"It is irresponsible to confront children of just 11 or 12 with the idea of a friend lapsing into unconsciousness because they have had so much to drink."

Has Seaton even read the game description?

You're supposed to help said drunk friend. If anything, that sounds more like a crash course in basic first aid, which I think actually makes sense.

“It is irresponsible to confront children of just 11 or 12 with the idea of a friend lapsing into unconsciousness because they have had so much to drink.”

It's more irresponsible to pretend that it doesn't happen. And what's so terrible about a friend passing out? Trust me, a kid at that age can handle it. Hell they may have even passed out once or twice themselves. Because the age we kids drink and have relationships gets lower and lower every year.

I remember having my brother's friends pass out on me when I was about 11 or 12... I remember being quite scared and not knowing what to do as I didn't know why it had happened... fortunately there were other people not too far off so my distress did not last too long, but other kids may not be as fortunate as me when they find out what alcohol can do to ppl...

I think this game sounds like a great idea, for pretty much all ages. There is no law preventing people from being drunk around kids, so there should be no age restriction on a game that depicts the same thing.

Oops, above post from Vany is actually me :S

Work pc's mixing names up due to the network.

Sounds like Seaton's parallel Earth is quite nice - no underage drinking, and all video games are banned.

Oh, wait ....

The game character just needs a little bit of the hair of the dog that bit him. Give him a beer and he'll come right.

Another idiot who thinks that all games are bad and that parents can just tell their kids not to drink alcohol and it will work.

How about a lesson on how stupid they look when they are drunk.

One night in college a stranger brought home my roommate who was so drunk he was just sitting on the couch vomitting on himself (didn't bother me much as it was his own couch).

It's not a matter of "He can't hold his liquor." It's a matter of, "His brain is shutting down because it isn't able to function correctly." It won't even go into how sick the guy was the next day, I couldn't really hear him with my stereo turned up and the subwoofer going full blast... [evil grin]

Well if you know about the cause and effects, if you know how to handle it... how are you supposed to be a victim?

The new speak for 'success' is 'victim.' We clearly shouldn't empower ourselves or our children.

I think this reminds me of something Byron said in her report... I'll paraphrase, can't remember the exact wording..

"Adults think childhood is all fun and happy.. it isn't, kids are hurtful and teenagers curious about all sorts of things adults don't want them to be.. but now adults know, and don't like it"..

These people want to stop kids knowing about the way things are.. if you ask me, by the time a child is in high school they should be learning about such things and graphically educated about the negative effects.

I remember why I don't smoke.. when I was playing around pretending to smoke a cigar that my father had been given by a friend and never gotten around to smoking, when I was ten.. he cut it up and made me eat bits until I promised never to smoke.. he didn't want me addicted like my parents did.. and I never wanted to taste tobaccoo ever again.

@JustChris

Eh, at my school, I'd say about 1/8 of high schoolers get drunk semi-regularly, and over half have gotten really drunk before.

@ Thomas

But these days, that's more than enough for CPS to come and grab your children.

@ JustChris

Making something illegal exponentially increases the likelihood of abuse. I believe that this is a major contributing factor. You don't have the same level of problems in households/countries that introduce children to potentially dangerous items when they are young. This applies to guns and alcohol in a big way, IMO.

What are the chances that a 15yr old will have only a few beers after school just to unwind?

ex. Once I was 21, having beer was no longer 'an event.' No reason to celebrate the fact that I have it, and so my tendencies to 'abuse' it were all but erased.

Mr. Seaton mentions...

It is irresponsible to confront children of just 11 or 12 with the idea of a friend lapsing into unconsciousness because they have had so much to drink.

Children of that age are already confronted with the problem. This game not only draws attention to said problem, but it also educates players on how to deal with the problem in what I hope is a mature and responsible way. It's not meant to be a problem but a potential solution. Critics should take heed of such things instead of simply admonishing such attempts. These people are so out of touch, it's not even funny... though sometimes it is.

@Christian Astrup:

And while they're at it, no more middle school sexual education? 'cause kids will be promiscuous with that information. ;)

It is irresponsible to IGNORE that children of just 11 or 12 deal with alcohol and drugs everywhere. Sounds like Nick Seaton is from the "pretend it's not there and your children will never find out" camp of parenting.

I agree with Nick Seaton! Furthermore, it is irresponsible to warn children of potential dangers around railroad crossings. Children of that age do not need to be confronted with the idea of their friends being splattered across the countryside because they didn't heed the crossing signal and look both ways down the track.

It is also completely unconscionable to tell them not to drink paint thinner and drain cleaner! How can anyone justify crushing the beautiful innocence of children by telling them about all the scary brain damage and cardiac malfunction that threatens them underneath the sink? You gamers make me sick!

@Shih Tzu

Indeed! Next thing you know, we'll be warning them about getting into strangers' cars or trying to tell them to be careful online, I think it's disgraceful that we should make kids aware that there are predators out there, it would ruin their innocence!

"It is irresponsible to confront children of just 11 or 12 with the idea of a friend lapsing into unconsciousness because they have had so much to drink."

*headdesk*
*headdesk*
*headdesk*

Well, think of the 15-YEAR OLDS THEN! DUH!! Jeez...

I blame this game on all of my hangovers. Ever. Even before this game existed.

On the same note, I also blame M. Night Shyamalan for this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article37090...

@Ebonheart
I hate that saying...Ignorance is not bliss. Lack of responsibility is relaxing, that's all. And that only holds up until whoever is responsible for you makes a decision you don't like. Anyway.

It's been said already, but I concur that not warning children in some fashion is the true irresponsibility. You can't "protect" them by not telling them anything. You will not always be there to tell them what to do, and even if you were, they might not do it. And if they did...then they're not really living, are they? Life without choice is empty. Risk is part of every choice. And knowledge is the only thing that helps people avoid risks, whether they are young or old. Therefore, knowledge is a necessity.
Now, I don't think we should necessarily start warning kids about the potential dangers of substance abuse/etc. as soon as they can walk...but when they're 15, they better know. Because when I was in high school (not long ago, I'm in college now) over 50% of my grade could already be categorized by their substance of choice (alcohol. cigarettes, and pot being the big three, with ecstasy and coke belonging to a minority) at the beginning of freshman year. To reiterate: they already had these habits, possibly addictions, known to each other and myself when high school started. Kids can learn earlier than adults think.
Oh, and to put that in context: the school was a private high school in the northeastern united states. I think that's enough to get the idea. This happens, and in plenty of places. Parents need to stop lying to themselves about the innocence of children.

@Ebonheart
I understood you were joking, yes-just got sidetracked by the phrase. When I said "I hate that phrase" I guess I was trying to distinguish my objection against it from your actual viewpoint. Sorry for being unclear.

And those are decent examples of ignorance as bliss...but in truth i think they rely on our innate culturally manufactured squeamishness, so while they are valid in real life, I think in an improved culture (one not obsessed with ignoring facets of reality for no good reason) they wouldn't really be considered unpleasant.

What can be said that hasn't been said already? People complain about there not being and method to teach children about these dangers, then when someone does come around with a method or media to do so they are berated for thier efforts and forced to stop. Complete ignorance and nothing more.

And I do agree with others posted who postedbefore me with thier comment:

*headdesk*
*headdesk*
*headdesk*

*facepalm*

R.I.P for now Common Sense. But we hope someone resurrects you in the future.


As for the anti-binge drinking game. I would like to give two thumbs up to the people who made it.

"Knowing is half the battle"