Second Life ?

Katinkka

Don't ban it. I know a little of SL and can see why he likes it an d that he isn't exposed to the adult side of it. I would however, try steer him onto something more age appropiate. My 8 yr old loves Bin Weevils. And we can all play that.

My six year old plays Rift. Mostly solitary. That's a 12+game but he's good at it and pretty much ignores everyone else in it. I don't feel it's innapropiate for him to play.

Carl31

Lol at the do gooders in this thread. A little boy has innocently found something he thinks is wonderful, and to be fair with monitoring it still could be.

Op, could you not play it with him? Just make sure he doesnt go anywhere he shouldn't? Im pretty sure he will get bored soon, little boys obsessions often die a death fairly quickly

Little boys get obsessed with things anyway, and exposure to adult things doesnt always lead to a life of crime, i watched 18 rated films at 9 or 10, off the telly. Ive grown up to have a normal life, family, professional, dead bodies in the freezer etc...

Carl31

onlyroz wrote: »

I am a bit confused. The poster asked for advice over whether this game was suitable for her son and said the school had expressed concerns over his obsession. They asked for advice on how to ease him away from the game and for info on suitable alternatives. Virtually everybody has said the game is not suitable, and a number of posters have described a wide range of alternative games that are more age appropriate. So why is the poster still defending the boy's use of the game?

Because, in theory, what he wants to use it for is essentially harmless? Its like hes being punished for something he hasnt done

Its a shame theres no way round it

Carl31

http://community.secondlife.com/t5/English-Knowledge-Base/Maturity-ratings/ta-p/700119#Section_.3

Says here you can adjust the maturity settings to restrict adult lands and audio etc... might be worth looking into

Welshwoofs

I just wanted to put a different perspective on this thread because I work in the online games industry.

Firstly, whether you restrict your child to the general area or not the FACT is that he'll come into content with highly stylized '18 rated' avatars - think females with massive hooters and barely any clothes on. It's like a moving FHM - are you happy for your 8yr old to pore over 'glamour' type content? Whilst the rules say there is no sale of sex objects in the general areas, there's nothing stopping people using them. In fact he wouldn't know what they were if he stumbled across them; shiny little balls which 'trigger' simulated sexual acts if clicked on.

The other point I'd make is the developers, Lindon Lab, are based in the US and have to comply with a piece of legislation called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) which essentially BARS them from accepting registrations from under 13s unless they either a) get verifiable parental consent in advance or b) scrub ALL personal information before publishing. So by allowing your 8yr old to sign up to Second Life, you are in fact placing the developers in a situation where they are in breach of a law and if your son's presence is made known they must, by law, delete his account.

Seriously, parents who think the 'know better' flouting the Terms of games and signing up their underage children is the bain of my life because they are the FIRST people who then come complaining the moment their child sees something they don't like.

There are many, many online services for children, including ones which allow children to create items which are more appropriate for your children to be on and perhaps more importantly, LEGAL for your children to be on!

pulliptears

MarilynMonroe wrote: »

I wouldnt let him on again. I've read reports about peadophiles grooming kids on there and I think you can have virtual sex on it!
Its 18 rated for a reason xx

As OP has repeatedly stated she is sat next to him whilst he's playing the game so your scenario is highly unlikely.

peachyprice

Carl31 wrote: »

Little boys get obsessed with things anyway, and exposure to adult things doesnt always lead to a life of crime, i watched 18 rated films at 9 or 10, off the telly. Ive grown up to have a normal life, family, professional, dead bodies in the freezer etc...

It has absolutely NOTHING to do with leading to a life of crime. The SL comminity is riddled with sexual predators, it's well known that it's a pedophile grooming site, it's well known that adults use it to fulfill their sexual fantasies. Unless OP is sitting there next to him, every single minute that he's on that site, watching his every move, he's being exposed to those kinds of people.

It's all very well saying he only flys around in his tardis, but he will soon bore of that and will find ways to get into other areas of the game, the older he gets the sneakier he'll get at hiding this from him parents. Best to stop it in his tracks now, no?

mishkanorman

onlyroz wrote: »

I am a bit confused. The poster asked for advice over whether this game was suitable for her son and said the school had expressed concerns over his obsession. They asked for advice on how to ease him away from the game and for info on suitable alternatives. Virtually everybody has said the game is not suitable, and a number of posters have described a wide range of alternative games that are more age appropriate. So why is the poster still defending the boy's use of the game?

I didnt ask whether it was suitable, just if there is anything i needed to be concerned about. All the points raised have been taken on board - the majority of which are peoples hearsay of what second life actually is.

I asked for specific Doctor Who related alternatives that have the same principal as Second Life as thats what holds his interest, only ONE poster has provided that. Others who have come up with suggestions have been for things totally unrelated and are no good to us (mainly as they are already being done)


Carl31

The settings are on, he cannot see any chat, or wander into any adult only areas. Im with him the whole time (or my mum or his dad) any we havent seen anything that concerns.


Welshwoofs

Thanks for your advice, presumably we have yet to see any of the avatars as you've described due to the type of area we are visiting. The few 'people' we've stumbled across tend to be wizards and alike !


Im going to spend the morning looking at the sims !

peachyprice

pulliptears wrote: »

As OP has repeatedly stated she is sat next to him whilst he's playing the game so your scenario is highly unlikely.

Always, 100% of the time, guaranteed, no need for a pee, or to get something out of the oven, or to answer the phone? I doubt it.

pulliptears

peachyprice wrote: »

Always, 100% of the time, guaranteed, no need for a pee, or to get something out of the oven, or to answer the phone? I doubt it.

The barrel is now being well and truly scraped I feel.