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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked that my friend lets her 7 and 8 year old boys play...

81 replies

jenniferalisonphillipasue · 29/07/2013 23:06

Call of Duty on the xbox?
I am not one for games consoles etc but I am certainly not the console police. However I was really shocked that when I took my son to play at my friends house this morning her eldest son said he wanted to play CoD. I thought maybe he meant some kind of role play but there by the TV was COD2 (rated15). I was really shocked by this.
I really don't want my ds exposed to this kind of stuff. How do I go about saying this??

OP posts:
justanuthermanicmumsday · 30/07/2013 02:35

Everyone has their own limits. So one parent may see it as perfectly normal whereas you will say no its unsuitable.

I think its unsuitable a family member has it and other trashy games like that. I've told him while he's living with us he's not to put on any games or movies in front of my children since he doesn't see the big deal.

He wouldn't like most of us he's desensitised to the violence, gore, abuse, and sexual filth in movies, tv, games and music. many children aren't and they often question things if innocently exposed to them. I.e music why is that song about stealing someone else's girlfriend mum, that doesn't sound good. No it doesn't its shite, but some retail outlets play any junk to fit in with the pop culture and make us listen to their garbage whilst we are trying to shop.

This lady is your friend I'm sure you shold be ble to tell her anything without causing offence. Just say I'd rather the children didnt play games that are not for their age.Isn't it better that they are active instead of sitting in front of a screen? play dates with games and movies most modern kids do that stuff at home ditch it ration it. We need our kds to have active minds and bodies.

cantspel · 30/07/2013 02:39

I think some of you are thinking of COD Black ops 2 as i dont see any 21 year olds having any interest in COD 2 as

  1. It is a very old game
  2. It is shit especially when you compare the graphics to the later games of this genre
  3. there has been 8 cod games released since this one.
cantspel · 30/07/2013 02:43

There is no sex in cod2 and the swearing is very minor. The odd bastard quite a few bloody's and damms.
It is a very early cod game and no where near the black ops ones.

tittytittyhanghang · 30/07/2013 02:45

This lady is your friend I'm sure you shold be ble to tell her anything without causing offence. - Have you read any of the threads on mn?

justanuthermanicmumsday · 30/07/2013 02:48

I'm a bit blonde you'll have to spell it out lol

well i know if it were my friend she would understand. If she did get upset it would only be a day or two then it would be a ok between us.

tittytittyhanghang · 30/07/2013 02:54

Haha perhaps but in that day or two of being upset she would be on mn, asking us if she WBU to be offended at your perceived criticism of her parenting :D

2boys3girls · 30/07/2013 03:45

I have a 12 and 9 year old who have played the odd adult game however every game my dh owns has no sex or nudity whatsoever. His game console is in the living room so every game is checked and rechecked before buying. I have no problem with the violence, my dds are fully aware that it's all fake and they honestly don't care either way

Kiwiinkits · 30/07/2013 04:18

At 12, maybe. A mature 12.
But 7? Too young.

ratbagcatbag · 30/07/2013 04:31

DSS has played these since about 11, online though initially with everyone he doesn't know muted. The campaign is normally more graphic than the team shoot em up. I find all the deaths cartoon staged. He's now 15 next week, hell be having the new one when it comes out. Each to their own.

There are rules, such as only adding people you know etc.

We do not allow saints row or grand theft auto in this house though (or at least not yet)

littlewhitebag · 30/07/2013 06:31

SS would certainly not become involved just on the basis of a child playing COD. I am a SW and I have plenty more serious stuff to fill up my working day.

However, if I was involved with a family who allowed this I would point out its unsuitability. I met one boy who was neglected by his mother and played games like this. The fantasy world spilled over into real life for him which was very sad to see. I think more secure children would realize it was not real.

littleblackno · 30/07/2013 07:33

Teachers may very well pass on names to ss. SS would then move on to their other more serious cases of abuse and neglect. I don't think it's right for young kids to play games rated 15/18, but to say it "serious abuse" is a bit ott and if you compared it to the average child protection case load wouldn't come anywhere near the radar.

