To be amazed at average parental stance on 18 video games?

[superstarheartbreaker]

I was on a thread about Call of Duty whereby a 12 year old wanted it. The parent didn't want to get it as it is an 18.
The parent was told that they should get it as everyone is playing it and video games don't cause violence. Aibu to believe that this is not the flipping point?
I think the point it that it normalises violence. Also it encourages teens to so end hours gaming rather than doing genuinely active sports. Also it is an 18 therefore 12 year olds are too young.
The pressure exists from kids only because other patents allow this. Get firm people!

I love gaming, and the GTA series is probably my favourite series of all time. Definitely not suitable for children, and if I had kids, I probably wouldn't let them play it until they were 18.

I have sporty kids who play games. Perhaps they got it from me. I love going for a great long run then coming home and playing some game or another for a few hours - bliss.

Also, it's a great way for me to have fun with my 20 and 22 year old sons. They aren't going to come out for afternoon tea and a spot of shopping with me. . So a bit of gaming works wonders. I'm not up to speed on a lot of games but give me Marioparty etc and am on it.

I was to find my 8 year old had briefly played GTA at a new friends house, apparently "with the sound off so they didn't hear the swearing and were just driving the cars round" the dad told my DH as he was also when picking him up. Needless to say DS won't be going there again. Thankfully ds was unimpressed and is more than happy with minecraft and fifa (and for the record is also very sporty).

There are a couple of boys in his class who have played GTA and Cod apparently and one that watches horror movies too. Again ds won't be going to their houses to play, I can't trust the judgement of someone who thinks it's ok for such young children to play these games.

Some parents don't have any sense is my answer OP
Neither of my lads had it until they were 16/17, I don't care what other parents do tbh and don't get involved with peer pressure.
I believe in standing firm in my belief and values.

YANBU. GTA is not a game me and DP would give to our DCs, under the age of at least 16. I don't have to have to explain prostitutes and drugs to an 11 y/o
I've never taken notice of the ratings, i've been watching violent films since I was young. I've been playing violent games such as resident evil since I was 6 and I have turned out fine. We used to all sit on front of the gamecube, my dad playing the game, mum doing the puzzles & me watching. It was ace and I miss it. There are some games I wouldn't give to a child under the age of 15 or 16, and those are COD amd GTA. I first got COD at 15, and I'm fine.

Grown up dd was playing a zombie game it was bloody scary I had to leave the room if children are playing something like that I do not see how that is different from letting them watch a horror film

CoD I'd allow at 12, GTA not till 16/17 unless you've played the games yourself you can't judge them. Like I allow my dd (4) to watch some 12/12As but definitely not all of them.

I wouldn't let a 12 yr old watch an 18 film so I wouldn't let them play an 18 game, even though I'm in no position to 'check' a game as I wouldn't know how to play it.
I might let a 12 yr old watch a 15 film if I'd watched it and decided the reason for it's rating was something I didn't feel strongly about - say nudity.

I would probably let a 16yr old watch an 18 as I think that 16yr olds are almost adults given what they are allowed to do (join the army, marry) but I wouldn't be responsible for procuring it for them.

Why is blowing somebody's head off acceptable and sex and murder not

I would no more let an 11 yr old (or any age below at least 16) play an 18+ video game than I would let them watch an 18 rated film. People who do are fools imo. Or maybe they are misled by the word "game".

And I fully agree with you OP re these games replacing genuine activity. I fear for our young people.

I agree with you Rhonda but you can buy cheap games that aren't rated 18.

YANBU OP - I was really shocked (and disappointed) that my sister asked for it for my nephew's 13th birthday present last year :(

sorry by it, I mean COD.

I really need to go back to bed today - my brain is mush

I am passed the stage of policing dc viewing and playing it wasn't easy though it was very much so n so can play or watch this or that but I think not buckling to peer pressure is important

My DP and I are both gamers and some of them I would allow a child to play. COD is really just a shooter game so I probably wouldn't bother about a 12/13/14 year old playing. GTA is as violent as you want it to be, that's down to the game player. Others can be a bit bloody, like the Assassins Creed games, which I wouldn't say was appropriate for a child.

