Second Life ?

mishkanorman

peachyprice wrote: »

And you haven't seen anything of a sexual nature, any bad language, any violence, adult costumes, nothing that would concern you, at all??

Obviously not !

elvis86

How did an 8 year old even become aware of Second Life and start playing it? Presumably you must've helped him set up an account?

It's a game for adults that allows people to communicate somewhat anonymously over the internet. I don't know anyone in their right mind who would want an 8 year old anywhere near that.

Ban Second Life and buy him The Sims.

Tropez

mishkanorman wrote: »

To cover a few points, He is monitored and limited - the hours we've sat with him have been over several weeks now.

x,y,z are very much laid down in our house and Ive made him aware that he is too young (ideally) for this type of on-line play, he does homework and plays with his brother but he doesnt (and never has) had a friend of his own. He is on the edge of several groups and plays with them at playtime, he isnt bothered by this and seems quite happy to be friendly with lots rather than friends with one.

If i could sum him up it would be to call him a geek, not sure if forcing him to play sports and join a group would be any healthier than letting him play computer games !

Well, there's nothing wrong with being a computer geek. When the machines become self-aware and decide it is time to bring about the Great Adjustment, those are the only people who are going to have a chance at saving us!

Like I say, it could very well just be a fad - a child finding something he likes and going overboard in talking about how great it is. That's pretty normal. You're doing right by keeping an eye on what he is doing on there because it is a potentially dangerous environment for a child - but even stuff like World of Warcraft, which has more content geared towards children like gnomes and the soon-to-be-arriving Kung Fu Pandas also features content, usually from the playerbase I might add, that I wouldn't want a child of mine to be seeing!

If his interest in Second Life started because of something to with Dr Who then presumably your child is the type into fantasy and sci-fi? Perhaps popping down the local video game store and asking someone who looks like they have half a clue what they're talking about (independent stores are best for this) about any age appropriate fantasy/sci-fi games could be an idea? This might help shift his attention from Second Life once he finds a game where he can actually do something!

If he were a little older I'd consider Games Workshop but they're probably a bit much for a young child, particularly given how expensive they can be... but maybe something to think about in the future.

Plans_all_plans

mishkanorman wrote: »

x,y,z are very much laid down in our house and Ive made him aware that he is too young (ideally) for this type of on-line play, he does homework and plays with his brother but he doesnt (and never has) had a friend of his own. He is on the edge of several groups and plays with them at playtime, he isnt bothered by this and seems quite happy to be friendly with lots rather than friends with one.

If i could sum him up it would be to call him a geek, not sure if forcing him to play sports and join a group would be any healthier than letting him play computer games !

With respect though if you feel he is 'ideally' to young for this sort of thing, then you should stop it really. I wouldn't give him a say in it at all.

I would think that a young boy with limited social skills would benefit greatly by joining a group and having limited access online. A geeky child still needs to know how to interact with others of their own age.

onlyroz

elvis86 wrote: »

Ban Second Life and buy him The Sims.

Actually yes, The Sims might be a good one - you can design and build your own house and fill it with people of your own design.

As for Dr Who, there's some fun looking stuff here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/dw/funandgames

And there's this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Return-Earth-Wii/dp/B0040JGNKI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322488695&sr=8-1

gingin_2

My kids like minecraft, they can build with no interaction. DD also loves Moshi Monsters.

mishkanorman

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

With respect though if you feel he is 'ideally' to young for this sort of thing, then you should stop it really. I wouldn't give him a say in it at all.

I would think that a young boy with limited social skills would benefit greatly by joining a group and having limited access online. A geeky child still needs to know how to interact with others of their own age.

His social skills are amazing, he could hold - and does - a conversation with any one who will listen. He just has no interest in children of his own age, unless they like doctor who of course !

onlyroz,

we have the wii game and he has played nearly all the doctor who games at some point (briefly)


Im only torn about him playing on second life as I have no control over who he interacts with and cant leave him to play on his own.


Tropez,

great post, many thanks !

jasonwatkins

There's always this common misconception that Second Life is a game - it isn't. If anything, it's a "life simulator".

I used it for about 6 months a few years ago and it's extremely easy to get very immersed in it and lose yourself in the fact that you're living out this whole other personality in the world.

Based on my experience of it, it's absolutely not suitable for an 8 year old.

Kay_Peel

Which one is the 8 year old and which is the adult parent?

For goodness sake use some common sense and see the obvious answer.

Block the site and find another, more appropriate, outlet for his imagination.

He'd probably love fantasy novels read to him.
He might thrive in the stimulating environment of a walk around a magical place - woods, riverbanks, beaches, anywhere in the fresh air. Walks in real places with real people will give him plenty to talk about, and distract him from his unhealthy obsession.
Let him build a rocket or get him a telescope to see the stars.
At his age, he should be playing and discovering his imagination, not sitting around on a computer.

You're the adult and only you can channel an 8 year old's natural inquisitiveness and fantasies into something positive and healthy. Wake up!

Bumpmakesfour

I have a friend who literally lives on second Life and from the bits he talks about I can absoutely tell you 1000% that my 8 year old would not be allowed anywhere near it.Surely the 18 age guide is a clue?