Second Life ?

jamespir

mishkanorman wrote: »

so how do I change what he is ? Isnt that the same as taming down the most popular child in class as someone might see them as too free and easy with their friendships ?

He makes friends easily, just doesnt seem to want to change himself to keep them

you cant change who is if he does not keep freinds fine enroll him in things where he will make freinds and keep theres has to be other kids with the same interests round near you

but get him off the second life

RacyRed

mishkanorman wrote: »

Ok, perhaps this is why some of you are reacting like my child has been playing on COD - there are settings available - the one we have set-up is described as this

A region designated General is not allowed to advertise or make available content or activity that is sexually explicit, violent, or depicts nudity. Sexually-oriented objects such as "sex beds" or poseballs may not be located or sold in General regions.
General regions are areas where you should feel free to say and do things that you would be comfortable saying and doing in front of your grandmother or a grade school class. Institutions such as universities, conference organizers, and real world businesses may wish to designate their regions as General. Likewise their users (and others) may wish to employ Second Life's General search setting to focus and filter search results appropriately.

As I've stated, we monitor him and have never seen anything that concerns for his age. He doesnt chat, that is also disabled. what concerns me is his obession with the game and the amount of time it seems to be occupying his thoughts.

But he is going to school and talking about using software that is clearly stated as suitable for over 18s only. You may feel that his use of it is suitable but his talking about it is obviously causing concern among his teachers and probably the parents of his class mates.

Don't you see that by allowing him to use and talk about Second Life you are further alienating him from his peers? If I had an 8 year old who talked about a class mate "playing" on second life I'd not be too keen on encouraging association with that child.

[Deleted User]

mishkanorman wrote: »

My problem is he is 8 and it is meant for over 18's,
!

unbelievable!! who is the parent? you say that you sat with him for hours and it is boring

you should be on jeremy kyle, you need help in order to act like a PARENT

seven-day-weekend

heretolearn wrote: »

All he needs to do is find the other geeky kids at school - there will be some. I agree that second life is extremely inappropriate even if supervised, and how boring must it be for you to sit there for hours supervising this amount of internet use? IMO he is on the computer far too much. There are console games he could be playing instead, and that encourages him to play with someone, all the better.

My son was def. geeky, an only child who was also more comfortable around adults and found it hard to make friends easily. But letting them retreat isn't the solution. He ended up making friends with a bunch of geeks all 2-3 years older than him when he got to around 9, and one is still his best friend 15 years later. Is there a gamers club at school? I'd also suggest Warhammer/games workshop stuff - if he's a smart 8 year old he can start doing the basics and it is a very sociable geeky thing for once. You can take him along to a Games Workshop shop for him to join in a game there to see how he gets on and attend those a few times before you start laying out on his own stuff. Also card games - Magic? - again v. much in with the geeky kids but a sociable activity.

My son was exactly the same and is still into Warhammer at 31, although he does have friends (equally geeky) and a live-in girlfriend now (she likes Warhammer as much as he does ).

I think eight though is still a bit young for Warhammer unless he just paints the models and collects the armies. The games evenings are more for teens/adults.

The other game I know nothing about, but if it is a case of that or Warhammer, judging by what other people have said, steer him towards Warhammer/Games Workshop stuff, which although geeky is harmless and sociable.

RacyRed

mishkanorman wrote: »

so how do I change what he is ? Isnt that the same as taming down the most popular child in class as someone might see them as too free and easy with their friendships ?

He makes friends easily, just doesnt seem to want to change himself to keep them

You don't change what he is but you can help him find friends who have similar interests.

I'm not sure I understand your 2nd para, why would he have to change himself to keep friends? What is it that happens to cause the friendships to deteriorate?

Emmzi

All the reactions have pretty much been "bloody hell" (mine too!) and yet you are still defending your decision.

Does that not tell you something?

mishkanorman

Emmzi wrote: »

All the reactions have pretty much been "bloody hell" (mine too!) and yet you are still defending your decision.

Does that not tell you something?

Im not clueless, nor do I belong on jeremy kyle. He has an interest that Ive tried to develop with him. There is most definately nothing that ANYONE would be concerned about on the game. Believe me I dont allow swearing, fighting or anything inappropriate for his age.

My problem is not the game, its his obsessive interest that I'd like to be able to positively change without him feeling like he is being punished or limited

mandi

Hi mishkanorman

I can understand the reactions you've received but wanted to add my thoughts .

I played played Second life for quite sometime - not now I might add .

The game can become very obsessive which is one of the reasons I stopped playing a further two are to follow .

There are real people behind the avatars and there are a lot involved in the sex industry and earning real money for it .

There are is also lots of pedophiles I have proof of this but won't go into detail .

These avatars can move around the regions at the click of a mouse .

Back to your son . My opinion is that if he stays in the general area & does not chat or receive instant messages then he should be OK ... But

Second Life is a very unsafe place for some adults let alone a very young child and my experience of it tells me that this will only lead to trouble if you allow your son to continue to play .

LadyMorticia

I'm 24 and I wouldn't want to join Second Life. From what I've heard it's over 18s for a reason and there is a lot of sexual content on there and content that isn't suitable for kids.

Surely he must have lied about his age to join, as most of the websites like this have things like "I confirm I am over 18" etc. I don't think it's a healthy thing for most people (just my opinion of course), let alone children.

mandi

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Surely he must have lied about his age to join, as most of the websites like this have things like "I confirm I am over 18" etc.

If my memory serves me right they ask for passport details Lady Mortica .

P.S nice to see your specs avi back :)