The downside(s) to VMK...

[Random Villains]

its not off topic, the title of the topic is downsides to vmk, this stuff with pirates, is a downside in my point of view, to vmk. Had I come on here and said something like. Boy what do you all think of ham sandwhiches? Then I would be off topic. But since i said something that I think is a downside to vmk, in a thread called Downsides to VMK, I seem to be aok. Now can we get back ON topic?

 

[Ariel Mae]

Think of all the uses for "love" and tell me if it still seems good for a game designed for kids as young as eight.

A child should be introduced to the term of 'love' at a young age. Without 'love' the child is unbalanced, they know only affection, and not the capabilities. I know the PLENTY uses for 'love', and not a ONE being perverted. Sex can be perverted, but love, IMO, cannot.

Another thing that occured to me, coming from what you said, is that there are adults playing, lots of them. Do you think it's appropriate for children to "be introduced to affection" when in reality the person on the other end of that avatar could be a 40 year old man or woman? Asking for trouble there I can't even begin to fathom. The filters in the game are safeguards, and in this perspective, I can TOTALLY see the reason.

Limits, yes, but total inaccessibility? It's called moderation, much like a forum, no need to block out EVERYTHING. A child NEEDS to be exposed to the negativies. Without so, they only know false blue.

I don't know, but because VMK does limit what the kids can say, I let my 10 and 13 yr old play VMK. It provides a safer environment for them.

What about when your 13 year old is at school? That's not a safe environment. Do you think schools should limit what is said? Limit the use of 'love' between kids and friends, kids and teachers? Not allow teachers to hug a kid?

its not off topic, the title of the topic is downsides to vmk, this stuff with pirates, is a downside in my point of view, to vmk. Had I come on here and said something like. Boy what do you all think of ham sandwhiches? Then I would be off topic. But since i said something that I think is a downside to vmk, in a thread called Downsides to VMK, I seem to be aok. Now can we get back ON topic?

Very much on topic. Well, until you brought in ham sandwhiches.

The game was DeSiGnEd for kids. VMK is suposed to be a happy exsperience ( and for me it is) so why have ppl going around and saying i hate you? Kiss?
They dont have that word because most of the VMK staff doesnt really agree with taken/baybe why make it even worse by puting kiss in the dictionary

VMK can be just as pleasing of an experience with terms of 'love' and 'hate'. It's called the REAL WORLD. The kid is going to EVENTUALLY see what VMK hides from them. The kids need to know TRUTH and not cover up.

How about an 8-year-old that plays VMK? Sure it's just three years younger you're thinking, but it can make a huge difference. There may be a lot of adults playing but there also are a lot of kids. I would not want my little sister (8) playing VMK if those kinds of words are allowed.

Censoring a child, IMO, is worse than a child hearing the truth of the world around them. A child NEEDS to know what goes on around them. They don't need to be boxed up forever. I learned about sex at 10, curse words younger, and negation at the age of 8 or 9. *shrugging* Limit a child online, expect them to be censored off...IMPOSSIBLE.

 

[mtlhddoc2]

Censoring a child, IMO, is worse than a child hearing the truth of the world around them. A child NEEDS to know what goes on around them. They don't need to be boxed up forever. I learned about sex at 10, curse words younger, and negation at the age of 8 or 9. *shrugging* Limit a child online, expect them to be censored off...IMPOSSIBLE.

Noone expects them to be censored offline, however, as a parent. I appreciate VMKs efforts. My children already are disallowed from just about everything online, and if the dictionary of VMK was free form, they would not be allowed to play it. Thats why I like Toontown, set phrases and that is it. What limiting the dictionary does however, is give parents a choice. Just because YOU think children should be exposed to this does not mean every parent should. What about homeschooled children? They are not expeosed to that kind of stuff at school.

and for the record, if I found out a male teacher was hugging one of my children, that would be the last thing he ever did as a free man. I would have him up on charges so fast the land speed record would be broken.

 

[Jennifer815]

A child should be introduced to the term of 'love' at a young age. Without 'love' the child is unbalanced, they know only affection, and not the capabilities. I know the PLENTY uses for 'love', and not a ONE being perverted. Sex can be perverted, but love, IMO, cannot.

OK, so you want your 10 or 11 year old professing their "love" to a strange adult? You think that's acceptable? IMO, that's playing with fire.

If they are shown and see love at home, why in the world would it be necessary for them to experience it online? I don't want my hypothetical children to figure out the ways of love on the internet. That's my job as a parent. I'd rather put up with "excessive" limitations on what I can and cannot say in a virtual environment than expose innocent children to predatory behavior.

