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[Breads]

That is precisely what censorship means to me. Censorship covers a lot of bases. Omitting content to spare the effect it can have on someone is censorship. I don't know how you're disqualifying withholding game content from a child from censorship

You are literally proving Zeyphersan's point.

Free speech is not being suppressed. History is not being changed. Facts are not being withheld to fit the agenda of person or institution.

The fact that children are deemed vulnerable and the parent is exercising their right to decide what to expose their child to has nothing to do with censorship. You can disagree all you want to but the moment you undermine the parent's decision you are wrong. And probably a fascist.

 

[Majukun]

on one hand, you did the right thing.. on the other, being an early nineties kid, I can say that back in the day people were nowhere this worried about appropriate content for children in media and we still had a decent generation and not a bunch of violent psychos.. Just as the OP said, he played gta and he grown up ok.

 

[Zeyphersan]

That is precisely what censorship means to me. Censorship covers a lot of bases. Omitting content to spare the effect it can have on someone is censorship. I don't know how you're disqualifying withholding game content from a child from censorship. Just because its the widely accepted thing to do doesn't mean it isn't censorship my friend

So in your world, you need to let a child experience anything they ask for because otherwise it's censorship and censorship is bad

There's no such thing as being discerning

Got it

 

[Branduil]

on one hand, you did the right thing.. on the other, being an early nineties kid, I can say that back in the day people were nowhere this worried about appropriate content for children in media and we still had a decent generation and not a bunch of violent psychos.. Just as the OP said, he played gta and he grown up ok.

Um, what? The '90s were full of moral panic about the content of video games.

 

[GreatestHits]

So in your world, you need to let a child experience anything they ask for because otherwise it's censorship and censorship is bad

There's no such thing as being discerning

Got it

I draw the line at rape and flinging poo. And poorly developed games.

 

[Majukun]

Um, what? The '90s were full of moral panic about the content of video games.

here in Italy all comes with a delay respect to the big USA.. what there was 80s,here it was early nineties, and we all came out OK.. i watched robocop as a kid, and in that movie a guy gets his arm amputated with a shotgun

 

[lolosgolos]

Thought about Trevor's introduction and you were on the right. My nephew is 14 and if I found him playing my GTA V. Lets just say it would be his last touching a controller

 

[Dastardly Jerks]

The kid lied to his mum.

Didn't deserve it.

 

[xir]

i talked my dad into buying me leisure suit larry 3 when i was in 5th grade.

EGA boobs. I actually always needed him to answer the "how old are?" quizes

 

[GreatestHits]

Thought about Trevor's introduction and you were on the right. My nephew is 14 and if I found him playing my GTA V. Lets just say it would be his last touching a controller

You paragons. I remember playing Morrowind all night and only all night during school nights because my parents deemed it as "demonic". Pretty extreme, and it might explain my views today. I don't think I'd be a game developer today if I had an effective person to censor all that horrible content from me as a child. (Already mentioned I played pretty much every game known to man in my very young years, including all the horribly violent and sick ones. Hell I think I even booted up Grandpas Leisure Suit Larry when I was like 9 or 10.). Come to think of it, I am fucked up in the head, you guys make a great point.

Edit: Beaten....

 

[GlamFM]

You did the right thing. He can play GTA VII when the time comes.

 

[GreatestHits]

You did the right thing. He can play GTA VII when the time comes.

Meh. By then he'll be into 'normal kid' stuff, like pop music, playing guitar, and sports. He's ruined for life.

 

[DoktorEvil]

She had every right to go up to the sales clerks and ask them to explain the rating if she was still unsure. Kid shouldve had a better excuse or compromised with a game like Driveclub.

I believe you just gave her the information that was factual and didn't influence her decision.

"You can shoot pedestrians" isn't a false statement about GTA5.

 

[RubenCordeiro]

Regulations exist for a reason, you did the right thing.

