reptilescorpio
Member
Yeah that's inappropriate. My son is 6 and none of the kids around his age have played COD/GTA/etc thankfully.
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I went to a 7-year old's CoD themed b-day party
- Thread starter The Lamp
- Start date
Yeah that's inappropriate. My son is 6 and none of the kids around his age have played COD/GTA/etc thankfully.
theangrypirate
Member
Don't worry about it OP, most kids like playing games that involve them feeling powerful. Most studies have shown violent games don't lead to violent kids, or later on, violent adults. It can make kids act more aggressively but it's not correlated with violence. I understand if parents don't want to expose their kids to certain things but I also understand some parents think their kids can handle it. Either way, it's not for us to decide.
I have a 10 year old with special needs that thinks trolling people is the greatest thing ever. Where did he learn this behavior? Youtube videos!
For the first 6 years of his life he was emotionless, mute and avoided social interaction. All the experts either wrote him off or just didn't have an answer.His mother and bought a tablet and drilled him with questions while telling him stories about what was on the screen everyday. Eventually he learned to open apps and explore point and grunt. Grunting turned into words and words turned into sentences. I believe if I listened to the experts my child wouldn't be as far along as he is.
The point of the story is as parents we try to do the best we can with what we have. Whether or not we did a good job isn't just one act or moment but a continuous effort.To sit in judgment is wrong. If little billy plays COD at age seven and turns out to be a doctor no one cares. It's the what if billy grows up and shoots up a mall or a school that worries people that have an objection. If the OP really was uncomfortable he could have left the party.If he felt the parents did something wrong he could have made a phone call. Just my 2 cents. By the way the 80s where awesome.
For the first 6 years of his life he was emotionless, mute and avoided social interaction. All the experts either wrote him off or just didn't have an answer.His mother and bought a tablet and drilled him with questions while telling him stories about what was on the screen everyday. Eventually he learned to open apps and explore point and grunt. Grunting turned into words and words turned into sentences. I believe if I listened to the experts my child wouldn't be as far along as he is.
The point of the story is as parents we try to do the best we can with what we have. Whether or not we did a good job isn't just one act or moment but a continuous effort.To sit in judgment is wrong. If little billy plays COD at age seven and turns out to be a doctor no one cares. It's the what if billy grows up and shoots up a mall or a school that worries people that have an objection. If the OP really was uncomfortable he could have left the party.If he felt the parents did something wrong he could have made a phone call. Just my 2 cents. By the way the 80s where awesome.
Sparrowhawk
Member
I've been playing stuff like Doom since I was like five, so I dunno.
NJDEN
Member
I played Halo CE when I was six. My favorite game was Kotor in that same age range. Games like GTA III, and Vice City weren't allowed until I was a bit older.
I don't think CoD is too crazy (although "No Russian" is pretty heavy for kids), I think the big thing today is online connectivity. When I was young it was play the same levels over and over again, sometimes a friend came over and we could play together via split-screen. Today pretty much everything is internet connected and that's where the real risk is for kids below the age of 9...
I don't think CoD is too crazy (although "No Russian" is pretty heavy for kids), I think the big thing today is online connectivity. When I was young it was play the same levels over and over again, sometimes a friend came over and we could play together via split-screen. Today pretty much everything is internet connected and that's where the real risk is for kids below the age of 9...
I mean at the end of the day, it's not like I'll ever be able to force a parent to not show their kids something, nor would I want to. I'm just saying it's problematic and definitely does have a lot to do with our country's perception of guns and military.
A 7 year old is not mentally or emotionally prepared for learning about genocide and war. Period.
Like this isnt preteens were talking about that are learning about this stuff anyway. These are children learning basic math and reading skills in 2nd and 3rd grade
kitchenmotors
Banned
He's not.
I work with kids in this age group. A 7 year old would be barely starting 2nd grade this school year. Parents are shitty and don't know how to say no to their kids under pressure. And then want to blame others when their terrible parenting comes into question.
panama chief
Member
man another thread of "i saw something and didnt take a single goddamn pic before running to GAF"....
like another poster said, if you didnt like the theme, head out. i personally would never throw my son a CoD themed party. be damned if were celebrating digital warfare.
like another poster said, if you didnt like the theme, head out. i personally would never throw my son a CoD themed party. be damned if were celebrating digital warfare.
Shadow Broker
Banned
AM I SPEAKING SPANISH! ?!?!?! I know my English can be fucked up from time to time.
YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER OR MOTHER OF EVERY FUCKING CHILD BORN.
If you want that kind of censorship move to China or Russia. There you fucking go.
All you sound like is a "forget it" trying to tell good decent people how they should live and RAISE THEIR CHILD. Honestly, it's people like you who are the threat to freedom of speech and expression.
It's up to the parent because they should know the child better then anyone else. If they feel it's appropriate I see nothing wrong with it.
Nobody who shows kids this stuff is a goid decent parent. Parents can do whatever they want, doesnt stop them from making shitty parental decisions and being bad paeents
Masterspeed
Member
Waterguns, Nerfguns are all types of toy guns. COD is just this generations toys.
