Should children playing online games not use mics, even if they provide helpful teamwork?

[SomeBoredGuy]

I'm just curious as to what the Escapist thinks on this. Not may of us like hearing high-pitched kiddie voices in our online games, but what if the owner of the voice leads their team to victory through their effective communication? Should they still remain silent, to allow their teammates to not have to put up with the voices so high-pitched, only their pet dogs can hear them?

 

[silver wolf009]

No. I have met many a champion of a game that was under 10. Don't allow voices to affect your impression of the mind behind them.

 

[KEM10]

I have a much larger problem with shouters than I do kids. If you think someone should be muted because of their age alone, maybe it's you that should grow up.

 

[Faladorian]

Yes. I have met many a champion of a game that was under 10. Don't allow voices to affect your impression of the mind behind them.

Yes, but winning a game is FAR less enjoyable than playing it without having to hear their ear-piercing voices.

 

[JoJo]

I think anyone should be allowed to speak on an online game, regardless of age, gender or voice pitch. Anyone who thinks kids shouldn't speak are clearly intolerant.

Edit: Not all of us are child-haters either (no offence)

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I have a much larger problem with shouters than I do kids. If you think someone should be muted because of their age alone, maybe it's you that should grow up.

Pretty much this... if they're trying to help the team, then why should they be muted for something they can't help? I mean, I've been on servers where kids constantly shout on the mic and those I mute, but otherwise that makes no sense.

 

[GreyKnight3445]

the mute button are an amazing thing

 

[eclipsed_chemistry]

Yeah, it's perfectly fine if kids use the mics well, I mean, MAG is my favorite online shooter and I've had many a young teammate who provided useful intel and teamwork for us. Just don't be a jerk, that's all anyone asks, I think.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I've never had a problem with kids in online games -- probably because I started gaming online when I was 12 myself. Back then, we didn't have mics, but that's the only thing that's really changed. I really don't care how old the people on a server are, as long as they're good sports. Screaming children can be annoying, but I'm honestly more bothered by raging adults. If a kid has anger issues, it's not too late for him to seek counseling, and he's also not going to have the resources to, say, track down someone who made him mad and then stab him like that French Counterstrike player did. An adult who clearly has anger issues? That's scary.

 

[DazZ.]

There should be a "deepen voice" option that people can tick.

But on the end of the person that wants to use it, so when the game detects a high pitched squeal it knocks it down to a non painful level.

 

[glodud]

They should be allowed to talk and if it bothers you go ahead and mute them

 

[Tupolev]

No.

If someone is using their mic obnoxiously, it's annoying and a good time for a mute whether they have a squeaky voice or not. And, in my experiences on XBL, I've decided that I would much prefer to be MM'd into a game filled with annoying kids than the much more common parties full of upper-teen friends who do nothing but shout racist profanities constantly.

As for tactically helpful squeaky kids? If the gaming community was nothing but them, MM systems would be, on average, VASTLY superior.

 

[dancinginfernal]

the mute button are an amazing thing

As is grammar.

OT: There are mute functions for a reason. If they're being obnoxious and you want to drown them out, the mute is almost always there.

 

[Pielikey]

I know my voice is annoying and noone wants to hear it online. Just to clear that up.

I'm still somewhere in the middle for this kind of question, I mean as long as they're not using it all the time and playing team leader than it's okay, I really can't stand a ten year old telling me what to do.


EDIT: They just need to use it for stuff everybody else cares about. Don't tell us every time you get a kill or die, that's not vital to the team (Unless it's a very small game with long respawn times - or no respawns at all). Telling where tanks are, where shit's going down or where that spy just snuck off to, that could be helpful information.

 

[pope_of_larry]

it's not the voice that pisses me of it's the fact that most kids that play think haveing a mic means they should tell me everything that happens to them.

 

[Atlys]

I don't mind the high-pitched voices so much as I don't like the gargling wails of the frequent dyer. Young kids with mics are fine as long as you don't hear constant screeching and whining. I mute 20-somethings with blabbermouth syndrome just as much as I do the young ones.It really comes down to maturity.

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

I don't care what they sound like, if they're good players who work well in the team, then it's all right by me. I also don't care if the guy on the other end sounds like James Earl Jones or Brian Cox, if they do nothing but die and spout insults and racial slurs, then take their mikes away.

 

[Physics Engine]

Of course they should use mics if they want to. It's their game, they're going to play it like they want. Don't like it? Use the mute function as had been stated by pretty much everyone already.

What the screaming children (and man-children) need is good parents that care about what they're doing. If my child was swearing at people online you bet I'd take that console away until they can learn some respect. Too many parents are letting Call of Duty babysit their children.

 

[Dark Knifer]

No, I think the mute button they have already is fine as it is, no reason for it to become a dictatorship rather then a choice.