MISSING YOUTH - CALL OF DUTY GAME WARNING

Sad situation, but for the life of me I can't see how ANY fault lies with either COD4 or Xbox live.

 

I know a number of people obsessed with online gaming. One guy I know has lost his job and his girlfriend and got kicked out of school after he flunked all his classes. It started when he began playing World Of Warcraft after school and his partime job. Then he began playing later and later into the night. Then he began skipping classes to play, becoming late for work, etc. COD4 is mature rated (17+), and here is a 15 year old playing it. It's all too common, when I play it online at least 80% of the players sound like 12-16 year olds.

 

I play too, have played Live since COD2. I agree 100% that a 15 year old has no business playing it and I sure as hell wouldn't let my kids play it. Is online gaming addictive? Sure, I suppose it can be, but not any moreso than online porn, gambling, alcohol, tobacco or caffeine. I've known people to lose their jobs, girlfriends, wives and ruin their lives over all kinds of addictions. I think it comes down to the person and whether they have an addictive personality or not. I can play for 2 hours and not touch it for a month, but I can also drink two beers and stop. However, some people can't....for whatever reason, they're predisposed to addiction.

 

Agree 100%!

Having experienced Xbox Live for a few years now I love it and enjoy it. But, I honestly believe most parents who let their children participate in Live have no idea what goes on there. It's an ADULT environment, no way around it. I'm amazed at the hostility, overt racism and language used by many on Live. It's no place for children, that's for darn sure. Hell, the guys in my group that I play with are all mid-thirties to mid-forties professionals, not little kids.

I think the main problem is that many parents don't realize that turning your kids loose on Xbox Live is no different than turning them loose on the WWW for hours on end.

 

So true. I was playing Forza 2 online a couple weeks ago, and a couple kids were online, I could tell by their voices that they were just hitting puberty age and I couldn't believe the foul language coming out of their mouths. I asked them if they kissed their mothers with that mouth and I got back a tirade of 'f-yous' and bleepitty bleep bleep.

 

Are people every going to stop blaming video games instead of realizing that the fault lies with the kid and his parents for not addressing the problem earlier?

 

I have been a gamer since I was about 8. I did a report my junior year about games and how they can effect people if they play too much. There are some games, such as World of Warcraft where you can gain some skilled used in real life (Social skills, managing money, etc) Ive played it for a few years... and yes, it is addicting.

Anyways, this situation is pretty common. While doing that report I read about a kid that killed himself because his mom made him get off World of Warcraft. Also, there were two parents who let their newborn child die due to the game. Recently I heard about a "guild leader" on my server that I play on who lost her children to CPS and her job also. It made me want to stop playing before it gets to severe.. I normally just play in my free time or when I have nothing better to do.

Games can be a serious problem if you let them. They can ruin your life but at the same time they're alot of fun.

 

How does it build social skills?

 

The whole game is based on doing group stuff, and you have to work as a team to do some of the higher content in the game. There is a bit of stuff you can do by yourself though.. like quests. But thats about it.

 

I am sorry, but this is a pretty stupid title for this thread.

It has nothing to do with the game itself but all about how the parents handled the situation. It could have been any other game. Game addiction can happen and is like any other addiction and you may not want to quit cold turkey.

It's not like this kid reenacted scenes from COD.

Where were the parents when their kid started playing VG's 10+ hours a day?


I play lots of vg's myself; have been since Galaga and Intruder Attack It says something about your value system and goals in life (or lack thereof) when you have to seek escape in the cyber world.

Kai

 

Like any addiction there is an underlining problem that needs to be addressed... Don't address it.. problem gets worse as do the addictions.

Solve the "Problems" the Addictions go away.

Just my .02

 

I have played COD2 since I was 12. Now 14.

I don't understand how bad this can be? Okay, a little bit of blood, and shooting people. Wow, sounds horrible.

Put your strength into stopping your kids from drinking or smoking weed, rather than fuss over an online game. We're not going to turn into serial killers because we play an online game.

 

My parents let me play pretty much any game I want. I realize that there are some things that aren't ment for minors, and I respect that. But not trusting your son/daughter enough to not get addicted or turn into a whackjob? To me thats just a lack of trust.

And I do realize that video games can be addicted. I once played an online MMORPG for 16 hours a day for close to a whole month. Nothing else mattered. If it gets that severe, then stop it (like my parents did) but don't assume that on their first try of a COD they're going to turn into a serial killer.

Please, enlighten me as to why I wouldn't understand, and please don't give me the "oh you're too young" speech that we all get daily.

 

Oh okay, sounds good.

 

+1


My parents trust me with the games I have, as they should IMO.

Andy, you and I seem to be the only teenagers that arent insane.

 

I've been playing computer games since I was 5-6ish, I've been playing console games since I was 9. I was 14 when Xbox Live came out, and was one of the first people to have it. Let me tell you, I was OBSESSED with it. I couldn't get it out of my head, constantly playing it. School days would pertain to 6-8hrs a day of gaming, weekends would hit sometimes almost 24hrs straight. Pathetic. I've always loved the shoot-em-up games. My parents never once told me I couldn't play a game...

...then again, by what I've told you so far, you're probably wondering if my parents have ever told me to do anything. Not really. I know kids who get so engrossed in games, it almost sickens me. Some of these kids are running around pretending to shoot each other, until they can get a paintball gun, then they really do it... these things will goto your head. They can begin to control you in a way. I'm never surprised to hear stories about any situation stemming from any game... stuff done online can be taken to heart, taken personal sometimes.

[I'm 20 now, still have Xbox Live, but I'm a stock broker... so don't worry, I do other things with my time ]

Just my perspective, take care all,
Colin

 

True.

Atleast we won't be the ones shooting up schools.

 

what did they blame it on before video games were around.

When Team Fortress came out with Half Life I think I played it until my eyes bled. I have not played in years but I was just thinking about TF the other day and wondering if anyone was still on the servers.

 

I have to agree, younger children should not be playing. Surprisingly, I don't say this because of the game itself, but due to the language and racism prevalent on the local servers. Playing CoD4 and listening to the other players communicate is one of the only times I've heard the N-word in the past 10 years I'd say. Not cool.

 

Very, very true.

You have to realize though (which I'm sure you do), what is said pertains to the people playing. CoD4 is 9/10 times minors, just a bunch of children. Though Rainbow Six, a more difficult, and realistic game- I usually find it much more enjoyable to be playing along side those with a similar maturity level.
-Colin