Second Life ?

LadyMorticia

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.

I agree with the Warhammer thing. It is a great hobby and it gets players out and socialising with others at the GW shops. I play myself, as does my DH and at our local gaming club there's a Warhammer night. It's a good way to create new friendships and there are loads of kids learning how to play Warhammer in the GW shops.

There's also a game called Warmachine & Hordes. Unlike Warhammer it is more American and most of the models have to be bought online and it's harder to find people who play it, but it's also alot easier than Warhammer to pick up as it's less complicated with dice rolling and rules to remember.

Lotus-eater

I'm just in shock that anyone would even contemplate letting their 8 year old play Second Life!!

I'm almost speechless.


Then they defend it.........

mishkanorman

LadyMorticia wrote: »

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.

ARGH,

is anyone actually reading my posts !!!

This is what interests my son, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVtF5nW18aw&feature=fvsr

He isnt left alone, he doesnt spend hours on it, there is no interaction with others !

LadyMorticia

mandi wrote: »

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

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

Ah okay. Sorry.:o I don't have much knowledge of it so don't know what they ask for at sign up. Is it a case of they ask for passport details and your account is created and then banned if they find you're younger than you are?

Thanks. Hadn't had my specs avatar in ages. Thought I'd bring it back.

gingin_2

[QUOTE=mishkanorman;48905073
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[/QUOTE]

I would give him an apology and say, " sorry son, Mum got it wrong, it's not appropriate" and set him up an account on Club Penguin or Moshi Monsters, or My Sims, or Minecraft. I would be mortified if my child's school felt the need to call me up about them obsessing over SL.

I really don't think you quite get the seedy side of SL. When he is in bed, turn off the filters and tp to the bukake room, or enlighten yourself about tentacle sex, find yourself a master and become his sub. Do you really want him to be on there still?

Plans_all_plans

mishkanorman wrote: »

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

Why don't you want him to feel limited? It is good (and entirely necessary) for children to understand that they have limits. There are times when you need to put your foot down and I personally believe this is one of them.

If teachers are pointing out that they feel something (potentially) damaging could be happening, then compromise shouldn't enter into it. How would he react to an outright 'no'?

LadyMorticia

mishkanorman wrote: »

ARGH,

is anyone actually reading my posts !!!

This is what interests my son, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVtF5nW18aw&feature=fvsr

He isnt left alone, he doesnt spend hours on it, there is no interaction with others !

My point still stands that it's over 18 for a reason. I'm not calling you a bad mother or whatever, but his obsession with it really needs to be nipped in the bud.

pulliptears

personally I've let my 2 play games aimed at much older children in the past. Both mine played Grand Theft Auto and COD etc from around 10 or 11 and neither have grown up (now 14 and 18) stealing cars, killing prostitues or running through the streets shooting guns.

Age restrictions are difficult things because children mature differently, OP knows the maturity levels of her child. Whilst I've heard stories of Second Life Its not something I've played myself so I couldn't comment but it always amuses me with 18 games and movies that a kid can not play them one day, turn 18 and suddenly the next day its all ok? What do they think happens? That a child turns 18 and is suddenly changed in a puff of smoke. Much like the Sims I guess, do they mature with a quick spin, a rendition of Happy Birthday and a fanfare?

I raised 2 pretty well rounded, mature children without needing the restrictions slapped on games and movies by the governing bodies. I play the game first, I watch the movie first, if I deem them acceptable then I have no qualms.

RacyRed

OP, you also realise that you have now told the world that your 8 year old son is the one flying around Second Life in a tardis?

pulliptears

RacyRed wrote: »

OP, you also realise that you have now told the world that your 8 year old son is the one flying around Second Life in a tardis?

I'm sure there are dozens of people on there zooming around in tardis' to be fair.