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Would you buy a video game that you don't approve of for a child?
If you asked your friend what to buy for their child for Christmas because you weren't sure what they liked and the parent told you about this one specific game that you didn't approve of. Would you get it or buy something else instead?
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8 answerers thought this was unfair.
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November 30, 2009 09:41 PM
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IF I've asked what to get them, where does my opinion come into it? really....
If that's what the parent says is a good gift who am I to argue? If I wanted to get them something I approved of I probably wouldn't have asked in the first place!
And no I wouldn't get a 'replacement game' based on my moral views! I would stick with what my friend has told me.
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If that's what the parent says is a good gift who am I to argue? If I wanted to get them something I approved of I probably wouldn't have asked in the first place!
And no I wouldn't get a 'replacement game' based on my moral views! I would stick with what my friend has told me.
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November 30, 2009 09:45 PM
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No, I wouldn't buy it. Thinking back to when I was a child, and to who I am today, so much of my current personality was shaped by the media I consumed back then, and video games are a big part of this.
I'm a gamer myself. I'm not demonizing the medium. It's just like anything else, though. I wouldn't buy a book for someone that I didn't approve of. It'd be irresponsible. I would care about my friend's child, after all, and would care about his or her influences, no matter how small. There are plenty of other good gifts, and it's a rare child who only wants one thing for Christmas!
Besides, games are transient. In the grand scheme of things, it won't matter so much that he or she didn't receive that particular game from me. If he/she wants it so badly, someone else will probably buy it -- or even the child himself/herself. I don't have to be the one to do it.
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I'm a gamer myself. I'm not demonizing the medium. It's just like anything else, though. I wouldn't buy a book for someone that I didn't approve of. It'd be irresponsible. I would care about my friend's child, after all, and would care about his or her influences, no matter how small. There are plenty of other good gifts, and it's a rare child who only wants one thing for Christmas!
Besides, games are transient. In the grand scheme of things, it won't matter so much that he or she didn't receive that particular game from me. If he/she wants it so badly, someone else will probably buy it -- or even the child himself/herself. I don't have to be the one to do it.
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November 30, 2009 09:52 PM
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I feel it is well within your rights to not buy something you do not support. However if you choose not to buy something the kid actually want be prepared to suffer the consequences! I think the most important thing you need to look at is the kid. I have a god-son who just turned 11 he requested Modern Warefare 2 for X-Mas I believe he is well adjusted enough play the game and know the difference between fantasy in the game and real life. I however left the choice to his mother, If she approves I will buy him the game even though it is rated for Mature audiences, I will however restrict his Xbox Live access to no voice communication. The game won't damage him but the idiots on xbox live might.
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December 01, 2009 01:49 AM
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It is up to the parents to guide a child in what is appropriate and inappropriate. I have two boys under seven years old and when they get older they will of course ask for questionable games to play. I would not however purchase any game I thought they could not handle or weren't mature enough to play.
Now I don't think every child is the same and some are more emotionally and mentally mature than others, so it is a parental judgment call if your child is able to handle playing a game or not.
That being said if the parent is not fond of the game for its violence, adult themes, or whatever else then the parent should feel comfortable exercising their right to say no.
I always think it is best to try and ration/reason with older children, if there is a no come up with a clear and logical reason behind your logic. If you can't make them see your point of view, then at least they can understand your reasoning.
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Now I don't think every child is the same and some are more emotionally and mentally mature than others, so it is a parental judgment call if your child is able to handle playing a game or not.
That being said if the parent is not fond of the game for its violence, adult themes, or whatever else then the parent should feel comfortable exercising their right to say no.
I always think it is best to try and ration/reason with older children, if there is a no come up with a clear and logical reason behind your logic. If you can't make them see your point of view, then at least they can understand your reasoning.
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December 03, 2009 08:31 AM
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It really depends on how much I disapprove. If I feel it is actually harmful to the child, no, I would not buy it. If it was more of a preference then I would consider buying it even though I, myself, felt it wasn't a decision I would make for my child.
Not trying to step away from the issue at hand, but my sister allows my nephew to play with toy guns. It is my belief that he should not be given this type of toy to play with. Mind you, it isn't that I think pretending to be a soldier is such a bad thing for a child. It is more the type of child my nephew is. If he is given subjected to anything - be it a movie, a video game, a crazy story or even a toy - he becomes violent himself.
So, more than anything it would depend on the nature of the child more than the gift itself.
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Not trying to step away from the issue at hand, but my sister allows my nephew to play with toy guns. It is my belief that he should not be given this type of toy to play with. Mind you, it isn't that I think pretending to be a soldier is such a bad thing for a child. It is more the type of child my nephew is. If he is given subjected to anything - be it a movie, a video game, a crazy story or even a toy - he becomes violent himself.
So, more than anything it would depend on the nature of the child more than the gift itself.
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December 04, 2009 01:49 PM
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No, I wouldn't buy a gift for a friend's child that I wouldn't buy for one of my own. I'd have to politely explain to my friend that I didn't think the game was appropriate for children and is there anything else their child would like? I wouldn't try to push my own views on the parent, but I wouldn't buy a gift that was in opposition to my own, either.
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December 04, 2009 07:10 PM
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I would first make sure my friend knows what the game is about. Not insisting in anything or trying to push their views, just find out, maybe he/she wouldnt approve it either and doenst even know. If they know and they approve, Id give it to the child. I usually avoid this kind of circumstance from the beginning asking for 3 options. Its good for many reasons, in case you dont approve something youself you dont even have to trouble yourself with it, or in case the store is out of it, or whatever, it never hurts :)
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