Conversations with Bug

Bug is his nickname he may be almost 25 but his functioning level begs to differ. It is apparent in our many conversations.

The other day I was out spending time with my Mom I get a call, a frantic Bug is on the other line telling me that I better have a plan to get him out of the United States by 2017. Because he says the government will try to microchip him. Um OK I tell him I will be home soon. When I get home he tells me all about being microchipped and is is possible he has one in him now?   Since, I feel I was already losing ground in this conversation I tell him if you were microchipped by the government I would be on the phone yelling fix him! He started laughing. He left shortly after so the conversation ended.

The next day I was in the shower and he comes in the bathroom. (No he doesn't get it about the shower) proceeds to tell me that he is never leaving the United States. I roll my eyes and tell him first you are saying I need to have a plan to get you out of the US now you are saying you are never leaving. Make up your mind. He then starts saying he isn't getting on a plane and he isn't stepping foot on one of those big boats either because they will get a current and sink. I interject cruise ship and tidal wave and he says yeah a tsunami. I am just speechless and thoughtless at this point where he starts we aren't going zip lining either or rock climbing unless it is in a mall. A mall? You don't rock climb in a mall. Well then I want to go snowboarding. I said you do know snowboarding isn't bunny slopes. Oh yes they are he replies back. I am standing there wondering why I even tried to shower. He leaves I get out he is still taking to me through the door.

He said I should go air softing with him. I say paint ball. He says paintball leaves bruises. Reminding him of shooting me about a week ago I look down and remind him I still have one from when he shot me. He just laughs it off and goes on about all the airsoft I need to buy. I tell him I will rent "if" we go. He ignores me and runs down the list to buy then disappears into his room.

Video Games and Bullying

When my son decided to enter the world of gaming I thought back to my Atari and all the fun and stress relief it gave me. It was an out away from school etc. I thought it would be just something fun to do.

Well at first it was fun for him then it became all about bullying, harassment, modders, trolls. Anything but fun. More on the lines of stressful and downright depressing.

I hear day in and day out the bullying, the fighting, the arguing. Constantly. If he is playing online you have the hackers that hack peoples avatars. Now I have to think that Microsoft is aware of this and is at least trying to do something about it. So far, I am not seeing that. Every day it seems to be the same but with other hackers, modders or trolls.

Since video games are an addiction it is hard to just walk away. To some it is making them depressed, emotional and combative. To get on to play a game for fun but met with all the fighting and the cheating doesn't seem to be worth it anymore.

Video games should not be stressful. They shouldn't upset people. They shouldn't be about who can be the biggest bully or who is better then someone. It is about playing. Playing a game. Winning and losing and having fun doing it. Apparently as I have been made aware of it is anything but that. Something needs to be done along the lines of getting it under control.

Parents you need to be aware that this is going on. Some kids aren't going to talk cause they want to keep playing. Xbox, Playstation, Second Life, IMVU all of them are dealing with this and I don't see anything being done. They want our money but they aren't providing an enjoyable service anymore. Maybe it is time for Microsoft and Sony to wake up and get this taken care of.