Whether or not the game would affect the kid is irrelevant (I played GTA III when I had his age), but although I did not become a psycopath and enjoyed my time with it, I didn't gain anything regardless.

 

[Ban Puncher]

narc

 

[Floody]

I'd do the same in that situation, if she didn't ask, I wouldn't have gave a fuck though.

 

[Rizific]

What kind of dumb ass parent doesn't see the MATURE rating right there on the box?

 

[SolarMystic]

Thought about Trevor's introduction and you were on the right. My nephew is 14 and if I found him playing my GTA V. Lets just say it would be his last touching a controller

This exactly. I find it amazing how anybody can compare the content in GTA V to the violent stuff we all grew up playing in the 90s.

Doom, Duke Nukem, Mortal Kombat and even later games like Vice City are nothing compared to the violence and sexual content of the modern day GTA.

 

[BigTnaples]

It's not meant for kids, and although many kids can handle it. 8 years old is just not even close to the right age. They process that information differently, and they're brains cannot properly take on Satire and may actually take ques from the game not about violence, but about how to talk, or act.

I would say for GTA, 13-14 is when I would start considering buying it, and only on a case by case basis.

 

[temesgen77]

GTA isn't a good form of entertainment for an 8 year old IMO

 

[tbd]

Maybe this kid has no friends at home.

Maybe all his online friends are playing GTA Online

Maybe he just wanted to have more contact with them

But then you came around

And prevented the kid from having a shitty life. Kid will probably study law and will have explored and travelled around the whole world at the age of 25 instead of sitting in his room playing GTA 7, running through a boring open world and talking to people doing the exact same thing.

GOOD JOB, OP.

 

[Paracelsus]

And prevented the kid from having a shitty life. Kid will probably study law and will have explored and travelled around the whole world at the age of 25 instead of sitting in his room playing GTA 7, running through a boring open world and talking to people doing the exact same thing.

GOOD JOB, OP.

 

[NewGame]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za2Dh817ZyM

Now imagine taking it away from him.

 

[striferser]

Op only informed the mother what kind of game it is, so it's cool.

 

[GreatestHits]

Some interesting things to add to the discussion:

Should children be banned from watching shows that contain violence and other adult contents?

Excerpts from those promoting allowing the viewing of 'adult' content:
(Obviously in this discussion this all goes down OK if there is a parent involved to help process the information, which I agree with)

It is better that children start being exposed to adult themes before they're completely independent so that their parents or other support networks can help them interpret and make sense of what they're seeing. Preventing children from encountering these themes attempts to protect them until the age of majority, then throws them in the deep end. One does not magically gain the ability to deal with mature themes on a certain day, it is developed over time like other aspects of one's personality and parental involvement in this process will, in most cases, assist children in developing their ability to cope with the adult world.

Not all young people exposed to violent/'adult' material are influenced. The amount that young people are influenced by environment(media) is different in every individual. It is not the responisiblity of the media companies to tone down or limit 'adult' material, but the responsibility of parents to decide or control what they allow their children to be exposed to.
I, personally, don't find myself influenced to steal cars or kill people in real life after playing 'Grand Theft Auto'. Aswell, I don't feel compelled to take drugs after watching 'Skins'.

Aaaaand another kid crying tears of joy for getting GTA V lol

 

[SolarMystic]

Some interesting things to add to the discussion:

Should children be banned from watching shows that contain violence and other adult contents?

Excerpts from those promoting allowing the viewing of 'adult' content:
(Obviously in this discussion this all goes down OK if there is a parent involved to help process the information, which I agree with)





Aaaaand another kid crying tears of joy for getting GTA V lol

Absolutely parents should educate their children on these themes, but most of the content on TV isn't as extreme as some of the content in GTA V.

Interactive first person sex with prostitutes mini games are not the same as watching a violent TV show.

The same goes for the violence. The first person interactive manner of the violence in GTA is extremely discomforting at times. You would have to go out of your way to find something on TV even close to that.

