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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to let DS1 (11) play Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty

103 replies

Preciousdaisybear · 27/09/2013 17:35

Argh. I am getting so much grief from DS1 about this. Apparently ALL his friends and classmates play these games and have started to make fun/tease him that he isn't allowed to. Having seen the content of this games, the violence and the language there is no way I think anyone under the age of 16 should have access and I can't believe that parents of children much younger than mine let their kids play. I want to protect him from being exposed to things he is too young to deal with - but at the same time don't want to alienate him from his peers. He is too well behaved and honest to sneak off to a chum's house and play it anyway. Any advice would be much welcomed. Confused

OP posts:
poppydoppy · 27/09/2013 17:37

Its age 16/ 18 for a reason. These games are not suitable for children.

Wuxiapian · 27/09/2013 17:44

YANBU.

Those type of games really disgust me. I wouldn't allow DS1, 15, to play them.

picnicbasketcase · 27/09/2013 17:45

I'm having the same problem. DS is also 11 and 'all' of his friends are allowed to play 18 rated games and he's apparently not 'cool' because he can't. I simply don't agree that children should be allowed to watch people's heads being blown off or prostitutes being beaten up. It seems I'm in a minority though Hmm

mrsjay · 27/09/2013 17:46

YANBU and the thing is most will be allowed to play , good for you though I am really strict on certificates my 2 are older than 11 but i had but they are allowed to watch play , GTA is not for children imo same with COD but i do think you can reduce settings on COD but still

thebody · 27/09/2013 17:47

agree but it's soooo bloody hard.

BackforGood · 27/09/2013 17:48

You don't want to believe "all my friends...." when it comes at the beginning of any sentence when your dc are trying to get you to let them do something.

Of courser they are not suitable - that's why they have age certification.

Original poster
Preciousdaisybear · 27/09/2013 18:03

Is it going too far to write a letter to school alerting them? It really irritates me that so many parents habe such an irresponsible attitude and that their lack of care makes ME the bad guy grrr

OP posts:
SadBadMadFat · 27/09/2013 18:05

so how come under 16s have access to these 'games'? and cant these kids be reported somewhere?

MrsDavidBowie · 27/09/2013 18:07

Ds 14 does not have GTA or COD. nor will he.
I am sure he has played at friends' houses. Not much I can do about that.

SadBadMadFat · 27/09/2013 18:07

posted too soon. DCs infant school reported watching a horror film with their parents. but don't know to whom they reported it to nor what the outcome was!

monicalewinski · 27/09/2013 18:14

I am in the same predicament, my eldest boy is 11 and ALL his friends play it. Like your son, mine is very honest and was making an excuse and coming home when his friends were playing it; he was honest with me and his friends do all have it so I have compromised - he is allowed to play it at their houses but he is not having/playing it in our house (as I also have an 8 yr old and he is far too young to be exposed to the content IMO).

By doing that, I think he will be more inclined to stay honest about what he's up to (I hope!). That is for Call of Duty though, I have told him absolute no to Grand Theft Auto and he seems to be honouring that so far.

verytellytubby · 27/09/2013 18:21

I'm a really relaxed parent but absolutely no way would my 11 year old play those games.

Talkinpeace · 27/09/2013 18:21

DS (13) has just bought GTA. He was playing it last night in the family room where I could look across and see. I made him turn the volume down (so my clients were not too freaked)
he was on the 'free play' part and TBH it did not bother me too much.

It was tres stylised. The baddies are people, rather than monsters as in Lego Star Wars, Halo etc etc ad infinitum and it has more wryness than I was expecting.
He was mainly driving cars along freeways - being a car mad boy.

PS All my friends have it is always utter bilge.
I got that line and asked for the home phone numbers of the other Mums to check.
There were three, one of whom I already am aware of Biscuit and two who have older siblings in the house

CommanderShepard · 27/09/2013 18:24

How did a 13 year old buy an age restricted product?

Leviticus · 27/09/2013 18:25

Talkinpeace have you seen the lap dancing scene?

Talkinpeace · 27/09/2013 18:28

Commander Amazon account.

Leviticus No, and nor do I plan to. DH will usually be playing with him. They can choose not to enter scenarios. Same as they can choose not to walk in the door of the real lap dancing club down in town.

CommanderShepard · 27/09/2013 18:43

For future reference it's illegal to buy videogames for underage children, whether online or in person. I bought it for DH from Amazon and it made it quite clear.

nonmifairidere · 27/09/2013 18:52

I'm with Wuxiapian, in fact, I would never have this corrosive bilge in my home. I am at a loss as to why misogeny and extreme violence are acceptable components of home entertainment for adults, let alone children.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/09/2013 18:52

I don't think a 13 yo can choose to walk in the door of a lap-dancing club.

Bowlersarm · 27/09/2013 18:54

Of course YANBU.

Do you really think anyone is going to say to you that you are unreasonable?

What are you expecting people to advise?

Talkinpeace · 27/09/2013 19:03

Out of interest, all of you who say you will not have it in the house.
On what empirical basis have you made that judgement?
Have you seen it played?

I will not have CoD in the house - we borrowed a copy for DH and handed it back and will not buy it. Both DH and DS said it was just nasty.
At the moment they are merrily treating GTA as a version of "Need for Speed" - with much giggling.

mysticminstrel · 27/09/2013 19:04

Urk, YANBU.

A Mum at DD's primary school was saying today that she hoped GTA5 arrives in time for her DS' SEVENTH birthday.

Yeah I judged. Big time.

uselessinformation · 27/09/2013 19:04

The parents buy the games for their children is the answer to the people asking how they got them. I will not allow ds (15) to have GTA and he doesn't even bother asking for it now. I did buy him COD but he plays it on our only tv in the lounge with me there and he isn't obsessed by it. I think it is suitable for him to play. He plays FIFA more.

SadBadMadFat · 27/09/2013 19:09

mystic Id tell the school or someone about that. that's disgraceful.

uselessinformation · 27/09/2013 19:09

Talkinpeace I've just seem you think COD is nasty. Funny how opinions differ. I don't think it's nasty and see it more on a parr with war films. On the other hand, I do think the content of GTA is nasty.

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