kids and animal crossing

[Charcolor]

i met a 10-year-old on club tortimer today.

she was really fun to hang out with. we showed each other some pro designs we made, did some tours and had nice conversations. at one point i got curious about how old she was and asked her, and i told her that i'm 15. her response was "i'm almost 11 don't make fun of me please."

she told me a lot of times, when she goes to the island, there's teenagers who make fun of her because of her age. in fact, when another person arrived on the island and we talked about ages, she said her age was a secret. i guess she was afraid of starting an argument, and i don't really blame her.

i also noticed that she tried to act as mature and adultlike as possible. i told her something like "i love meeting kids on here," she said something along the lines of "yeah except i act like an adult."

i know it's generally a kid thing to try to act as mature as possible (i mean, i was just like that when i was 10) but with the other stuff she's told me i feel kind of bad. it's really upsetting to me that young kids like her are perceived as unwanted players. in a kids game, no less! and the fact that people have painted the word "childish" as being synonymous with "immature" (which it totally isn't), that being a child is something to be ashamed of is heartbreaking. let kids have fun and be happy! older players are responsible for helping keep the game open and available to players of all ages. adults can have as much fun with the game as they want, but when it comes to online places like club tortimer where anyone can enter, it's so so important to keep things safe and acceptable!

i've seen this happen with my little pony. you know, that show that's great for kids to watch but no one else can watch it without thinking of gross bronies? yeah, i've seen people act like kids are unacceptable fans of kids' media. it's horrible. believe it or not, media for kids can be well-made and very enjoyable, like my little pony and animal crossing.

i know some kids can be annoying. kids can be bell beggars or they can keep you hostage. and shame on them for trying to ruin your experience. but that doesn't give you the right to look down on and be mean to kids just for being kids. this is their game too.

idk i'm sorry for ranting...i've been thinking about this all day and wanted to write something about it before going to bed

 

[Svive]

Little kids are cute in real life but online knowing someone is 10 years younger than me makes me uncomfortable because I think if I was 10 talking to a 22 yo online people might be concerned for a kid so young. I'm saddened that kids think they're unwanted players because they're not! It's really just for their own protection that they play with only minors and people around their own age.

That's just my perspective as someone who has been online gaming since I was 10 too. But being little doesn't mean you're less! It just means people care and want to make sure they're not talking to someone who they're not supposed to because just because it's animal crossing doesn't mean there isn't weird people and that's why I think some people might not want to play kids.

I have also heard of people meeting house wives on animal crossing! Everyone of all ages can play together but we all have to make sure it is safe for people like the person you met and be nice to them and make them feel like they are having fun even if they are not as skilled as others. I hope this is on the same topic as what you're talking about! lol Protect the children!

 

[vexnir]

Except that the people who shame kids for their age are usually kids themselves. It's a noticeable trend among 12-16 year olds, because that's the time when we tend to think we're "oh so adult and mature" and that everything childish needs to go or we won't be cool anymore. (Perfect example is even the person you described yourself, she tried to convince you she acts more mature than other children her age - guess what, literally nearly every kid I've seen does that.)

It's just kids trying to look cool and discard everything or everyone related to being a child because they tend to think that's not "mature". Want a fun example from my life? I've been playing the Pokemon series ever since I was a kid, but when I was 11-15 people would go "ew what a kid, he plays Pokemon!" on me constantly. They also bashed me for hanging around with younger players, because that was a total faux pas in their eyes. Yet by the time I was 16 and onward, when people saw me playing the game they were like "Whoa! Pokemon! I loved that game as a kid, which one are you playing?" and the responses were very positive. As an adult, when people see me playing even silly/cute stuff like Tomodachi Life or Animal Crossing they jump in to peek over my shoulder and often express how adorable, funny, etc. the game is.

 

[AshleighOfKhazdhan]

This is pretty much why I refuse to ask personal details about people I meet online. If they're a little kid, it makes it hard for me to enjoy what would otherwise be a pleasant interaction. And if they ask about me, well, I just feel like an old creep who should be doing better, more adultier things with their life.

 

[etsusho]

This is pretty much why I refuse to ask personal details about people I meet online. If they're a little kid, it makes it hard for me to enjoy what would otherwise be a pleasant interaction. And if they ask about me, well, I just feel like an old creep who should be doing better, more adultier things with their life.

I second that.

 

[Rubylena]

I've had the opposite experience a lot: Kids on TC telling me that I'm too old for the game and should gtfo.
That being said, I love kids, I work with kids, kids are probably my favorite thing in the world. And I agree with you in all points.
In this forum, the majority of users seem to be teenagers (or is it just allowed for 13+? I dunno), I also use a German Animal Crossing forum and we have a bunch of young kids there. And people who are close to 60. And it works perfectly, everyone gets along, meets ingame, trades, has fun together. So it can and should work.
The thing is, there are just jerks everywhere, especially on the internet and in Tortimer Club ou are pretty much anonymous, it's unlikely that youwill ever meet the same person again and that seems to be a reason to be jerks for a lot of people (of all ages). Though I understand that a child might not want to play with a 30year old and an adult might not want to play with a 9year old. Personally I never ask for age and never tell mine anymore so there's no issue.
I think it would make sense that the game also asks for your birth year along with your birthday and then only generates people with similar age for the island..

 

[Charcolor]

i totally understand that some people don't like sharing ages, and that's your right to keep that info private. everyone deserves to feel comfortable playing, regardless of age.
i personally have no problem sharing my age because i don't care how old the people i'm playing with are, but everyone has different comfort zones and those zones should be respected.

 

[Awesomeness1230]

Heh, I know how that girl feels. I'm actually 10 as well and people always lose interest when they ask about my age

- - - Post Merge - - -

Your description of the average 10 year old cracked me up btw

 

[Miii]

I'm always nice to other players regardless of their age, unless they're trying to annoy me, in which case I leave, or dc if they try to trap me on the island. Most of the players I've met on the island have been polite and either want to talk and do tours, or just mind their own business and make an occasional comment.

 

[stitchmaker]

I'll play tours with any age group. I enjoy the tours more with other players. I'm older and they'll ask my age. I usually said Old and some are okay but others tell me I shouldn't be playing the game. Once I mention I've been playing since the Gamecube one everything is okay.
As long as the person is been nice I don't care what age they are. If someone is been unkind to another person I'll ask them to stop it.

 

[MayorJudyOfZootopia]

MLP is awesome..... thats all i can say rn so freaking tired

 

[Apriiil]

Being a 23 year old who plays Animal Crossing, I do feel a little uncomfortable myself when I come across someone who is 11, but only for the sake of it could look weird to other people. I always treat them with the same respect as I treat people my age, and even older. We are all humans, and deserve the same respect no matter what, so it definitely breaks my heart to hear that. Teenagers will be teenagers unfortunately, and they don't understand the long term affect bullying can have on a person, no matter how small of a comment.