Author Topic: Am I a bad parent?  (Read 3556 times)

Offline Creamo

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Am I a bad parent?
« Reply #75 on: January 31, 2003, 01:33:25 PM »
Of course not. Why would a parent beat their children?

 Never had that, never came close. I was too afraid of diddlying up or more so, the ultimate fear of disappointing my parents.

Course back then, playing Candyland or the other  “Fantasy” games weren’t on the Drippy syllabus taboo list. When I first played electronic "Games" Pong, I stayed at my friends house and refused to leave.

I know, I know, it wasn't the Nazi eradication aerial combat history lesson game of choice, but fukin aye we loved it. Then Atari came out.

Offline Ripsnort

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« Reply #76 on: January 31, 2003, 01:42:33 PM »
Creamo is proof that *some discipline* should be used when raising children! :eek: Bet your parents are proud of you today, eh Creamo? ;)

Offline Lance

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« Reply #77 on: January 31, 2003, 02:07:11 PM »
Alright, its about time you all know the truth.

I am Creamo's father, and you better believe that I am damn proud of him.

His mother is a frigid, lifeless lay, however.

Offline Furious

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« Reply #78 on: January 31, 2003, 02:26:55 PM »
Quote
Am I a Bad Parent?


Yes.  

Discussing parenting prowess in denying your children the entertainment of video games on a video game bbs surely makes you a bad parent.

If you feel you need some sort of affirmation from a bunch of pretend pilot freaks, then yeah you are probably doing them harm.



...and I thought Gordo was Creamo's mom.

Offline lazs2

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« Reply #79 on: January 31, 2003, 02:31:57 PM »
I have decided to have my son drive up and beat the stuffing out of rip...
lazs

Offline Creamo

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« Reply #80 on: January 31, 2003, 02:44:55 PM »
Bet your parents are proud of you today, eh Creamo?

Sure they are. Why shouldn't they be?

Gordo? Lance?

Offline Lance

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« Reply #81 on: January 31, 2003, 02:58:52 PM »
Yes, my son?

Children's brains are more at danger of rotting while in church than than while playing video games.

Offline SaburoS

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« Reply #82 on: January 31, 2003, 03:08:53 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by lazs2
I have decided to have my son drive up and beat the stuffing out of rip...
lazs


After you two beat up a MLB Firstbase Coach? ;)
Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. ... Bertrand Russell

Offline Mox

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« Reply #83 on: January 31, 2003, 03:28:12 PM »
First of all I have no kids so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt...

Several of my best friends growing up had to come to my house to play any of the latest cool games, I didn't have them all but I did have a good selection.

All my other friends’ parents were very strict with them about playing games and TV.   My parents didn't bother me too much about games but they sure didn't play them with me.  Being an only child games were a way for me to be creative once I went beyond Lego’s.  My parents bought me my first computer (Commodore 64) I still credit may parents to this day for peaking my interest in computers and now I make a decent living designing/building networks (Network Engineer).

When I was 12 I told my mom "who knows I might make money building/designing/playing games someday".  Mom and I often joke about me telling her that.  I’m still hoping someday I can develop/produce a computer game and possibly even make a living at it.

I do not think games have hurt me in anyway, I feel I wouldn't be the same person I am today if it wasn't for the time I spent playing games in my youth.  

I still play 20 hours a week.

Games have definitely become more violent these days and I think parents need to know what their kids are playing.  

I personally believe TV is much more harmful for kids than computer/console games.

If I ever become a parent my kid(s) will be allowed to play games, supervised, and I will play them with them.  A good friend of mine has a wife and 3 boys and they ALL play online games together.

Just for the record I was not a “nerd” growing up (my wife might argue this now) I played for the State, Region, High School, Club and even a few years on the US National tour team (soccer).   I’ve played soccer in many countries.

Offline H. Godwineson

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« Reply #84 on: January 31, 2003, 03:59:48 PM »
Rip,

Playing AH and denying your children access to video games is not hypocrisy.  Not only are they distractive but addictive.

Have you ever seen children so addicted by video games that they were oblivious to all else?  Of course you have.  Have you seen children that were so enthralled by their nintendos or play stations that they refused to share them with friends or siblings?  Dang tootin' you have.  Is there something unhealthy about a child sitting in front of a computer for 8 or 9 hours a day?  You'd better believe it.

I've run into these same situations with my own sons.  Both are now in college, and have outgrown some of these habits.  Yet the addiction remains.  There are times when the computer "calls" to them.  Both are capable of scoring 3.5 or better in nearly every course they take, but the time they have wasted playing games, alone or with their friends, keeps them hovering around the 3.0 level.  That doesn't seem like much to them, but when it comes time to apply for a high-paying job, it makes for a less than impressive transcript to add to their resume.  

