Kids and over 15+ Games

[BeckTheMayor]

~ This is a rant about 15+ Games~

Now, in my general area. I have seen 7-14 talking about 'Call Of Duty' and other 15+ games. And worse, i've walked into Gamestop to buy my games and I see about a 7 year old buying Call Of Duty. Hello? Parents, do you realise what your kids are playing? I've seen little kids running around trying to shoot people with their toy guns in Tesco! And being rude. And the teenagers, they are like drones to that game. "Hey dude, i'm going in at 12 a.m. to buy the new COD!" On a school night. It's madness!!
I don't play COD myself, I find it boring. But seeing my brother play it 24/7 and falling asleep on the console worries me...
Please parents and other people who care about our childern's minds, Don't buy them COD if they are not 15+

(Sorry for being so dramatic, had to get it off my chest.)

 

[Officer Berri]

You know, some children are fully capable of handling games of higher age ratings. The only games I didn't ever play as a child were Adult rated games, of which I've never seen many of. When I was eight years old, I sat with my cousin and watched him play Metal Gear Solid. Not an FPS but had just as much gun violence and plenty of blood. I played GTA growing up as well. And no one plays GTA to do much of anything but run people over with cars. Guess what? I grew up a perfectly normal individual. Didn't get into trouble that often, did very well in school.. so yeah.

And the behavior you described is... pretty dang common for children and teens. Soooo... are you blaming games for that or what?

It sounds less like you're showing concern for what these children are doing and playing and more like you're just upset that they're not behaving in a way you believe younger people are supposed to act. Video games don't have that big of an effect on a kid's mental health. Don't worry about it so much.

 

[Leanne]

I don't usually play those kind of games, but I see nothing wrong with people below their target age playing them. Studies have shown time and again that videogames do not turn people violent. It looks like the ratings in videogames before were much more lenient (like the original OoT being rated E, despite the fact you can find torture chambers, blood, torture devices, and other similar things in other places...). I played that game with my brothers when I was little (when I was 6...) and I have never been permanently traumatized by what I saw.

People can really play what they want. Things like addiction to videogames, excessive cursing when playing, aren't really side effects of said videogames ^^;

 

[idiotcurl]

I don't believe in the whole "video games make kids violent" thing but I just don't think they should be playing games like COD and stuff. To me, these kinds of games don't really stimulate the imagination like some more "childish" games do, and kids really should be exposed to stuff that helps their imagination. Perhaps even get off the game and play with their toys or draw once in a while.

 

[Aloha]

Kids are growing up to fast these days.You can't really stop it.Look at back then,the 1950s.People were so modest and didn't try to do bad things,or they weren't that badly influenced.But these days kids talking about the birds and the bees and violence.That's my opinion anyways.But I'm sure that the 7 year old's parents would know about him buying COD because if he did buy it,he would need his parents to buy it for him because hes way too young.Kids will be kids o 3 o

 

[Bones]

You know, some children are fully capable of handling games of higher age ratings. The only games I didn't ever play as a child were Adult rated games, of which I've never seen many of. When I was eight years old, I sat with my cousin and watched him play Metal Gear Solid. Not an FPS but had just as much gun violence and plenty of blood. I played GTA growing up as well. And no one plays GTA to do much of anything but run people over with cars. Guess what? I grew up a perfectly normal individual. Didn't get into trouble that often, did very well in school.. so yeah.

And the behavior you described is... pretty dang common for children and teens. Soooo... are you blaming games for that or what?

It sounds less like you're showing concern for what these children are doing and playing and more like you're just upset that they're not behaving in a way you believe younger people are supposed to act. Video games don't have that big of an effect on a kid's mental health. Don't worry about it so much.

^

Video games don't turn kids into little monsters. Their parents, culture and environment do. It's basic psychology. (which is why I wish it was mandatory for people to take in school..)

People just like to blame it on video games because they are an outlet for bad behavior in kids. Claiming otherwise is like saying that an artist's tools are what give them their abilities; yeah.. no. If an artist has skill, then they have skill; what tools they use to portray their skills are irrelevant. Same with kids and a crappy attitude; doesn't matter what outlet they're using. If a kid is a jerk, a kid will be a jerk no matter what toys they play with, what movies they watch, etc.

The only negative thing about violent video games is the potential to psychologically scar a child. But it's very rare and usually only happens in children that are sensitive to begin with, and that still only causes trauma; not violent or otherwise crappy behavior.

