6 yr old playing Grand theft auto

[peppajay]

AIBU to think a 6 yr old shouldn't be playing Grand theft auto??

My son has come home from school the last few days saying swear words not in an aggressive way just in the middle of a random sentence. I didn't want to make to much of a fuss about it so just asked him he knew those words from and he said that 'xxxx has been saying it at school' it is on his new x box game.

His mother is a little eccentric and extremely loud but nice enough and I speak to her sometimes at the school gate and at she requested me as a FB friend so I accepted. I logged on this morning and she is bragging about how far xxxxx has got on it and that he was up till 1am last night as she couldn't get him off it. I am completely and totally shocked that any parent would allow a 6 yr old to play this. She has had mixed comments probably more than half saying their kids love it and saying the same as her and others completely against the fact that he is on an 18 game. She says as long as he good at school he has no rules at home, normally I would let it go, each to their own but I don't want her irresponsible (imo) parenting to rub off on my son. AIBU???

[MurderOfGoths]

phantom They nicked his phone & wallet too, so don't know that it was expressly to steal GTA. Seems a little unlikely.

[Pinupgirl]

Its a game-I cant get my knickers in a twist over it. I would be more judgy about the fact her child was up so late on a school night. My lot get to play pc/xbox/play station on weekends only and for 2 hours max.

My dh is currently playing Gta-bought with his birthday money-he has muted the sound after I pointed out I wouldn't really want toddler repeating some of the more choice words.

[anon2013]

6 years old is crazy for someone to play GTA. I'd trust my DS or DD with it if they were 16+ as long as they weren't playing into the small hours and it didn't interfere with school work.

[phantomnamechanger]

some people do genuinely think it is about "cleverness" of their kid playing it, rather than content.

not that long ago a yr2 kid at our school hacked his mums password to access some kind of pay as you play games online - and ran up a debt.

His punishment? Face all over the bloomin local rag and local teatime news - "tee hee silly us, what a clever boy we have" ! [sceptical]

[anon2013]

everytime a game like this is released there's a story about a mugging. it's midnight in London I imagine muggings like that happen every day sadly.

[phantomnamechanger]

or even

[MurderOfGoths]

anon Quite.

[phantomnamechanger]

whether the muggers deliberately targeted the man because of the game, I do not know. But I bet they had played violent games of some sort.

[muddymarvellousdarling]

I won't let DS2 have GTA and he's 16.5 yr old.

I know a lot of his friends have it, but not in my house.
Half the sixth form were missing the day after it came out.

6 yrs is so young to be playing 18 games.

I would have a word with the teacher about the swearing.

[FreudiansSlipper]

no of course not

it is a vile game

[cantspel]

so anyone who plays gta or other violent games is a potential mugger?

[MurderOfGoths]

phantom Well obviously, because everyone knows violent games are the reason people get violent, that's why there was no violence pre-consoles...

[GirlOutNumbered]

phantomnamechanger - so whats the link?
I play violent video games, but I don't mug people or exhibit any violent behaviors!

[morethanpotatoprints]

No this is not good.
I was just about to say how difficult it can be to completely steer them away from it, but this is ridiculous.
My 22 and 18 yr old ds have it and have been told under no circumstances is dd 9 yr old allowed in the same room.
I went berserk last night as she sneaked in to see it, they hadn't noticed so she was there for a good 5 mins.
It is not for children and they shouldn't be subjected to it imo.
I have the game now and the ds can't have it until she's in bed.
I feel sorry for them as they are grown ups now and Mum is still controlling their gaming.

[anon2013]

Fact of the day. Nobody swore, robbed or murdered anyone before Space Invaders came out

[cantspel]

Most of the boys in my sons year 11 got the game on day of release. Not one of them has missed school to play it.

Missing school to play a game is more about the type of parent and their attitude to education rather than a game.

[GirlOutNumbered]

I also think all this 'everyone had the day off' is vastly exaggerated.

None of my 6th form were missing from lesson and I teach ICT/Computing. They were all gagging to get home though.....

[phantomnamechanger]

I'm NOT saying that all who play will become muggers! and yes I know its been done to death on here, but I do think in SOME cases, it does ADD to the desensitising about violence in general.

[Orangeanddemons]

Child protection issue

[Pinupgirl]

Child protection issue? ha ha ha

I must stop my dcs playing soldiers,indians,robbers,power rangers,ben 10,superman,spiderman because they are just too violent

[MyBoysAreFab]

YANBU. When DS1 was about 8 or 9 he had gone to a friends and came home saying he had played GTA. I was livid.

He is now nearly 14 and he won't be getting it until he is 18 and left home! And we do let ours watch and play all sorts of vaguely inappropriate

[MurderOfGoths]

pinupgirl If your kids play soldiers, indians etc in a similar way to GTA then I would stop them. But I presume their games look nothing like this..

In this open-world action game, players assume the role of three criminals whose storylines intersect within the fictional city of Los Santos. Players can switch between each character to follow his storyline, completing missions which often include criminal activities (e.g., stealing cars, executing heists, assassinating targets). Players use pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles, and explosives to kill various enemies (e.g., rival gang members); players also have the ability to shoot non-adversary civilians, though this may negatively affect players' progress as a penalty system triggers a broad police search. Blood-splatter effects occur frequently, and the game contains rare depictions of dismemberment. In one sequence, players are directed to use various instruments and means (e.g., pipe wrench, tooth removal, electrocution) to extract information from a character; the sequence is intense and prolonged, and it involves some player interaction (i.e., responding to on-screen prompts). The game includes depictions of sexual material/activity: implied fellatio and masturbation; various sex acts that the player's character procures from a prostitute—while no nudity is depicted in these sequences, various sexual moaning sounds can be heard. Nudity is present, however, primarily in two settings: a topless lap dance in a strip club and a location that includes male cult members with exposed genitalia in a non-sexual context. Within the game, TV programs and radio ads contain instances of mature humor: myriad sex jokes; depictions of raw sewage and feces on a worker's body; a brief instance of necrophilia (no nudity is depicted). Some sequences within the larger game allow players to use narcotics (e.g., smoking from a bong, lighting a marijuana joint); cocaine use is also depicted. Players' character can, at various times, consume alcohol and drive while under the influence. The words “f*k,” “cnt,” and “n**ger” can be heard in the dialogue.

[Pinupgirl]

Its a game-its not real. Kids who watch this are not going to out and start robbing cars or beating people up because its not real life. I presume none of your kids ever watch tv because some of the things you see in kids cartoons are very violent-tom and jerry anyone?

[MurderOfGoths]

No one apart from odd people are saying it will turn them violent. We are just saying that it's an adult game, suitable for adults and not kids. Tom & Jerry is more Super Mario, GTA is more Saw. Would you show children Saw?

[JCDenton]

Ever played GTA, Pinupgirl? Scarface would be a better analogue than Tom and Jerry.