Poll: Minors and Grand Theft Auto

[V HoneyBadger V]

Hello everyone,

 

Basically, I was wondering what your thoughts are on the situation of minors playing games such as Grand Theft Auto Online or multiplayer games. There will always be problematic people of all ages, but what do you personally think?

Do they bring trouble with their premature exposure to adult themes?

Edited May 21, 2014 by V HoneyBadger V

[JimmySaville'd]

I think im in love with you honeybadger.

 

Completely agree with you btw xD

Edited May 21, 2014 by JimmySaville'd

[Shake 'N Bake]

Like this hasn't been beaten to death already.

[E•MO•TION]

Meh, I've probably met just as many immature adults in GTAO as minors.

 

On a side note, have you ever heard a child at the strip club for the first time? Priceless.

[Killzone3265]

Meh, I've probably met just as many immature adults in GTAO as minors.

 

On a side note, have you ever heard a child at the strip club for the first time? Priceless.

i've heard them after i threw a grenade in there

[JimmySaville'd]

People that don't agree with this are in fact people under the age of 18.. More accurately under the age of 15

[Sugar Free Nos]

No, it's the choice of the parent. The ESRB/PEGI/whatever is a recommendation for the parents and it's their choice if they want to follow it.

 

No, GTA won't have a negative effect on a normal, healthy child.

 

Also, I've had more people over 18 calling me vulgarities than children.

 

 

If you have a problem with children playing "your game" mute them, kill them, and move on.

[carmazoo]

No, kids don't bother me at all in this game. The only people who talk sh*t are the adults.

[BoJack Cognac]

My vote was the popular vote for the 1st two questions.

1) Let the parents decide.
2) There are a lot worse things that could adversely affect children than videogames

As for the 3rd question, it's 18+ players who give me a harder time.
The kids that legitimately sound 10 seem, to me, like they haven't quite figured everything about the game out yet.

[KallusRourke]

Funny thing is that the majority of people saying "no" are in fact kiddies. There's a rating on these games for a reason. Kids should not be owning or playing this game, period. "Parents" who let their brats play this need serious help.

[I3AZZAI2]

Jesus Christ, talk about loaded, two option questions.

Nothing is this black and white.

 

I think they made online more PG due to minors playing, and I think that's wrong. I think if a kid has his/her head on straight and their parents actually, you know, parent their children, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

[Aunty Fascist]

OK, I know we have to have things to talk about on this forum, but the mindset of people that think kids shouldn't be playing really gets on my nerves. This sort of thing is called "concern trolling." It's really nobody's business what someone else's kid is playing. If their high pitched chatter and incessant asking how much money in your bank account and "hey, can you mod me a car?" get on your nerves you can always mute them or skip to another lobby. I know I've done this more than once.

 

Ageism is an ugly thing. Kids get exposed to all sorts of questionable content all day long, from mainstream sources. If their parents are letting them play, it's nobody else's business. Even if they're sneaking behind their parents' backs, it's still nobody's business.

 

People need to get over the idea that children are chattel and not worthy of being treated respectfully as human beings before they reach adulthood. I've got two kids. My youngest is 8. I let him play GTA, but not the missions, because the strip club and the torture scene were, in my opinion, something he didn't need to see. I basically did all of single player for him while he was at school, maxed out his money with the stock market stuff, and all he does is run around in cheat mode with superjump and explosive punches on, because it's funny. He begs to go online but he's not good enough, can't aim properly, nor do a mission. And anyway I wouldn't want him exposed to the kind of nasty behavior and disgusting language I see in them all the time. So he doesn't get to go online, oh well.

 

But some of the kids I've played with are just as good as adults ... and that makes me wonder sometimes if it isn't the fact that kids are playing, but that they're playing well enough to compete with some of these adults and the egos can't stand it. What does concern me about some of these younger players, though, is how the ugly attitudes of our society towards race, gender, sexual orientation, body size, etc. are absorbed and reflected by them when they don't even know what they're saying most of the time. They just heard some famous youtube gamer use one of these ugly words ("fa**ot", "retard", the n word) and think that it makes it OK for them to use them too.

 

But still, it's not my job to tell them to get off the game. The most I can do is explain to them why those words are ugly and hateful and that only ugly and hateful people actually use them. It's an educational opportunity. Then I usually go off somewhere else because the kid asked me to mod another car for him.

 

I've witnessed adult males saying really awful, sexually explicit things to children in the same lobby for the express purpose of trying to drive them out. There's no call for that. It's actually deeply disgusting, and disturbing, that some people think it's ok to abuse others just because they happen to be in the same game lobby and they don't want them there.

[darkwar854]

No, it's mostly the assholes above 18 who think they are bad because they bully a poor kid online.

[zZ Lithium Zz]

No, kids don't bother me at all in this game. The only people who talk sh*t are the adults.

True. I hear adults argue all the time saying racial slurs, insulting others etc..