MurderOfGoths · 30/07/2013 07:40

I always wonder why people are so blind to video game ratings. It's not a complex thing to understand.

But then people have still got this stupid idea that all games are for children.

JenaiMorris · 30/07/2013 07:46

Some children (and adults) are susceptible to this kind of thing, some aren't.

The biggest issue for a secure child with a healthy ability to separate fantasy from real life is that gaming can be a massive sucker up of time (like Mumsnet tbh)- which will be why the poor child little describes could possibly do with less of it and why, being neglected, his over use of games is understandable.

COD 2 is, as others have pointed out, like an old war film or those old Commando comic books. It's not Black Ops or GTA.

Meglet · 30/07/2013 07:53

And there's me still stopping the DC's watching CITV.

I would not be impressed with a primary age child playing an 18 cert game, although having been a teenager I can appreciate that older kids do have these games i was crap at GTA. But at 7 and 8, no.

Vakant · 30/07/2013 08:09

I am shocked that people let their young children play games intended for an adult audience, why not just say no? They will not be damaged or deprived by being told no will they?

MiaowTheCat · 30/07/2013 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sallystyle · 30/07/2013 08:39

My ex has let our children play this game. I can't say I was impressed with that decision but I am not overly concerned either.

I am pretty sure they aren't going to turn into serial killers because of it.

I don't want it in my house but their dad has other ideas and sadly, I can't control what happens there and I decided them playing the odd game of that is not a hill I am willing to die on.

MurderOfGoths · 30/07/2013 08:40

"They will not be damaged or deprived by being told no will they?"

Poor little darlings will feel left out of course, deeply damaging.. Hmm

thebody · 30/07/2013 08:44

I actually do belive I am in a parallel universe!

teachers calling ss because a child talks about a game in the playground?? fuck off.. SS are a tad busy you know.

personally I find Eastenders and Hollyoaks etc far more worrying as it looks much more like real life where these games obviously don't.

we usually allowed games no older than 3 years older so out 15 saw 18, our 12 saw 15.

but we vetted them first to see the reason for the rating.

jamdonut · 30/07/2013 08:45

In my experience young children play these games because their Dad bought it and plays it. You should hear what some children have been doing or watching at the weekend, when we do circle time on a Monday morning.Hmm

gazzalw · 30/07/2013 08:50

Think we should count ourselves lucky our 12 year old DS only ever playes Minecraft...perhaps we have got off lightly???

fuzzpig · 30/07/2013 08:51

YANBU, our previous neighbour was playing COD, GTA etc at that age and although he was welcome in our house, DD (3 years younger) wasn't allowed round there unaccompanied as when she did go round there, she just sat watching him play 15/18 rated games. None of my business if his parents let him play them but I wouldn't want my DCs to.

noblegiraffe · 30/07/2013 08:53

God, why can't kids just play Mario. It's not like there aren't plenty of fun alternatives out there.

meditrina · 30/07/2013 09:02

I don't let my DC watch films rated way older than their actual age, ditto games. The rating here is about twice the actual age of the DC - not a near miss by any standards.

No, I don't like realistic first-person shooter games for children (even older generation ones - and their graphics aren't shite other than in comparison to more modern).

I do think parents need to play the game themselves before considering if their teen should be allowed to play. It's a bit like watching porn, if you find yourself revolted by the objectivisation of the 'people' and the entitlement to kill that is part of the first-person shooter role, you might not want DC exposed at any age. And you might want to talk to your DC about the violence represents, so you know what they think of the context.

(It's the similar approach to all adult content a teen might encounter, and education/dialogue is always appropriate).

Joanne279 · 30/07/2013 09:08

My dp plays this (yawn)

But there is NO WAY id let my kids of 8 play it. It's violent, you kill people, you get more points for head shots and when your ammo runs out you get to knife people! Delightful!

Why can't kids be kids? Why do we have to expose them to this level if violence at such an early age? From thd few comments I read, it doesn't matter if thd graphics are crsp or if its set in 1950, its rated 15 for a reason!!!