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

Noone expects them to be censored offline, however, as a parent. I appreciate VMKs efforts. My children already are disallowed from just about everything online, and if the dictionary of VMK was free form, they would not be allowed to play it. Thats why I like Toontown, set phrases and that is it. What limiting the dictionary does however, is give parents a choice. Just because YOU think children should be exposed to this does not mean every parent should. What about homeschooled children? They are not expeosed to that kind of stuff at school.

and for the record, if I found out a male teacher was hugging one of my children, that would be the last thing he ever did as a free man. I would have him up on charges so fast the land speed record would be broken.

Very well put !!! VMK is one of the few places online that i can leave my daughter alone in front of the computer for about 15 minutes. It gives her a sense of freedom and VMK dictionary gives me a little piece of mind

 

[redsfan]

OK, so you want your 10 or 11 year old professing their "love" to a strange adult? You think that's acceptable? IMO, that's playing with fire.

If they are shown and see love at home, why in the world would it be necessary for them to experience it online? I don't want my hypothetical children to figure out the ways of love on the internet. That's my job as a parent. I'd rather put up with "excessive" limitations on what I can and cannot say in a virtual environment than expose innocent children to predatory behavior.

I totally agree with you. I definately don't want my DD's telling some stranger that they "love" them over the internet. They don't even know who the real person is. It could be a pedifile(sp?) or who knows who else that your child says they love. I agree that is just playing with fire.

There is no reason that kids should be exposed to affection on the internet, it should be done at home.

What about when your 13 year old is at school? That's not a safe environment. Do you think schools should limit what is said? Limit the use of 'love' between kids and friends, kids and teachers? Not allow teachers to hug a kid?

I don't know about anyone else but I don't think a teacher should be hugging a student. There is no reason for it. And as far as the word love between kids and teachers, have you not been watching the news and seen all the kids that have been preyed on by their teachers who tell them they love them even though the kid is only 13-15 years old. I don't believe that the teacher actually loves the student. The teacher just wants to be prey on the student to get what they want. Do you want that to happen to your child?

Do you want a predator to be able to get to your kids over VMK? I surely don't. That is why I don't mind dealing with the dictionary.

I am sorry for the little rant and possibly going off topic a little but this is something that really bugs me to no end.

Redsfan

 

[Chedstro]

Very well said Red, Grumpy and Doc I have been following this thread very loosely, since my kids are out and grown; but I think the issues raised are very valid. And thanks to you for your well thought out views.

 

[Disneyfan_77]

I have been quietly reading this thread but I can no longer keep my fingers tied . . .

A child should be introduced to the term of 'love' at a young age. Without 'love' the child is unbalanced, they know only affection, and not the capabilities. I know the PLENTY uses for 'love', and not a ONE being perverted. Sex can be perverted, but love, IMO, cannot.

Should a young child be introduced to the term of love? I don't know. Do you mean in the simplest purest form of the word, as in " I love you", then sure.
But explain to them the several meanings and uses of the word, I don't think so! The word love can mean affection, attachment, devotion, passion, attraction based on sexual desire, and many more explanations and meaning for the "term" love. Is that something I would want to expose my young children too. . . one word, NO. Exposing your child to love, more like surrounding them with love - an unconditional, unselfish, benevolent concern for others - is essential in rearing them into healthy young adults. To explain the term and to surround them with it in its purest simplest form are two very different actions.

To say that word love can not be perverted, look in the dictionary. This is one word I am glad is not allowed in VMK. Even if the word glove is substituted, it is so surreal in the virtual magic kingdom, that its harmful effect is minimized.

Limits, yes, but total inaccessibility? It's called moderation, much like a forum, no need to block out EVERYTHING. A child NEEDS to be exposed to the negativies. Without so, they only know false blue.

A young CHILD does not need to be exposed to ALL negatives. It is an overwhelming world that most adult can't even handle! What they need to be exposed to is cause and effect , actions and results. Vmk does some of that.
Earn some credits and you can buy stuff. Spend too much and you won't be able to afford anything later. Practice games, work harder and you can earn more credits. Be nice and you can make friends. Be mean and people will ignore you. So on and so forth.

What about when your 13 year old is at school? That's not a safe environment. Do you think schools should limit what is said? Limit the use of 'love' between kids and friends, kids and teachers? Not allow teachers to hug a kid?

Your right , now a days, schools are not safe places. Do they limit what is said? Yes. In many forms schools try to do their hardest to keep our children safe. There is not one school out there without their own codes of conduct and dress codes. They have rules and regulations, just like VMK.

Allow teachers to hugs kids, this is a very sensitive issue. Where do you draw the line when a hug is appropiate?!?! When the teacher feels like it, when a child scapes his knee, at a certain age? I for one, would rather not have a teacher hug my child. A hug can be a form of affection. No teacher should really be showing affection to any kid!

