My son is a scam-man

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2005
My son is a scam-man
7
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 8:52am
My 13 year old son likes to play 'Rune Scape. It's an on-line game that requires interacting & on-line chatting with other players. The big thing is they have quest & they trade vitural items with each other. (I know that there are a few of you whos kids play it too)
Last night he was on-line playing. My brother, sis-in-law & I were sitting nearby talking. I glanced over at Quinn & asked him if any of his friends were playing. He said "yes". Then he said that he wasn't playing on his regular account that he was playing on another account that he has set up. Then he asked us if we wanted to watch him scam someone. My sweet child has a screen name account called 'ScamMan'. I learned that when he plays on that account, his goal is to see how many people he can scam. I was fussing at him. My brother said "Aw, let it go. If someones stupid enough to trade with someone named 'Scam Man' they deserve to get scammed."
A couple of weeks ago on a rainy Saturday, 3 of his friends were at the house watching Quinn play Rune Scape. I asked them why it was fun to watch him play & one of the boys said something like "Quinn is good at ripping people off.". Silly me didn't think much about it. I thought he was joking around. Apperently this is his alter-ego. What gets me is that he said that his 'ScamMan' account will get banned or locked up for a few days because he gets caught or turned in. After a few days it's unlocked. Seems like they would lock it out for good.
I know that it's just a game & he's just a kid, but in a way it does bother me. Then again, it is sort of like what my brother said about if someone trading with someone named 'ScamMan' they deserve to get scammed.
What would be your feelings???
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 9:13am

Okay, that totally made me laugh...yes if someone is stupid enough to trade with him...well??? Both of my kids play, my 15 yr old is actually a moderator now. I guess we all have alter-egos somewhere in our heads, at least he's upfront and honest about his!

Denise

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 10:42am

Well then he has probably scammed my Ds then!


I kind of have mixed feelings on your post!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 11:16am

I don't think it's funny at all.


I have no idea about the game you are talking about. So as far as that's concerned, I am in the dark. I would not allow my children to scam anyone. It's dishonest. Whether it's a game or not. It's wrong and I try to help my children establish good habits.


Just my two cents...






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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2005
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 11:50am

My son also plays this game and when I asked what he thought his words were....


That is pretty lame -


My sentiments exactly.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 11:57am
You are right both daughters play although not as much as they used to. DD nearly 13 is more into the Sims and Rollercoaster tycoon. DD 10 doesn't really have a favorite game. Personally i don't think anyone deserved to get scammed and laughing it off i believe sends the wrong message. I wonder if he will think it is so funny when someone rips him off whether it is during a game or somewhere else!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 2:14pm

Yep, I'm with Laura on this. Its not an even playing field. There are younger kids and new kids to the game and why would you want to ruin it for someone else? My DD has been hurt by people who gained her trust and then ruined her guild. Why did they do it? What kind of sick pleasure do they get from making someone else feel really bad? Granted your son uses a pretty upfront screen-name, but I don't think making people feel bad and taking away their pleasure in a game that is supposed to be fun is something funny or to be proud of. Now if everyone was the same age, the same experience maybe I'd be more tolerant, but on-line they're not. And would your brother find it amusing if an adult ripped off your son and hurt his feelings? Not likely, then we'd be saying how horrible that adult was. It is bullying, only hiding behind an anonymous name.


I am NOT religious, in fact I'm an atheist but I am a strong strong strong believer in the golden rule. You treat others as you expect to be treated and just because you can be anonymous and hide behind a computer screen doesn't mean you get to throw that rule out the window. If I found out my DD was doing that 1) she'd be banned from the computer game for a good while 2) I would be contacing the moderators/owners of the game and telling them exactly what the screen name was and that I wanted it deleted from the data base. Once she earned back my trust to go back on-line I would be on top of her for a good long time to make sure that she doesn't try it again and she better be ready to let me read and see EVERYTHING she's doing. I will not tolerate dishonesty and scamming and I don't care if its virtual items or real items. It sets a dangerous precedent that you can do what you want as long as no one catches you.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Fri, 11-10-2006 - 3:03pm
You are absoutely right Tam! Well said.
Kelly