Even violent, sexual TV shows like Game of Thrones (which no 8 year old should be watching) are toned down compared to GTA V.

I'm not advocating a ban like some points in the link you provided support, but children should not just be thrown out into the masses of the disgusting nature of human beings on the premise that they need to be educated about this stuff. There are better ways to educate outside of interactive violence and prostitution.

Plus, eventually that kid will turn 17 and he can buy GTA 8 or whatever himself. By then he should have been educated about things like violence and sex, and (hopefully) find the first person prostitution and innocent slaughter at least a little discomforting, and realize it is just a fantasy videogame.

 

[Boy Wander]

You answered the question honestly. No big deal. It's also correct IMO that an 8 year old should not play the game. I'd be very interested to see how many of the people in this thread who are saying that it is ok actually have kids of that age...

 

[Koki]

I went to Gamestop the other night to do that Destiny trade in for the Legendary edition.

Kid in front of me was 8-10, bought Watch Dogs. Cashier advised that it's meant for 18+, his mom didn't care.

 

[Spukc]

I went to Gamestop the other night to do that Destiny trade in for the Legendary edition.

Kid in front of me was 8-10, bought Watch Dogs. Cashier advised that it's meant for 18+, his mom didn't care.

you should have told the mom that the game was shitty man.

 

[Koki]

you should have told the mom that the game was shitty man.

I never played it, or else I would have told him to get something better.

 

[Dr. Buni]

It's not a game for an 8 year old.

You did the right thing IMO.

Agreed. GTA is not a game for minors, let alone 8 year old kids.

 

[Ivan 3414]

Thought about Trevor's introduction and you were on the right. My nephew is 14 and if I found him playing my GTA V. Lets just say it would be his last touching a controller

What, are you going to cut off his hands? Sounds ominous...

 

[DEATH™]

GTA taught me to cuss in English... And I cussed hard... It's a hard habit to take away...

You did the right thing OP.

 

[Replicant]

That kid was a lying liar who lied so don't feel too bad OP. He can still satisfy his bloodlust when he's older.

 

[Joey Ravn]

You are a narc. Not every narc is bad, though.

 

[Professor Beef]

Kid got what he deserved for lying. I would've done the same thing too, but I don't like kids, so *shrug*

 

[Tablo]

It's not a game for an 8 year old.

You did the right thing IMO.

.

 

[bobawesome]

Are you a big man? Huh? I'm talking to you. Do you wake up in the morning and say, "I'm putting on my big boy pants. Look, I'm wearing a belt, I got big boy pants on!"

 

[Fallout-NL]

So I was in the game section in a local store today browsing through (I do this from time to time even though I know all the games anyway for some reason), then this kid and his mum come to the Playstation games and the kid wants GTA V. Then she says it says 18 on the box bla bla, then the kid was going on about how it's just about driving and he had almost convinced her when she suddenly noticed me and asked if this game is alright for an 8 year old.

I didn't know what to do, I saw it in the kid's eyes how much he wanted it, but then I thought about GTA V and how perfectly it can be used as a "murder innocent helpless people simulator" so I told his Mum I'm sorry for the kid, but you can shoot innocent pedestrians and she immediately said no. The kid got teary eyes I felt really bad for it (8 year old me would have hated me with the passion of a thousand burning swords), but I think I did the right thing. Then again I played Vice City at that age too and I'm not a sociopath, granted it didn't look nowhere near as realistic, but I still killed thousands of pedestrians and cops.

What would you have done? If she didn't ask me I probably wouldn't have said anything.

Well, you said it yourself, you played (and enjoyed the ever living fuck out of) those same games when you were that age. Anything wrong with you? Did it twist your poor little child mind? Fuck no dude.

I would have told the lady that as long as she made clear there is a difference between violence in art and the real thing, her kid would be totally fine.