VMK can be just as pleasing of an experience with terms of 'love' and 'hate'. It's called the REAL WORLD. The kid is going to EVENTUALLY see what VMK hides from them. The kids need to know TRUTH and not cover up.

Ah, herein lies the difference, real world is real life and VMK is a VIRTUAL game based on several disney parks. It is an escape from the real world. No need to bring the real world it into a virtual disney game. The only thing real is the people playing behind them. This is not a dating/bashing game, therefore, there is not a real need to be using the terms love or hate. I like that they can not see the " real" world inside VMK. Is it totally safe, no. But the dicitonary is a start! If VMK was too much like real life, I would not let my little ones play it! Yes they will eventually see what lies beyond the doorstep , so to speak, but is it necessary to kick them to the curb?!?

Censoring a child, IMO, is worse than a child hearing the truth of the world around them. A child NEEDS to know what goes on around them. They don't need to be boxed up forever. I learned about sex at 10, curse words younger, and negation at the age of 8 or 9. *shrugging* Limit a child online, expect them to be censored off...IMPOSSIBLE.

So you think exposing a child to everything of and relating to crime, war, death and everything else unimaginable to an adult would be more harmful than censoring a child. Ask any child psychiatrist or counselor, they will be able to tell you what some very unfortunate children have undergone having been exposed to the truths of the the real world. And yes even something as simple as television and the news.

A child does have to know what goes on in the world around them. But you have to consider a whole lot of variables. Age, mental toughness, sensitivity, maturity level. . . the list goes on and on.

Limit a child online and expect them to be censored off? Well , yes! What's more important is how much the parents' monitors the child. All childrens' activities on the internet should be monitored. That is how to truly protect a child using the internet!

Is playing VMK worth it? Yes, I fully believe it is worth it. VMK is great game to play other arcade-like games, meet little virtual friends, learn how to earn and spend credits and spend free time. You learn patience, improve cognitive skills, acquire a sense of responsibilty ( earning and spending credits), and just have plain old fun. There is no need to introduce this disney virtual game to the real world circumstances and conversations. It is a game for kids and should be censored because of it!




Fan

 

[DemonLlama]

Can I just cut in here for a moment for a public service announcement?

Your kids are not safe because of the dictionary.

They are safe because you play with them, pop in, get to know their friends. And keep doing it.

I drifted away from the game last Sept. and my daughter (then age 10), without me to hang around with, took up with the wrong crowd, started doing the boys meet girls junk pretty quickly. I wasn't watching her closely because, "it's VMK!"

The inappropriate behavior of the kids (assuming they were all kids. . .) got them all banned, and the dictionary, as many have pointed out, only gets them to use other words, same ideas.

Now that she could go back to VMK, she won't. She says it makes her feel yucky.

We've all seen that a virtual world can bring out the worst in people who feel protected by anonymity. If your kids play, please keep an eye out for them, dictionary "protections" or not.

 

[Disneyfan_77]

No doubt in total agreement DemonLlama!
Any child with access to the internet should be fully monitored!
And yes, even in vmk! The only way to make the internet safe for your kids is either not let them on or keep an eye on their activity in whatever they involve themselves in at any point in time. My response was more as to what was being said. If I go into safety over the internet, I might blow up the server!

 

[TToryk]

VMK can be just as pleasing of an experience with terms of 'love' and 'hate'. It's called the REAL WORLD. The kid is going to EVENTUALLY see what VMK hides from them. The kids need to know TRUTH and not cover up.

The thing is, once you step into VMK, you're not in the real world anymore. In VMK, you're supposed to meet friends and have fun together.

Going back to what was said earlier,

A child should be introduced to the term of 'love' at a young age. Without 'love' the child is unbalanced, they know only affection, and not the capabilities. I know the PLENTY uses for 'love', and not a ONE being perverted. Sex can be perverted, but love, IMO, cannot.

Again, VMK and the real world are two totally different places. Furthermore, I can think of a way ppl can use the word "love" in a bad way. For the sake of any little kids reading this thread, I won't say it.

Step into the shoes of the VMK staff. They made the VMK dictionary. They omitted certain words to make this a good online community FOR KIDS. Why do you think the words "boyfriend" "girlfriend" "dating" and other choice words were left out of the VMK dictionary? Because kids shouldn't get into that stuff in a game like VMK! Disney is FOR KIDS. They want to keep their adult audience, but their games are designed FOR KIDS.

For all the ppl out there who want to say love and hate, and do taken, plz just give it up and have fun. And if you don't like VMK, go find another game where you can spread love-hate-taken. Like Habbo. Oh, and send me a picture of a raid when you get there; I never got to see one. But then again, I was only a player for maybe a week.

Thanks for hearing out my vent.