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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Grand Theft Auto

27 replies

crumpetandtea · 26/10/2020 23:25

My 13 year old child has been looking for Grand Theft Auto but I said no. He is now crying because he is left out because all of his friends are on the game and he doesn’t have anyone to play with. Did i make the right decision by saying no?

OP posts:
araiwa · 26/10/2020 23:27

GTA is probably one of the greatest games ever made.

But not really suitable for 13 year olds

TheHighestSardine · 26/10/2020 23:27

Yes, you did.

acerred · 26/10/2020 23:28

Did you start another thread about this earlier?

Original poster
crumpetandtea · 26/10/2020 23:29

I just feel really bad for him as he likes to be involved and doing what everyone else is doing.

OP posts:
TheHighestSardine · 26/10/2020 23:29

In more detail... Have you ever seen Reservoir Dogs, or Scarface? It's got stuff like that in there, plus a lot more misogyny-based unpleasantness.

The kids always say "everyone else's mum let's them" and it's always a lie.

Original poster
crumpetandtea · 26/10/2020 23:30

Yes i am new to this website so I don’t have a clue what i’m doing hahaha. X

OP posts:
Bunnymumy · 26/10/2020 23:32

I'd probably let a 13 year old play red dead redemption 2 (a cowboy game from the creators of grand theft auto). But not grand theft auto, no.

Original poster
crumpetandtea · 26/10/2020 23:34

This seems to be the thing that “The boys” are playing at the moment and I just think i’m being a little bit harsh on him.

OP posts:
Bunnymumy · 26/10/2020 23:45

Hmm bit too much misogyny for developing minds for me. You can beat up prostitutes in it for a start. I dont think I'd let a kid under 16 play it personally.

Slightlybrwnbanana · 26/10/2020 23:45

My 13 year old was playing it without our knowledge which earned him an Xbox ban. He is simply not allowed 18 games. I have allowed one or two 16s.

BarbiesBitch · 26/10/2020 23:48

I love playing GTA - I don’t even usually like video games but my husband plays it and the driving aspect looked fun so I gave it a go. I really only like driving the cars around I don’t personally like any of the ‘story lines’.
It is definitely not appropriate at all for a 13 year old - there is tons of violence, shooting, murder, cannibalism, gangs, mafia, armed robbery, torture etc. also you can drive around and pick up prostitutes, chose what services they do the character and then kill them, you can also go to strip bars and get lap dances. Not in a million years would I let a 13 year old play it!

florencesthoughts · 26/10/2020 23:51

Agree with Barbie's comment above. It's a great game but no appropriate for a 13 year old. I attempt some of the missions and find myself getting very aggressive on the rampage missions (effectively killing as many people as possible in time period). Not sure whether that's because I'm rubbish at it or the exposure to the content. A younger person may not recognise when they are becoming more aggressive when they play and might not know when to stop.

Clymene · 26/10/2020 23:52

Well if you think you're being a little bit too harsh just let him. You seem like you're asking for validation.

I don't let my kids play it because I think it gives developing young minds really deeply disturbing and damaging messages about women and crime which are harmful. Not because I'm a bit of meanie.

Slightlybrwnbanana · 27/10/2020 09:37

Why do women who can see the harm re women in the game, think it is a great game? Surely if anything it is a great game (graphics, chases) spoiled by the inclusion of sexist and misogynistic behaviour.

acerred · 27/10/2020 09:52

@Slightlybrwnbanana

My 13 year old was playing it without our knowledge which earned him an Xbox ban. He is simply not allowed 18 games. I have allowed one or two 16s.
How did he manage to do that ?!
Slightlybrwnbanana · 27/10/2020 09:54

He has the game pass. So you can download games as part of the package, but he was obviously only meant to download the ones for his age! I won't be renewing it!

acerred · 27/10/2020 19:06

@Slightlybrwnbanana

He has the game pass. So you can download games as part of the package, but he was obviously only meant to download the ones for his age! I won't be renewing it!
You can set the parental controls to limit it by age, we've done they on the console here
Morgan12 · 27/10/2020 19:09

Let him play gta online only. That's what his friends will be playing together. If you ever catch him playing story mode then hes banned.

He will need to complete the first story mode mission to unlock online mode. The first mission is no more violent than fortnite.

Slightlybrwnbanana · 27/10/2020 19:17

Thanks for the info about age blocking, I will have a look.

vintageyoda · 27/10/2020 19:40

Allowing other people's slack parenting to determine yours is a recipe for disaster. Your son needs to learn that you make the rules in your family, not his mates. Mine are 15, 13 & 12 and they all understand my reasoning for keeping gaming 'age appropriate' ( we use parents guides to determine whether a 16 might be okay to play or a 15 film might be okay for my 13 year old. They are readily available and you can read them together).
Take care of your ds's well-being, don't be swayed by others. There's a lot of irresponsible parents out there.

Feellikefrighteningyeah · 27/10/2020 19:58

I keep saying this. It is age rated for a reason! You are in charge. Why do they need these vile 18 rates games when they are underage?

MrsJunglelow · 27/10/2020 19:59

I’m quite astounded by the posters claiming it’s a ‘great game’
It glorifies violence and gang culture, particularly violence to vulnerable women (prostitutes)
It’s the one game that is not allowed to set foot in my house. Ever.
I wouldn’t care if my DS was 16 or 36, hell would freeze over before it came into my house and if I found out my DS had been playing it his PlayStation would be out the window.

Feellikefrighteningyeah · 27/10/2020 20:10

@MrsJunglelow

I’m quite astounded by the posters claiming it’s a ‘great game’ It glorifies violence and gang culture, particularly violence to vulnerable women (prostitutes) It’s the one game that is not allowed to set foot in my house. Ever. I wouldn’t care if my DS was 16 or 36, hell would freeze over before it came into my house and if I found out my DS had been playing it his PlayStation would be out the window.
At last someone with good sense
tommika · 27/10/2020 20:34

It’s not unreasonable to prevent a 13 year old from playing an adult orientated 18 game.

I used to be asked if games were suitable for friends children, which combined my opinion plus parents guides to the games.
GTA was out of the question, but one of their friends was allowed based on him telling his parents that he ‘didn’t play the missions, only in open mode’

In my opinion that made the game worse - the first mission was to collect your bosses girlfriend, a prostitute and drive her to hospital in time for her STI checkup. Not ideal, but prostitutes were employees of the business etc
In open mode the prostitutes are someone to pick up, they restore your health and are an opportunity to kill and rob for money.

The games missions give context in your journey rising in a criminal organisation, but in open mode it’s about driving badly, evading the police, running over and shooting random people.

If you look up games for the parental guidance information and watch some YouTube videos on gameplay then you can make an informed decision on whether you are happy with the context and how mature you feel your son will be in (truely) understanding games /films and real life

mrsmrt1981 · 27/10/2020 20:42

I am married to someone who works as a designer in the industry and he wouldn’t let his own children play this game. That says a lot to me.