I bet most kids watched Breaking Bad along with their parents comfortably.
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I stopped a kid from getting GTA V
- Thread starter TheDanger
- Start date
I bet most kids watched Breaking Bad along with their parents comfortably.
StrangeTaco
Member
Did the right thing IMO, parent obviously had no idea what she was buying for her kid. It's the reason advisories are on the boxes in the first place.
I remember the lady at Blockbuster refusing to sell me Gran Turismo 3 because in her head all she was hearing was "Grand Theft Auto 3."
I told her it was a driving game, but she was having none of it. Had to basically plead with her to listen to what I was actually saying because I didn't want my bus trip into town to be wasted
I told her it was a driving game, but she was having none of it. Had to basically plead with her to listen to what I was actually saying because I didn't want my bus trip into town to be wasted
I think you did the right thing, OP. Sometimes parents don't care enough to ask the themes of the games they buy for their kids.
You were honest and the mom made the decision to not to buy the game.
Had you lied, the mom would've still found out about truth when she sees her kid playing. Based on her decision to not buy the game, I assume she would make her kid stop playing.
Had you kept quiet, she would've asked someone else (or Googled, thats what I would do if I were the parent).
Now if you still feel bad because the mom didn't get the game for the kid, my suggestion is to send the kids a box full of puppies (any worker breed with energetic and athletic temperament will do). What 8-year old doesn't like puppies? I think its a good way to teach a kid about responsibility and it'll probably drive the mom nuts too.
You were honest and the mom made the decision to not to buy the game.
Had you lied, the mom would've still found out about truth when she sees her kid playing. Based on her decision to not buy the game, I assume she would make her kid stop playing.
Had you kept quiet, she would've asked someone else (or Googled, thats what I would do if I were the parent).
Now if you still feel bad because the mom didn't get the game for the kid, my suggestion is to send the kids a box full of puppies (any worker breed with energetic and athletic temperament will do). What 8-year old doesn't like puppies? I think its a good way to teach a kid about responsibility and it'll probably drive the mom nuts too.
In what universe is GTA V run of the mill? The detail is amazing. GTA V is one of the greatest games of all time in my book.
30yearsofhurt
Member
So you're saying you grew up a little today.
Don't worry. Happens to the best of us.
Don't worry. Happens to the best of us.
This. OP, you're the real MVP.
I would've done the same thing if I worked in the store like you.
But I'm ashamed to admit two 10-year old buys came to my house to buy GTA V (PS3) from me for €30 and I gave it to them. Mind you, it was "meant for their big brother who didn't have time to pick it up", but we all knew the truth. I just said fuck it, and gave it to them, because (like you) when I was their age I also played Vice City and San Andreas, and I turned out rather fine.
In short, I put money before potential harm and I'm ashamed.
But I'm ashamed to admit two 10-year old buys came to my house to buy GTA V (PS3) from me for €30 and I gave it to them. Mind you, it was "meant for their big brother who didn't have time to pick it up", but we all knew the truth. I just said fuck it, and gave it to them, because (like you) when I was their age I also played Vice City and San Andreas, and I turned out rather fine.
In short, I put money before potential harm and I'm ashamed.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
At least in the context of the OP's situation, if you're telling your mother that GTAV is "just about driving," then you're probably not mature enough to play the game. Sounds like an average 8 year old to me. Age doesn't decide maturity, but it's sure a good indicator.
Disaster Nebraska
Banned
The little shit was trying to lie to his own mother. His punishment was a stranger telling her the truth.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
You feel bad you're not cool in the eyes of an 8yr old? Really?
John Kowalski
Banned
Should have told her to buy him some Atelier games.
Hidden One
Member
Okay?
HueyFreeman
Banned
You did right, OP - mom should be looking at these decisions on her own, BEFORE coming to the store, and shouldn't be putting other people in awkward situations to basically tell her kids no.
30yearsofhurt
Member
She didn't know so she asked. Nothing wrong with that.
The good thing is she said no and stuck to it.
I probably would have done the same thing if asked. I'm still a bit on the fence with this situation, GTAV's story mode is too graphical for a child, but most kids I would imagine who play these types of games do so for the open world exploration. At least this was my situation when I was playing Vice City and San Andreas when I was 10-12 years old, I didn't complete the campaign for those games until I was much older. I see no harm in that part of game really.
On the contrary, I do think that we should enforce and inform the rating system(s) much more than we do. It's still baffling that parents do not pay attention to the ratings and as a result it creates a strong opposition that promotes censorship of material that was otherwise made entirely for adults. Too many people think games are for children.
On the contrary, I do think that we should enforce and inform the rating system(s) much more than we do. It's still baffling that parents do not pay attention to the ratings and as a result it creates a strong opposition that promotes censorship of material that was otherwise made entirely for adults. Too many people think games are for children.
Pathetic. Some people give a shit about being honest and society as a whole. 8 year olds don't have any business playing GTA anything.
Halph n Halph
Member
You did the correct thing OP.
Drilbit777
Member
Kids should not be playing those games at his age, you did a good thing.
