Grand Theft Auto!!!

[trottingon]

Are we the only parents who refuse to allow our Year 9 DS to buy Grand Theft Auto? I have read about, reviewed it and it just appears pretty damn awful!! There is rape and torture in it as well as violence and swearing. It is rated as an 18 game and understandably so. Why are parents allowing their children access to this?

I know DS is playing this at friends' houses which is difficult to control. The arguments and strops this is causing is way out of proportion! I just don't understand how these games create such a hold! I really feel the pressure and I am starting to believe that we are the only parents who disallow this game. What are your opinions?

Blimey

Ficklings talks much sense. Children do have really rather sophisticated engagements with media. Parents can, of course, censor according to what they believe (according to their judgements of age-appropriateness) but please do so knowing that, for a long time now, the whole 'media effects' line has been hugely discredited by those working in this research field. Moral panics over young people's use of media technology (whether that was/is transistor radios, jukeboxes, record players, Sony Walkmans, video gaming, etc) are age-old.

I understand that halfacent. Still don't want my 12 year old seeing GTA! Lots of other age appropriate stuff for him to do.

Absolutely. In fact there are families round my way that allow drug taking by 14 year olds in their homes. Let's all allow that too, let them live their lives. Who needs rules ? Why should we bother protecting our children?

Just because something is ages old doesn't mean it isn't a fight worth fighting.

I don't remember any issues over walkmans, incidentally, or tape recorders, or even personal computers when they came along. It's not the use of technology per se that is the problem in the case of GTA, it's the content.

Ok I admit that I actually went with my 15yr old DS to buy this game. Only after did I realise how awful it was by which time it was too late. My son is totally addicted to it. We have had endless arguments about it and I WISH oh WISH i never allowed it to enter this house. We have finally agreed a restricted schedule for when he can play it (after h/w, chores, dinner etc) and if any of his grades drop then he will have it removed. All ok at the moment. My advice to mums would be to stand by your guns and do not get the game if under 18. It is vile, the swearing is dreadful, the language crude and as OP has stated lots of violence, rape/sexual violence/prostitutes etc.