.

Ilovemyself · 10/06/2013 21:14

I agree 8 is too young, but the rubbish about people (adults or kids) being desensitised or that it makes violence is just rubbish.

The vast majority of people have enough brains to distinguish between reality and video games ( or films for that matter)

My wife and I have played COD for hours at a time, and as far as I know neither of us have killed anyone

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 21:16

well adults can distiguish between what is real and what is not, It is not about being a killer or going round with a machine gun strapped to your back with young children it is much more subtle,

BegoniaBampot · 10/06/2013 21:18

Loads of kids play it that age and some younger. Posters always say no way etc, but I think the reality that by age 10 many kids are playing it - just that many parents don't admit to it on here.

Ilovemyself · 10/06/2013 21:22

Do those that stop their children playing cod also stop them playing soldiers in the garden ? And as unsaid, I so think that 8 is far too young for Cod. )

ThereAreEggsInMyViolin · 10/06/2013 21:22

YANBU

Also, don't forget that the gameplay is not suitable for children - it is not just because of the content. It is an compelling and addictive game that is designed to make adults want to keep playing. It's too intense for children.

LadyInDisguise · 10/06/2013 21:24

The vast majority of people have enough brains to distinguish between reality and video games

Well yes and no. Studies have shown for example that people are driving more dangerously after playing a car racing game on the computer. So it does have some effect in real life. So playing that sort of game will have some effects. Perhaps not going to kill someone but being more aggressive certainly.

ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp · 10/06/2013 21:25

Yanbu at all. It's an 18. For damn good reasons.

I have a 7 year old who is just getting into Minecraft, and it's addictive enough!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/06/2013 21:31

My DS is 13 and he does have some 15/16/18 games (all Fantasy Sci/Fantasy type)

Of course ALL his friends played COD when he was 10yo.
Except they didn't of course. (I asked the parents subtly)

I won't let him have any COD (too graphic) or Far Cry (male rape scene)

He doesn't even question now. He knows the answer.

If he goes to a friends house or he had someone over I always check what games they use and if my DS games are ok. I know some parents wouldn't let their DC play Skyrim or Assassins Creed.

Ilovemyself · 10/06/2013 21:31

Ladyindisguise. I am sure research can prove anything. I have played driving games that have the sole aim of causing crashes, but it doesn't make me try and force people off the road.

And after playing hours of COD, my wife and I certainly don't seem to have any aggressive tendencies ( well none more than normal lol)

I am sure that there are some people out there who do struggle with disguinguishing reality and fiction, but they could equally be turned to violence by music ( look at Charlie Manson ) or fiction.

confusedalways · 10/06/2013 21:37

My 8 year old charge plays this and is so violent when angry, kicking, hitting, saying he wants to kill me/hates me, rude language. Coincidence? I think not.

BarbarianMum · 10/06/2013 21:46

Ilovemyself could it be that you and your wife are adults? And therefore have brains that function quite, quite differently to that of children/young teens?

There is shedloads of data out there showing how damaging exposure to onscreen violence and gaming is to young people.

Most 8 year olds cannot reliably distinguish fiction from reality. That's why they believe in magic, Father Christmas etc

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 21:49

ach I was going to go into it all but what Barbarianmum said

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 21:52

I have noticed that the xbox affects DSs moods way more than the games he played on the WII or playstation used to but then if he is connected on xbox live to some of his friends they get very involved in the game and annoyed with him as he is not so into it. He tells them i've told him to get off when he's had enough!

He likes the Arkham (Batman) game, again a 15, but not realistic like Call of Duty.

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 21:54

DH can be bloody jittery after he plays xbox so what is it like for a child

Triumphoveradversity · 10/06/2013 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Badvoc · 10/06/2013 22:00

Would you let him watch a cert 18 film?

Nerfmother · 10/06/2013 22:00

Ilivemyself - bit like a forty a day smoker living to 100. Proves ciggies are fine doesn't it? Loads of research showing its a poor idea, not much I've heard off showing the opposite.
Any numpty can see that allowing an 8 year old to play cod etc is just easy life parenting.

FunkyNails · 10/06/2013 22:03

My DSS had exactly the same argument when he got an XBox for Christmas and we haven't given in but we know a large proportion of his friends do play 15s & 18's almost exclusively. The problem seems to arise that this type of console (xbox & playstation 3) are made to gamers and unless you want to play a racing or sports game like Fifa there is little choice for them. For his 10th birthday we tried to get some games that played to his interests he is really into Dragons atm more without breaking the age rule 12 was the max and it was very hard. If it helps his most popular games are Dragons Dogma, Minecraft, Blue Dragon and Skylanders but be prepared for that to cost you a fortune on figures. All of these games have been good at bringing his friends here to play lower rated games though

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 22:09

LOL Triumph there have been big bust ups when X has accidentally blown up Y's house when trying to "mine" under it but recently they all seem to have learnt how to work together.

BlueSkySunnyDay · 10/06/2013 22:12

Badvoc you would be surprised what films some parents do let their children watch - my boys don't like horror, we don't have any because neither of us do, but some of their friends have been watching horror films for years.

pleiadianpony · 10/06/2013 22:14

No! YANBU! Developing brains really don't need COD. My husband's brain doesnt either but it's probably past it's best so it doesn't matter for him.........!.

Ilovemyself · 10/06/2013 22:17

Nerfmother. Any numpty can read that I have constantly said that 8 is too young for CoD

mrsjay · 10/06/2013 22:22

yes but you did say that people are not stupid and gamers dont go around killing people when playing Cod which of course they dont but this isnt about adults this is about young children and developing brains and seeing images and playing games that they are far to young for

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