HueyFreeman
Banned
i hear you, but the whole basis for the thread is she put OP on the spot right in front of the kid, which is why he kind of feels bad, as anyone would. If she discretely asked him off to the side, that's one thing, but basically she's shifted blame and responsibility, at least in the kid's mind, on to a stranger.
Who knows? Maybe it's a technique she uses effectively, to maintain their relationship without him getting upset at her... I'm startin' to like this gal :b
I wouldn't. He's a kid, he doesn't make decisions for himself. Who cares if I am talking in front of him? His mother asked a question.
HomerSimpson-Man
Member
She asked a simple question and you gave an honest answer in which she made the decision as a parent of an 8 year old to not play it.
You did fine OP.
You did fine OP.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
I did the same thing with GTA 3, when I worked at Toys R Us for a stint around that time.
I'm thinking to myself, yeah, I played Mortal Kombat, all of the GTA games (2d versions included), Weaponlord, Eternal Champions, Killer Instinct, watched Faces of Death with my grandmother, every horror movie I could get my hands on and I wasn't a deviant killing machine. I felt like a dick, and I probably wouldn't deny my own child if they were interested.
But if she asked, you would be a shitty person to lie in her face. She clearly has a concern and it's her right as a parent to make those decisions. It's understandable, you never know how things like that affect people/children and you'd feel terrible if he was the next kid to shoot his mom when she takes his game away or something.
I'm thinking to myself, yeah, I played Mortal Kombat, all of the GTA games (2d versions included), Weaponlord, Eternal Champions, Killer Instinct, watched Faces of Death with my grandmother, every horror movie I could get my hands on and I wasn't a deviant killing machine. I felt like a dick, and I probably wouldn't deny my own child if they were interested.
But if she asked, you would be a shitty person to lie in her face. She clearly has a concern and it's her right as a parent to make those decisions. It's understandable, you never know how things like that affect people/children and you'd feel terrible if he was the next kid to shoot his mom when she takes his game away or something.
Well, she asked you a question, you only answered it. You didn't do anything wrong.
Whether or not I agree with the mother's decision is another thing entirely. I do think 8 is a bit too young to be playing GTA V if he does the story missions, but if he only wants to fuck around with the sandbox elements then I really see no problem with it. Like another poster said above, kids usually only care about the open world aspect of games like GTA, or at least that's what I did back when I played Vice City when I was like 12 or something and barely even touched the main campaign.
Whether or not I agree with the mother's decision is another thing entirely. I do think 8 is a bit too young to be playing GTA V if he does the story missions, but if he only wants to fuck around with the sandbox elements then I really see no problem with it. Like another poster said above, kids usually only care about the open world aspect of games like GTA, or at least that's what I did back when I played Vice City when I was like 12 or something and barely even touched the main campaign.
pretty much.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Would have done the same thing. Good on you OP.
I agree with you but the "natural" argument is nonsensical, I wish people would stop using it.
I hope that kid will one day make a GAF post thanking the stranger for providing him with a far superior game. You did the boy a favour.
And somehow this handwaves one thing (the sex) but not the other (the violence)?
I agree with you but the "natural" argument is nonsensical, I wish people would stop using it.Yeah with the Internet and Smartphones it doesn't matter anyway, 6 year olds are probably watching hardcore gangbangs on their phones. I don't know how it is in the US, but not once did I hear of parents blocking anything, the very least know how and most of the others probably don't even think about it.
User 479360
Banned
I'm not someone who thinks that video games are responsible for murders, nor do I think that all people younger than 17 or 18 are too immature to play M-rated games like GTA. Every person is different, and some just have screws loose.
That said, I would've said the same thing and been honest with the woman.
That said, I would've said the same thing and been honest with the woman.
Don't feel too bad. You really just put money before superstition and scaremongering.
FinalxxSin
Banned
An 8 year old imo shouldn't be playing anything higher than a T rating. There are a lot of games that get a T rating just due to some blood animation.
Sparrowhawk
Member
If I had a kid I probably wouldn't want them playing GTA for a few more years. I'd be alright with some shooters, but GTA is kinda over the top.
I was pretty surprised my young cousin really wanted to play Mortal Kombat.
He's 10 I think. Into Minecraft, watching Minecraft, Skylander stuff and Mortal Kombat.
He actually asked numerous times for it, so I know he's nuts for it because I bled trying to get him to pick some games for me to get him. Unreasonably polite, stupidly so. Couldn't get him MK...but I did send him one of my Vitas packed out after getting a bunch of other things he didn't seem too thrilled about - one thing he picked out was a fighting game...which turned out to have a mortal kombat character in it. Got in trouble for that.
If he can figure out how to get to the download list and he goes on a long scroll...and deletes stuff off his 32GB card, then he's in for a good time that I can't be responsible for (Sony had a sale on digital MK, which is a pretty great game).
Those x-rays/fatalities are getting pretty disturbing and easy to pull-off though.
The sort of shit they probably see on their friend's phones though...
Also, Metroid Prime...that poor kid. You're probably on his list.
True, all she had to do was look at the case to see why it was rated M. In any case, I would have done the same OP. Eight years old is too young for GTAV. Besides, when he's older I'm sure there will be another GTA game to play. And if he wants open world games, there are others.