Hang on, so one member of the Missouri police claims adults shouldn't be playing Animal Crossing?

HEY WAIT, THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE TITLE SAYS!

The article states how predators can reach your children through AC:CF. Then explains how adults should not have this game because of that.

~Is it me or cops are getting more and more stupid?

No, they have the same level stupid people as everyone else, that's like saying all lawyers are religious fanatics because Jack Thompson is (okay was) one.

quote Me in the Animal Crossing Forum

Guys, let's get over the fact that a police officer who looks like a pedophile himself told us that adults shouldn't be playing this game. He's just saying that to stop adults from going online with kids and he obviously has no idea what he's saying, we don't need to get angry over it.

The real thing to be mad about here is how ABC makes a report about pedos on Animal Crossing because THREE kids (who all live in Missouri, no kidding) were stupid enough to lend their friend code to strangers, and got told some naughty words for a few minutes.

Stuff like this makes console and game companies look VERY bad in the blind public eye.

But yeah, before commenting, watch the video I posted earlier so there's no more confusion about what was or wasn't said.

And what kind of name is Andy Anderson anyway? It sounds like some sort of Ace Attorney pun name.

why would a grown adult play animal crossing anyway? why would they even want to? Unless we assume they've lost their genitalia in some sort of horrific road accident

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"The equipment is real expensive and we cannot afford to buy all of the systems and do not have the resources either to examine all of the possibilities," Anderson explains.

He's just mad that he can't play it.

It's all down to playing responsibly really. If you don't want your kids to play online with adults etc then only let them play online with their friends. And AC is an awesome game so everyone just needs to enjoy it!

ah i understand the point now. He's saying, this is a game, primarily aimed for a young audience; for children; in which they'll communicate and exchange with other players, who would presumably be children also. So an adult has no business playing it in that respect; just like an adult who you dont know has no business coming in from two towns over to play "tea party" or "magic imagination pirate adventures" with your kids. It's not appropriate, that's the point,and however much we'd all like to believe in the more honourable aspects of humanity, you still have to be aware that there are a lot of bastards out there.That's the whole point of friend codes though is it not, that whole hulla-baloo that put a lot of people off of the DS and the Wii; THIS is where it finds it's practical use.

What happened to strangers are friends waiting to happen?

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Man people from all ages can play a lot of games and have fun. The Sims, Ratchet and Clank, Pokemon, these are all cartoonish games which are primarily played by children, but there's no reason why adults can't enjoy them as well. If you think people play it just because it introduces them to life and learning then you really are on the wrong track.

of course anyone can play any game, I agree. But not everyone will enjoy any game to the same extent. for example, the adventure of pokemon is not gonna be as magical to a 30 year old, as it is to a 12 year old, there will be things that are lost there. And similarly the things that make animal crossing enjoyable and exciting for children; are the social elements, the comedy of the characters, the satsifaction of the small tasks. An adult generally speaking, has these things fulfilled in their everyday life, they have no want to actually go and recreate that in a game, and whats left when you remove that, is actually not as fulfilling as it was. The reason the game is so big with kids, is because it's a glimpse, a hint, at the big wide world, which they'll one day get to in adulthood. And those kids grow up, you get older, you have a different set of priorities, you want something different out of life, and (if you are still interested in gaming) something different from your gaming. People mature, their tastes and wants mature also. Still, anyone can play any game and have fun while it lasts, that is the idea of games or so I'm informed. BUT, there are certain people, who will get more out of certain games, than other people. A child will get more out of Animal Crossing, than an adult. UNLESS, that adult, has some sort of "agenda" to playing this game. This is what worries parents, this is what worries police - why are adults playing children's games? Just as an immature past-time? Fine, so-be-it, act like a child if you wish. Or, is it something else? Something sinister? And as long as that possibility exists; that element of doubt, it will always be better to say "yeh you know what actually, you're a full grown man. Leave the kids games to the kids, go and do something else that you'll enjoy; because by introducing an adult, with an adults thoughts and ideas and knowledge and so on; into a child's world, you will destroy that world, EVEN with the best of intents, EVEN IF you harbour no ill will or disgusting intents. So best thing, is for you to leave, your childhood is gone, stop clinging to it or you'll take theirs from them too."