I don't understand the mentality that pigeonholes a teenager into a box, be that sporty, gamer, musician etc. They're barely ever so one dimensional. My ds (13) is a gamer, he's also in a sports academy for one sport and is in an English youth programme for another sport. I can't say which as I'll out myself as one is unusual.

Granted he doesn't play 18 games but I thought I'd speak up for teenagers who like an Xbox or a PS occasionally, I really don't think they're set to ruin the world!

I have this problem OP.

It seems most parents of friends of my 10 and 12 year old let them watch/play 15 and 18 games.

DH and I don't give in though, and if the kids cry "it's unfair!" they get over it very quickly as there are plenty age appropriate games and films.

I guess I cannot police what they see or do at friends' houses.

Everyone who lets their kids play/watch these games says it does no harm. Well, does it any good though? "no harm" is not enough. Also, I am dubious about this.

Two boys in DS1 class (y7) who are spending most of their free time on these games, have gotten into trouble at school this term. The first one for threatening to rape a girl and saying he was going to torture her. The second for being violent and hurting other kids for no apparent reason (just deciding to take an "annoying" (SEN) kid out, for example). Both these kids are from families who let their kids watch/play whatever they like. One of them even has access to porn and tells the other boys all about it.

I am sure the games are not to blame. But I am also sure they don't help.

I feel other parents must do what they like, but I won't budge. It surprises me how many parents give in though.

Just to clarify I don't think SEN kids are annoying, it is what the boy said (DS friend was the one beaten up) when asked why he randomly attacked.

"There are plenty of awesome games under a 15 rating."

JainaProudmoore I'd love to know which these are - would you be kind and come back with some suggestions?

My teens play Garry's Mod and Minecraft mainly, with a fair smattering of Binding of Isaac. What else is good and not totally unsuitable, particularly for the ages 14-16/17?

There was a boy in Game yesterday buying Assassin's Creed. He looked about 10 and he bought it with his pocket money but his mum had to take it to the counter to pay for it. :(

I was shocked by how vile GTA is. I hadn't ever seen it until the other week when there was a thread about the lack of women in 'active' roles in gaming (that game in particular). IMO it is vile and I really can't understand adults playing it, but allowing a child to play it?! Irresponsible.

Gta has rape in it .. Say no more!

Won't be happening in this house.

DH and I were 80's kids, he grew up on a diet of Freddie and Jason films and yet there's no way in hell he'd let the kids play the likes of CoD and GTA. At 16 maybe, but my God it's depressing.

I know a (just turned) ten year old in ds1's class that has been playing them for a couple of years- his mother posts photos of him on fb each time he gets the newest version

I don't think it's the average parental stance at all, I think some threads just give a very skewed view of what 'everyone' thinks is ok.

I have three sons and have varying views on what's ok depending on which child and game I am talking about.
GTA is a no-no for all of them. Anything with an 18 certificate (ds1 got the new lord of the rings game) has to be kept in his room. If I see it downstairs it 'disappears'.
Ds2+3 are FIFA obsessed. They both told me they had played cod at their dad's (as apparently you can have a parental block put on the horrible bits) but I don't allow it here. I walked in on a very unpleasant bit of COD where a man was trapped inside a box and was burnt alive. It was horrifying. It's just not necessary. If they particularly want a game we have a chat about it and I discuss it with the manager of the local game. He said he wouldn't allow anyone under 18 to play the last GTA as it was the worst thing he has seen.
My eldest is 17 and has aspergers and significant mental health problems. Anything batman related is banned and things to gruesome. He might be a bit objectionable to begin with but when I remind him of what he went through he soon comes round. I have seen the scary side of gaming and mental health.

AuntieStella anything popular by Nintendo is safe, stuff like Mario, Pokemon, the Zelda series etc.
Then there is the Tomb Raider series (up to the newest one which is not appropriate for children), also good for a strong female lead
The Prince of Persia series is good, I think one or two may be 16 rating but I would ok it, you fight creatures made of sand, so no blood or gore.
Portal 1 and 2 are excellent, no fighting whatsoever but not too good if your DC don't like puzzle games.
Jak and Daxter series, anything Spyro, the Kingdom Hearts series, Final Fantasy series, Rayman series, Sonic series.

These are only off the top of my head, but hth