Debate on MMO Communities

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 22:54

Just thought i'd ask a question on peoples opinions on an aspect of the MMO community.

I'm in a Guild on an online game and have been for about 8 years. I've been in there since I was 12, and ever since that time their has always been people much older than me (ranging up to the 50s!) and I have always seen it as ok.

Now that I'm 20 (even working in a school) I am finding it socially awkward and personally socially unacceptable to be in a guild with much younger people, some even younger than my own students.

I have been in since I was a child, and I'm not trying to make this sound Jimmy Saville like (it's nothing like that) since there are over 150 of us in the guild and the vast majority of us are 17+ and we do in game events and have Ventrilo. I know my parents wouldn't of liked it if they knew I spent time online with people much older, and I wouldn't want my kids to spend time online with adults.

So my question is to the community, I know many of you guys MMO players, what you think of this? Should I be forced to leave a massive friendship group, which is almost like my second family ( especially the people I have known for years ) just because adults and children shouldn't mix? Or should our Guild get with the times and put an age limit on members ? As we always thought our guild as a place for people of all ages.

In fact it just isn't even just in guilds in games its in games in general were people from a vast range of age groups socialize together.

~James~

Judgeneo · 2 Jan 2013 at 22:56

Why is it a problem being in a guild with kids?
Theres a 12 year old on this forum IIRC

Nitefly · 2 Jan 2013 at 22:56

Sounds like you are over thinking it to me, they are just trying to have fun like you were.

If it bothers you that much just request a 16+ age limit on it.

arknor · 2 Jan 2013 at 22:57

why does it matter? its not like sexual predators play mmos trying to fap to childrens voices.

if your really bothered just find a mature guild 18+ most mmos have atleast a dozen of them

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 22:59

Nitefly said:
Sounds like you are over thinking it to me, they are just trying to have fun like you were.

If it bothers you that much just request a 16+ age limit on it.

It's more of how the times are changing. Also it's the fact if any of my students were in my guild, i'd get in **** for it, but if they don't go to my school it is ok according to society.

For instance sexual harassment now includes things that just a few years ago would be called normal.

If normal people in society saw online gaming guilds what would they say?

Voltar · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:01

Nitefly said:
Sounds like you are over thinking it to me, they are just trying to have fun like you were.

If it bothers you that much just request a 16+ age limit on it.

This really.

I know some guilds used to have age limits due to late play times.

Live and let live really. You used to do it and so can they. The only issue would be if they're disruptive to your enjoyment of the game either because they can't play at the usual times or to the requisite standards.

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:02

Working in a school is inflicting a sense of fear in you. I understand it, but it shouldn't be that way.

Kenai · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:06

kitkat9933 said:
Now that I'm 20 (even working in a school) I am finding it socially awkward and personally socially unacceptable to be in a guild with much younger people, some even younger than my own students.

I'd say it's working in a school that is giving you this sense of wrongdoing, rightly or wrongly.

kitkat9933 said:
For instance sexual harassment now includes things that just a few years ago would be called normal.

That comment intrigued me though - what sort of things?

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:07

Voltar said:
This really.

I know some guilds used to have age limits due to late play times.

Live and let live really. You used to do it and so can they. The only issue would be if they're disruptive to your enjoyment of the game either because they can't play at the usual times or to the requisite standards.

I wouldn't say any are disruptive of mine or anyone enjoyment really. I think the poster is above right, it's the fact I work in a school, where even if I put my eyes in the wrong place by accident the handcuffs get banged on my wrists.

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:07

Kenai said:
I'd say it's working in a school that is giving you this sense of wrongdoing, rightly or wrongly.

That comment intrigued me though - what sort of things?

Well my dad got in trouble for sexual harassment for giving a woman a pat on a back when he found out she was pregnant (as in congratulations kind of thing)

Mark3h · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:09

As said above, why should others miss out on being part of a community for being young when you yourself were allowed in.
I understand some people set age restrictions in the likes of serious guilds or teams as they see younger players as being too immature for conversation. In most cases they are right to do so.

But how many memoriable times have you had in that guild that didnt kick you out because of how old you are.
Definately something that should be looked at from both sides. Especially by someone like you who has been on both sides.

