Grand Theft Auto---good???

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by SeaSpray
Dan I had responded to a thread about this game a couple of months ago. I cannot believe that ANYONE of ANY AGE would consider this to be "entertainment". But you hit the nail on the head when you said that these types of games are being accepted today. People's morals, in GENERAL are much lower now than they were even 10 years ago. It's disgusting. I blame all forms of the media on slowly but surely lowering the quality of product they allow to be seen and heard. (I also believe it's the influence of evil that's ruling the world right now, but that's a whole different topic). I also blame parents for going with the flow so to speak, and allowing their children to own products such as this game just because they think it's OK since it's "just a video game" and they don't want their kids to not be cool and be the only ones without it. Again, that's getting into a different topic, too........

I can't add to that, Terry. My thoughts exactly also. Several of the replies here, saying, in essence, 'that's how it is today', are continued acceptance of declining acceptable standards. We see it in our eveyday life, we hear it in our eveyday life, we see it here on these boards. I guess that is life though, right? Things unacceptable for my folks were for me, what was/is not for me, is by younger folks, but not all, as can be seen by some here. As one of the articles from the links in the first post said, 'the kids' parents are watching 'The Sopranos' and 'Sex in the City' and enjoying it, laughing about it, not shocked by it. The kids frequently watch also. What's wrong with the kids playing GTA, it's only a game? If we think Sesame Street taught our 4-year-olds something, what do we think GTA teaches our 14-year-olds?'

Thank you for those who posted their thoughts.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Tuffcookie
what are parents thinking (or not ) when they buy these type of games?

Either they aren't thinking or they don't give a hoot. Not only do I have to ask DS's friend's parents if they have a gun in the house, I now have to ask if they have any "M" rated video games.

 

[DixieDreamer]

I refuse to have games that are not "E" (for everyone) in my home. I think the violence is not only unnecessary ... but I think it does have an influence on how our children perceive violence in real life. Desensitizing them to it... and making it seem less consequential for those kinds of actions. I want my daughter to have empathy for other human beings, to feel safe and valuable to society as a woman, and to cherish life... including the lives of others. Games that send the opposite messages are not welcome here.

The companies can sell them... but I will not buy. I am just sad that so many parents obviously do purchase it... because my daughter must live in that society with those future adults. It is frightening.

 

[smiley]

My DS who is 13 years old and I watched a segment on a morning television show which showed clips and discussed Grand Theft Auto Vice City III. He had the most discusting look on his face throughout the segment. At the end, he commented on what a piece of trash the game was.

A few days later one of the boys in the carpool were bragging about how they had just purchased the game. My son started asking him questions like "Does it make you feel good about yourself to kill a cop?" "How about sleeping with a prostitute and then killing her?" They then decided that when my son went over to this boy's house that wouldn't be one of the games they played on PS2.

Another one of my friends big brothers also got the game. When my son's friend started talking about playing the game my son gave him the "what for?" My son described a few of the things the game had to offer and his friend said "no way." Then he told us that he had played parts of the game where you practice, but not the rest of it, yet. My son's friend went home, disussed with his mother what my son had informed him, she took the game away from her boys! The older boy was upset, but oh well. I say more power to the parents who can stand up against all the pressure out there.

 

[Leota]

I'm undecided - Luckily, Max hasn't expressed any intrest in this game. I agree with Eros, in the sense that there is nothing wrong with the game being sold & that it's up to us as parents to choose whether or not to allow our kids to play it & at what age they are mature enough to play it.
I'm VERY lenient with what Max watches & listens too, compared to many folks on the CB - I really believe that it has been a good thing for us - He isn't sheltered from anything & knows how to deal with many different types of people & situations - Because we talk about things like drugs, violence, sex, prostitution, abortion - we discuss the pros & cons of legalization of Marijuana, prostitution etc.... He thinks about these issues instead of just absorbing them from a TV screen - Also, a real Key issue for me -

I trust Max - I trust Max to know the difference between a video game & reality - I trust Max to know the Difference between right & wrong - I trust Max to continue to grow into the marvelous, caring, well-rounded Man I've tried to raise him to be & not become a ganglord because of a video game - I think we need to give our teens alot more credit than that....

So, in light of that - while I don't think I'd find the game appealing & I'm glad Max doesn't seem to either - I wouldn't have a problem with him playing it - Because I know we'd talk about the issues raised & am confident that a video game isn't going to exert some mind-control thing over my son that will change him into a bad kid....

 

[Jeff in BigD]

It seems like many think shocking material is only something that was created in the last fifth of the century. I know it's easy to get into "good old days syndrome".

Warner Bros. made a fortune & built their studio on gritty, hard-boiled gangster films which shocked audiences. Films like Public Enemy & Little Caesar were viewed as glorifying criminal activity. Film Noir classics like The Maltese Falcon & Double Indemnity "condoned" the dealings of the seedy underworld. Then there's The Godfather, which people felt abided the mafia. Dog Day Afternoon & Scarface were the viewed in pretty much the same light. These movies are regarded as classics. Now we have Goodfellas, Heat, Pulp Fiction & The Sopranos.

Of course, now we are "enlightened" & though people were up in arms about that (as well as comic books, rock n roll & racially intergrated couples), we're able to see past that, appreciate the artistry of the film & regard most of them as cinematic history. Now it's today's subject matter that really crosses the line?


Perhaps now it's easier for the boomers (and the late-later boomers) to appreciate the frustrations with popculture their folks had when they were growing up.


As I've stated before, this is NOT a game for kids, but if a person over the age of 18 wants to buy it, they're well within their right to do so. 'Nuff said.