Parents fear GTA more than booze or porn
- Thread starter TopSecret
- Start date
name='stuartpb' said:Nowt wrong with a bit of the old skinflicks mateWhat I found weirdest from the survey was some parents worry more about playing a video game than their kids getting legless??? I thought that one would have came second in the results.
Thing is (and I hope I read this correctly) a site dedicated to warning parents about certain game titles run the survey. Isn't that a bit like running a survey on OC3D and saying "70% of people would rather be overclocking than reading an Enid Blyton book"
Of course the result is going to be severely weighted towards parents being afraid of their kids playing GTA...because thats what the site they are bloody on is all about!
I checked the site out though mate, it isn't about knocking PC games. In fact it's quite reasonable. It does point out pros and cons of each game it lists, going into some detail too. Best bet, have a gander, see what you think? It looks like whoever is writing on the site has actually played the games, so I think it is a hell of alot better than some similar sites.
name='stuartpb' said:
But still if you run the same survey on a website with tips on how to encourage your teenager to drink in moderation, the results would obviously be skewed the other way?
Run the survey again, but this time on a website like the BBC, then I think we'll see a true representation of what the general public think.
You have to look at it from a parents perspective too. Video gaming was not as prevelant in my generation as it is today. So that means that some parents have never tried gaming. So all they have to judge their opinions on is the press, the child and observation. Now for observation, not every parent has the time to be standing over their child every time they play a game, as much as we would like to. The child, if they are normal teenagers, may no be inclined to discuss their gaming hobby with their parents. So that leaves the press, which as we all know, love to make gaming the scapegoat.
I am lucky because I am an oldskool gamer and I enjoy the hobby as much as my eldest daughter does, so I know what to avoid etc. Some parents don't have that luxury. I wouldn't let my daughter (she's 8) play any game which is rated over her age, but that's how I decided to bring her up, regardless of what I done when I was her age.
I am lucky because I am an oldskool gamer and I enjoy the hobby as much as my eldest daughter does, so I know what to avoid etc. Some parents don't have that luxury. I wouldn't let my daughter (she's 8) play any game which is rated over her age, but that's how I decided to bring her up, regardless of what I done when I was her age.
If parents did some parenting there wouldn't be as many psychos out there chopping up yardies with a katana ..... or did I just dream that?
My point is, it doesnt take a video game to turn a kid into a nutter, any child old enough to operate a controller should have basic ideas of right and wrong instilled in them already by their parents. If a child doesnt have these basic morals by this stage then its totally the parents fault and they should be equally at blame. Either that or the child is already plain crazy and should be in care.
As for them fearing it more than alcohol I have to say that really disappoints me. I knew people were dumb but honestly, alcohol will make even the sanest most sensible of GTA abstaining children do stupid crap that will get them hurt.
My point is, it doesnt take a video game to turn a kid into a nutter, any child old enough to operate a controller should have basic ideas of right and wrong instilled in them already by their parents. If a child doesnt have these basic morals by this stage then its totally the parents fault and they should be equally at blame. Either that or the child is already plain crazy and should be in care.
As for them fearing it more than alcohol I have to say that really disappoints me. I knew people were dumb but honestly, alcohol will make even the sanest most sensible of GTA abstaining children do stupid crap that will get them hurt.
^Thanks^ 
That's not entirely fair on the parents. Did you do everything your parents told you to? I bet not, and I'm damned sure I didn't. At the end of the day, I agree with you that parents should teach their kids right from wrong, but they cannot watch over them 24 hours a day and do everything else required in life. I don't think this survey was aiming to point the finger at gamers and gaming, it was trying to raise a valid point that alot of parents don't really know alot about games.
name='llwyd' said:
That's not entirely fair on the parents. Did you do everything your parents told you to? I bet not, and I'm damned sure I didn't. At the end of the day, I agree with you that parents should teach their kids right from wrong, but they cannot watch over them 24 hours a day and do everything else required in life. I don't think this survey was aiming to point the finger at gamers and gaming, it was trying to raise a valid point that alot of parents don't really know alot about games.
You can soon start to see how a simple topic like Video Games covers a whole aspect of life.
I'm 34 and was brought up with spanking, the cane and respecting my elders, something todays society sadly lacks. Now I appreciate beating your kids is seen as wrong etc.. but what do you do as an alternative? Naughty Step? Come on.......I could flatten my Dad these days but still, what he says...goes...end of, no arguments.
