Responsible adult gamer clubs

How can we warn teenagers about the dangers of video games? How can we explain to them that the PEGI (Pan European Game Information) rating, which indicates the recommended ages for each game, is not only there to protect them, but also to let them make the most of certain games whose complexity is hard to explore and understand before a certain age. The first time I spoke in a secondary school on the subject of video games, and before I had even started speaking, a hand went up: “Sir, is it more dangerous to play WOW (pronounced WOUW) or CALL (pronounced CAUL)?” If you cannot answer such a question asked right from the start, there is no point carrying on: nobody will listen to you any more, and your credibility on the subject is ruined. But how can you answer it if you know neither World of Warcraft nor Call of Duty?
That is why only responsible adult gamers are able to speak on this subject. By this I mean adults who have both experienced the pleasure these games provide, who know their qualities as well as their flaws, and who are aware of the pitfalls they contain, particularly in terms of the values they portray.
In Switzerland, I was able to help create such a club. It is called Swiss Gamers Network, and its members are frequently asked to speak in schools. A brochure is available on their website.
In France, sadly, nothing similar exists yet, but such players do exist! Headteachers who would like to organise a debate in their school can ask, on the day of the start-of-year meeting, which parents are video game players and ready to take on the adventure. They can also go through the parents’ association, which will pass on… Only one precaution: never let a parent speak alone, always at least three. First because not everyone necessarily knows all the games children play, but also to ensure a variety of viewpoints and enrich the debate. And the debate will of course be open to parents who want to be informed as much as to young people! The 3-6-9-12 association is committed to promoting, encouraging and defending these initiatives.