[Sugar Free Nos]

Funny thing is that the majority of people saying "no" are in fact kiddies. There's a rating on these games for a reason. Kids should not be owning or playing this game, period. "Parents" who let their brats play this need serious help.

I'm 17, can legally purchase the game with my own money, and I couldn't care less if kids play.

 

Also, you're right, the rating is there for a reason. It's to help parents make an informed decision on whether or not their child can handle the game's themes.

 

I've been playing GTA since I was seven and I turned out just fine, and if you're going to call my single mother who raised me, fed me, clothed me, and put a roof over my head for 17 years now a bad parent, you haven't a clue what a good parent is.

 

A good parent is one who understands their kid, teaches them right from wrong and real from fake, talks to them about everything, and knows if their child will be able to grasp the fact that it is a GAME, not one that just blindly follows a rating guideline and a letter on a box.

[V HoneyBadger V]

I have encountered young people on this game who are in fact normal and don't swear every second. Like many have said, there is dodgy people from both sides of the age wall.

I'm not going to tell them to get off the game as I'm in no position to tell them what they can and cannot do.

I just think that they should be mentally mature enough for the age rating before they are allowed to play, just to be safe.

A large amount of damage comes from the "gangster" adults who call everyone a n****r, then these kids here it and think it is acceptable. After this, they repeat what they hear because it is "cool".

Edited May 21, 2014 by V HoneyBadger V

[Quarthon]

I make sure to swear and be as vulger as possible when I hear kids playing. Not like they cant just hop on the internet and see much worse violence and hardcore porn.

[V HoneyBadger V]

 

Funny thing is that the majority of people saying "no" are in fact kiddies. There's a rating on these games for a reason. Kids should not be owning or playing this game, period. "Parents" who let their brats play this need serious help.

I'm 17, can legally purchase the game with my own money, and I couldn't care less if kids play.

Also, you're right, the rating is there for a reason. It's to help parents make an informed decision on whether or not their child can handle the game's themes.

I've been playing GTA since I was seven and I turned out just fine, and if you're going to call my single mother who raised me, fed me, clothed me, and put a roof over my head for 17 years now a bad parent, you haven't a clue what a good parent is.

A good parent is one who understands their kid, teaches them right from wrong and real from fake, talks to them about everything, and knows if their child will be able to grasp the fact that it is a GAME, not one that just blindly follows a rating guideline and a letter on a box.

I completely agree. I don't want to be a hypocrite, but I have played games for ages older than I was in the past. My parents taught me good values and what I feel are good views of right and wrong. I was quite mature for my age, so when it came to asking my parents for the latest shooter, there wasn't any issues because I wasn't a violent kid with antisocial qualities. Edited May 21, 2014 by V HoneyBadger V

[ashbashbluesfan]

I think it's down to the parents to know how mature their child is and decide if they should play it.

Unfortunately these days most parents see this as a cheap babysitter and have little interest in their child either that or they are ignorant.

 

Children that aren't mature enough are extremely likely to be affected by the game as their minds are still developing, at such a young age most children aren't even empathetic and don't truly understand the consequences of their actions or the pain and suffering they're inflicting on another person or animal, when they see things like Trevor kicking someone to death it can desensitize them to violence, which is why I'm often threatened by 12 year old gangsters who say they are going to stab/shoot me even though they do not know me.

I have been stabbed brutally and slashed to pieces, I'm forever reminded of that day every time I take a shower or go swimming and when you do things like that to another person it will stay with them forever, a child that is not developed enough mentally won't understand this and the violence in this game and the way it's portrayed will glorify it to them.

Playing games like this when they are not completely mentally developed can seriously harm their mental well-being.

 

[V HoneyBadger V]

I think it's down to the parents to know how mature their child is and decide if they should play it.

Unfortunately these days most parents see this as a cheap babysitter and have little interest in their child either that or they are ignorant.

 

Children that aren't mature enough are extremely likely to be affected by the game as their minds are still developing, at such a young age most children aren't even empathetic and don't truly understand the consequences of their actions or the pain and suffering they're inflicting on another person or animal, when they see things like Trevor kicking someone to death it can desensitize them to violence, which is why I'm often threatened by 12 year old gangsters who say they are going to stab/shoot me even though they do not know me.

I have been stabbed brutally and slashed to pieces, I'm forever reminded of that day every time I take a shower or go swimming and when you do things like that to another person it will stay with them forever, a child that is not developed enough mentally won't understand this and the violence in this game and the way it's portrayed will glorify it to them.

Playing games like this when they are not completely mentally developed can seriously harm their mental well-being.

 

I have seen many kids smoking on street corners with hoods up, and I am not ashamed to admit that they genuinely make me anxious. They might draw a knife on me, try to rape me, steal my things etc.

If there is one thing that creates these kind of minors, it is the parents. Obviously they do in a biological way, but what I mean is how the bring them up.

 

If people don't believe that media such as games and films cause problems, go on Google and type in 'Jamie Bulger murder'. Two young boys kidnapped a three year old kid and tortured him before throwing him across a railway track to be further mutilated by a passing train.

