I saw, that it wasn't your intention to imply my child is 'spoiled'. Although, there's being spoiled with love and being spoiled rotten. Spoiled, just happens to be one of those words that can touch nerves because it has a few different meanings.

I was suggesting video games, as a means to socialize with other people your own age.

My son and his friends connect on this system, live, and have little party chats.

I know for a fact, the high school kids in my town, do the same thing. As do the middle school kids. ((I used to work at the high school for three years, before I got the promotion where I work.))

fyi, it was his BDAY present. He could either get that system, or have a bday party. He chose the gaming system, that he'd asked for. He'd asked for 2-3 years before receiving it. After I saw, he was able to handle confrontation, on-line through another gaming site.

My kids are little gamers, and I feel, considering some in my family are engineers, that this is a great skill to have. He's also, learned how to keyboard, and frankly, he has taught some of his teacher and classmates how to use a computer.

Gaming is a great outlet for boys(and girls), in my opinion. Maybe, he'll grow up and become a programmer??