Comments on: Home: A Tool for the Young?

By: KrazyFace

KrazyFace — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:00:51 +0000

13!? Thirteen!? I’m sure the age limit in EU Home is 16, STILL too young IMO lol! Not that it matters anyway, as Burbie says, some parents think the PS3 is a sitter and most dont have a clue about games (coz y’know, they’re FOR kids) and certainly know nothing of what Home is. But that’s a whole other subject.

If I had Home as a kid I’d be in there constantly, since my mum was one of those parents who saw consoles as toys. In fairness, in those days, they kinda were. Point is though, I’d probably benefit from the confrontation of trolls as practice for verbally dealing with my bullies heh, course it would’ve come to blows anyways; “Bud” and his gang liked piling onto the lonesome little ones regardless of what you said- quick wit will only work on them if they UNDERSTAND IT lol!

Aaaaaaanyways, Home should be 18 up IMO. I know that seems a little harsh since the US lets kids drive at what, 16? But in my experience of “kids” in Home I’ve only ever met a few that are mature and smart enough to hold a good conversation without devolving into moans about how “unfair life is” or somesuch teenage angsty nonsense.

I like to think that age doesn’t matter in most circumstances, but when your talking about a 12 YO girl pretending to be 18 talking with a socially stunted man with an over-active libido, problems start. Greater measures are needed to enforce a better age restriction policy within Home maybe. Saying that, it’s good to learn things the hard way too y’know…

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 12:58:00 +0000

I have some friends who have younger kids in Home, but they are watched like hawks while they are online. The older one was watched each time he came in for over a year then once his parents were satisfied he knew the do’s and dont’s he was given more slack.
Their younger one is still way too young to be in Home alone, so they just let her go to specific areas like the Mui Mui Ship and Loco Island to play there under strict supervision.
I agree that Home can be a tool to help many young people learn about life a bit, but the sad fact is that many are in here under no supervision at all, the PS3 has become a babysitter, and that is a situation that needs to be rectified. I think that 13 is way too young to be left alone in Home, there are too many predators already, and if Home becomes more popular as time goes on, it will also become more known about by these types of people as well.
I have met kids who are ten in here, and when I ask where their parents are they say they don’t care that they are in Home. This may or may not be true, but it is still something that needs to be looked at and dealt with somehow. It is a very scary scenario.
Great article Strom, it gives a lot of food for thought.

By: Dr_Do-Little

Dr_Do-Little — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 11:47:17 +0000

I can relate to your back story a lot. Loner, shy…
Home help me too to open up more.
The first time I pulled out my spider companion on home the reaction two of my friend had reminded me of a new artificial environnement tool used to help/cure people with arachnophobia. Yes I think Home can help kids ( and older kids) in many way. But the parental supervision is the key. Lots of it! Something many online kids lack I’m affraid.
There might not be physical violence on home. But I saw a lot of violence. Online bullying can do some real damage too.