Kotaku 
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Denver, 1:17 PM
Sun Nov 15
19 posts in the last 24 hours
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08/09/09
I completely agree with this.
However, I don't see this as a problem with over protective parents inasmuch as being all about the Benjamins.
Because when councils can be sued because little Johnny falls off the monkeybars, then there is the perfect reason for them to rip them down and close the park (which costs them money to maintain) and instead build houses or shops where they can generate more income for themselves.
A prime example was the Monash playground in South Australia. One of the scariest and most exciting places on earth for a kid, with metal structures that would burn and scar a child if not respected - but it would be respected because of this. Parents knew it was dangerous, and watched or even joined their kids playing on it.
But now it's been torn down, the metal structures replaced with close to the ground plastic bullshit, surrounded by rubber mats. Seats have been installed away from the play equipment so parents can gasbag whilst kids play almost out of sight.
They say it's to protect the kids, but it was to protect the council from litigation.
The only reason it wasn't closed completely is because it was a tourist attraction, and generated revenue for the council.
08/10/09
08/08/09
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08/08/09
They also write the idiotic laws that state schoolyards and other open "public lands" can't be accessed after hours. So, while a schoolyard has excellent, open spaces for playing sports or whatnot, it goes unused for months throughout the year, the good, go-out-and-play months at that, e.g. summer. Uhm, aren't we *the public* and shouldn't *the public* be allowed to use *the public land* in a responsible manner?
I actively get into the faces of the school board and county council about this stuff. Some changes have been made locally, but not nearly enough. In short, *quit bitching* about the problem *and do something*.
And quit blaming video games as much as seems to be happeneing. They're one of many choices to be made for sucking away someone's time. If people choose them over something else, then spend a bit of time examining why the choices are made *first*.
08/07/09
08/08/09
08/07/09
When I was learning to ride a bike at the embarassingly late time of the summer before 6th grade, my brother hit the brakes on his bike jumping over a ramp and flipped, fracturing some bones in his right arm (I believe)
Perhaps I'm not the kind of person to talk about these kinds of memories, because I don't believe I have many significant scars from them (I don't have scars from smashing that ant hill with a plastic shovel, despite remembering it somewhat clearly), but I remember my experiences from "the outside world," and while I haven't had much to regret, I have certainly had much to learn
On a side note, I wasn't quite sure why I read both kotaku and joystiq until I realized just now by reading this article. Despite the differences in flavor and reported events between the two, there was something else about kotaku that meant I had to keep coming back to it, and it's thought provoking pieces like these that have assured me that, at least in reading kotaku, I am not simply wasting my time
08/08/09
08/07/09
I'm not saying that those such things naturally spell out doom for the future, but it makes me sad in some undefineable way, and I wonder what the effect will be. Unnoticeable? Just strange?
It leads me to the one thing I wish this fascinating article covered: you note that the sense of vertigo is an aspect of play but, to play the devil's advocate, so what? In other words, this guy labelled that, and I'm sure there's a point to labelling it, but why is it important and what happens in its absence? Is it just more like the wondering I described above? Either way, interesting read.
08/07/09
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08/07/09
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Needless to say, my dad wasn't very happy that day. :P
08/07/09
Moms just made sure everyone had a tetanus shot, and stocked up on bandaids.
08/07/09
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08/07/09
I remember when I was a kid, I was out till god knows when, playing whatever. Like Hide n seek in the dark wearing all black. I got many scars from my childhood. I even have a scar on my forehead from playing with GI Joe toys, which I can still see if i scrunch my eyebrows. Do I regret any of it, hell no. Nowadays, there is a definitely an agoraphobia going on, that the news is not helping us get over. I can't back this up with fact, but I'm pretty sure the amount of child abductions has not increased in 25 years.
08/07/09
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Now, people are really too afraid to let their kids wander around town without supervision. We can place some blame on the media and their sensationalist stories that have parents convinced their kids will be snatched away as soon as they leave their yard.
08/07/09
I saw my brothers raised indoors and despite my best efforts could never come close to helping them to embrace the fun of being outside.
When I have kids, I'll be sure to limit their indoor time to reasonable amounts and I'll never be above rolling in the mud with them.
08/07/09
I help run a mountain bike association now, and it amazes me the number of younger adults that I run into, some even only a couple years younger than my youngest sib (22, that one) who had NEVER ridden a bike off the street or sidewalk before. I shudder to think what would happen if I asked if they had ever climbed a tree before.
Kids need a chance to be kids. It's why my friends who are teachers have classrooms full of them diagnosed with "ADD" and pumped full of Ritalin to stay still - they don't get the nervous energy out with physical play anymore.
Sure, I played lots of NES/SNES/Genesis when I was little - but then we went outside and played REAL soccer (instead of FIFA on Genesis) or pretend Duck Hunt. (And forget about the whole Punch Out! incident...) Maybe graphics have gotten TOO good now...
08/07/09
08/07/09