I do honestly believe that my parents skills at raising me and my bro and sis have stood us in good stead, I'd never run around the streets with a knife, tell a copper to eff off, etc... so does this video game threat start with Parents? Dunno.....but although seeming harsh as a child I guess I've a lot to thank them for.
I'm 34 and was brought up with spanking, the cane and respecting my elders, something todays society sadly lacks. Now I appreciate beating your kids is seen as wrong etc.. but what do you do as an alternative? Naughty Step? Come on.......I could flatten my Dad these days but still, what he says...goes...end of, no arguments.
I do honestly believe that my parents skills at raising me and my bro and sis have stood us in good stead, I'd never run around the streets with a knife, tell a copper to eff off, etc... so does this video game threat start with Parents? Dunno.....but although seeming harsh as a child I guess I've a lot to thank them for.
name='stuartpb' said:
No but I adhered to the rules that involved not killing people and stealing cars. The behavior parents are scared of in these games are extremes that no sensible, essentially sane child would see as copyable.
To me it just appears that the parents have no faith in their childrens judgment, but would still prefer them to impair it by drinking.
name='llwyd' said:
As a parent, I wouldn't just trust my kids judgement, as they would have to had contact with unsuitable material to be able to judge. It's my duty as a parent to deem what is appropriate for my child until they are old enough to judge for themselves. When this level of maturity is reached, then it's time for me to step back. I agree though that it is madness that any parent can worry more about their kids playing games than them getting drunk.
name='PP Mguire' said:
Why is restricting your kids from having access to games which are deemed to be not suitable for their age group ridiculous? I don't think it is over protecting them, and I can just imagine my 8yr olds reaction to watching an 18 rated horro movie, she would have nightmares for weeks. Would that be good parenting? Hardly think so.
name='Zoot' said:
The ratings system for PC games is a joke! It isn't consistant and it seems like those who rate the games listen to the press more than they actually test the games.
Cheers,
Stu
Not once did i say restricting your kids to having access to these games is rediculous. But putting a video game on the todom pole over porn/alcohol/drugs ect IS rediculous. Even though myself i had access to any of these things growing up but because of the way i was raised i knew better. I knew better than to do the stupid things in games. I knew better than to get drunk at the age of 10. I knew better than to do drugs and get some chick knocked up while in high school. Hince the point of its all in how your raised. Better parenting is more sucessful than overprotection ect. For instance if you tell a child he/she cant do something its only natural for them to be more curious of it. Whats the first instinct to do? Go and do it. Or you have other ways of raising your child so that they know better than to do something. Ratings ect are all good and all that but its how you emplement these things that matter.
We do agree about the survey, that gaming should really have been quite low on the list, not second. I have said as much all the way through.
I have never told my children that they musn't do something without explaining why. My parents were strict, if they said no it was final, no explanation given. It did make me curious sometimes and that's why I take the time to explain now to my kids if I tell them no. But I am also protective of my children and always will be, whether it is over-protective or not remains to be seen, but I would rather over protect than under protect. I happen to think that I am quite reasonable though
I don't want my children to have access to games which are rated above their age, not because I am scared they will copy the game acts, because I don't feel that it is appropriate. It's exactly the same as with movies. I am a gamer myself, and I know that games don't create killers, but I still don't want my kids playing unsuitable games. That is a choice I took as a parent, and I think many other parents would agree. Anyways, these are two seperate issues, the survey wasn't trying to point the finger at gaming, it shows a lack of understanding of gaming with some parents.
I have never told my children that they musn't do something without explaining why. My parents were strict, if they said no it was final, no explanation given. It did make me curious sometimes and that's why I take the time to explain now to my kids if I tell them no. But I am also protective of my children and always will be, whether it is over-protective or not remains to be seen, but I would rather over protect than under protect. I happen to think that I am quite reasonable though
I don't want my children to have access to games which are rated above their age, not because I am scared they will copy the game acts, because I don't feel that it is appropriate. It's exactly the same as with movies. I am a gamer myself, and I know that games don't create killers, but I still don't want my kids playing unsuitable games. That is a choice I took as a parent, and I think many other parents would agree. Anyways, these are two seperate issues, the survey wasn't trying to point the finger at gaming, it shows a lack of understanding of gaming with some parents.
