I do NOT understand!!!

[Dan Murphy]

I have a lot to say about this very thing and I feel very passionately about it. I think the permissive parents in today's society are the reason why we have so many issues with our young people these days. There is a reason why this game is rated Mature, but a lot of parents simply do not care. I have noticed more and more how permissive some parents are, where as the parents who set the guidelines are the ones who are too strict or overbearing. My DS is 9, he is not allowed to play any games that are not rated E, plain and simple. He begs and complains that so many of his friends have them, but I tell him they are not my children and I can only do what is best for him.

A co-worker and I were talking about the subject of kids today and it is a shame that the child with manners and respect are fewer and far between today. A lot of this stems from permissive parents, absent parents, parents who are too tired or overworked to parent and parents who allow young children access to things (games, TV, movies, etc.) that are inappropriate for their age. It is our responsibility as parents to instill proper values in our children and that is hard to do by allowing young children unlimited access.

{Stepping off my soap box now.}

To (finally) answer your original question, no you are not crazy at all!

I could not say it better nor add much to this, Debbi, so I will just quote it.

 

[pfishgirl]

DS 15 has most of these games.. I wouldn't let him if he was in 2nd grade that's for sure... I was ify about letting him at 15 have them...

 

[Serena]

It really bothers me how many parents out there just don't care or have the energy to be parents.

 

[Skywalker]

Wow, that's disgusting. I pity children with "parents" like that. My son is in second grade and the worst he's allowed to play on his Playstation is SpongeBob and Lego Star Wars.

There are other parents and even teachers at my son's school with the attitude of "oh well, you can't keep them innocent forever."

 

[Disney_1derland]

I have a question. I haven't played the game but I've read about it and have seen clips on various tv shows, so I know the deal. My question is this: A lot of things that we would all agree are inappropriate for kids can sometimes be ok below a certain age group because the kids simply don't understand or know about what they are seeing. Does that make sense? For example, we used to let DD watch The Simpsons when she was younger. She thought it was funny. But she didn't "get" most of the risque comments and jokes. Once she got a little older, we wouldn't let her watch it anymore because she now knew more and understood stuff that used to go right over her head.

Does that apply to GTA? Or is the game so blatant and graphic that even a 2nd grader would understand what is really going on?

I'm in no way defending all these parents giving their kids access to this type of stuff. This thought just occurred to me and I'm curious.

Hi Steve
First, this game is EXTREMELY blatant. Sexuality, blood and guts, overall theming, etc. There are scenes in there where you can pay a hooker, do the deed then get your money back by beating up the hooker (according to dh who saw this in a game store).

To address your thoughts on younger kids not 'getting it' in some instances I would agree. There are many situations when younger children will not 'get' what they are seeing and hearing, however, I think it is a lack of willingness to make judgements like this on the part of parents that are leading to an overall degradation of society. It's like they start out justifying as the child being too young to get it and end up justifying it as 'well, it hasn't caused him/her any problems so far'.

While there are certainly those of us who do curtail what our children view and make judgements that are right for the child and the age of the child, there are many more who lack that judgement or just don't think there is anything wrong with exposing them to these types of things.

You always bring thought provoking posts to situations like these and I just wanted to give you some feedback.

 

[Sparx]

I am an avid gamer. and no way no how should any 2nd grader be playing that. how old is a second grader? 7, 8? that game is built around drugs, sex, and violence. Sure, most games ARE built around violence, and violence is ok if the child knows that its not real. But drug use and sex are not ok for an 8 year old!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I am an avid gamer. and no way no how should any 2nd grader be playing that. how old is a second grader? 7, 8? that game is built around drugs, sex, and violence. Sure, most games ARE built around violence, and violence is ok if the child knows that its not real. But drug use and sex are not ok for an 8 year old!

I disagree with this " violence is ok if the child knows that it's not real" The vast majority of children know that it's not real- it's not ok to expose them to it- plain and simple. What good can come of seeing this type of violence?

