Author Topic: Am I a bad parent? (Read 3350 times)

AKS\/\/ulfe · « **Reply #30 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:39:45 PM »

Well, I grew up in the age where consoles first came out. Atari, NeoGeo (sucked), Nintendo, etc...

I got 4 consoles in the course of my life, but one I sold to pay for the second one, in this order: Nintendo, Sega Gensis (sold it for..), Super Nintendo, and Nintendo 64.

My friends have the Xbox and PS2, but despite a few games here and there for the consoles... I have always used the PC more for games... and they were always flight games, with a few exceptions (Unreal, Half Life, Op Flashpoint, Doom, Doom2 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein).

The flight games I started playing when I was about 13- RB, AOE, AOTP. But they inspired me to read more about the wars to learn more. Any bookstore I went into, I always found myself in the WW1/WW2 section and would find a new book to buy and read. It also got me into doing science experiments (we had to them for grade school) with planes- finding out good airfoils that produced a lot of lift, least amount of drag, fuselages that are sleek and assist the wings in lift- stuff like that.

So basically, I think that there are some games that will inspire your kids to learn more (not necessarily fit in with what they are supposed to be learning in school, but atleast learn something)- specifically if they are created to be a factual rendition of the past or present, but then there are games that won't contribute to your childs education process except for troubleshooting obstacles, but can still be good entertainment...

But... the better games almost always come out on the PC first... and some come out for the PC soon after anyways (GTAIII came out pretty quickly, while Halo for the PC won't be out till this summer).
-SW

midnight Target · « **Reply #31 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:41:40 PM »

Just bought my son a PS2... I have trouble limiting his TV time though, he's 24 and lives elsewhere.

udet · « **Reply #32 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:48:04 PM »

of course no, all the money goes towards daddy's computer so he can play AH.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #33 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:50:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by udet
of course no, all the money goes towards daddy's computer so he can play AH.

Trust me, money is not the issue here

hyena426 · « **Reply #34 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:51:29 PM »

ok,,,,well,,just making sure,,and im just saying,,i grew up with a kid that was deprived from tv alot,,and it really made him weird around tv's,,you cant get his attention,,like i said,,zombie!!,,its weird,,,but anything else he is doing,,lising to music,,going down the road,,,doing stuff outside you can get his attention,,but soon as he is infront of a tv,,he is consumed by it<~~long as you give your kids a little games its fine,,just dont let the games rule there lives

i beleve you have a point,,,i dont think kids should waste there lives on games,,,but i think kids need a little entertainment besides outdoor stuff,,a good well rounded family life,,so they dont have to feal left out when othere kids are talking about games

Ripsnort · « **Reply #35 on:** January 30, 2003, 02:57:51 PM »

Well, seems I should probably give in to the "Dark side" of video games on a console someday...with restrictions of course. It just has me worried..thats all.

hyena426 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:02:27 PM »

lol,,i know what ya mean,,there is a dark side,,just need to watch the games you get them is all,,and dont let them play all day and night

notice your in washington state to<~~lives in a tiny hick town about 30miles from richland

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #37 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:13:04 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Well, seems I should probably give in to the "Dark side" of video games on a console someday...with restrictions of course. It just has me worried..thats all.

Rip, the fact that you even give this thought means you CANT be a bad parent - 2 cents - Ill wipe the brown off later... but a "bad parent" would even be giving this a thought.

In any event, as previously mentioned, I really dont see any harm in it. I bought console games when I was younger - 2600, Nintendo, Genesis, N64, etc - but never bought PS/PS2/XBox because I had more interest in the "games" on the computer. I'd consider myself a "gamer" (probably buy one or two a month) and my childhood was just as normal as anyones. I grew up with 10 or so guys in my neighborhood all the same age and we would make up our own games to play outside because we bored of playing football and roller hockey everyday after school after 4 or 5 years... (try playing lacrosse on skates - thats tough)

My father tried to limit my game time for awhile, by allowing me to play only after homework was done, etc - and everything turned out fine - but as previously mentioned "banning" your kids from doing something every one of their peers does is not good for the child... you create a social problem at school because he isnt part of the "crowd."

Good luck.

LePaul · « **Reply #38 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:13:07 PM »

I hope he asks the next time you are glued to a brain rotting evening of flying Aces High.

Seriously, don't think an XBox/Video Console game is the end all of a kids life. If he's good, plug it in and let him play. They can easily be plugged in and out.

Yep, I think you're a meany...tell him the truth...Daddy can't afford a console since he blew all his money are a tacky imported car

midnight Target · « **Reply #39 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:18:39 PM »

1st game you should buy is GTA 3..

Now THAT is family values.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #40 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:20:51 PM »

Thks for feed back all, good to read all of this.

mason22 · « **Reply #41 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:25:16 PM »

this reminds me of that poking smot commercial....

"if you love your kids.....something something....just talk to them."

as long as they know, as long as you know, good or bad, right from wrong, there's a reason parents do what they do. just lettem know why, that's about as simple a thing a kid wants to know. Don't tell them, 'cuz i said so' , tell them why. They're your kids, their gonna listen to ya.

if that don't work....you can always tellem to move out. (ps. dont forget to take picture of the 7yr olds face when doing this!)

Ripsnort · « **Reply #42 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:28:17 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by mason22

if that don't work....you can always tellem to move out. (ps. dont forget to take picture of the 7yr olds face when doing this!)

ROTFLOL!:p

MANDOBLE · « **Reply #43 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:36:59 PM »

He has his own PC, then why to buy a lower machine like X-Box? Actually there are lots of games for X-Box already published for PC too, and running A LOT better and looking A LOT nicer in a good PC. In the other hand, Nintendo and Sony games are rarely ported to PC.

Rotorian · « **Reply #44 on:** January 30, 2003, 03:40:57 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Thks for feed back all, good to read all of this.

Good, now go buy a freaking console. I am partial to PS2.

Aside from four computers (getting ready to add a 5th), there is a Sega Genesis, 2 Nintendo 64s and a PS2 in my house. The consoles collect dust for the most part, and so do the computers, except mine

.

I have a 9yr old and a 3 yr old. My 9 yr old is involved in numerous afterschool activities, so she maybe gets on teh console 1hr a week. I have not imposed a time limit or some such, but I have no reason to do so. The 3yr old, likes Bob The Builder and Star Wars toys more than the console.

Keep your kids doing stuff and they will rarely touch the consoles, but to deny them the consoles out of sheer stubbornness is rather silly IMO. I grew up with a dad like you. He finally wised up and my little brother, now 12yrs old, has that stuff that I never did until I was on my own. My little bro is a damn smart kid, and plays baseball and basketball in the school teams. He rarely uses the console (according to mom), but in times it proves good entertainment.

Chao.