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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how many people here don’t have a games console

145 replies

Ofti · 18/05/2020 16:21

Bit of a thread about a thread, but no judgement on yes/no. I see a lot of assertions that kids will be ‘weird’ or outcast without access to a console.

I know there’s phone gaming, PC etc as option but (to satisfy my nosiness ) how many here have children of 6 or older and no console?
YABU- I have a console
YANBU-I don’t have a console in the house

Personally we have 5 children, 3 primary age and 2 adults, and never have had a console Or gaming PC. No bans with friends or anything though, they can play games on other devices and have in phases. I’m just wondering if this is as unusual as it seems on here. I didn’t think it was, but maybe it is. DH and I grew up without and just haven’t really thought about it a lot or been nagged much over them. I’m not anti-gaming, only as it’s not a lure for me I haven’t splashed out. Played drunken Xbox boxing etc over the years at parties etc though.

OP posts:
Spied · 19/05/2020 09:20

We have 1 PlayStation 4.
DS and his Dad are the ones who use it. It is played on every day by one/ both of them.
DS also plays games on his tablet.
DD only plays on her tablet.

Longdistance · 19/05/2020 09:25

We had a WII which broke. Now we font have anything as we didn’t really use the WII that much anyway.
Dds 9 and 10 have used consoles at friends houses, but tbh they like their iPads, they’re not that bothered. Though dd1 cane home as a kid laughed at her as she didn’t know what an X box was.

littlepeas · 19/05/2020 09:28

We have a switch (and a mini nes and mini snes). 3 dc - only the 2 boys (8 and 11) are interested in it and they are allowed to play for limited to time at weekends only. No internet connection or any sort of playing online with mates and that won’t change for a long time. No iPads or phones.

margaritasbythesea · 19/05/2020 09:35

We don't have one. Dd who is 12 has no interest. DS, 10, had two friends within a few doors of our house who he used to play with all the time in the street. They were then bought consoles and disappeared into them. DS was so disgusted he decided he wanted never to have one.

If they change their minds I would consider it. DH and I don't have any interest in them ourselves.

Jocasta2018 · 19/05/2020 10:19

I have a Nintendo Game Watch which dates back to the early 1980s. It's still going strong - I guess the technology then was not designed to be disposable.
The Game part, Manhole, has given me hours of fun over the decades as it's highly portable - smaller than a mobile phone. It's travelled the world with me & has been a great conversation starter on many a long flight!
The Watch part is a digital screen and was a very useful alarm clock pre-mobiles.

vengeancer · 19/05/2020 10:22

2 adults, 2 DC (10 and teen). No such thing in our house. we are not into gaming at all.

Moose42 · 19/05/2020 10:31

No kids yet here, but DH and I have an xbox one each and a Nintendo switch each, and two TVs in the living room. We’re both gamers and it makes it easier to play online. If we are ever finally lucky enough to have kids, then they’d have supervised access to our consoles, and potentially their own consoles when they’re older if they’re interested. I can’t see any children of ours not being interested though.

Mrskeats · 19/05/2020 10:32

None here

Paddingtonthebear · 19/05/2020 10:34

DD 7.5 years old has a Nintendo DS which she got for Xmas, so she’s had it for 5 months. No plans for anything else and wouldn’t have got her anything before age 7 either.

Allflightscancelled · 19/05/2020 10:38

We have a dd, now 16. She had a Nintendo DS back in the day but went off it and we got rid. Now she has an iPhone and does everything she wants to do on that, but I don't think she games much, if at all. When she was younger she and her friend occasionally played a bit on her friend's Wii (I think) but I don't think she was fussed either way.

CovidicusRex · 19/05/2020 10:59

We don’t have and and won’t ever be getting one. They take up space and make noises while screwing up some people that play them. Why take the risk over something so unpleasant.

MrsPinkCock · 19/05/2020 11:09

We currently have 24 consoles/PCs in the house (six of us).

If you include iPads that goes up to 30.

I’ve had at least one console or gaming device constantly since 1986!

BabyDubsEverywhere · 19/05/2020 12:15

Me, DH, and 4 DCs (12, 11, 7, and 6).

Xbox 1 x4, desk top computers x3, laptops x2, tablets x3, smart phones x6, smart TVs x5 (plus another normal one) echos x5, Nintendo DS x2, a few of those mini consoles (Nintendo, commodore 64, sega)... can't think of any other tech that games are played on aside from all the paraphernalia that goes with the above.

DS just said they play games through the fire sticks as well, we have 6 of those.

Moondust001 · 19/05/2020 12:19

A what?

REdReDRE · 19/05/2020 12:30

We don't, not anti them but just never really come up. Our children have never asked. They play on the dancing ps4 game at a friend's house but that's it.

They do play games on their fire tablets though.

Phosphor · 19/05/2020 12:37

Not only do we not have a games console, we don't have a TV. Based on the adults I know who game regularly, I see nothing to disabuse me of the opinion that it creates maladapted people with stunted imaginations and limited intellectual resources.

CMOTDibbler · 19/05/2020 12:39

We don't have a console, but ds(13) does have a PC which he games on, and socialises on

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 19/05/2020 12:40

Not me.

The iPad on its own causes enough trouble in this house (and it's strictly rationed). Like hell am I adding gaming consoles into the mix of the screen-time rows!

SVRT19674 · 19/05/2020 12:49

Don't have one and wont have one. I'm lucky in that my husband thinks it's boring, so we're on the same page.

Sonichu · 19/05/2020 12:52

"Not only do we not have a games console, we don't have a TV. Based on the adults I know who game regularly, I see nothing to disabuse me of the opinion that it creates maladapted people with stunted imaginations and limited intellectual resources."

But vegetating on your phone or laptop to post on MN is absolutely fine 👌

Phosphor · 19/05/2020 12:54

You may well be 'vegetating', @Sonichu, I am waiting for a work document to upload to Dropbox, and have given my eight-year-old a schoolwork break to go on his trampoline.

Sonichu · 19/05/2020 12:56

Congratulations.

QuestionableMouse · 19/05/2020 12:58

I have an Xbox one but it's tucked away. Keep thinking about getting it out but I can't face the updates 😂😂😂

CovidicusRex · 19/05/2020 13:00

@Phosphor you really need to improve your social circle clearly.

LagunaBubbles · 19/05/2020 13:00

Not only do we not have a games console, we don't have a TV. Based on the adults I know who game regularly, I see nothing to disabuse me of the opinion that it creates maladapted people with stunted imaginations and limited intellectual resources

Haha what a wanky post.