Breakfast Topic: No children, please!
by Jennie Lees 
Jun 14th 2006 at 9:01AM
I recently overheard someone giving advice on how to avoid guild drama: avoid teenagers. Why? Because nothing loses respect for a guild leader more than their parents kicking them off the computer in the middle of a raid.It's an interesting point, but I've noticed this sort of age discrimination becoming more prevalent recently. People are happy to tar all WoW's younger players with the same brush -- one experience of an abusive fourteen-year-old in Barrens chat blows up into a strong dislike of all under-18s, resulting in "mature-only" guilds which only take players over 30 (for example).
My experiences, especially of the last few months, have shown me that teenage players can be as mature and responsible as anyone -- perhaps more laid-back than older players who have limited playtime thanks to jobs and other responsibilities. Have you suffered from the common stereotypes of younger players? Do you cringe whenever the words "fourteen-year-old" are used as an insult? Or are you happily entrenched in a mature-only guild without a single curfew in sight?
Filed under: WoW Social Conventions, Virtual selves, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fabian Jun 14th 2006 9:21AM
I can honestly say from past experiences that, although sometimes you can blame stupid behaviour on the age, it does not need to be that way.
In another MMORPG (long time before WoW ^__^), one of our best roleplayers, most mature acting, thoughtful and intellegent players was a 14 year old. Amazing guy, really. Wrote a lot of tools for the game, storys, songs and poetry. We all couldn't believe he was that young, but its true.
That experience alone has renewed me in my views. I say, don't damn anyone on prejudice. If they are stupid and childish, it will show soon enough, but give everyone a chance first.
Trollbert Jun 14th 2006 9:27AM
My son is eight years old and plays (mostly supervised by me) a Tauren Hunter. He's constantly being praised by people he groups with, and in his guild, with how well he performs as a team player. None of them know his age and he's under strict instructions not to divulge it.
Most of the (few) people I've encountered who were stroppy / irritating / just plain annoying have been more than old enough to know better.
Gramin Jun 14th 2006 9:33AM
Well, i think it still comes down to the individual. There are a lot of teenagers that can be immediately spotted by the way they talk and communicate, and also the way they act around groups. I think it's more about the way they act in game with the guild and with other plain individuals, than the fact that one fine day they might just drop out beacuse of their parents. If the person is a truly good character, then i think it is kind of forgivable if something like this happens... the same way it's not the first time that i have had a huge lagspike or my internet connection just drops for no reason and i am told not to worry about it.
So if on the whole, the player is ok and knows what he/she is doing.. then no problem with us!
:)
PodMonkeys Jun 14th 2006 10:13AM
I think I've played with way too many adults that could be mistaken for teens online. As far as curfews go, I'm 31 and just can't stay up as late as I used to. Gone are the days of 3am nights of UO. Now, 9:30 is a late night of WoW for me.
CRod Jun 14th 2006 11:09AM
Yeah funny thing is in my guild this topic came up once. I had to point out that most of the people who were exiting the raids early were the older group. Most who would say I have Work/wife/kids, duties the next day and had to turn in. Yes, the occasional kid will be scolded off but I think its about equal with the adults. Just my two copper
Mat Jun 14th 2006 11:11AM
Personally, I think it depends on server type. On PvP I feel like mature teenagers are more of an exception, but on RP and PVE it's quite a bit better.
I think an important point you're missing however, is that we geezers, just like teens, like to sometimes form cliques (or in this case "guilds") of people in our own age range because they're more likely to have things in common with us, or be at the same place in their life. In a 25+ guild you won't get a lot of complaining about the healer having to take five to change a diaper, because a lot of the members will have been there or be there now... y'know?
Sylythn Jun 14th 2006 11:17AM
I regularly play with younger kids, many are the kids of other guildmates, and I have no problems at all...sure they have their quirks, but what adult doesn't have quirks?
I've seen the begging in cities, inane chat in general, and all the other behavior associated with "teens", from all ages of players.
I've played other online RPGs (IRC chat based) and experienced all the same things...it has nothing to do with age...it has everything to do with maturity.
As for parents kicking them off...parents need to get a clue...you either limit the time they get to play up front, or you respect their right (which parents implicitly gave them by NOT putting restrictions on its use) to use the computer. One of our regular players has a software program that limits his time on the computer...and he always lets us know if it's going to expire before we go into any instances or try to do long quests.
Xahr Jun 14th 2006 12:29PM
Playing with gamers your age enhance the fun you have through chats. "Mature" subjects popup more often with 30+ gamers.
Younger kids tend to be more game focused. But they know a great deal about the game, so its cool to hang around them sometimes :-)
Toeroe Jun 14th 2006 12:35PM
As part of a 'adults only' clan, I really do prefer the atmosphere to that of others I sometimes meet in games. You can defintely get the occasional good teenager, but mostly my problems tend to be with the 17-21 crowd. They are often the more abusive, with infantile humor and lack of respect for others. Most of the actual "14 year olds" that we play with have more self control, brought on by the rest of the older gamers in the clan.
jeff kahrs Jun 14th 2006 4:38PM
My standing offer for a 25+ server goes up almost everytime I play. Right now, I am willing to spend $75 a month.
I enjoy playing with my nephews sometime, but a break from all the kiddies would also be nice.
Wes Jun 14th 2006 8:29PM
Im sorry guys, but I (age 35) find issue with adults playing games with minors they do not know, and outside of the supervision of the minor's parents.
I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old. If I found them at the park playing chase with a 35 year old... well.. I just dont see it happening.
The fact that we are separating ourselves through a medium does not change the fact that the non related / associated adults and children do not play with each other on the same level.
My 2 cents...
Mike Jun 15th 2006 7:12AM
Well, if you place any stock in th ESRB your 9 year old and 6 year old should not be playing WoW because it's rated "T" for Teen. Regardless, if they were teenagers and still you didn't want them playing with 35 year olds without supervision, then a) don't allow them to play WoW, because it is an immutable fact that 35 year olds play WoW or b) supervise them when they play. I wouldn't expect Blizzard to make any accomodations for adult/child separation on servers anytime soon.
George Jun 15th 2006 10:32AM
In my guild we have a wide range of ages, from the 45 year old mother of two (who's kids play as well) to several teens. In my experience more mature players tend to be more social, polite and less likely to use slurs against other players. In my guild I've noticed younger (often less mature) players tend to only be interested in grinding their way to level 60, and are obsessed with getting epic gear.
I'll agree with a previous poster. I would pay a little extra a month to be on an exclusive 21 and over server.
Dragonvarld Jun 15th 2006 3:26PM
I am in a mature restricted guild (CrazyEightyEight on Maelstrom) and we don't base maturity on age, but on maturity itself. We have several players under 18 that act mature. We also have had inmature people kicked from the guild that were well past 18.
Age does not equal maturity.
obo Jun 16th 2006 12:17AM
I find that playing from 2-6 a.m. solves most of these problems.