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Real Time Strategy (Games)

Journal jawtheshark's Journal: World of Warcrack... another victim 15

Journal by jawtheshark
My mother in law just called me in order to know if it was possible to disable the games on her sons computer. I already knew this would be coming since the day that I found out that he bought World of Warcraft. I immediately told him that it was a dangerous game and should limit his usage to an hour or two...
I didn't tell his mom, nor my wife about the dangers of the game. I didn't want to worry them. I should have... I just hoped that he would be smart enough to use the game responsibly. Note to self: never trust on the responsibility of a 13 year old.

Mom in law calls, tells me he skips school, gets up at 2am to play the game and doesn't leave his room. The whole works. Damn...

So, I told her where the DSL router was and that she should remove it and lock away. It doesn't help for normal games, but without it World of Warcraft is just a useless pile of bits 'n bytes on his harddisk.

My wife is now furious because I didn't tell her. Mother in law was also quite surprised that I knew about it... Worst is that I have seen it coming and did nothing. So, yes, I do feel guilty.

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World of Warcrack... another victim More

World of Warcrack... another victim

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  • What's done is done and you can't do anything about it. So don't get overly hung up about it. The damage and problems are hopefully under control now...

  • Actually allows parental controls.

    So what she could do is go to the account management section of the world of warcraft website. Go to parental controls. Answer the security question you setup when the account was set up. You can now set a parental control password. E-mail address and password.

    Once this is setup you can restrict when and when not a given account can access the game.

    Easy peasy and you can't get around it. Blizzard simply will not authenticate the account outside the allowed times.
    • Answer the security question you setup when the account was set up.

      Beautiful system... Except he is never going to give me the security question. He set up the game all alone and his mom is as tech-unsavvy as they get. Unless I find out how he set up the account, I cannot do anything. Except perhaps contact Blizzard....

      Thank you for the hint. I'll look into it.

      • Oh. The security question is one of those standard ones. What's your dog's name, yada yada. A relative you live with should know the answers to them.

        I'd call Blizzard, get what you need and then have the MiL call in. i'm presuming it's billing to one of her credit cards(or she's giving him cash for game cards). So my guess would be CD-KEY off the install media and the CC number.

        Just detailing out this option because it's bulletproof. I know when I was 13 there would've basically been no way to keep me
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • Rule number one: NO computers in their bedrooms.
    Unsupervised and unregulated compter use by children can be a very dangerous thing...
    • Yes, I agree.... Alas it seem to have become a standard. Many kids I know have their own computer in their bedroom. :-/
      • Just because "everybody else does it", doesn't mean you should. If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do the same?

        (OMG! I am sounding just like my parents!!! ;-) )

        Though I shouldn't be one to talk - I had a computer in my bedroom when i was a teenager. I spent many late nights hacking away on that Vic-20, but if my dad ever caught me I'd be in trouble...
        • Well, of course... You're right. Problem is to take away a right he already has. Besides, I'm not responsible for him. I'm just the "technical consultant" ;-) I had my own computer in my bedroom (okay, it was a laptop), when I was 17... Technically still a teenager. I built a computer for my sister while she definately was a teenager, though I do not remember when exactly. We never had any problems.

          Of course, back then computers were less powerful, internet gaming wasn't "in" yet. The world was ju

          • Well, of course... You're right. Problem is to take away a right he already has.

            If it is affecting his schooling then it sure as heck can and should be taken away. At least until he can prove that he has learned some responsibility.

            Of course, back then computers were less powerful, internet gaming wasn't "in" yet. The world was just different. Back then, I would have killed to get a TV in my room but that was also a big no-no for my parents. Oh, well, I guess I got a good education. :-P For me it was mainly
            • If it is affecting his schooling then it sure as heck can and should be taken away.

              Point is: it didn't affect his schooling *until* WoW. I mean, he has plenty of games, a PS2, a PSP and a GameCube (can you say "spoiled"?) He likes gaming, but before WoW it didn't affect his schooling at all. I mean, nothing is wrong with playing a round or two of Need For Speed (or whatever that racing game was that he had) to decompress after school. If you still pick up your books then, it's okay. At least IMHO.

              • Doesn't matter if it was WoW or Funky Truck 4WD - because he can't handle an addiction at computer games, take the computer away. Allow him to use it in the family room/den/whereever for his other gaming and school work. Remove the computer from his bedroom, but not his life...

                He can play a game of NFS in the living room just as easily as he can in his bedroom.
                • I don't really see where they could put a PC in their living room. It's quite small. The apartment they live in is quite odd in layout. One can use another room, but essentially it will become a computer room where he will be unsupervised anyway. (When mom isn't at home, and even then she has to prepare her lessons) Sure, his mom should supervise him, and I have recommended that to her. Alas, she doesn't understand squat about computers. For her, it's the same if he plays WoW or Funky Truck 4WD.

                  Now

                  • The important thing is to remove the computer frm his bedroom. He doesn't need to be watched like a hawk, but put it somewhere where it will be noticed if he is playing games late at night. If it is in his bedroom, even off-line games can possibly be a temptation. (I know - I played SimCity for 18 hours straight once!)

                    Stick it in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the parent's bedroom. Anywhere but his room.

                    Today it is WoW, tomorrow pr0n. (My brother discovered a picture one of his sons had printed out but fo
                    • Back to my rule number one: No computers in kids' bedrooms.

                      Yeah, I understand your point. Alas, I'm not in power. Only his mom can decide such things.

                      (My brother discovered a picture one of his sons had printed out but forgot to collect from the printer... Oops! No internet for Troy for a couple of weeks!)

                      ROTFLMAO! Discretion too, has to be learned ;-))

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