ZeroMaverick
Member
Definitely the right move.
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I stopped a kid from getting GTA V
- Thread starter TheDanger
- Start date
Live Free or Die
Banned
Good going OP. did you also tell him Santa Clause wasnt real?
...Could you? Has anyone ever been seriously damaged by a videogame? I can't help but imagine that if someone had the kind of brain that was susceptible to this, then videogames would be the least of their problems. Merely the cherry on top of the mental illness cupcake that's already baked, frosted, and partially eaten.
Lol serious damage
I honestly don't understand how anyone could say what OP did was wrong.
The parent wasn't sure what content would be appropriate for her child so she asked for more information, like any responsible parent would do. The OP just gave her honest info on what was in the game rather than lie to her face.
The parent wasn't sure what content would be appropriate for her child so she asked for more information, like any responsible parent would do. The OP just gave her honest info on what was in the game rather than lie to her face.
toythatkills
Member
I think you would have to be very naive to suggest that violent videogames would be no harm at all to literally anyone.
I'm not saying videogames would cause a normal child to turn violent, but they could certainly be a trigger if a child's brain was wired that way, and so why would you take that chance without knowing the child beforehand? Like I say, it would be irresponsible.
uomoartificiale
Member
Mother asked about a game, you told the truth. You did good.
EDIT: Also, "when I was seven I saw a snuff movie, and I still turned out ok" is a bullshit argument that needs to go away from these discussions.
EDIT: Also, "when I was seven I saw a snuff movie, and I still turned out ok" is a bullshit argument that needs to go away from these discussions.
Meant like just the open world from gta v
AyaisMUsikWhore
Member
You did good OP. You told the truth. It kind of bothers me that some kids play GTA because it is truly an adult game but you can only tell the truth.
Success
Member
looool, this is such a good point
orthodoxy1095
Banned
We've done plenty of studies on aggression and violence in adults within Psychology research (we even do it here on my campus), but I don't know what we've done with kids.
The thing is, we're not talking about an adult playing an age appropriate game and being disturbed by it. That's a separate issue altogether. Rather, the issue is a child playing a piece of adult entertainment. My gut says that has to have some kind of ramifications.
You have clear example of millions of underage kids (based on the rating system) playing shooters like COD, BF etc everyday. Tell me how many of them get "seriously damaged"
JetSetRadio
Banned
8 is just too young
starchild excalibur
Member
I'm guessing by the length of this thread there are actually people in here that think OP is in the wrong for 1) being asked to faithfully describe a game's content and 2) faithfully describing the game's content?
Huh.
Good on you, OP. Sucks for the kid, but he'll deal.
Huh.
Good on you, OP. Sucks for the kid, but he'll deal.
Why are there so many naysayers in this thread? The only reason that the mother was considering buying the game in the first place was because she didn't know what the content was like. Informed customers benefit the rest of us and the OP informed her. It's a happy outcome for everyone involved.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Like I said, I've never seen a study done on that. I'd like to see one done.
More importantly however, the content of a shooter like CoD or BF is very different from GTAV.
93xfan
Banned
So at what age should we let children be playing this, in your professional opinion?
I work in a game store and this is more or less the question I ask when I'm asked if certain games are suitable for their kids, most of the time about GTA.
"Would you let your 10 year old son watch an 18 rated movie?". Their response is usually "god no". They answer their own question
You did the right thing for sure OP. No 8 year old should be playing GTA. It still blows my mind how oblivious parents/guardians are to age ratings on games.
Blackstarhat
Member
I played vice city when I was 8. I wouldn't have done the same thing if I where you let the parent decide what's appropriate for the child.
tryagainlater
Member
What does turning out ok mean exactly? If ok means, we didn't turn into psychopathic killers, then yea, most of us probably did turn out ok. Is that the bar for ok?
In the past, you became a man when your father took you to the countryside and put a gun in your hand. This happened when you were as young as seven years old. Today, the gun may no longer be physical, but it remains as a symbolic gesture in video games. Grand Theft Auto, perhaps, is the most symbolic gesture of this generation. A true coming of age moment. You stopped this boy from becoming a man. You stopped his growth. His maturity. His blossoming into the man he was destined to be.
Do you take pride in keeping others down? What drives you to become the obstacle in other people's lives? Are you happy living your life this way?
Do you take pride in keeping others down? What drives you to become the obstacle in other people's lives? Are you happy living your life this way?
The Artisan
Member
perfect first post.
i do not support kids playing M games. maybe teens, but not children.
Of course you can. You must have zero experience with people who have kids.
As a single parent of a 6 & 7 year old, I want to say thank you. I get the argument that "I used to xyz and I turned out fine", but if we as a society want to see positive change in as many always as possible then what we teach and expose children to is crucial in laying the foundation of the future. Sure this single incident may or may not make a difference, however it is the multiplicity of somewhat similar or indirectly related incidents that compound the makeup of society as a whole over time. While I dont advocate going full blown on what I just said, I do advocate small choices when the opportunity presents it self, such as the situation you just posted.
protomouse
Member
You did good OP. Real good.
Mocca-Bear
Neo Member
Totally would've done the same thing. I don't know if it would have happened a few years ago but being older and having kids changes you man.
GreatestHits
Member
I do get the point that trying to control and mold your children by controlling what they experience is largely a futile endeavor. As a parent, you often feel you are in more control of things than you actually are. When in fact we are more guides than we are overlords or controllers. It's usually this attempt and illusion of control that children who have a strong ability to think for themselves come to resent and detest. And I think children are far more resilient and capable of coping with reality than we commonly give them credit for. I think fear in us as parents is a big reason why we try to control their input so much, and why we rationalize that it actually is going to make them a better person.