Jackie

 

[VickiVM]

First - NOT defending parents who purchase this kind of game, but it's possible that these games are purchased for the older children in family (or maybe even Dad) and unfortunately, the 2nd grader gets to brag about how cool this game is that he has. Which is why even if there are older teenagers in the household, you still have to be careful about games, music, videos that are purchased because it will influence the little ones.

And...on the flip side of the world-going-to-heck-in-a-handbasket notion (which I do often feel), my 2nd grader had two of her classmates spend the night with her a couple of weekends ago and they were just adorable and so well-behaved. They "cooked" dinner for everyone, did their nails and watched Mary Kate and Ashely movies. They used their manners and said 'yes ma'am' and 'thank you' all evening. When I talked to them they answered back in complete sentences. Ok - so they gabbed and giggled til after midnight, but that's what 2nd grade girls do.

On this evening I felt reassured about the future of our youth!

 

[MrsKreamer]

I remember being an excited first grader when Santa brought me the original Nintendo. I played duck hunt, super mario, and paperboy to my hearts content.

No way, no how will I ever let my children play games as absurdly violent as the GTA series. What is wrong with people! I love video games so we will probably alwyas have at least one game system around(like now I have a GC and a PS2), but life has so much more to offer. Even I would rather take my son for a walk or outside to play ball then to play video games. All that time zoning into the tv isn't good.

Did anyone see last weeks episode of Nany 911? They dealt with this issue. There were 4 boys, 13, 7, 4 and 4. The parents let them sit and play video games for hours, just so they could get peace and quiet or get housework done. Nanny once timed it and they played the games all day(6 1/2 hours). Not kid friendly games either. They never specified what games they were playing, but the 4 year olds were yelling "I'm killing this guy" or "I'm gonna strangle you until you die!" When the game was over the boys were violent with each other...the 4 year olds pushed the 13 year old down some steps....etc.

I think occasion video game playing is OK...as a reward not as a baby sitter. IMO however the game should be correct for the age, and possibly educational.

 

[jgmklmhem]

I rented it to see what all the buzz was about. It is indeed very violent, sex ridden, drugged up with very foul language. I have no problem with adults playing the game to each there own but children should definately not play this game. I only played it after the kids were asleep. My daughter got a V-smile for Christmas and she is half way through K I just cannot for the life of me see her or her peers playing GTA in 1.5 years. I would never allow it but my mind just cannot make that leap to see any kid that age playing it.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm on the fence about when a kid is old enough for these games and think it depends on the kid but they would have to be at least a teen! There's no way that kids younger than that should be playing something like GTA! I don't understand why some parents are so permissive nowadays.

 

[agnes!]

To the OP - No, you're not crazy. And sadly, (I hate to say it, but "nowadays"lol does come to mind) in these times, common sense isn't, common decency isn't. When the time comes, I have a feeling that you will be a great mom. You must be a really good teacher right now! I can tell you certainly care about your students.

I never thought I would be a fuddy-duddy, but it sure seems that way sometimes. One time, about 5 or 6 years ago, I was driving some Brownies back from an outing. The little darlings were discussing all the R-rated movies they had seen...and as I remember it, these were hard Rs, not mild ones. These girls were in the 2nd or 3rd Grade, sheesh!

To the poster who mentioned Nanny 911 - I saw that episode! Did anyone notice that the dad (an ER doc who seemed kind of smug) acted like he was *proud* of how rude and violent his boys were. Neither of those parents could see how playing all those violent video games for hours on end had any bearing on how their children viewed and reacted to real life.

I think that the parents who knowingly *purchase* these Mature games for their young children are at the very least negligent and also are failing to supervise their offspring. I think that it's actually a crime they could be charged with(failyre to supervise), like a parent can't leave their young kids home alone or fail to pick them up from school/daycare/etc. Parents are *supposed* to exercise some caution.

agnes!