Indiana Jones movies are suitable for kids and those movies are filled with guns, explosions and grenades.
Indiana Jones movies are suitable for kids and those movies are filled with guns, explosions and grenades.
" I was hit when I was a kid and I'm fine" not saying at all kids who play COD will turn out any different just pointing how silly that comment sounds.
Psychoward
Banned
I've gotta wonder how you can draw a parallel to water guns, Indiana Jones and call of duty and not feel at least a little silly.
Shadow Broker
Banned
Now that I understand you alittle better. I can agree with you.
I'm former military and.. yes that's a problem plane as day and I know the other side of it.
I hope I didn't offend in anyway. You're one of the more sensible conversation I had today.
double jump
you haven't lived until a random little kid ask you "how do you make love".
Kids been playing with action figures and GI Joes since forever. COD is just the evolution of all that imo. I'm not sure if it's "right" or not but it is what it is.
Spieler Eins
Member
Again, there's not much else to say if you can't see the morbidity in 7 year olds gushing over grenades and bullets during their birthday celebrations. It's simply not normal. They barely learned how to read, but I'm sure they all have super educationists as parents that convey how they need to properly reflect their fun they have while giving headshots - lol.
One doesn't need more than common sense to make the connections between normalizing military porn for 7 year olds and living in a culture that still fosters the biggest gun violence among industrial nations, the only one where "don't take my guns away" is a strong political narrative. Shit like this will add up. And to be clear, I'm always arguing against single pieces of entertainment media possibly being the cause of violent/sexist behaviour. I also wouldn't argue for a super strict agreement with age ratings. But this example reflects a bigger picture.
No, as i went on to say, its more on how young the child is that makes this wrong. A 10 yearf old in 4th grade learning about WW1 i wouldnt have a problem with.
The problem is the difference in mental maturity between a preteen and a 7 year old
Dylan Sexbang
Banned
Eh. I was playing Halo at 8, and Goldeneye before that.
poodaddy
Member
This guy gets it.
I remember going to a buddy's house years ago, around the time that MW2 was huge, and he used to play that game in front of all three of his kids constantly. Well one day his youngest son, about 3 years old, comes up to me holding his nerf rifle properly and looking down an imaginary iron sight. He apparently had the selector switch at burst as he fired three rapid shots at me with perfect form, and then he yelled "I got you Mark you're dead!" I mean the kid shot at center mass and everything. I was a little disturbed, but of course my buddy didn't even notice as he was yelling obscenities at people on Xbox live while playing some more MW2.
Not that it has anything to do with this story, but his wife ended up leaving him around 4 years later for playing games too much and not spending enough time with his wife and kids. Food for thought.
I wonder if all the people saying "I played X and watched Y when I was a kid and turned out fine" are just delusional people that are actually horrible individuals.
Most likely they are 20-something year old kids themselves.
CrackPebbles
Member
Hmm when I was his age I was big into mortal kombat, if we could afford theme parties i'd totally have had a mk themed party. CoD seems tame comparatively. But yeah it's inappropriate. There's really no way to spin it as anything but inappropriate I mean there was a fucking grenade cake.
Shadow Broker
Banned
Look Fam
We're just saying the samething to each other in different ways.
You have your personal beliefs and I respect that. I really do. Let's agree that we disagree and leave each other be.
Maybe in the next topic we can have a better conversation with each other and maybe we'll find ourselves like minded or close to it. Peace?
Pantz
Member
Played with "grenade" water balloons as a kid and it was rad.
Children are extremely impressionable small human beings, not just the property of their parents. Their brains are literally not developed enough to properly process the information they're being exposed to in cases like this, and just because they're not having nightmares or fighting other kids in school doesn't mean that there isn't anything going on at a deeper psychological level.
As far as I'm aware, there isn't any conclusive research on what could be leading kids from developed nations like the US or Western Europe to 4chan/GamerGate/Neo-Nazi communities and mindsets, but it is proof that you should be mindful of what you're exposing your children to. I'm sure all those Neo-Nazi's parents thought they would "come out fine" too. Not saying CoD lead directly to that, obviously, but something did.
I absolutely agree with everything Orb has said so far.
Duchess O'Death
Member
I played Counter Strike when I was 6. I was obsessed with GTA III when I was 7. And here I am *spoiler alert* a normal person.
NowhereFaded
Member
Can OP post some pics of this COD themed party?
I am truely curious! In this day and age, unfortunately, this is the norm. Kids grow up to god damn fast these days. I have two daughters. Lord help me.
I am truely curious! In this day and age, unfortunately, this is the norm. Kids grow up to god damn fast these days. I have two daughters. Lord help me.
Yes, peace lol. Sorry for going so preachy there.
Maturity is not the same between two individual the same age. I can go pull two 18 year olds off the street and both will have different levels of maturity.
I see it as a thread full of people who are judging the parenting of a family they've never met and have no insight on. When I don't have all the information on a situation, my personal philosophy is to give people the benefit of the doubt. If I'm wrong and this kid is being negatively affected by playing CoD then I'll gladly take that L. I have no issue eating crow, I'd rather look like a dumbass in hindsight and be right then go on believing something I know is false.