 

[kittenrobotarmy]

I agree with this. Yes, it doesn't influence bad behavior, but it can certainly influence the way they think and talk. All the violence in the games can drive younger kids to think that killing people is okay because "it's in the video game". Besides, there's a lot of harsh language in COD and other shooters that probably will add to the child's vocabulary because they are young and don't know a whole ton better. If I have kids, I'm definitely keeping them away from shooters.

 

[chillv]

Well, I don't believe that games like that send negative messages or influence people (I said people in general here) in any way. In fact, I never feel that anything influences anyone once they have been taught by their parents. I feel when someone does something bad because they see it on tv or see someone else doing it yet their parents urged them not to do it, they are a bad influence on themselves because they are the ones who thought "Oh, maybe it's not so bad" or "Maybe I could try it just this one time".

Anyway, I feel these games are completely okay if they have been taught well by their parents and they know the difference between reality and the video game world. However, I do feel that there are some games that children should just wait until they are older to play *cough*those ones with the "you know what" and "you know what" in them*cough* but COD... I don't feel that those games are one of them.

 

[BellGreen]

ESRB is not a guide that every parent will follow. It's up to the parents to truly decide which games to buy for their children. I'm fine with shooting games, they aren't that gory in my opinion. Maybe if there was a blood off option it would be better.

 

[Stevey Queen]

I don't think COD is that bad. I think they can handle it. I don't really believe too much in the age restriction. If you don't think your child can handle playing video games without becoming violent or get nightmares or whatever, well then maybe he shouldn't be playing video games at all.

 

[demoness]

You can make it a teaching opportunity and communicate to the child what is appropriate behavior and what isn't. Shielding children from things rather than explaining things makes them that much more curious. The only kids that would impress on a violent video game are children with undiagnosed psychological or developmental disorders or children with no healthy parental guidance, although some kids can and will understand on their own.

Edit: I posted this without checking recent posts. This was originally in response to Kippla's first post.

 

[kittenrobotarmy]

So, 7 year olds should be playing something meant for 17+, like Red Faction? That's seriously not good.

 

[BellGreen]

So, 7 year olds should be playing something meant for 17+, like Red Faction? That's seriously not good.

Was that a joke? If kids want to buy an M game they need a parent with them o.o

 

[kittenrobotarmy]

No, not really. I do know they need a parent, but parents shouldn't be letting young kids around such content.

 

[chillv]

No, not really. I do know they need a parent, but parents shouldn't be letting young kids around such content.

I personally feel that it depends on the content. If it doesn't have "it starts with a s and ends with an x" and "it starts with a d and ends with a g" and there is no or little swearing, I believe it's okay. Blood and violence in video games can be handled by children in my opinion. (IN MY OPINION! YOU ARE FREE TO DISAGREE WITH ME)

 

[kittenrobotarmy]

By the time most kids are around my age {11}, they can handle COD, most likely. But anyone under the age of 9 shouldn't be playing shooters, unless it's Fat Princess, where there's no swearing and you can turn off the blood.

 

[Officer Berri]

Swear words are just words. A child isn't going to have their poor little mind shattered because they heard the f word in a game. Odds are they heard it from mommy and daddy before. Turning off blood doesn't really make anything less violent. You're still slicing/shooting off a dude's head, blood fountain or no blood fountain.

Again, not all kids are going to react the same to a game, and not all kids are the same level of 'mature' when it comes to handling situations. Just because a kid plays a game with violence in it, it does not mean that kid is going to become violent. Odds are, a violent kid was violent before he played a video game. You're more likely to find a kid who plays violent, bloody video games because they're a violent person already before you'd find someone who became violent by playing video games. Not all people who play violent video games are violent people. Next to no one who plays violent video games becomes a violent person. If they do, it's likely because they had undiagnosed issues they should have seen a doctor for, or already had issues and should have had an eye kept on them regardless of how old they are.

If my children show they're perfectly capable of playing video games of ratings higher than their age range, you bet your butt I'm gonna let them play it if they want to. Responsible children do not become irresponsible because of video games. They become that way because of their parents behavior, how they are raised, and the environment they grow up in.

 

[Bubble Pop]

My nephew has been playing things like Just Cause from the age of 9 and he loves playing it, he also loves playing Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart and Animal Crossing New Leaf.

