The Age Of Innocence Has Gone...

As I came home from work tonight and walked through the door, I could hear the familiar sounds of 'Call Of Duty 4' eminating from the living room. Expecting to see one of my older sons battling the virtual-Russian horde, or wasting the cyber-Arab militia, I was somewhat aghast to see little Ted, my youngest Ginger, sat with his eyes literally watering from squinting into his scope, nerves on edge and hanging on the every word of Captain Price...

But hang on dear readers! Little Ted is only 10! (and a child like soul with no pretensions of approaching adolescence) He likes Dr. Who, Pokemon, Ben 10 and so on... His gaming preference is World Of Warcraft (about four hours a day for the last four months) and the only 360 game he owns is Viva Pinata. He's even got Nintendogs for Christ's sake!

But sure enough, there he was kicking ass like a good'un! He can really play the game and is sweeping through the missions from checkpoint to checkpoint. I guess he's finally growing up!

Lord knows he's been exposed to the game enough. Since Christmas, his brother Mart is on the Xbox, playing online death matches at every opportunity.

I guess the influence of his older siblings has finally filtered through. I'm kind of proud of his gaming ability and his graduation from the world of blood elves and dwarves, to the blood stained alleys of Chernobyl or wherever the fuck Call Of Duty plays out it's campaigns. But it's also a little bit sad too. He's my baby and he's growing up.

What next? Is he going to be pimping ho's in 'GTA4' or popping a cap in the ass of rancid tramps in 'Condemned 2' ? No...

Now you may be wondering as a parent, what my policy is on censorship and age appropriate games etc. Well, my policy is this... My kids grow up in one of the most gun riddled, gang influenced and fucked up areas of the UK. They've all been mugged (the oldest three times.)

Can playing a game warp their sensibilities or brutalise them? Nope! Whilst playing games, they're inside the house where I know they're safe. They're all good kids with good manners who do well at school/college. Their morals and views on life are well rounded and wholesome. They know a game is a game and that the taking of life or exploitaion of women (in real life) is fundamentally wrong. They are anti-racist, vegetarian, anti-war and tolerant of those who are different. The older boys don't drink, smoke or do drugs and have a healthy scepticism of those who do...

The moral code bestowed on them by me and Mrs. K, play a fundamental part in who they are. A game, movie or gangster rap tune, is never going to rock that foundation. So they are allowed access to all of the above. (The two older boys have seen both Eminem and The Sex Pistols live!!)

I say let them enjoy the fruits of the gaming, movie and music industries, if they are comfortable with it. From what I saw today, Ted is very comfortable with COD4 - despite it's socio-political imperialistic leanings! (He was back on World Of Warcraft as soon as I took over the TV to play Half Life and very pleased to be so...)

And he'll always be my baby ;)