Poll: Minors and Grand Theft Auto

[ashbashbluesfan]

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.

Undeniably it is the parents fault.

 

There is nothing wrong with the game itself only when parents allow their children to play it when they have not been taught properly and learned good morals.

 

I have no problem with children playing the game as long as they are mature enough.

[Adeel007]

they parents should be slapped for giving them the game - Kids are just annoying - all you get is chrome adders with $ rims and swearing and screaming

[Johan]

Why should you restrict kids from playing a game like that? If their parents allow it then it's end of story, no need for any kind of government checkups to play a damn video game, give them freedom.

And yes they're at risk, but not always do they take things from the community and start using it themselves, in my opinion there are more people over the age of 18 that act childish with language and personal messages.

[PoopyThomas]

 

 

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

^ this is the best thing ever!

[PinkRibbonScars]

I'm 16 and I don't troll around in gtao.... Okay maybe a few times but none of my trolling activities involves spawn killing or interrupting/ disrupting someone's game. Plus I choose not to use my mic(it's crappy anyway, i use a playstation eye).

[SecludedMemory]

I'd say most trolls/griefers are probably early to mid 20s, and a large portion of the youtube glitchers are in the 13-20 group, but obviously it's mixed up all around the board. I don't have a problem with "minors" (late teens) playing the game. I have a problem with little kids whose balls haven't dropped yet constantly trying to act gangsta or just won't shut up on a mic that their parents shouldn't have gotten them in the first place (along with the game). It really is a shame microphones aren't age restricted.

[AboveAndBeyoncé]

It is the problem.. Too many kids playing this game

 

Like in actuality hundreds of copies of GTA V were sold to parents of children who could barely even see over the counter.

 

This game does not have any kind of positive influence on kids it has a ton of violent, disturbing and criminal acts, plus the end goal of the user is to do something criminal,

 

But if children playing it are mature enough to understand and know not to do stuff like this in reality then perhaps its negative impact is overblown. So yeah that's my 2 cents

Edited May 21, 2014 by Marc30499

[BoJack Cognac]

I think all kids should play games that are rated M.

In fact, I think it should be mandatory for all children to watch at least 2 hours of soft-core Cinemax porn a week.

If the media doesn't teach these kids how life works, who will?

 

As the boys in the South Park movie once said:
♫ Off to the movies we shall go

Where we learn everything that we know
Cuz the movies teach us what our parents don't have time to saaaaaaaaay ♫

[Xyn]

Yes, children should simply be not allowed to play 18+ plus games, no matter how "mature" they think they may be. Being "mature" isn't what gets you inside a bar or a casino, being over the legal age does.

 

Yes, underage people do become influenced by the game, even if in minor, more subtle ways. (INB4; "what? no it doesn't. I play GTA & I don't go killing people cuz I know it's fake!" Actually genius, that just means you know there's consequences for your actions in real life and that you have basic common sense, not that you're an adult or "mature").

 

And lastly...I think it's actually the people over the age of 18 who do more mayhem & chaos in FR, but that's totally ok. It's akin to going to a bar & howling with laughter at your friend's jokes out loud or saying raunchy things you wouldn't elsewhere; it's the appropriate venue to do so.

However, it's usually the underaged who exploit & cheat the game.

[CrazyRay]

I just want to be able to play with people who are adults, I don't want to play with squeakers who "force-swear" just to try to sound "cool"

[RDT33]

You know, there's a reason they say, "Online interactions are not rated by the ESRB."

[Thespaz9]

As a Mature High School Teen, it angers me that many of you think that under 18 means a rude, dumb child.

I rarely get on my mic and I don't scream "Swag" and "Yolo" when I do. My parents trust me with the game (as I got it with my own money) and I understand the game. I also pride myself very much in, being more mature then some Adults. So just remember that the Teens of this game can be Mature.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Thespaz9

[oldbag69]

I grew up on ultra violent video games and films, so in my opinion yes it is a problem and these kids shouldn't be exposed to this stuff

[PoopyThomas]

I'm 16 and I do muney gliches and i like to go strip club and get drunk and sinse i pley gta wen i grow up i want to be like trevor and kill ppl . swag11!1

[Xyn]

As a Mature High School Teen, it angers me that many of you think that under 18 means a rude, dumb child.

