News Manhunt thingy...
- Thread starter Mephisto
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I agree on that.
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Well, my parents let me watch all the nasty movies like Terminator, Robocop, Alien...etc when I was about 8 years old. I got GTA when I was about 11, played a variety of other 18 rated games way before 18 and I turned out fine. I haven't killed anyone....yet
Then that must mean extremely violent interactive media has absolutely no negative effect on any kids what-so-ever !!
Your attempt at humour fell flat.
Your argument is non-existant.
Your example is like comparing apples & oranges.
Congratulations
Soldato
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It's just a bunch of technophobic old busy bodies banging on because they can't relate to video gaming.
There is little to no evidence that video games are responsible for people going out and commiting violent crimes.
There is little to no evidence that video games are responsible for people going out and commiting violent crimes.
There is a subtle difference between a child watching a movie rated 18 and a child playing an 18 rated videogame.
The movie is passive. Thus the child might see some graphic scenes but they are a third party to them.
When playing a first person shooter or even 3rd person like GTA you are not passive the choice as to wether you beat up or kill someone is in your hands.
Do you see the difference?
In the movies you don't choose who dies but in the games you do.
There is an arguement about the psycological difference between someone say 16 and someone 18 but the laws are what they are at the moment and that's a different issue.
However my son is 2 and I already know that it will be almost impossible to stop him having access to violent games in the future. (Imagine how sophisticated phones will be in 10 years and how easily accessible the web will be how can we hope to control access.
The movie is passive. Thus the child might see some graphic scenes but they are a third party to them.
When playing a first person shooter or even 3rd person like GTA you are not passive the choice as to wether you beat up or kill someone is in your hands.
Do you see the difference?
In the movies you don't choose who dies but in the games you do.
There is an arguement about the psycological difference between someone say 16 and someone 18 but the laws are what they are at the moment and that's a different issue.
However my son is 2 and I already know that it will be almost impossible to stop him having access to violent games in the future. (Imagine how sophisticated phones will be in 10 years and how easily accessible the web will be how can we hope to control access.
When i worked for a high street game shop i was told to warn parents what the games actually involved if i was under the impression that they were buying for a child,
Once a parent was buying gta with a 5-6 year old kid at her side, so i went into the fact that it contained racism/drugs/prostitution/violence/offensive language, and she said "oh it's ok, he sees worse in the playground"
What the hell is happening in schools nowadays?
Once a parent was buying gta with a 5-6 year old kid at her side, so i went into the fact that it contained racism/drugs/prostitution/violence/offensive language, and she said "oh it's ok, he sees worse in the playground"
What the hell is happening in schools nowadays?
It's quite amazing how many people in these threads are experts on what can or cannot effect a young persons mind.
There are experts out there, there are people who have spent the last 6-8 years learning about all of this yet their expert opinions are dismissed with a simple "We all know games don't effect young people" statement.
You are quite correct, just because a child plays a violent computer game doesn't mean they will go out and commit crime.
If that was the case then all kids would be running around killing each other.
However a childs mind is much more likely to be influenced than an adults and that is one of the reasons for the official ratings on certain games.
As an adult if you happened to be in the same room as somebody who was stabbed you'd probably be shocked, but you would get over it.
A child in that same room is probably going to be traumatised for life.
Viloent movies and games do effect children and adults in different ways.
I can say now that there will be little chance of my kids getting hold of 18 rated films/games before the age of around 14-15.
Firstly I as a responsible adult (unlike many) will not be buying such stuff for my kids - once they are 18 they are legally adult and can do as they please.
Before 14 their online life will be supervised - as I said, I'm a responsible adult so I realise that the computer won't just be some way of keeping the kids quiet.
It isn't the software houses at fault here it is the irresponsible parents who actually go out and buy 18 rated games for their kids.
However to dismiss all of the research out there with a simple "It's stupid putting age limits on this kind of thing" is equally irresponsible.
There are experts out there, there are people who have spent the last 6-8 years learning about all of this yet their expert opinions are dismissed with a simple "We all know games don't effect young people" statement.
You are quite correct, just because a child plays a violent computer game doesn't mean they will go out and commit crime.
If that was the case then all kids would be running around killing each other.
However a childs mind is much more likely to be influenced than an adults and that is one of the reasons for the official ratings on certain games.
As an adult if you happened to be in the same room as somebody who was stabbed you'd probably be shocked, but you would get over it.
A child in that same room is probably going to be traumatised for life.
Viloent movies and games do effect children and adults in different ways.
I can say now that there will be little chance of my kids getting hold of 18 rated films/games before the age of around 14-15.
Firstly I as a responsible adult (unlike many) will not be buying such stuff for my kids - once they are 18 they are legally adult and can do as they please.
Before 14 their online life will be supervised - as I said, I'm a responsible adult so I realise that the computer won't just be some way of keeping the kids quiet.
It isn't the software houses at fault here it is the irresponsible parents who actually go out and buy 18 rated games for their kids.
