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Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

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Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#301

Post by recursive »

thrance wrote: post #251
recursive wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with paid mods?

It feels like monetizing something that used to be free and built by passionate tinkerers for its own sake. It's destroying yet another part of that hacker culture some people so very often reminisce about on this site. Me personally, I absolutely hate it. I got into programming to mod my favorite games of the time, Minecraft among them. My first exposure to actual code was through reading open source mods and trying…

As far as I know, you can still write free mods outside the mod store to your heart's content, just as you ever could. The existence of paid mods doesn't seem to limit your ability to do that.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#302

Post by attila-lendvai »

is it far fetched to consider that maybe the entire point of Roblox is to be an infamous pedo hunting ground... and as such serve as one of the reasons for ushering in mandatory digital IDs for going online?

it wouldn't be the ugliest problem-reaction-solution history has seen...

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#303

Post by toshinoriyagi »

graemep wrote: post #265
Fuzzwah wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had a similar approach. My kids computers are setup next to mine and I keep an eye on what they're playing. I've instigated a purchase wait period of at least 3 days. Very often they themselves realize that the thing that they wanted to spend their pocket money on was a brief desire. I was super proud when I heard my son say "meh, this is pay to win" as quitting a random roblox game he was trying out.

> My kids computers are setup next to mine and I keep an eye on what they're playing. laptops and phones mage that a lot harder.

They don't have to have those. Depending on your definition of "kids", most people on HN I imagine are not giving their kids phones, laptops, or tablets at young ages (maybe less than ~13?). And if they do, I imagine the devices are somewhat locked down and monitored.

I think the more technologically literate a person is, the more wary they are of unfettered access to it for children. Hence, preferring a stationary desktop where use can be supervised.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#304

Post by bradlys »

pupppet wrote: post #276
RyanHamilton wrote: post #267

This is a sympton of something worse. The bigger issue: Roblox isn’t the real problem, it’s filling the gap left by the disappearance of unstructured, unsupervised play in the physical world. Kids used to build worlds, take risks, and form friendships outdoors. Now many have no safe places to roam, no peers outside scheduled activities, and no cultural permission to be on their own. So they do all that in Roblox inst…

I don't buy this. Roblox like most games these days employ dark patterns to keep kids hooked, the real world can't compete with the online casino. We had Nintendo, but those games had an ending. Today's online games don't end.

As if arcade games weren’t money hungry and painfully punishing purely to get more quarters out of children.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#305

Post by watwut »

RyanHamilton wrote: post #267

This is a sympton of something worse. The bigger issue: Roblox isn’t the real problem, it’s filling the gap left by the disappearance of unstructured, unsupervised play in the physical world. Kids used to build worlds, take risks, and form friendships outdoors. Now many have no safe places to roam, no peers outside scheduled activities, and no cultural permission to be on their own. So they do all that in Roblox inst…

Kids do not want to go outside. Even if parents want it and push for it, youtube, whatsapp, roblox, fortnite, whatever they have from steam is much more fun.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#306

Post by watwut »

jasonfarnon wrote: post #289
Etheryte wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an easy argument to make, but I don't think it actually applies in any way. Roblox is just as popular in countries where these things have not disappeared.

What countries do you have in mind?

Germany, Japan, France, basically majority of Europe.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#307

Post by yieldcrv »

collinmcnulty wrote: post #258
foota wrote: post #158

It's interesting to me to think about a possible system where people in say roblox can only chat with each other by exchanging physical keys somehow. This way, they would be able to chat with their peers from school etc., without the danger or need for as much supervision. I don't necessarily think this is technologically feasible or something that would be accepted, but I think it's an interesting idea.

Isn’t this just called “having a discord server” or even a group text? If you only want to talk with people you know outside the game, you don’t need the game to facilitate that.

most of the Roblox predation is occurring on Discord, so not a solution

(and actually explains why the CEO this article is about feels like its not his problem, because as long as people keep pointing fingers in the wrong direction for our legal system, then the CEO and Roblox corporation will be impervious and their efforts seen as sufficient)

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#308

Post by cwmoore »

bradlys wrote: post #304
pupppet wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't buy this. Roblox like most games these days employ dark patterns to keep kids hooked, the real world can't compete with the online casino. We had Nintendo, but those games had an ending. Today's online games don't end.

As if arcade games weren’t money hungry and painfully punishing purely to get more quarters out of children.

I couldn't get a quarter out of my dad as a kid. Who's fault is the parents?

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#309

Post by watwut »

WesleyJohnson wrote: post #137
parasubvert wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tbh making Roblox illegal feels like the same moral panic that our parents had around metal music, hip-hop, and arcades. My kid plays Roblox, I prevent her from talking to others, and I police the Robux purchases. It really is a fun platform. The problem is for parents that aren't technical, or are negligent and don't know how to police it.

It goes beyond that though. There are games and in-game content that aren't being reviewed. There are claims of player skins where the characters are wearing a t-shirt with an actual photo of Charlie Kirk's death (the shot to the neck). Anyone can make a Roblox game and publish it, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of moderations or verification going on. And you don't need to "talk", voice or text. You can emote, t…

Apparently, for all the "free speech requires us all to tolerate nazi" logic I hear here all the the time, a mere rumor of maybe someone being jerk toward fascist is enough to go all the other way.

Roblox do actually takes down violent content, in reality. But that is never the important part.

Re: Roblox is a problem but it's a symptom of something worse

#310

Post by graemep »

toshinoriyagi wrote: post #303
graemep wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My kids computers are setup next to mine and I keep an eye on what they're playing. laptops and phones mage that a lot harder.

They don't have to have those. Depending on your definition of "kids", most people on HN I imagine are not giving their kids phones, laptops, or tablets at young ages (maybe less than ~13?). And if they do, I imagine the devices are somewhat locked down and monitored. I think the more technologically literate a person is, the more wary they are of unfettered access to it for children. Hence, preferring a stationary d…

I agree desktops are best, and they are what my kids started with, but there is a lot of pressure to give kids phones.

For example, where I live, the cheapest (monthly) bus tickets require an app, so kids need a smartphone to get to school (or their parents have to pay a lot more for daily tickets).

There is a lot of social pressure on the kids too. There are lots of activities that have either moved online or are organised online. Lots of ways to get left out.

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