You robbed him of some great memories. Instead of playing the most gorgeous open world game ever made at 8 years old (can you imagine?), he's back to playing some free to play garbage on his mom's iPad mini. Now there's some shit that'll scar him for life.

 

[Ants]

i think the way you explained it framed it in a negative light. i would have shown her the back of the box where the ESRB lists the reasons why a game gets the rating it does, and tell her to judge from those descriptors whether she thinks her son is mature enough to play it based on those factors.

teach a man to fish, as they say

in any event, though, preventing the kid from playing gta v was the right choice overall. i just think you didn't handle it in the most objective way possible

 

[GreatestHits]

Absolutely parents should educate their children on these themes, but most of the content on TV isn't as extreme as some of the content in GTA V.

Interactive first person sex with prostitutes mini games are not the same as watching a violent TV show.

The same goes for the violence. The first person interactive manner of the violence in GTA is extremely discomforting at times. You would have to go out of your way to find something on TV even close to that.

Even violent, sexual TV shows like Game of Thrones (which no 8 year old should be watching) are toned down compared to GTA V.

Yeah while I wanted to argue for the side that lets 8 year old kids play much more than ESRB ratings suggest they should, I've never actually played GTA V. So if it's got some hardcore content not found elsewhere in most mediums or games, such as what you suggested, then I fully agree 99% percent of the kids his age should not be playing this game.

So OP,

 

[mariachi507]

My whole childhood was surrounded with violent media. Horror flicks, Mortal Kombat, 80's action movies, and I've turned out fine. I'm glad that my childhood wasn't censored in that regard. That being said, she asked you and you told her the truth. It sucks for the kid but I would have done the same thing.

 

[Agent_Carnage]

You probably did the right thing. But I assume this kid would obtain the game from a friend or something. He probably knows someone who does play it and would let him borrow it.

Kids these days they will find a way.

 

[Agent_Carnage]

I went to Gamestop the other night to do that Destiny trade in for the Legendary edition.

Kid in front of me was 8-10, bought Watch Dogs. Cashier advised that it's meant for 18+, his mom didn't care.

Well compared to GTA Watch Dogs is pretty tame from what I played. Also you should of told him the game was crap and was not worth it anyway.

 

[Memory]

SMH at this thread, OP you done the right thing and i would have done the same.

Why would you lie to a parent on behalf of a kid who is already breaking the rules. What does teach the kid? That lying and cheating will give him what he wants? That he should hang around other unscrupulous people as they are more likely to lie and cheat for him? If the kid didn't lie to his mother that would have shown some maturity, then the mother may have allowed him to play the game supervised or in short bursts. He chose to lie and his lying should not be rewarded.

 

[GreatestHits]

You probably did the right thing. But I assume this kid would obtain the game from a friend or something. He probably knows someone who does play it and would let him borrow it.

Kids these days they will find a way.

Can't they just watch let's plays on youtube? Or is that behind an age-wall..

 

[Solal]

Well, to me You just stated the truth...and the mom made the call. Which is exactly how it should be in my book.

Anyway: would've done the same.

 

[SolarMystic]

Well, you said it yourself, you played (and enjoyed the ever living fuck out of) those same games when you were that age. Anything wrong with you? Did it twist your poor little child mind? Fuck no dude.

I would have told the lady that as long as she made clear there is a difference between violence in art and the real thing, her kid would be totally fine.

You robbed him of some great memories. Instead of playing the most gorgeous open world game ever made at 8 years old (can you imagine?), he's back to playing some free to play garbage on his mom's iPad mini. Now there's some shit that'll scar him for life.

We have already established in this thread that the difference between Vice City and GTA V is night and day.

 

[Screaming Meat]

That is precisely what censorship means to me.

Out of interest, would you let your hypothetical 8 year old kid watch 'A Serbian Film' if they asked to?

 

[neogaffer1]

op did the right thing.

90% of parents bitching about violent video games wouldn't be if they hadn't bought mature games for their kids in the first place