Raelix wrote:
A sheltered child just rebels harder when they discover they can. Give them freedom and open thinking to begin with and let them walk their path, and you'd be surprised how much better they stick to what you'd be trying to steer them on.
This. My mom pretty much had a "Go ahead and do it because you're going to do it anyway and I'd rather know about it when you did" personality with me when I was growing up. I don't drink (often), I don't smoke, I have a full-time job, a girlfriend, a decent car that's paid for, and I still play video games. Go figure!
Quote:
When (and I emphasize when) my grades dropped, I lost my gaming privileges. They were only 1 player games that I was playing, but they were still confiscated.
This is what I don't understand. As long as you are getting at least D's, you are passing. You will get the same credits you need for graduating if you get an A or a D. At least in most states. Heaven forbid a teenager (I'm going to say 15+) doesn't like school and has no interest in college. sh*t like that should not be forced down their throats. College could end up ruining their lives more than it helps.
Check this out, if you haven't read it yet: http://www.cnbc.com/id/39911910/ and http://www.cnbc.com/id/40682477/
For those that don't want to read the above link, America is about 1 trillion dollars in debt due to college loans alone. Teens are going to college, spending 4+ years there, racking up debt, and unable to pay it back. This guy I work with spent years in college and has a degree as an electrician and he's working in the same factory as me, making the same amount of money as me. Actually he makes less than me, since he owes $120/month to his bank for the next twenty years. You could potentially ruin your child's life by forcing them to do something they aren't really interested in doing to begin with.
Now if gaming becomes unhealthy (Missing school, etc), then I can see restricting playability. Grades dropping a letter really shouldn't be a big deal at all. I hope when I'm a parent someday I'm not that stingy.
I see absolutely no issue with an 8 year old playing an online game like Final Fantasy XI, especially if they take interest in it AND is supervised. There are far more unhealthy habits out there. FFXI is also far more educational than things like Nickolodean (Sp?) or Teen Disney.
So let the crap throwing begin, I guess.
Edited, Jul 13th 2012 5:21am by Zafire
Edited, Jul 13th 2012 5:23am by Zafire
Edited, Jul 13th 2012 5:26am by Zafire