Why did they do this? Because they saw it in a film, and decided to re-enact some parts.

Edited May 21, 2014 by V HoneyBadger V

[sultangris]

Lol, how can they possibly bother you? Usually they just whine cry or are otherwise annoying so I set the mic to crew and friends only. They certainly aren't close enough to my skill level to pose a threat.

 

I'm sure you all played such games when you were younger, how'd you turn out?

[ashbashbluesfan]

 

I have seen many kids smoking on street corners with hoods up, and I am not ashamed to admit that they genuinely make me anxious. They might draw a knife on me, try to rape me, steal my things etc.

If there is one thing that creates these kind of minors, it is the parents. Obviously they do in a biological way, but what I mean is how the bring them up.

 

If people don't believe that media such as games and films cause problems, go on Google and type in 'Jamie Bulger murder'. Two young boys kidnapped a three year old kid and tortured him before throwing him across a railway track to be further mutilated by a passing train.

Why did they do this? Because they saw it in a film, and decided to re-enact some parts.

 

I agree completely and I remember that particular case on the news and there are hundreds if not thousands of others like it across the world.

 

At such a young age children are impressionable, in fact many people these days are saddened more by the death of a dog, than the death of a human because they are so used to seeing and hearing about extreme violence everyday that it no longer shocks them.

 

The last game I was in was full of young children that couldn't say a sentence without the n word, clearly this is picked up from their environment, when I was a child I said 'crap' once and my parents went crazy, these days I often hear children telling their parents to f*ck off on the mic and all manner of obscenities.

They are affected just the same by violence especially in games like gta v where you get to the top by stealing and murdering everyone in your way.

 

I don't actually object to children playing some aspects of this game but only when they are mature enough and most children I've seen and heard on this game are far from it.

[Biohazard Abyss]

All the griefers are sadly over the age of 18 because they're childish c*nts.

[sultangris]

That's cause dogs are friendly and most people are assholes, lol

[havingfunz]

Hello everyone,

 

Basically, I was wondering what your thoughts are on the situation of minors playing games such as Grand Theft Auto Online or multiplayer games. There will always be problematic people of all ages, but what do you personally think?

Do they bring trouble with their premature exposure to adult themes?

The last question in the poll should have an everyone, or both age group option. Also a douche is a douche, age isn't really relevant.

[ezfaun]

A good parent is one who understands their kid, teaches them right from wrong and real from fake, talks to them about everything, and knows if their child will be able to grasp the fact that it is a GAME, not one that just blindly follows a rating guideline and a letter on a box.

 

 

I agree on that part. But I do admit that I'm apalled by the bad conduct of most kids in online games. Lets face it. Video games are made mostly for children. Now I know GTA is an 18 rated game. But it's still a video game. A kid wouldn't care about ratings. It's still a game. What I hate most is the angst in kids. It's disgusting. You'll see kids talking sh*t to people like they're the alpha-male. Then you get your jet and rain on them over and over and THEN they go quiet. We've all been kids before. We know kids act like sh*t without thinking of the consequences.

[ashbashbluesfan]

That's cause dogs are friendly and most people are assholes, lol

That's the mentality these kids get, the whole f*ck everyone else I'm number 1 attitude, everyone out for themselves.

Games like gta influence them in this way too, even more than the general culture of today.

Just look at divorce rates since the 60's, people became selfish prioritizing their own right to happiness over their childrens, before people worked together and fixed things these days it's a throw away attitude, I know people that are on their 4th wedding..

You may think this is unrelated to gta v but when kids that are immature and don't have developed morals play this game they learn from it, and the message this game sends to them is that other people do not matter and their thoughts, feelings and lives are insignificant compared to your own.

 

Apologies for going off on a bit of a tangent there.

[sultangris]

If kids don't know right from wrong is the parents fault not a game. You want to limit them to playing barbies dream house makeover? No one gives two sh*ts about a games rating and they never will. You cannot stop them from playing, only their parents can.

[QuackinAColdOne]

No, it's the choice of the parent. The ESRB/PEGI/whatever is a recommendation for the parents and it's their choice if they want to follow it.

 

No, GTA won't have a negative effect on a normal, healthy child.

 

Also, I've had more people over 18 calling me vulgarities than children.

 

 

If you have a problem with children playing "your game" mute them, kill them, and move on.

I first started playing GTA when I was like 9 haha. I think my first GTA was either III or SA.

 

OT: If the child can enjoy the game and not do what the stereotypical, most-talked about child does, then I'm fine. I agree I've seen grown men make fun of children just because they hear the sound of their voice thinking they're hot sh*t.

[K-ROSE]

Kids should be banned from the game just as they are from using Snapmatic.

 

I hate hearing their squeaker voices and having to dodge their tank rounds and racial slurs.

 

The mean IQ of humanity is 100, which is already very low. Our public school system (in America) is a sh*te joke. Many kids who play this game can barely even read on grade level. They should be hitting the books.

Edited May 21, 2014 by GrottiCollector