Some of the kids he's friends with play things like Mortal Kombat etc which are much worse in my eyes and my sister doesn't want him playing games with that level of violence which I agree with. A lot of times though the friend has older siblings who play these games and they join in.

 

[XTheLancerX]

Oh gosh, these kinds of things make me very irritated. Pretty much, to sum it up, you are saying videogames destroy people's minds and makes them violent. Ever heard of cops and robbers? Kids have played those games forever, and they involve (Pardon my violent language) shooting guns. I have also heard people say that it "Desensitizes kids to death. All they think of when someone gets killed is being rewarded with points." Completely untrue. If you stuck the average teen or even a child below the age of 11 playing CoD or any other violent games, in the middle of a mass shooting with people being killed, I don't think they would be "Ooooh gunssss.... It's so cool! That guy has so many points!!! I want to get more points than him!!!". I bet 99.9% of the people would be screaming, balling their eyes out, and running for their lives. NOT being amazed by the bullets whizzing by and all of their so called "points" being rewarded. I started playing CoD when I was 10 and I do not find a constant interest in shooting guns. In fact, my dad has taken my family shooting before, and he asked if I wanted to target shoot and I really didn't have a desire to. I have since, lost interest in war games, and a lot of violent games in general, but not all. There are of course, some kids who should probably wait before playing violent games, because some kids have a higher capacity for this material and others don't. Even if they can't handle it as well, they will still be terrified if a mass shooting started happening around them. They just might obsess over the game more, maybe pretend to shoot more, or have a stronger desire to shoot a gun, but it won't make them want to kill someone intentionally for "points".

On a side note, when people get mad because someone was playing videogames for several hours (Doesn't even have to be violent ones) everyone gets all like "You are going to melt your brain", but NOBODY bats an eye at when someone sits on their butt for 1 and a half to 3 hours watching a movie. Sometimes several of movies mixed with other shows.

Oh, and by the way, I am 13, and I am among the highest scoring kids in my grade, and have always just been that way. So, obviously, video games haven't "Melted my brain". I do hate to say this, but during the summer, that is one of the primary things I do. Play video games. Hours and hours everyday. I once played a game for 11 hours straight. Still have close to the highest GPA in my entire grade. Brain is still intact, if I do say so myself.

 

[chillv]

Oh gosh, these kinds of things make me very irritated. Pretty much, to sum it up, you are saying videogames destroy people's minds and makes them violent. Ever heard of cops and robbers? Kids have played those games forever, and they involve (Pardon my violent language) shooting guns. I have also heard people say that it "Desensitizes kids to death. All they think of when someone gets killed is being rewarded with points." Completely untrue. If you stuck the average teen or even a child below the age of 11 playing CoD or any other violent games, in the middle of a mass shooting with people being killed, I don't think they would be "Ooooh gunssss.... It's so cool! That guy has so many points!!! I want to get more points than him!!!". I bet 99.9% of the people would be screaming, balling their eyes out, and running for their lives. NOT being amazed by the bullets whizzing by and all of their so called "points" being rewarded. I started playing CoD when I was 10 and I do not find a constant interest in shooting guns. In fact, my dad has taken my family shooting before, and he asked if I wanted to target shoot and I really didn't have a desire to. I have since, lost interest in war games, and a lot of violent games in general, but not all. There are of course, some kids who should probably wait before playing violent games, because some kids have a higher capacity for this material and others don't. Even if they can't handle it as well, they will still be terrified if a mass shooting started happening around them. They just might obsess over the game more, maybe pretend to shoot more, or have a stronger desire to shoot a gun, but it won't make them want to kill someone intentionally for "points".

On a side note, when people get mad because someone was playing videogames for several hours (Doesn't even have to be violent ones) everyone gets all like "You are going to melt your brain", but NOBODY bats an eye at when someone sits on their butt for 1 and a half to 3 hours watching a movie. Sometimes several of movies mixed with other shows.

Oh, and by the way, I am 13, and I am among the highest scoring kids in my grade, and have always just been that way. So, obviously, video games haven't "Melted my brain". I do hate to say this, but during the summer, that is one of the primary things I do. Play video games. Hours and hours everyday. I once played a game for 11 hours straight. Still have close to the highest GPA in my entire grade. Brain is still intact, if I do say so myself.

I agree and can relate to this guy