However to dismiss all of the research out there with a simple "It's stupid putting age limits on this kind of thing" is equally irresponsible.
what difference does it make who buys it when the rules dont apply to wathcing it?
i.e. get an 18, and if youwatch it at home, would you tell your 16year old not to?
same with the games really, they end up buying them online with the parents card and play, or they get it as a gift
i.e. get an 18, and if youwatch it at home, would you tell your 16year old not to?
same with the games really, they end up buying them online with the parents card and play, or they get it as a gift
Instead of sounding off how kids will see this stuff anyway and abdicating responsibility, how about we all take it upon ourselves to remove / prevent possession by youngsters? .... radical, I know but kids lose their innocence/grow up far too early nowadays.
Parents shouldn't buy it for underage kids, shops shouldn't sell to underage kids and older kids should not lend/copy the stuff for underage kids.
As I've said before about other matters, it won't change unless action is taken; don't leave it up to someone else; if it is patently wrong/illegal, do something about it!
....... and ... breathe .....
Parents shouldn't buy it for underage kids, shops shouldn't sell to underage kids and older kids should not lend/copy the stuff for underage kids.
As I've said before about other matters, it won't change unless action is taken; don't leave it up to someone else; if it is patently wrong/illegal, do something about it!
....... and ... breathe .....
will you also patrol what your kids get upto in their friends house?
Grill their parents, inspect your kids mates' video and game collection before allowing them to go visit?
I commend what you are doing but kids will be kids and the taboo will always interest them.
Grill their parents, inspect your kids mates' video and game collection before allowing them to go visit?
I commend what you are doing but kids will be kids and the taboo will always interest them.
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am I mistaking in saying that the ratings group is not a legal obligation only a recomendation.
in terms of video games
in terms of video games
I do think these rules should be enforced. Even if the reason for them is flawed (not saying it is, I'm not a psychologist, I don't know), games should be held to the same standards as comparable media, eg. films.
Having legally enforced age ratings gives developers a bit more freedom. If they make an extreme game with an 18 certificate, they can't be blamed if some kid does something bad after playing it. They made the game for adults, and it's not their fault if shops don't check their age, or if an irresponsible parent buys it for their kid. I just wish the USA would have a similar system to the BBFC rather that just having a de facto enforced system (self regulating retailers).
Having legally enforced age ratings gives developers a bit more freedom. If they make an extreme game with an 18 certificate, they can't be blamed if some kid does something bad after playing it. They made the game for adults, and it's not their fault if shops don't check their age, or if an irresponsible parent buys it for their kid. I just wish the USA would have a similar system to the BBFC rather that just having a de facto enforced system (self regulating retailers).
Yes and no. We have two rating systems PEGI and BBFC. The PEGI rating is only a recommendation where as the BBFC rating is the same as films and is a legal obligation. Not all games have a BBFC rating but more and more do these days (Guitar Hero 2 has a BBFC PG rating for some reason).
I think its great when parents etc say it terrible that there children can go out and buy a 18 or 16 rated game when they are only 12/14 years of age.
And more than likly when the kid was younger the parent was letting them watch Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV at an even younger age like 6 or what ever age you are when you watch that type of TV program . Surley them shows should carry some kind of warning especailly with something like Power Rangers where there is 6 or so people battering the hell out of a load of other people. Surly thats just as bad as a 14 year old playing GTA. In TMNT there are giant mutant turtles running round with nunchucks and swords battering people to me that pretty violent especially for a kid aged 6 or what ever.
And more than likly when the kid was younger the parent was letting them watch Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV at an even younger age like 6 or what ever age you are when you watch that type of TV program . Surley them shows should carry some kind of warning especailly with something like Power Rangers where there is 6 or so people battering the hell out of a load of other people. Surly thats just as bad as a 14 year old playing GTA. In TMNT there are giant mutant turtles running round with nunchucks and swords battering people to me that pretty violent especially for a kid aged 6 or what ever.
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One of the most ignorant statements I have read in a long time
I work with kids/youth nearly every day of the week and can assure you that they certainly are influenced by videos, games, music ...etc
Soldato
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One of the most ignorant statements I have read in a long time
I work with kids/youth nearly every day of the week and can assure you that they certainly are influenced by videos, games, music ...etc
If you have evidence then post it and please explain why we only have guidelines?
Or just in your opinion like your personal view of me being ignorant?
I don't think experts have really come to a conclusion yet about how games affect children. People always say that because they are in control it must be worse. But is that really true? It's a bit of a double edged sword. In a film you could become desensitised because you have no control over who gets killed. You might think that person shouldn't die but you can't do anything about it. Games usually encourage the player to think about their actions, and it's very rare in games that players are encouraged to kill completely innocent people. And when they can they pretty much always have a choice of whether or not to kill that person. You can still progress in the game if you don't. I've even had a pang of conscience when playing Postal 2 and that's one of the most extremely violent games out there.