I am very wary of social networking anything aimed at kids–and there a lot of virtual worlds and interactive games out there, specifically for tweens and younger kids.
But I don’t know a six-year-old (including my own) who actually “owns” a video game. That’s because moms and dads are the ones that pay for them.
According to the Missouri cop’s reasoning, as described in this bit (below), if you use your credit card to purchase one of these games, you’d be on his list of pedophiles.
Police in Missouri have put a new twist on age-inappropriate gaming by saying there is “no reason” adults would own games like Animal Crossing unless they’re using them as pedophile bait.
“There is no reason an adult should have this game,” said Task Force Coordinator Andy Anderson. He added that adults who own Animal Crossing and similar games likely have them for “the wrong reasons.” Evil, child-molesting reasons, no doubt.
Susan Arendt of The Escapist noted that direct communication between players could only take place under certain, easily controlled circumstances. “You can’t talk to anyone unless you have their friend code,” she said, prompting at least one observer to wonder exactly how, and why, she knows so much about the game.
via The Escapist : News : Police Say Adults Shouldn’t Own Animal Crossing.
Mark Baard on mind control and mad science in Boston….
