Grand Theft Auto

[SteeperThanHell]

My 12 years claims that I am absolutely ruining his social life by not allowing GTA in our home.

He assures me that all his friends have it and he is becoming some sort of social outcast.

Am I being unreasonable? Or has it somehow changed since the last time I researched and no longer has prostitution, sex, violence, strip clubs and bank robberies.

Also confused an dubious as to why such an old game is seen as flavour of the month? The only explanation is surely because of the shock value, not because it's a particularly amazing, unique game.

Gaming is in a golden age and there will be many, many impressive and enjoyable games that aren't as negative as this one

We got a PS4 at xmas for my 6 yr and are clueless. DD 17 put GTA on and my eyebrows were in my hair at just the language. Its absolutely awful. Theres not a single sentence without vile swearing. I didnt get any further than that so I dont know much about the rest of it. Hes not allowed on it she used with door shut about twice and the novelty wore off. No way is that going on in my house. He is happily playing Plants Vs Aliens. Much better.

I love playing GTA V. Like hell would I let an U18 loose on it though! I wouldn't be surprised if his friends are on it, there are a lot of irresponsible parents around.

My husband plays this and given the amount of kids you hear online, some of his friends may well be playing it. I wouldn't let my 12 year old play it, though I am relaxed in some ways, I wouldn't censor reading for example.

He is TWELVE. He does not need gaming. It is not food, shelter or love.
It is age rated for a reason.
You are the person in control.

Also confused an dubious as to why such an old game is seen as flavour of the month? The only explanation is surely because of the shock value, not because it's a particularly amazing, unique game.

Incredibly, it still sells a shitload. 11th highest selling game in the US last year.

venturebeat.com/2020/01/16/20-best-selling-games-of-2019/

6th highest-selling game in the UK in the last week of 2019

ukie.org.uk/latest

Absolutely incredible considering ot was first released more than six years ago.

He does not need gaming. It is not food, shelter or love.

What a bizarre argument against video games. Some are completely appropriate for children, there are many out there that are educationally minded. Never mind the fact that games help with problem solving skills or have very interactive stories. Should kids not watch tv or read books either? Games are great for children when appropriate and in moderation.

Yanbu
I’m a huge gamer as Is my DH and we won’t allow our kids this game even though we own it. Twelve is too young.

I know a boy who started playing GTA at 3. He’s now 13 and still playing GTA and he’s a very difficult kid. Not just because he’s addicted to it and doesn’t want to get off but because he copies so much from it with the language and the attitude of the characters.

I remember when GTA 4 came out my manager bought it for her 9 year old son so it does happen.

No i wouldn't let a 12yo play. Also rest assured the whole "OTHER kids are allowed" is going to endure until adulthood. I teach secondary and I've my whole tutor group bitterly complain they haven't been allowed to play a certain game or see a certain film and they ALL say "yeah other parents let their kids do it!" yet in the whole class of 33-35 not a single one of them has! One boy once claimed he'd watched a particular horror film that had just been released but after further questioning it turned out he'd just read the plot synopsis online....!

You can always go my Grans stock answer from when I was growing up: “and if all your friends ran headfirst into a wall would you follow?” Her version sometimes had jump off a bridge/cliff scenario, obviously she wasn’t encouraging us to do it, but when that line came out we knew we didn’t have a chance to convince her, she’d just repeat it until we gave up.

It's just been released on Game Pass on Xbox and was available on PlayStation Now before that apparently. So anyone with a subscription can download it. That's why there's suddenly hype about an old game.

I downloaded it and have had a go but I'm 42 so that's allowed. It's probably not my thing though.

As for Fortnite, I think that's fairly harmless and would be ok at 9, especially the rumble and creative games.

I love GTA, especially GTA 4. However, it’s not for 12 years olds.

Me and little bro used to play is in primary school, back when it was San Andreas and Vice City. I don't think either of us have turned into drug-dealing pimps. That being said, YANBU, it's an 18.

He does not need gaming. It is not food, shelter or love.

He also doesn't need books
OR jigsaw puzzles
Or like anything by that argument...

Mine played it from when it first came out. My eldest was much younger than the age rating for it.
My grandchildren play it now, the youngest being 7.
None of them have turned into violent racist misogynistic criminals.

@belay - what a ridiculous comment. He trains 6 days a week for a sports he plays at a regional level, I have no objection to a bit of age appropriate gaming. I can assure you he is well fed and very loved.

@SteeperThanHell This Guardian article is about (mostly primary) schools in Cheshire which said they would report students to social services for neglect if they were known to be playing games like GTA. www.theguardian.com/society/2015/mar/29/schools-parents-police-children-18-rated-games
We live in Greater London and got the same message from our primary school - they said it was based on advice from the police. I know your son is in secondary, but he's at the lower end of it, so you might be able to convince him that it applies to him too.

My grandchildren play it now, the youngest being 7.

That's appalling. Ive played a good few hours on gta5 and anyone who lets a 7 year old play it is a fucking idiot. Have you got any idea of the things the game allows you to do?

I’m confused- how would a 7 year old even know about Grand Theft Auto?
And with regards to a 6 year old playing it- that’s insane. No way would one of my children be allowed a play date with a child of that age that played it at home.

Yes, I'm aware of the content having watched it being played.
Of course a 7 year old is going to know about it when the siblings are playing it.

Well when we were playing it in primary around 7, we didn't go to strip clubs and play the story mode like that. We would just go around killing everyone with all the weapons like the chainsaw and the flame thrower, and steal cars and do stunt jumps etc, get the police to want you by 5 stars and go on a police chase etc.

So, violence yes, drugs and sex, no.

Yadnb.

My 13 yo wants it and every few months its discussed and he begs and its a no from me. He says all his friends have it and to be fair they do (you can see what they are playing on the xbox) but I don’t care if other parents allow it, I don’t. There are plenty lf other games to play.

GTA is particularly bad but I don’t allow any 18 games or films. I allow him to watch some 15 films after checking out the reason for their rating and all 16 games (that is a recent thing). I think I am pretty relaxed but at the end of the day he is still only 13!

@ShakeItUp - yeah but is that the level you set your parenting at? As long as they are not violent criminals it's fine? A 7 year doesn't need to be exposed to it if the game isn't played around them. It would be considered neglect by SS.