So I think most M-rated games are OK for 8-9-10-11 year olds, which is a jarring opinion to a lot of people (note: parental guidance advised). However I think GTA 5 is not one of those games.
So I think most M-rated games are OK for 8-9-10-11 year olds, which is a jarring opinion to a lot of people (note: parental guidance advised). However I think GTA 5 is not one of those games.
finalflame
Banned
It's a video game, kid would have been fine.
At the same time I don't consider what you did wrong, because the mother, as a parent, has the right to make a properly informed decision. It's just huge bummer for the poor kid who just wanted to play a game that most likely all his other friends are playing. In some sense, I find it to be a total lack of empathy to what it's like to be that age and just want to play the same games and do the same things as your friends but have overprotective parents (or strangers too, apparently) deny you the pleasure of doing so.
This kid is just going to go to his friend Brad's house and play it there anyways.
I'm sure many of us on GAF played terribly violent games as kids, including GTA titles. Also, generally speaking, no, violent video games do not cause increased violence, at least according to one long-term US study:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcom.12129/full
I'd say at best you helped a parent make an informed decision, and at worst you ruined this kid's day/week/whatever. And probably made his mother extra vigilant so he won't get to play a lot of the games he would like to in the future.
At the same time I don't consider what you did wrong, because the mother, as a parent, has the right to make a properly informed decision. It's just huge bummer for the poor kid who just wanted to play a game that most likely all his other friends are playing. In some sense, I find it to be a total lack of empathy to what it's like to be that age and just want to play the same games and do the same things as your friends but have overprotective parents (or strangers too, apparently) deny you the pleasure of doing so.
This kid is just going to go to his friend Brad's house and play it there anyways.
I'm sure many of us on GAF played terribly violent games as kids, including GTA titles. Also, generally speaking, no, violent video games do not cause increased violence, at least according to one long-term US study:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcom.12129/full
I'd say at best you helped a parent make an informed decision, and at worst you ruined this kid's day/week/whatever. And probably made his mother extra vigilant so he won't get to play a lot of the games he would like to in the future.
Savantcore
Unconfirmed Member
Anyone arguing against OP's decision is insane. This is not the same GTA you (we) grew up with. GTAV is a high fidelity murder-sexuality simulator that is far cry from Vice City or San Andreas. No, eight-year-old children should not be playing it. I find it incredibly bizarre that anyone would argue otherwise.
The Artisan
Member
a lady at work one day said GTA is the game that "all the serial killers play..." I really wanted to just say, "well, what does that say about the whole world? considering the fact that, GTA5 is the best selling entertainment product, in the world..."
but, yes. I agree fully with what you said.
I worked at a game store over the summer and when asked I told parents this is not a good title for them.
The kid wasn't the problem for me. It was the fact the parents had to even asks. The game is called GRAND THEFT AUTO. And has a clear rating level on the front stating its not intended for children.
The kid wasn't the problem for me. It was the fact the parents had to even asks. The game is called GRAND THEFT AUTO. And has a clear rating level on the front stating its not intended for children.
SlipperyFishes
Banned
Was this a deleted scene from Pixels? It sounds like a Sandler beat.
breadtruck
Member
OP is a hero among adult gamers on headsets everywhere.
I've seen children spin this as a difficulty rating and not an age rating. Kids be crafty yo
It´s pretty bold of you to label people who don´t agree with OP (or yours, i assume) opinion, insane. May i ask how you came to this conclusion? Also, i´m really curious as to how GTA V is a murder-sexuality simulator. I´ve played it quite a lot, and the label "murder-sexuality simulator" never crossed my mind. Maybe i played the wrong game.
I would have told her to look at the ESRB info on the back of the box if asked the same question. "Appropriate for an 8 year old" is subjective depending on the parent (though GTA V is pretty extreme, in all but the most lax parental stances on media).
8-year old me wouldn't have sympathized because there wasn't really an equivalent back in 1990 on NES or Genesis. Splatterhouse was about as violent as I could get back then.
8-year old me wouldn't have sympathized because there wasn't really an equivalent back in 1990 on NES or Genesis. Splatterhouse was about as violent as I could get back then.
I killed small animals, broke windows, threw stones at cars, drank booze when I was 14, drove on a stolen scooter, watched all horror films I could find, fought with other kids, ran off from home and so on when I was a kid. I turned out just fine. Let your kids do whatever they want to do, they will inevitably turn out just fine. In fact, just give them a computer with internet and you can leave them by while you go on a vacation somewhere, internet teaches them all there is to life.
Littlefang
Member
Haha this is a good point. Anyone who believes in Santa is not mature enough to play GTA V.
orthodoxy1095
Banned
GTA of today is not GTA of yesterday.
On the one hand, I can pop out studies that claim a link between aggression or violence and media consumption. That's the whole debate. One study doesn't end the debate. On the other hand, this isn't the most useful study to bring to the table since we're talking about the psychological impact of a specific demographic (i.e. very young kids). I don't know that the violence in games leads to a direct increase in a child gamer's behavior, but I would have to think there is some psychological impact. The question would be whether it's temporary or lasting. We also need to consider that the context of violence in gaming media today is very different than violence in gaming media of years past.
That's like textbook crap parenting right there.