Comments on: They’re following a strange melody!

By: Wilson

Wilson — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:36:19 +0000

I am the 15 year old stepson that was mentioned and to be honest I would rather be inside playing my 360 than outside where i would have to listen to d*ckheads talk sh@t for god sake martin managed to confuse them once by looking at his wrist and saying that the police would arrive soon…

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:28:39 +0000

Video games… they stop you going blind.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:17:47 +0000

Aged 15? Hiding in his room “playing games”? I bet he’s shaking the Sixaxis, waving the Wiimote, bashing out a high score…

And to think when I was a teenager I used to just hide in my room and w*nk a lot.

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:25:09 +0000

I suppose I should point out that I have a 7 year old daughter who loves going out to play, but within a small distance. I also have 15 year old stepson who will not go out, as hard as we try, he just wants to play his 360, much like his friends. When I say kids, I mean the teens really, I should have made that clear.
I think really I`ve just noticed recently that the streets are a lot quieter than when I was young, and this was my theory why, partly based on what I see at home. I wrote all this on my Wii, wow!

By: Modfather

Modfather — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:36:45 +0000

I think the crime/knife crime involving kids these days (teen stabbing) keeps them off the street. And I hear a lot of parents say they are happier when they know what there kids are up to.

But yes I remember coming in from school, and it was as quick as you could get changed to get out and play until you were reluctantly called in for your diner. Then it was straight back out as fast as your wee legs could take you :)

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:04:43 +0000

Peddling? Pedalling even! Yeah, that’s right, I even correct myself!

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:01:43 +0000

I can’t say I’ve seen such an absence of children from the streets, although it may not be as… common as years ago.

I was outside all the time, climbing trees, occasionally peddling away from the local bullies like a maniac (while laughing). And tons of other stuff. Like, erm, playing this kind of game where one person was a killer and did the deed by blinking… I was young, it kept us out of trouble and we were effectively being babysat by some teenage girl who, in hindsight, appears to have modelled herself on Good Sandy. In fact, her whole family was decent which was pretty strange where I lived.

But then, I did get into gaming quite late; I was about 13 I think.

Now, I don’t think there are such role models in my old estate. Or even where I live now. Maybe it’s a case of “Grr, you young people! In my day…” on my part though?

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:31:40 +0000

I wish I could share your concerns, but as a child I myself was almost never outside, and I didn’t get into videogames until very late in the game. I spent all my childhood days sitting on the living room floor playing with tinker toys, myself. Ah, the good ol’ days.

Then again, my parents were of the early “there is a pedophile on every corner” demographic, so that may have had something to do with it.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:55:21 +0000

I think you’re scaping the wrong goat here. If anything I’d say the kids aren’t out playing because the parents have been petrified by the Daily Mail into believing there’s a peadophile on every corner, so they don’t let their kids go out on their own.

My childhood was similar to yours, I played games, sure, when it was dark out or raining, but other than that we were outside almost all the time, mostly hooning it round on bikes, and the only stipulation was that we were back in time for tea.