Yeh I understand what you say. But when you take it all into account, playign with sentient animals, albeit virtual, and having laid-back fun with friends who are miles and miles away, will never be a true substitute for interacting with sentient human beings, and tending to actual living animals. And seeing friends face-to-face. My point is, you can have fun doing these things. But they are not AS fun, as their real-world counterparts. Now Im not saying, that you CANT do them, because of that. What I say is, dont decieve yourself - minor enjoyments have there place, but not as a substitute for the greater enjoyments. A soldier wouldnt be FULLY satisifed by a shooting game. Where's the metallic smell upon the air? Where's the chilling screams of the dieing, friend and foe alike? Where's the pain, where's the joy, where's the risk, where;s the reward? It's a dullen experience. Hypothetically, an adult has a full life, in comparison to a child. Therefore, a childs game wikll not be AS fulfilling to them. they can still play. A solider can still play shooting games; maybe it'll hone there accuaracy, maybe they have suffered some sort of injury so that they CANNOT got to war; but this game, wuill never be AS fulfilling as war, to them. Theres not as great a need for it.

Friend codes, friend codes work, if you have friends. It keeps people safe, but it defeats the purpose, of that universal unity, of making friends with people 1000 miles away; just how 10/20/30/40 etc. years ago, people had pen-friends. There was a risk there of course, again, of deception. But it wasnt something SO easy to do; it was something that had a bit of meaning a bit of value, so its all the more devastating and disgusting when its taken advantage of. Nowadays, its not anything meanignful or special to switch on your gaming system and meet someone a world away. But the possibility of deception is still there. And what i mean by removing that ability of deception, is not to police people; but to remove any and all ability for people to take advantage. Maybe to remove ALL ability of that, maybe we do need it to be policed; maybe we have to sacrifice privacy. But if we dont want that, then the best thing to do, is to be AWARE. Just thats whats needed, parents be aware, children be aware as much as possible. Play the games, and if something alarms you, stop and tell someone. Play the games online, and know, that these are just people, tht you're playing a game with online. Dont assign anything more to that; dont get overly friendly with someone you cant see, and dont make plans to meet this person because you dont know WHAT they are they could be a bloody martian. Just self-awareness, know what you're doing and know the risks, try and balance it out. Other than getting up swithcing off your playstation or x box or wii or whatever, friend codes, AND family awareness are probably, at this point of time, the BEST way of balancing that risk, especially for children. Sit down with your kids, and watch what they're playing, get involed; dont let em be drawn into a secret separate life. They're still children, dont let their childhood slip away so easily.

Lastly I agree, with the last point here, I would never say, that anyone CANNOT do anything. But I will ask, why they do things. And what its bearing is; what its value is in regards to the rest of life. Its about priorities. what you want, what you've got, what you need. people dont even know that themselves anymore.

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Ugh... guys, next time put your sentaces in paragraphs. My eyes hurt.

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Big A2 - lol @ walls of text ( http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20021223_05_mistake.gif ).

dont make me laugh man, if it makes your eyes hurt stop looking at it. look, point is either read it and take part, or scroll past it and dont worry yourself.

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So your telling me not to give a crap about your opinion?

Fantastic.

Bullshit. This really is quite an abhorable thing to do - either DISCUSS, or dont discuss. Dont tell me what I said, I SAID, take part, or dont say anything. If you're not taking part, you have no reason to complain about the text length.

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I think that's what he was trying to say at first, but he back-peddled a little after seeing your other posts.

