I do NOT understand!!!

[SDFgirl]

My second-graders today were all talking about how their parents bought them the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." They were talking about this game like it was the end-all, be-all of entertainment.

SECOND GRADERS!!

Am I overreacting here?!? I've never seen this game in person, but I know it's rated "mature" and I've heard it is a very violent game.

It makes me so sad and angry that 7 and 8 year olds are exposed to such adult entertainment by their own parents.

Am I crazy????

 

[drgnfly30]

Ummm.. not just violent but a bit risque too... I let my DS15 almost 16 have it but he's not to play it around DS10 & he's in the 5th grade!!!

 

[oogieboogie]

GTA is the one game I would never ever give or even let my kids play until they are 18. I'm a pretty open parent in that my kids do watch PG-13 movies, DS8 plays Battlefield 2 and other battle games like Call of Duty, etc and he also plays them online, but GTA is the one game I'm not open to, even from the very first GTA.

This is a case of parents without common sense and wanting to be their kids' friends instead of being a parent. So sad!

 

[binny]

that is ridiculous!!!


Ive seen the game and it is DEFINATELY not kid friendly!!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

no. you're sane. THEY are crazy. I see it all the time even in KINDERGARTEN!!! In my dd's class there are a few boys that are already talking about the access they have to this type of game

 

[KarenAylwood]

OMG wow. I played that a few times on a friend's playstation in college and I was appauled! I mean, yeah it's a fun game but totally not suitable for kids under 18!!! I can't believe a SECOND GRADER is allowed to play it!!!

There's all kinds of bad stuff- killing people, drivebys, you can even pick up a hooker and *bleep bleep bleep* to get more life! It's absolutely disgusting and amazing that a parent would give it to a child that young!

 

[JennyMominRI]

My oldest,at 14 is not allowed to play this game. No way,No how

 

[Stacey2grls]

You are totally not crazy. My DD is in the second grade and I would never ever give this to her or let her play it. Some people are just clueless.

 

[alliecats]

That is HORRIBLE!!!! Unbelievable. My mind is blown.

 

[Pixiedust34]

No, you are not crazy. It is sad that young children are exposed to games such as this one. Childhood is short enough as it is, and games like this contributes to a child losing his/her innocence at a young age.

 

[MoniqueU]

I thought it was just a racing game? What is so bad about it?

 

[SDFgirl]

Thank you all. I wasn't sure if I was just being a "prude" or what.

I don't have kids yet, but when I do...I want to make sure they stay children for as long as possible. Just because the kid asks for it...doesn't mean you have to give it. Sheesh.

What is with people?!?

 

[EltonJohn]

I thought it was just a racing game? What is so bad about it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_San_Andreas

 

[disneysteve]

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.

 

[tiggerlover]

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!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I thought it was just a racing game? What is so bad about it?

I posted some details about it in my earlier post. I played it a few times in college and yes, it was fun and high paced but definitely adult.

You get certain weapons and then can kill people while you're driving and while you're walking on the street- hold people up and take their cars (get it, Grand Theft Auto?), you can kill cops and FBI agents, along with going into a dark alley with a prostitute, etc etc etc

This game is mature for a reason!!

Disneysteve- I'd have to play it again to see if what you said is true... but you can see guys with guns and hookers and other crap while you're driving around. And the point is to steal cars- certain ones are better than others, and you are expected to highjack them. So my guess is that anyone could see why it's mature if they played it, but again- it's been a while for me

 

[JKLLady]

I've got to agree with Tiggerlover. DS just turned 9 yesterday & got a PS 2 from DH & I for his birthday. While all his friends have had one (many have had them all.......X Box, Nintendo DS, you name it) since they were old enough to operate the controller, we didn't see a need for it before now. However, we also will not allow anything but "E" games, and while that is not popular with DS, parenting is not a popularity contest. Too many of these games are overly violent and/or degrading to women; neither fly with me. DS told me I'm mean; my answer....yup!!

 

[Servants of Evan]

My second-graders today were all talking about how their parents bought them the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." ... It makes me so sad and angry that 7 and 8 year olds are exposed to such adult entertainment by their own parents.

I think America has developed a huge problem resulting in the current concept of parenting... Personal responsibility has gone by the wayside in favor of lawsuits rewarding ought-right stupidity, entitlements outweigh merit, and educators are expected to teach right from wrong because the "parent" can't be bothered... You can't hold Johnny back simply because he can't read or write without fear of being sued by the parents. Instead of shooting for the top, we're developing a country which is spiraling toward the bottom.

If you ask a typical 6th grader if they would like to be smart or athletic, they will overwhelmingly (over 85%) pick athletic. I'll point out that they can get an advanced science or engineering degree and be pretty much guaranteed a decent job at decent salary, or they can spend all your efforts into dribbling a basketball and have a 1 in 100,000+ chance of having a great job... That being said, I still see these same kids day in and day out playing basketball for all their might, and they are barely literate. I shudder to think at who will want to employ this generation...

 

[Blondy876]

I have preschoolers that love this game. Preschoolers!!! 3,4,5 year olds. And I wonder why they come in cussing at me, throwing chairs and threating to kill me.

 

[tiggerlover]

I've got to agree with Tiggerlover. DS just turned 9 yesterday & got a PS 2 from DH & I for his birthday. While all his friends have had one (many have had them all.......X Box, Nintendo DS, you name it) since they were old enough to operate the controller, we didn't see a need for it before now. However, we also will not allow anything but "E" games, and while that is not popular with DS, parenting is not a popularity contest. Too many of these games are overly violent and/or degrading to women; neither fly with me. DS told me I'm mean; my answer....yup!!

I am with you all the way!!! We struggled for DS's 9th birthday about getting him a gaming system and after much research we finally bought him the Game Cube (although he really wanted the X-Box). We found the X-Box had far too many violent and age inappropriate games for DS and that the Game Cube, although it has its share of age inappropriate games there was a larger selection of age friendly games. No popularity contest here either, just smart parenting, in my opinion.