Last Friday a post hit the League of Legends forums titled, "Open Letter to Parents of League of Legends Players," which I didn't find out about until today's Penny Arcade. In this post Ice Weasel X wants all you parents out there to let these kids finish their matches. Bed time? Let them play. Dinner time? Let them play? They start a match after you've told them to go to bed? Let them play. I understand that for Ice Weasel X that League of Legends is really important. In fact it's so important that he's gone out of his way to try and tell parents how wrong they are for making their children get off a video game - because doing so is teaching them a bad lesson about their responsibilities towards other people.
Here's the thing: I don't give a fuck about your god damned video game match. My son could be playing football and if I tell him it's time for dinner his rear had best be heading for that seat at the table. I don't care if he's in the middle of a League of Legends match. I don't care if his team is winning or losing. I don't care if he's the best player or the worst. When I tell him it's time to get off the computer the discussion is over. This isn't a negotiation between equals where your words will have an impact on how my child is raised. I'm the parent, you're not.
Get over yourself, you self-important child.
"Responsibilities to other people"? Hmmm, yeah, and teaching children that failing to account for long-standing scheduled events, such as family meals, homework, school or job, in orders to stay in the game, party, novel, or anything of the moment, is "good" behavior is... I don't know. I'm going to *facepalm* and walk away.
ReplyDeleteSpot-on, Charles, spot-on!
Thanks Icarus Anne Riley! Yeah, I was flabbergasted when I read that letter too.
DeleteI'm going to date myself here by admitting I have no clue what "League of Legends" is or why anyone would pen an open letter then sign it "Ice Weasel X."
DeletePutting that aside I agree with you 100%
When I was a kid, if my parents called me for dinner telling them "But I'm in the middle of doing something" was never an option.
League of Legends is the top MOBA, or Massive Online Battle Arena, game out there today. In it players pick a character of varying abilities, with specialized moves, to compete with others online in sets of 1 v 1, 3 v 3, or 5 v 5. At one time it was a lot of fun but what passes for a conversation during the games is now nothing more than a long string of racial and sexist epithets. It's largely recognized as a toxic place.
DeleteThanks Charles! That sounds completely avoidable.
DeleteIt used to be a lot of fun, but there's only so many times someone can tell you that you're doing it wrong when you're leading the team in all categories before you just get bored with it all.
DeleteClassic.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I will echo the above: What is League of Legends?
League of Legends is the top MOBA, or Massive Online Battle Arena, game out there today. In it players pick a character of varying abilities, with specialized moves, to compete with others online in sets of 1 v 1, 3 v 3, or 5 v 5. At one time it was a lot of fun but what passes for a conversation during the games is now nothing more than a long string of racial and sexist epithets. It's largely recognized as a toxic place.
DeleteThey kind of have a point.
ReplyDeleteWhat if... a kid was playing Team Sports and it was the Championship Game. Then the pitcher's mom pulls him off the field so he can eat meatloaf. The team is forced to forfeit because they don't have enough players. (What's the difference between the video game scenario and the sports scenario? That one is an indoor activity and one is outdoor? Parents certainly have more respect for sports accomplishments than computer game accomplishments. I wonder why. ...actually now that I think about this it's blowing my mind that people hand out trophies for games about kicking a ball around and act like those are real achievements. )
Another scenario. This sort of thing isn't an issue for D&D because it's turn based so it'll "pause". But imagine it didn't. Imagine D&D was played out in real time and if someone had to, for example, leave the table to take a dump his character couldn't take actions. That basically guarantees a TPK if someone has to leave at a tense moment. So you've been playing a hard ass dungeon for the last couple hours, like the tomb of horrors or something and you're at the last boss when Jack's dad decides it's time for brussel sprouts and talking about their day so everybody dies. "Dad can you please wait 20 minutes this is important?" Hell no. Stop wasting your life with this garbage and come bask in the quality time of peas and potatoes.
I think the difference is that while Ice Weasel X believes that he is playing in the Championship Game, he isn't.
DeleteIf the game is so important then it should be set at an pre agreed time - talk to parents before hand, argue your point, instead of ignoring them or telling them "You're ruining my life!"
DeleteAnonymous said: "They kind of have a point.
DeleteWhat if... a kid was playing Team Sports and it was the Championship Game. Then the pitcher's mom pulls him off the field so he can eat meatloaf. The team is forced to forfeit because they don't have enough players. (What's the difference between the video game scenario and the sports scenario? That one is an indoor activity and one is outdoor? Parents certainly have more respect for sports accomplishments than computer game accomplishments. I wonder why. ...actually now that I think about this it's blowing my mind that people hand out trophies for games about kicking a ball around and act like those are real achievements. )
Another scenario. This sort of thing isn't an issue for D&D because it's turn based so it'll "pause". But imagine it didn't. Imagine D&D was played out in real time and if someone had to, for example, leave the table to take a dump his character couldn't take actions. That basically guarantees a TPK if someone has to leave at a tense moment. So you've been playing a hard ass dungeon for the last couple hours, like the tomb of horrors or something and you're at the last boss when Jack's dad decides it's time for brussel sprouts and talking about their day so everybody dies. "Dad can you please wait 20 minutes this is important?" Hell no. Stop wasting your life with this garbage and come bask in the quality time of peas and potatoes. "
The difference between the video game scenario and the sports one is that kid play a video game isn't in a championship match - he's just playing the game for fun. It would be more accurate to compare a backyard, sandlot game to a regular session of League of Legends. In that case the mom absolutely would pull the kid and would be right to do so.
"Another scenario . . ."
There is no sympathy for the kid in this scenario either. You're playing a game. Get up and go to dinner and bed when it's time. As a parent I can tell you that there are things vastly more important for your child than playing a game (even though that is still important).
Kelvin Green said: "I think the difference is that while Ice Weasel X believes that he is playing in the Championship Game, he isn't."
DeleteAbsolutely.
Roman Dunduk said: "If the game is so important then it should be set at an pre agreed time - talk to parents before hand, argue your point, instead of ignoring them or telling them "You're ruining my life!""
DeleteTruth!
I feel your pain, Charles
ReplyDeleteIf they feel like they have an important game to play - schedule it, tell your parents about it before hand - communication is the key though.
Absolutely!
DeleteI'll just echo my thumbs up of this post.
ReplyDeleteDoes this Ice Weasel guy HAVE children?
I would be shocked to find out that he wasn't a teenager.
DeleteLikely Ice Weasel X is a child.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that he's probably a teenager.
DeleteThere is always an accompanying blog post with the Penny Arcade comic.
ReplyDeleteYep. It didn't post until after I had written this yesterday. Don't know why they don't always post the two simultaneously but then again they've got far more viewers and money than I've ever dreamed so maybe they know what they're doing!
Delete