Am I being fussy ? advice needed please

OK am I being fussy here ? I allow my 3 / 12 year old son to play on my Playstaion 3 the Ratchet and Clank game (Cartoonish type) but the missus doesn't like it (Too violent).
Now she buys of Ebay loads of Action Man figures with all of the guns n acceories and also a small scale Uzi 9mm SMG and S & W revolver !
Now tell me............am I over reacting in the sense that playing a computer game is not as bad as running around pre-tending to shoot people !! (Her reason is the other kids are doing it and he feels left out)
We had a major barny over it so any advice would be appreciated

    ^top

How old is he? 3 or 12? I wasn't sure from your post!

There's lots of dad's here that I'm sure will have better advice than me. I don't think there's anything wrong with an action man's accessories. But a 'play' uzi / revolver seems a bit off to me! Do his little mates really have guns like that?!

    ^top

its not worth a major barny!

both of you have similar beliefs but approach from different angles

the kids would probably bond/ develop over the computer game more than the doll

    ^top

Sorry, he is 3 years 6 months old. It's not the Action Man that I am worried about, but it's the playing with the UZI / Machine gun running around shooting like it's fun (Living in London in New Cross guns are not fun in real life as we all know). Adding to the fact I spent some time in the forces I know for a fact they are not nice and I want him to realise that at a younger age. Like I said maybe I am being too fussy..........either way I am sleeping on the couch tonight ! Just need to somehow explain my view to her tonight and need more ideas

    ^top

That sounds totally reasonable to me! How does she react when you say it like that to her? Are you seriously going to sleep on the couch over this?!?

I think it's totally fair and not fussy at all. Especially when you live in London where people getting killed with guns is unfortunately a reality! Would she buy him a play knife to go round pretending to stab his friends?! Its the same thing isn't it? But with all the knife crime lately it's unlikely to be viewed favourably!

    ^top

i don't think a 3.5 year old understands the ethics of guns. Perhaps it would just be best to make sure he knows the distinction between play things, and the imaginary world, and actually hurting people.

    ^top

Yeah I think the same as well, but thats where her argument comes from, how can a 3 year old understand that a video game is just that ?

    ^top

My nephew has an older step brother and was virtually educated on computer 'blow em games'

    ^top

Are you being fussy? No, she just wants him to play with the toys she got.

Is it worth having a major barny about? No


PS3 must have other cartoony game, maybe get a second-hand one for him.

    ^top

Well computer games like COD4 or other titles that show Gore and Blood I can understand, but Platform Ratchet & Clank types of cartoon types I just dont get.

Anyway thank you for your advice, I am standing my ground and not giving in, UZI gets binned tonight and if she doesn't like it tuff........I wear the trousers (sometimes........ok well once a month).

    ^top