Secondly, I did not back-pedal. Do not attempt, to invalidate my opinions, simply because, you have none of your own. Try switching on your one lonesome brain cell for a moment, and read what I said; if you do not understand it, then ask me and I'll elaborate. I have said, that there is NO REASON for someone who has a full life, to seek, or replace it with, a virtual life. There is no fulfilling reason, to ever replace life with virtuality. that DOESNT MEAN, you cant still enjoy the game. But how long will the enjoyment last, when you realise you could be doing the REAL thing? Not long. Remove all other agendas, just play games as games, and you'll realise, that there are more important things in life. A game is a game. By all means, Play it, enjoy it. Then when you're done, go live.

Back to the topic; for example, an analogy. In order for you to say, that you dont want FIVE, you must first aknowledge, that it exists. If you say, I only want ONE, I dont want any more, then you have to aknowledge also, that 1+1+1+1+1=5. 1 here, being analogous, to your life experiences; this ranges from, gaming experience, all the way through to sensory stimulations, and to the emotional reactions to those experiences, and beyond. If you say, I wanna stop HERE, then realise, that not everyone will stop there. 5 represents here, the collective full bag. Sights, smells, sounds, taste, the beat of the heart the clench of the stomach, everything. This is the full experience. This is GREATER, than any one part. But if you still say, I only want, just sights. or just sounds. Or just ONE part of it, then dont fool yourself that this will give you something equal to the full bag. And dont pretend, that its as important; because you have essentially remitted its place of importance, just by saying, I only want 1, or 2, or 3 or so on. 5 is more than 1. You wont get 5 from playing games; HOWEVER realistic they may become, it'll always just be 1 and 1 and 1 and so on. But still we must say ALSO, that 5 = 1+1+1+1+1, if you understand. 5 would not exist without these smaller parts, enjoy each one separatly each one has it's beauty. BUT 5, is more important than ANY 1, 5 is the collection of all 1's. dont enjoy 1 in PLACE of 2, or 3 in PLACE of 4, or so on. 5 is life; in a figurative way of speaking, you must work upwards from 1,2,3,4 to 5, that is the order of importance. Why should you forfeit your 5, for 1?

I tried to say this decently, but clearly you dont want decent so I'll say it outright - IF you are an adult, grow up and stop playing children's games. If you insist on continuing to play, then you are not a responsible adult; you forfeit the benefits of adulthood - you are an invalid. IF, the game is enjoyable to you AS a responsible valid adult, then simply said its not a childs game. BUT if we are defining games, as in loosely saying THESE games are best for children they will get most out of it, and THESE games are best for adults they will get most out of those; they will stimulate their minds accordingly, then here's a shocker, playing something not for you, wont be enjoyable. You wont get most out of it. And if you dont want "most", then why are you playing? If you dont want enjoyment, why play a game? Plenty of unejoyable tasks to do elsewhere, difference being they might actually benefit someone.

Lastly, it seems its neccessary for me to state things as simply and clearly as possible; no worries. I dont say, that privacy and awareness are the BEST counter-measures to deception. No. The BEST counter-measure to deception, is to remove the medium; i.e. abolish the internet, abolish gaming or abolish social meets so-on and so-forth. IF you want to abolish COMPLETELY the ability for deception, thats what must be done. BUT, this would defaet the purpose; there'd no longer be a medium to PROTECT. So, IF you want to KEEP the medium, but as much as possible, LOWER the ability for decpetion, you have to ask, what is the more important things. Is privacy more important, yes or no? If no, then put in place some system of "policing". If yes, then mainatin your privacy, but maintain your individual responsibility of vigilance; BE self-aware and responsible. It's about balancing those risks with the benefits, if you abolish the risk, you will abolish the benefit with it; if you abolish the benefit you will abolish the risk with it also; because the PURPOSE of these mediums, is sociality. In a social situation as such, you cant be fully safe ever. You can only balance the risk, and be aware.

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A game is a game. By all means, Play it, enjoy it. Then when you're done, go live.

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I tried to say this decently, but clearly you dont want decent so I'll say it outright - IF you are an adult, grow up and stop playing children's games.