 

[MrsKreamer]

To the poster who mentioned Nanny 911 - I saw that episode! Did anyone notice that the dad (an ER doc who seemed kind of smug) acted like he was *proud* of how rude and violent his boys were. Neither of those parents could see how playing all those violent video games for hours on end had any bearing on how their children viewed and reacted to real life.


agnes!

Yeah, and when Nanny suggested 1 hour of video games/tv a day, the parents were appalled...by how little they would be able to get other things done!
I have a one year old, so maybe he is easier to entertain, but I would rather spend time with him over laundry and dishes anytime!

 

[luvmyfam444]

NO! YOu're not crazy! I would be appalled too---just wish you could somehow bring it up to the parents of the kids telling them how bad it is to be exposed so young - like thru the guidance counselor or something - they spend so much time on no drugs & getting along w/others maybe they could do soemthing along the lines of avoiding Mature rated things - KWIM????

I have a 2nd grade & boy do I keep her sheltered...she still watches Dora & Blues Clues--- I've just started to let her turn on Sat cartoons by herself - ONLY when I tell her the channel (dont' allow certain shows like Sponge BOb to be watched)

I'm all for keeping kids sheltered as long as possible.....

 

[luvmyfam444]

You can't hold Johnny back simply because he can't read or write without fear of being sued by the parents.

YUP! Have a girlfriend who has a 2nd grader that can't read! CRAZY! Used to work w/4graders that coudlnt' read (but that was a low income school area) my gf is in one of the top school districts around & her dh is a teacher! (figure that one out! )
Of course to be fair there **may** be other issues with him - but somehow they call him gifted even though he can't read & put him in a gifted program!

BUT mom never read with her child (we've been friends for years & she hates to read -even basic kids books) he got every toy he wanted & that's what he did was play day in & day out while I read to my kids all the time - hers wasn't exposed....then when it came time for him to learn reading (kindergarten - she didnt want to spend any extra $ to help him - & still doesn't!) NOT ME!!!! My dd has struggled with Math this year & i've bought everything I can get my hands on to help her...& we certainly dont' have any extra $ sitting around..

BUt that goes back to the parent being responsible.....

Sorry - I think I chased a HUGE rabbit....LOL

 

[spoon full of sugar]

I would never allow my son to play a game where he would steal, do drugs, have relations with a hooker, than beat her up to get his money back, murder people walking down the street, murder police officers. I don't care if he is 50, he will never bring that type of filth into my house. I don't understand how anyone could give this abomination to there children, at what age is glorifying rape and murder appropriate? I think all of you who have allowed your children to have this game need to sit back and really THINK about what your saying to your children by condoning this. And to all of you who say this is just a game, my children know the differance, I think you need to ask yourself what is it in your child that gets so excited ( and we all know kids get wound up over video games) about abusing women and murdering police officers. In my experiance, many times parents let their kids have these games because they want them to be cool. That is so sad, that you would give your approval of degredating women and murder, just so your kid isn't the only one who isn't spending their weekends and school nights beating hookers and blowing peoples brains out. Way to go *******.

 

[CindyBella]

Ds8 owns the GC PS2 and all kinds of Gameboys. Never would I allow him to play that game. I don't even let him watch The Simpsons. Sometimes I wonder if I am to overprotective. Really, I don't care if I am!! The other day he asked if he could have a cell phone. A little girl in his class got one for christmas. What 8 year old needs a cell phone? I am all for keeping kids kids! I try and enjoy ever minute of my kids youth. I always tell them to just enjoy it too.

 

[VickiVM]

Way to go *******.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I have a one year old, so maybe he is easier to entertain, but I would rather spend time with him over laundry and dishes anytime!

NO! He's not easier to entertain - just WAY MORE FUN than the household chores! They get much easier to entertain as they get older or have a sibling to play with....but naturally I still don't get any of the housework done 'cause I spend all my time tickling & goofing off with dd!

 

[ericamanda01]

I am sorry but I didn't read the rest of the responses so I may be out of place, but I HATE those kinds of games. I don't see how killing people, car jackings and looking for the easter egg that can show you a video game sex scene is anything that a child should see.