I rarely get on my mic and I don't scream "Swag" and "Yolo" when I do. My parents trust me with the game (as I got it with my own money) and I understand the game. I also pride myself very much in, being more mature then some Adults. So just remember that the Teens of this game can be Mature.

Does "Maturity" get you into any other areas meant for adults?....it doesn't.

 

But with video games most people toss them away as kid's stuff, so naturally kids can get into anywhere, even places they are not meant to go.

[darkwar854]

Yes, children should simply be not allowed to play 18+ plus games, no matter how "mature" they think they may be. Being "mature" isn't what gets you inside a bar or a casino, being over the legal age does.

 

Yes, underage people do become influenced by the game, even if in minor, more subtle ways. (INB4; "what? no it doesn't. I play GTA & I don't go killing people cuz I know it's fake!" Actually genius, that just means you know there's consequences for your actions in real life and that you have basic common sense, not that you're an adult or "mature").

 

And lastly...I think it's actually the people over the age of 18 who do more mayhem & chaos in FR, but that's totally ok. It's akin to going to a bar & howling with laughter at your friend's jokes out loud or saying raunchy things you wouldn't elsewhere; it's the appropriate venue to do so.

However, it's usually the underaged who exploit & cheat the game.

You can die for your country, but you can't go into a bar. Does that sound right? It's basically what you are saying. Soldiers are the most disciplined people out there, but they can't go into a bar because they aren't 21. Age doesn't matter, it's just a guideline.

[Outplug]

I'm going to be honest with you. I'm a minor, less than a year from being able to play by ESRB's rules by being of age for an M-rated game (which is 17+, not 18, unless you're referring to outside of the US). I don't think stricter regulations should be imposed, simply because minors probably make up as great a chunk of fans of the series as adults. I've been playing the game for a decade. First bit of the series I played was Vice City when I was just 5 years old, and I don't believe an ounce that GTA has had any negative effects on me. Why? Because I was raised right, was healthy, and wasn't entirely mental. The only people these games are going to affect are those that have aggregated the counterparts of the aforementioned trio into themselves.

 

So also, no, I don't think anything bad comes of it. Hell, the kids are going to learn about adult themes one way or another in no time anyway. By the time you're 12 in today's world, a pretty decent amount of adult themes are pretty familiar to you, and I don't believe it has any real issue (aside from if you're some punk 'tween' who's only goal is to 'get girls' because of what they know).

 

And it's the 17/18+ that cause more problems for me, mainly because I haven't really heard any people that I knew were kids in a pretty long while. Many keep their mics off, and those that speak sound like adults to me.

[Thespaz9]

 

As a Mature High School Teen, it angers me that many of you think that under 18 means a rude, dumb child.

I rarely get on my mic and I don't scream "Swag" and "Yolo" when I do. My parents trust me with the game (as I got it with my own money) and I understand the game. I also pride myself very much in, being more mature then some Adults. So just remember that the Teens of this game can be Mature.

 

Does "Maturity" get you into any other areas meant for adults?....it doesn't.

 

But with video games most people toss them away as kid's stuff, so naturally kids can get into anywhere, even places they are not meant to go.

Young Kids shouldn't play the game I agree. Maturity helps though, but it won't get you in. Most Teens are good to play as long as they are normal and don't scream and curse a whole lot.

[Yurrii01]

I have no problem with kids playing. I remember playing gta on my PlayStation 1 at an early age.. addictive:) I couldn't wait to get home from school to play it. The adults be the assholes! Im 21 and most of the kids I hear on the mic sound like kids and just wanna have fun but honestly sometimes I can't help but laugh at the back and fourth arguments

[zZ Lithium Zz]

I have no problem with kids playing. I remember playing gta on my PlayStation 1 at an early age.. addictive:) I couldn't wait to get home from school to play it. The adults be the assholes! Im 21 and most of the kids I hear on the mic sound like kids and just wanna have fun but honestly sometimes I can't help but laugh at the back and fourth arguments

Yeah like almost every lobby I'm in I hear 2 grown men going at it. I have yet to hear kids argue.

[CrazyRay]

You know, there's a reason they say, "Online interactions are not rated by the ESRB."

