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(Better late than never?) I think parents should be able to take away games as punishment for things, or if a child is spending way too much time playing, but not for the reasons you've listed. So what if you're a girl? So what if you're x years old? I'm 22 and still really love playing video games. I have a friend who's 27 and still loves playing! My dad is in his early fifties and he'd play Solaris and River Raider for the Atari if it worked. cool As long as games aren't coming between a child and chores/socializing with real people/school work, give 'er!

*shudders*

My mother has 'pulled' vidoe games for a time, to ground me. Thats when I was like... 13 years old. She did actually take my laptop from me several times, saying I had an unhealthy addiction. Its true I have a computer, and online addiction but taking it away doesn't helped. I've been without it for years, and I'm still suffering until I get a keyboard under my finger tips.

She finally understood that it was one of my forms of entertainment. I read, write, draw and do others things. Espically when I've sat down and explained to her. I'm nearly 21 and I know several older people than me who play video games.

Get a few older friends, perhaps college ones to testify that your never 'too old' for video games. Espically some fellow girl gamers if you know them. Thankfully my mother hasn't been too restraining on what I should or should not do... no matter if she disagrees with my lifestyle or not.

wow..I guess I should be glad that both of my parents are gamers...though my mother isn't as "hardcore" of a gamer, but still, she understands my need for gaming.

Say to your mom, "You're right. It's time to grow up."

Go out and buy some bling bling girly crap sweatdrop , random makeup, and a big purse.

Throw out the bling bling and makeup when Mom isn't looking. Get a DS, a pile of games, and keep them in your purse. wink What she doesn't know about she can't steal. heart

Also, point her at the websites of professional gamer women. "Mom, it's not a boy thing. That's sexist. I fight against sexism."

Then point out to her that a passion in gaming can lead to a degree in Computer Engineering or Game Design, a field that still has a glass ceiling for women that you would like to bust through. Talk about how Game Designers have to be writers, artists, producers, directors, programmers, and managers.

Get gushy about the idea of going to college to get a degree in design. Be excited about the idea of learning how to program complex algorythms or tackling the demands of teamwork and management.

If she thinks that gaming will lead to something "productive" she might not be so quick to take your games away. Parents usually want their kids to turn out to be something great; so tell them you will be a top-tier female executive by the time you're done. Remind her that The Sims was designed by a woman.

Show her the graphs on this page:
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20040211/olsen_01.shtml

Explain to her you could end up making $100 grand a year in a creative role if you're ambitious enough. In an executive role, you could be making $200 grand.

And just to hammer the last nail in the coffin twisted tell her that your "big dream" is to make "educational games that will encourage kids to learn science and history through games." (You know, a mod of Quake where teachers try to shoot you if you get a math problem wrong, only you're faster and blow their head off first.)

That'll hit most parental "sucker" buttons. ninja

sweatdrop That doesn't work on all parents. Mine would never give them back if I said anything agains their decision. A lot of parents think they're always right.

Take away my video games?!!!!

:: Dies inside ::