When 13-year-old Evan Spencer wanted to play the ultraviolent video game Call of Duty, his parents gave him the green light, on one condition: He had to follow the Geneva Conventions.
... but I also agree that the boy should get out and be active... I remember playing soldier with my friends in the woods and at the playground... just as fun
Mr. Spencer also knew his son would play at his friends' houses if the game was banned at home, and he didn't want to provoke that kind of secrecy in their relationship.
Will dad feel the same way if his son starts smoking pot in a couple years?
Will dad make him learn how to grow his own pot so he doesn't waste his allowance buying crappy bud from losers?
Will dad restrict his pot smoking to four days a week?
I've played Call of Duty (various versions). As I recalled the A.I. controlled enemies do not follow the Geneva convention, nor do they surrender. Not sure how much fun a game would be if you have all of these restrictions that the enemy is not required to follow. The kid would be useless playing multi-player. Nice try, but turning a game into a homework assignment would either breed deception (no dad, I didn't just use the flame thrower on the bunker) or the kid will just go somewhere where he's free to play as he chooses.
Well, if nothing else, it's a novel way of dealing with violent video games. Kudos to the father for trying to actually parent instead of passing the buck or just ignoring his kid.
A novel approach, I hope it works for them. I Myself have a 9 year old son and like every 9 year old he likes video games (as do I). My restrictions to my son are simple, 1. no vids on school nights period, 2. Fantasy violence only, no war or games where your actions result in people dying. You can feel free to kill as many orcs or other creatures as you wish. I'm a bit leinient on this one as I condone the killing of Stormtroopers. 3. If the rating is over teen, I need to judge the game myself prior to him playing it.
Will dad feel the same way if his son starts smoking pot in a couple years?
Will dad make him learn how to grow his own pot so he doesn't waste his allowance buying crappy bud from losers?
Will dad restrict his pot smoking to four days a week?
Ahh, the pitfalls of parenting....
I Myself have a 9 year old son and like every 9 year old he likes video games (as do I). My restrictions to my son are simple, 1. no vids on school nights period, 2. Fantasy violence only, no war or games where your actions result in people dying. You can feel free to kill as many orcs or other creatures as you wish. I'm a bit leinient on this one as I condone the killing of Stormtroopers. 3. If the rating is over teen, I need to judge the game myself prior to him playing it.