That's because they can't rate what users will say/do to other users

[sultangris]

 

 

I have no problem with kids playing. I remember playing gta on my PlayStation 1 at an early age.. addictive:) I couldn't wait to get home from school to play it. The adults be the assholes! Im 21 and most of the kids I hear on the mic sound like kids and just wanna have fun but honestly sometimes I can't help but laugh at the back and fourth arguments

Yeah like almost every lobby I'm in I hear 2 grown men going at it. I have yet to hear kids argue.I've heard a few kids talking smack but they quit talking and start crying fast when you start spawn killing them, lol

 

But ya, definitely more adults acting like retards than young kids in my experience.

[GunBrothersGaming]

This will always be an issue. While I think it is up to the parent, kids will find a way to play. The issue I see though is these types of games teach kids that it's okay to call people online f*ggets and other racial slurs because well... the game sets the example. However, I see just as many adults doing it as well.'

 

I think it really depends on whether your a douchebag playing the game or a normal person. Douchebaggery knows no age, race, religion or sexual preference. I've met great kids playing this and met little douches.

 

Most of the kids playing this game are just squeakers looking for friends.

[ezfaun]

I cast my opinion that kids should not be exposed to any negative sexual content until they are old enough to understand the stipulations that come with it. I have a neighbour who has a daughter that wears her school uniform skirt so high up that it gives me a boner sometimes. She's 12. And I'm more than twice her age. Somethings wrong here or I'm just a pedobear.

[RDT33]

 

You know, there's a reason they say, "Online interactions are not rated by the ESRB."

That's because they can't rate what users will say/do to other users

 

Yes. That would in fact be the reason that I was talking about. Didn't think that one had to be explained.

[zZ Lithium Zz]

I cast my opinion that kids should not be exposed to any negative sexual content until they are old enough to understand the stipulations that come with it. I have a neighbour who has a daughter that wears her school uniform skirt so high up that it gives me a boner sometimes. She's 12. And I'm more than twice her age. Somethings wrong here or I'm just a pedobear.

Why don't you take seat. Have a seat. Take a seat right over there.

 

[BoJack Cognac]

All I know is I got GTA 3 when I was 16.

I think I handled it pretty well.

[CarimboHanky]

the problem is not the game or adult themes...

 

its all up to the parent and what they taught to their kids.

 

me talking against having kids in this game would be a bit hypocritical as i have been a gamer since i was 5, got my hands in gta when i was 11.

 

my mom never forbid me from watching "adult stuff" like violent movies and stuff like that.

 

being exposed to this stuff didnt affect me a single bit, i may be a troll/griefer online, i may be kinda rude, mean and sarcastic in the forums but in real life im a... rude, mean, sacastic, peaceful person.

 

its all come down to parenting. explaining kids that this is just a game and that in real life people just wont respawn.

 

i have 2 kids(4yo and 11yo) and i let them play V!

[Jeneticyst]

The ESRB is a guideline, and something I think parents should consider, but it is ultimately up to the parent. The problem is for younger players though, is that their parents may not be gamers themselves, and will blindly buy a game without doing the proper research about what the game entails. I'm only 19, but if I were a parent, I'd like to sit down and play through the game or watch videos about it before I put it in the hands of my kid so I know exactly what I'm exposing them to. Another problematic aspect of GTA in general for minors is that I don't think the satirical nature of the whole series really imprints on minors. Viewing GTA as a commentary on American society and viewing GTA as a virtual killing sandbox of destruction invokes some different feelings.

 

I think restricting who has access to these types of games though, wouldn't make the situation any better, because parents are usually the ones buying it anyway. And if it weren't parents, it would be some other older figure.

 

For me, personally, I tend to hear a lot more verbal abuse from younger teens, but also mid 20s. Racial and sexist slurs, homophobia, and just plain rudeness seems to know no age or racial boundaries. I think it bothers me more when I hear it from a 12-15 year old than a 20 year old because I dunno. It just makes me a little sad in our youth.

 

EDIT: I did read this anecdote from a video game reviewer who allowed his 4 year old to play San Andreas, and the kid actually stopped at all the red lights, refused to steal cars, and loved the vigilante missions because he got to save people. Whadda cutie.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Jeneticyst

[Xavierr]

Ehh, all I'm gonna say is - I've met 10 yr olds more mature than some 40 yr olds on gta online.