You can't ban a child permanently from contact with these games, but you are right to limit their exposure to them.  They need to get out of the house, play football or baseball or tag or cowboys and Native Americans or hunt or fish or make trips to the library.  I have seen too many kids who have only one or two interests or hobbies in life because of their fascination with the one-eyed monster.

Regards, Shuckins

Offline StSanta

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« Reply #85 on: January 31, 2003, 07:41:58 PM »
Rip, I'm right there with you on the fence.

On one hand, i think it is a HUGE problem that entertainment for kids today is video games and 'hot stuff'. And kids aren't really kids anymore - they're tiny immature adults. Being cool and wearing the right clothes is as important to a 7-9 year old today as it was to a 13-14 year old when I was a teenager - and that is less than 15 years ago.

They're growing fat. More noticeably is an apparent contradiction - they want to be small adults, but on the other hand the instant fix of video games and poor parenting means that they crave Instant Gratification to an even larger degree than my generation did. And with career and persoanl life being the paramount concern (the hip way) for people/parents, the parents compensate with their lack of engagement by buying a plethora of things that can keep the kid occupied while the parents are out 'realizing themselves'.

I ran around playing war, climbing trees, building tree huts. Never cared about my clothes which frequently had grass and dirt on 'em. Always had a bruise or a cut somewhere. Lots of sport - tennis, soccer, badminton.

Today, it's Counter Strike and what was previously a teenage fixation on clothes and belonging to a particular group. Pre-teens talking about 'images'.

But that's development - every new generation of kids is the worst :). However, from a pure physical point of view, it ain't healthy to play computer games. From a mental POV, they aren't mature to deal with the race for clothes and popularity at that age - that should be triggered by puberty.

Rip, I personally do not believe you should outright ban it. Have a friend who doesn't even let her kids watch TV. Total bans are ok if you can expect 100% respect and understanding of your decision. If you can't, resentment will grow. Some of the stuff my parents (father in particular) did has left some deep patches of resentment in me. My personal experience has told me that too stern a father is just as bad as too lenient a one - if not worse.

I mean, I got problems with authority figures. At the same time I have this need to placate everyone - to meet everyones expectations. And in my mind what I have to live up to is much much more than what people really expect of me. And then there's a counter reaction on that. Not wanting to please anyone - growing hatred yadda yadda yadda.

What I'm saying; if you are too stern, your son will end up flying German planes, having a huge arse, and wearing pink g-strings with metal studs on the inside. And revealing far too personal things on a public BBS just because the possibility of similar consequences exist.

From what I've learned about you on this BBS, I gather you're a good, caring parent that'll brainwash your kid in a generally positive manner (brainwash is just a synonym for 'to raise' :D). (that's the 'be nice to people everyone must like you' side). On the other hand, your incessant unrealistic demands and your attempts to realize YOUR goals through your kid, essentially living through him are barbaric and you're a total amazinhunk who should be shot with the wide rounds side of a square watermelon. You can guess what side that is.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2003, 07:44:19 PM by StSanta »

Offline blitz

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« Reply #86 on: February 01, 2003, 08:03:31 AM »
Rips

Guess ya playin outside with him too, go fishing and all that old fashioned stuff little boys love.  :)

Regards Blitz

Offline Animal

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« Reply #87 on: February 01, 2003, 08:20:37 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort

Animal, I'm very glad I didn't have to raise you as well! :) [/B]



Thats ok.
It was a task that required parents of a higher level of intellect, in order for me as a child to not feel superior to my caretakers and growing bitter, turning into a Goth or something similar.

Thats why the higher power did not choose you ;)

Offline ccvi

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« Reply #88 on: February 01, 2003, 08:44:58 AM »
Rip, the answer is easy.

NEVER let them have an XBox. Microsoft is eeeevil!! Also, it has less power then low end PCs these days.

If, let them have a GameCube.


What do they do besides playing with their learning software on PCs? If nothing else really, consider buying them glasses for that task, long hours of screen work are bad for the eyes.

What else do they do? Don't say "reading", there's not a big difference to playing those kind of games that are usually played just once (as books are usually read just once) e.g. adventures.

What else? Sports? Do they play instruments? Playing something they can create stuff with (e.g. Lego (oh wait, these days the pieces don't offer many options), but there's surely something else on the market, or model building, or whatever)?

OTOH, if you let them have AH accounts thats surely enough entertainment ;)

Offline Puke

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« Reply #89 on: February 01, 2003, 12:56:53 PM »
Quote
I have seen too many kids who have only one or two interests or hobbies in life because of their fascination with the one-eyed monster.   -shuckins


Uhm...   say again??