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:11

Mark3h said:
As said above, why should others miss out on being part of a community for being young when you yourself were allowed in.
I understand some people set age restrictions in the likes of serious guilds or teams as they see younger players as being too immature for conversation. In most cases they are right to do so.

But how many memoriable times have you had in that guild that didnt kick you out because of how old you are.
Definately something that should be looked at from both sides. Especially by someone like you who has been on both sides.

I've had a lot of memorable times, I've spent most of my life in the same guild. i have met a lot of the closer members to me in real life and we get along great (one I even went to uni with). But it's just that feeling of it being morally wrong.

Raumarik · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:18

Most MMOs these days I end up playing with the same group of people I've been playing with for years, most have kids now who have joined our ever expanding group and it's really not an issue. Thinking back to 1999 in Ultima Online the guild I was in had all ages, 65 year old grandfather down to an 11 year old lad who still plays under the same name but tends to be a drunk student on friday nights and talking out of his ****!

Age (low or high) isn't an issue, it's usually their conduct and that of others you have to watch for.

Kamwah · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:20

You find it socially unacceptable? I think you've grown up to the part where you start overthinking things and having stupid ideas.

Grow up a bit more.

Nothing wrong with having a wide range of ages as long as the kids are kept in line and they're not so young that you have to keep your tongue tied because they might get banned my mommy and daddy cos you was talking about that chick you banged last night.

Efour · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:21

Worst "im a pedophile" thread of 2013 so far...

Kotu · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:28

Most guilds are little more than extra chat channels.

Its quite hard to judge peoples ages in situations like this since you get some really mature kids mixed up with socially isolated older people that act really childish, they are all there because they share the same interest though. I don't really see any issue with it other than asking people politely to avoid excessive swearing and/or adult related chat as there might be youngsters around.

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:30

Kotu said:
Most guilds are little more than extra chat channels.

Its quite hard to judge peoples ages in situations like this since you get some really mature kids mixed up with socially isolated older people that act really childish, they are all there because they share the same interest though. I don't really see any issue with it other than asking people politely to avoid excessive swearing and/or adult related chat as there might be youngsters around.

This is one of the problem though. Most of the kids are more mature than us! A lot of us older folk in the guild are probably extremely immature.

The main point of this thread though is what other people make of these kind of situations. Obviously it is a little different for me now since I work in a school, which gives me a different viewpoint and makes me realize wow i'm 20 and in a guild with people the same age if not younger than the kids at my school!

Vanquish-Storm · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:39

I am 12.... what is this?

Horse Pop · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:46

An age limit can be a sensible policy tbh.

My EVE "guild" used to have an age limit and only make exceptions by approval of senior members (because obviously everyone is different and this guy might be under the limit but very chill and mature).

This is because a typical Friday night roam would involve sitting up till two in the morning drinking and swapping dirty stories and our FCs both liked to say bad words a lot.

Even without that it's just a bit ... weird having younger people on comms and us all being much older (and frequently drunk).

It also has to be said that teenagers and dudebros on voice comms can be really, really annoying.

That was that community though. It was our expectation that we could all come and relax and shoot spaceships in a particular atmosphere without having to worry about keeping it PG13 or explaining who Terry Wogan is.

However, others are different.

Maybe if a guild already caters to a lot of younger players that is the vibe and you are the odd man out?

kitkat9933 · 2 Jan 2013 at 23:49

Horse Pop said:
An age limit can be a sensible policy tbh.

My EVE "guild" used to have an age limit and only make exceptions by approval of senior members (because obviously everyone is different and this guy might be under the limit but very chill and mature).

This is because a typical Friday night roam would involve sitting up till two in the morning drinking and swapping dirty stories and our FCs both liked to say bad words a lot.

Even without that it's just a bit ... weird having younger people on comms and us all being much older (and frequently drunk).

It also has to be said that teenagers and dudebros on voice comms can be really, really annoying.

That was that community though. It was our expectation that we could all come and relax and shoot spaceships in a particular atmosphere without having to worry about keeping it PG13 or explaining who Terry Wogan is.

However, others are different.

Maybe if a guild already caters to a lot of younger players that is the vibe and you are the odd man out?

Our guild is kind of similar to how you are describing yours. Except normally by the time we get worse for wear they had long gone to bed.

My thread was more about the point of, do you think it is ok letting kids and adults mix online especially in today's culture? If you had kids that kind of thing.