There's a researched reason for that as well. A 7 year old would likely be at the preoperational stage of development, or the very beginning of the concrete operational stage. 10 year old kids are solidly the latter or if they're really advanced possibly even beginning to touch on formal operational. They're absolutely capable of more.
Exposing children to the ethics of war when they're still entirely egocentric is... eh...
From teabagging to teabagging.
Look up Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development. It accounts for variation between individuals - it's naive to think your 10 year old is at the same level of cognitive development of a 15 year old, regardless of how well-behaved they are.
Uh.... thats a complete false equivalency. Children that young have rapidly developing minds, and think in completely different ways from kids just a few years older.
bytemovies
Member
Were Army Men games on N64 inappropriate?
Lol it's actually rated T for Teen. America is unbelievable.
WHY are there a bunch of green plastic dudes and one normal chick.
Sexism. The answer is sexism.
To actually chime in on this thread: I feel personally like yes, a COD birthday party is kinda a terrible idea but I also think people who imagine that 7 year olds playing COD advances the gun culture or something is kind of an overreaction? I think to advance the gun culture you have to have the mental capacity greater than simply being able to list all the Avengers. You might argue that the parents are actively supporting the gun culture by throwing the party, but I counter that they are probably just trying to throw their kid a party and have no inclination of supporting or not supporting gun culture, they just want their kid to have a fun party and look cool in front of their friends. So if anyone is guilty of supporting gun culture its Activision and their marketing, not these people. Also, I think the parents have the right idea that this is simply a "phase" and not make a big deal of it. My favourite movie as a kid was Angels in the Outfield and I went on to never ever play a single sport or attend a single sporting event. Still think Danny Glover is a cool dude though. By 2020 the kid will probably think Splatoon 3 is the shit and want a Splatoon-themed birthday party. Ya'll overthinking this.
However, where I am more concerned about are these kinds of games tend to have "skinner box"-like mechanics that reinforce addictive behaviour. COD and before that WoW had level up systems that basically got you hooked on levelling (IMO) and encouraged you to constantly push to reach the next level. Now there are games like CS:GO with gambling-like elements like loot boxes, I think those are much more dangerous to developing minds. Kids I think are less likely to become desensitized to real violence through video games, I hazard to say there are even studies that corroborate this, but I think some of the more insidious stuff that exists in multiplayer and mobile games are potentially harmful to a young developing mind.
Edit: Also, like someone else pointed out earlier in this thread, for every person who goes "well I did x at y years old and I'm a normal person." just assume they are a delusional serial killer.
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
Same, worked with this age group and no, exposing your kids to this kinda stuff is absolutely not ok. Media shapes the view of your kids. And considering how much of an absolutely shit show online gaming is when people straight up making careers out of harassing children in online gaming on COD specifically, it's absolutely not ok.
Holy shit I didn't even think about the loot crates
Shadow Broker
Banned
I seriously thought I was out and you pulled me back in.
So you're one of those that blames video games and movies for a high school shooting. EVERYTHING I HAVE POSTED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID. This is hardcore derailment because this is a completely different topic at hand.
Where did I say they were property of their parents? Have you read what I've been posting? Why do I care about this shit still?
Please don't read above and I'm sorry for how I may have came across. I got a little mouthy there.
TissueBox
Member
Yeah in spite of what people say I am still careful when it come to exposing younger kids to certain media, including violence in games. Sure they could love GTA or CoD, but you also have to make sure they don't blur the lines too much. Different kids work in different ways, though, so it's at the parent's/guardian's discretion. 'Tis all I could say.
Can you reference this? Because a quick glance at meta-analyses on the issue suggest otherwise.
Lord... relax. As a father to 2 beautiful girls I don't have to worry about this, but at 6-7 I got a sheriffs big wheel complete with fake replica shotgun because that's what boys did at that age, played around with fake guns. Glad to say I've been anti-gun as an adult my whole life. While not advocating COD to young kids, I'm certainly not going to judge other parents.
I think 7 is too young for this, and I won't let my kids play these games, but what other people do with their kids is none of my business.
Ultimately I think in the US we are a lot more accepting of violence than we are of sex. I hope to be a grandfather one day, but I don't want my kids to kill anyone so I think this is a little backwards. I don't let my kids consume sexually explicit media either however.
Ultimately I think in the US we are a lot more accepting of violence than we are of sex. I hope to be a grandfather one day, but I don't want my kids to kill anyone so I think this is a little backwards. I don't let my kids consume sexually explicit media either however.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
No, please don't put words in my mouth. I'm saying that bad parenting and in many cases mental disorders that don't get treated lead to that. The media that you expose children to absolutely affects them. This is fact. It affects you too, and me, and everyone else- but children are the most impressionable and the least capable of coming to their own informed conclusions about what they're consuming. I've seen kids say some absolutely vile, racist, homophobic shit because that's what their parents taught them. Same shit.