Parents buying underage kids rated M games?

[RiceBunny]

To be honest I don't agree with it most of the time. I remember I wasn't allowed to use the computer until I was 15 and even then it was monitored. It's important to make sure kids/teens(specially) have the least amount of distractions possible. My mom made sure I was plenty busy and barely had any time to play games. I'm grateful for that, as I don't think I would be where I am now in life.

 

[CR33P]

To be honest I don't agree with it most of the time. I remember I wasn't allowed to use the computer until I was 15 and even then it was monitored. It's important to make sure kids/teens(specially) have the least amount of distractions possible. My mom made sure I was plenty busy and barely had any time to play games. I'm grateful for that, as I don't think I would be where I am now in life.

where are you now?

 

[Marisol]

If you can handle it, play it. If you can't, don't play it.

I agree with this completely. It just depends on the kid and whether or not they can handle the content in the game.

 

[Stevey Queen]

where are you now?

On the bell tree forums playing animal crossing and based off her signature playing mario as well

 

[Amissapanda]

Bad parenting, in my opinion. End of story. I don't care what sort of excuse they come up with, but there is no reason to purposely expose your kids to that kind of thing so early in life. The games are rated for a reason. That said, these are often the same parents that then blame the video games when their children do something bad/against the law.

It has nothing to do with 'running your own life' or 'making your own choices'. It has to do with the influential power of media and that parents should know better than to let their children play/experience such explicit themes and games. This is the same reason you can't get into a NC-17 movie if you're underage. Are you really going to march up to them and plead that you should be able to 'make your own choices', too?

 

[baileyanne94]

This goes for anything, but parents need to teach their children the difference between real-life and fantasy. I think if the kid understands that things that may happen in certain games are not acceptable in real life, it may be ok in some cases. I don't think they need to, and many kids will wanna play those games because their friends/classmates are. There are kids who are mature enough (in a way) to play a game like that, but again, they don't need to be playing something with violence and/or sex. I don't think it's guaranteed to turn your kid into a sociopath or anything, but children these days are already exposed to so much way too early.
As has been said, games have ratings for a reason.
You can't blame video games for poor/violent behavior. You just can't. Who allowed the kid to get ahold of the game(s) in the first place?

 

[Jaebeommie]

My first video game was Metal Gear Solid. When I wasn't even a teenager.
You don't see me having homicidal tendencies or swearing every other sentence.
My parents raised me well enough to have a good sense of judgement and to be able to tell between right and wrong. And I knew the game was just a game.
If a kid's mature enough to handle something, I say let them.

Funny story though. I was with my parents when I was buying Watch Dogs for my brother's birthday and the employee was like, "This game has violence and bad language. Are you okay with her playing this game?"
Dude I'm 20. Chill.

 

[Locket]

I think it really depends on the child.

I mean over in the U.S., you sometimes hear some parents complaining that video games are linked to their child's violent temper or cause of a child shooting something or someone.
I disagree with that though.

I think that if the child has a clear depiction between what's reality and fantasy or virtual, not to mention the parent feels the child is mature enough to realize the fictitious implications the video game holds, then let them play it.

If they can't do that, then they shouldn't play the game.

Just my opinion though.

Exactly. My four year old brother never played games with blood. And he has ODD.

 

[MozzarellaSticks]

My parents used to. I think kids can separate reality and fiction. But this is a case to case bases. Parents should be aware of their children and their level of understanding.

I also think it's wrong that we give things a lower rating when they take the gore away. I think it's more problematic to show kids violence without consequence than violence with consequence, the consequence in this case being the gore. I think that does more to desensitize, and it's wrong those games get lower ratings.

I'm also against sex and nudity being mature. I think it gives kids an unhealthy image as they learn that it's not okay to talk about, and they get this goreless violence at a young age. So kids learn violence without consequence but that the human body is taboo.

Tldr, I think we need to reevaluate the rating system

 

[Cariad]

My parents give them to me and I'm a perfectly healthy girl so I don't see the big deal

 

[Zanessa]

I mean as long as they're a good kid, I don't really care.

 

[DeadJo]

When I was 8 years old, I was mature enough for rated R movies and M games. I also know 13 year olds who can't handle either. It really depends on the kid and if they're ready for it.

 

[Mayorofarcadia]

I never played high rated games as a kid but I saw scary R rated movies when I was young. >< my brother (who was 16) managed to rent a few R rated scary movies. omfg I didn't sleepy for a week..

 

[Brackets]

I played games like half life and doom (so pretty gruesome killing games) with my dad since I was about 5. I loved them, and didn't turn out violent. As long as the kid can handle it and realise that real life shouldn't be like that, then why the hell not

 

[Pokemanz]

If they're looking to have fun and just play a game, I don't have a problem with it. When they start imitating the behavior on the game, that's when it becomes a problem.

These games are rated M so you know they are made to be played by "mature" audiences. Mature audiences know what stuff is real, what stuff is fake, and that they shouldn't act that way in real life.

Some children are mature enough to handle these games and should be able to play them, but others should not.

 

[Reindeer]

and people really need to stop blaming games and whatever else for peoples' attitudes. it may contribute, but it is nowhere NEAR the sole reason people become violent or vulgar or whatever else have you. as someone else mentioned, that would ESPECIALLY be contributed to by parenting, as well as core personality, among other things.

But it's so much easier to blame video games than to take responsibility for your own bad parenting or your crappy school system.

 

[Trickilicky]

I have two kids, and I don't let them play/watch anything that I don't think is suitable, so I do tend to stick to the ratings guidelines. I guess when you're a parent, you kind of have to do what you feel is right, and I personally feel like my daughters have plenty of time in the future to play more mature games, but right now they're kids, and they're in no rush to grow up. The only consoles we have in the house are two 3DS's, and gaming isn't something they have a huge interest in anyway.
All I can say is, I don't judge how other parents raise their children, every household is different! What works for some kids, doesn't work for others.

 

[Leela]

I've played GTA V. I'm 10. I've played Call of Duty. All I know is my cousins force me too play.

What did they say? "Play Call of Duty and GTA V or we'll beat you up"? lol

 

[Murray]

If they're looking to have fun and just play a game, I don't have a problem with it. When they start imitating the behavior on the game, that's when it becomes a problem.

These games are rated M so you know they are made to be played by "mature" audiences. Mature audiences know what stuff is real, what stuff is fake, and that they shouldn't act that way in real life.

Some children are mature enough to handle these games and should be able to play them, but others should not.

this is why games have ratings to discourage the training of murderers and psychopaths

 

[RhinoK]

I played GTA II when I was like 4 like yay!!!!

I just thought it was cool riding the cars and I didn't play it alone