HMMMMM.

By the way, I think we've made it clear that Animal Crossing isn't just a children's game. Nintendo of America even markets it at adults, so the game appeals to kids and the commercial aspects appeal to adults.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM YES. now lets put the two sentences together maybe? A game is a game. Play it, enjoy it, finish, finito. If you are an adult, why do you ENJOY children's games? do you enjoying PLAYING this game? Or, rather, is there an agenda beyond enjoyment; escape, or perversion, or something sinister. That is the danger, of mixing adult's and children's recreations.

I would appreciate if you decide on your point before you wanna discuss it man. If Animal Crossing is not just for children; if an adult can RETAIN their adulthood and still enjoy aspects of this game, then so-be-it, there's no dispute there. But I dont believe they can; or rather, I dont believe, that an adult,honestly and sincerely, will find animal crossing, or 'dora the explorer magical adventures' as fulfilling as a child would, whilst playing, AS an adult. which is what they are. They can still play and enjoy for 5 minutes, the very very very basic simple aspect of gameplay; BUT, its not the same experience that a child will find. This is my point - this is what makes it, a child's game, or an adult's game - do you need to BE a child, or an adult, to fully enjoy it? IF you enjoy something, do it. But as an adult, DEAL with it, also. WHY do you enjoy it, and is there any avenue, to EXPAND on this enjoyment? And furthermore, do you WANT to expand. This is what I mean, by "grow up", because a child, can be forgiven for taking it one-step at a time - that IS life, thats what it means to be a child. But an adult who walks backwards; where is the responsibility in that? See here I have elaborated - I KNOW what I have said; dont try and "trip me up". If you dont understand part of what I say, or feel it is conflicting, then ask me, the person who said it, to explain further.

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And about the security, notice I said "best and most easily deployed", destroying the Internet just to stop a few pedophiles is a much harder and extreme measure than informing children.

Yes indeed; but the point I make is that is the only way you'll completely stop the internet being abused. For the time being though, that's too extreme a measure; there's too much benefit from the internet, and until we lose all that benefit and are just left only with abuse, we have a duty to instead protect these avenues and tools of education, and be aware, be responsible.

We're keeping it civil man, this is civil, gotta expect a few disagreements I appreciate, that large paragraphs are not to everyone's liking, ok. No-one forces you to read them; I am giving as substantial an opinion as possible, if you wish to reply in the same way I welcome that, if you wish to keep it short and succint that's fine also, but thats up to everyone themself, how much they wanna write, and how much they wanna read; you cant reply to something you havent read, you cant read something you havent wrote.

But I'll try and keep this last bit short and succint, and sum up my point of all this. The topic of the day here, or week even, is responsibility. And a lack of responsibility. If you dont know WHY you do something, then how have you managed to get to the WHAT and the WHEN? If you know why you do something, then do it, defend that. If you dont know why, then dont do it. We all know the whys, for example, I put one foot in front of the other and walk. Why? because I wanna go somewhere. But not everyone wants to deal with that. Thats a lack of responsibility right there.

Now you may ask, how is this relevant, to gaming. I'll tell you - Gaming, is an extension of life. "Gaming", by it's very definition, will never be a replacement for your life. But being an extension, responsibility is still there; it's still applied (why do you pick up a game? cos you wannna enjoy it, you wanna play. thats the why, thats your reason, you are responsible for that.). Now, granted, sitting on your own in your living room playing streetfighter, there is considerably less responsibility involved; you play you win you lose thats the be all and end all. I wont go into the futility of playing virtual lives with virtual responsibilites; separate issue. BUT as soon as you step online, and introduce OTHER people into your games, you have considerably increased your responsibility. It doesnt matter, whats a childrens game and whats an adults game; thats a separate issue once more, I wont go into that again. The point is, there WILL be children playing, there WILL be adults playing. You have a responsibility to know why you're playing, and to act accordingly.