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GTA V Proves a Lot of Parents Still Don't Know or Care About ESRB Ratings

Posted by Soulskill on from the rated-L-for-learn-how-to-be-a-parent dept.

Deathspawner writes "Grand Theft Auto V has shown itself to be potential GOTY material, and has even managed to break a sales record already. But aside from that, the game has also become one of the most adult-oriented games ever released, with torture, drug use and sex prevalent not long after beginning the game. You'd expect this gameplay to deter most parents from picking the game up for their young children — but not so. An anonymous editorial at Kotaku written by a video game store employee says that out of the ~1,000 copies sold in the first week, at least 10% of them went to parents accompanied by a child. Clearly, this could be interpreted as a problem. Techgage adds that this is one of the biggest problems facing gaming today. With one breath, many parents criticize video games for being so violent, and with the next, they're saying 'thanks' at the counter after picking up these very games for their kids. While ESRB ratings and other warnings about violent games for kids have good reason to exist, many parents still ignore them, aren't aware to them, or simply don't care about their warnings."

14 of 621 comments (clear)

  1. Some people... by SpaceWiz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Some people still think that video games are only for kids, regardless of the content of the game. Getting past this idea would help a lot.

    1. Re:Some people... by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This was brought up in another conversation I had today...

      We have this idea that kids as old as 16 aren't "fully formed" people. But if your kid doesn't understand the difference between fantasy and reality at 10 or 11 or 12 then there is a parenting problem or other general mental illness. They aren't just lumps of clay that get reasoning ability by magic on their 18th birth day. It's amazing how most of the population forgets what being aged 10-18 is like later in life... this is something they should know already.

    2. Re:Some people... by TWiTfan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No, your kid is probably not going to be "irreparably mentally harmed" from being exposed to violent video games too early. But there is such a thing as exposing a kid to shit that they're too young to handle (or understand). And that's not a good thing.

      A kid's innocence is a precious thing, and it's a shame to squander it too early. That doesn't mean I want to have my 12-year-old still believing in Santa Claus, but I also don't want him introduced to the ugly world of violent crime, drugs, and prostitution while he's still in kindergarten either.

      --
      The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."
    3. Re: Some people... by SCPRedMage · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think the harder part for you is realizing the fact that evidence the people held these beliefs in the past is not the same as evidence of truth of these beliefs.

      --
      My sig can beat up your sig.
    4. Re:Some people... by Kjella · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Most religions really have the same message. Be good to each other. The details and names are different. But that's really what it boils down to. I'm sure there will be replays talking about all of the bad things that religion has caused over the years. But most of those have to do with power mad people twisting the main message to meet their own perverse goals

      In summary, you've never actually read the texts but imagined what it is you would like them to say. Religions aren't egalitarian and universally generous, they're highly exclusive and competitive. My religion is right, everyone else's is wrong. Good things will happen to you if you follow my religion, bad things will happen to you if you don't. Spread my truths and stop the unbelievers from spreading their lies. It's all different versions of carrot and stick, not just carrots and not for everyone. They all sell you on a similar story whether it's Heaven, Jannah (Islamic Heaven), Nirvana (Buddhism) or Vaikuntha (Hinduism) but while you don't care which religion, the religions do. If you don't accept Jesus Christ as your savior you're still going to hell and that's not really open for interpretation. We just like to quietly ignore those parts that aren't palatable in a multicultural world.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    5. Re:Some people... by mevets · · Score: 5, Funny

      That is an odd phenomena you are experiencing. It is almost as if the more you detest something, the more attractive it becomes to your child. If only somebody else had experienced this.

  2. Different Parents by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "With one breath, many parents criticize video games for being so violent, and with the next, they're saying 'thanks' at the counter after picking up these very games for their kids."

    Maybe these are two different groups of parents...

    1. Re:Different Parents by MickyTheIdiot · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well.. this and the U.S. still has this puritan crap going on in the background that makes general violence and minimal amount of gore FINE but that showing too much of a boob (or anything slightly sexual) will TOTALLY CORRUPT MY BABY!

      Seriously... killing people is fine but something that makes you feel good and is a gift to mankind.. NO WAY. OMG!!

    2. Re:Different Parents by houghi · · Score: 5, Funny

      but that showing too much of a boob (or anything slightly sexual) will TOTALLY CORRUPT MY BABY!

      Well, obviously. Boobs and nipples especially are not intended for babies.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
  3. Take away their licenses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This type of irresponsible behaviour shouldn't be tolerated.

    These so-called "parents" should have their parenting licenses revoked, and their children impounded and/or destroyed.

  4. I can't believe I have to mention this by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "With one breath, many parents criticize video games for being so violent, and with the next, they're saying 'thanks' at the counter after picking up these very games for their kids."

    Are the same people saying both of these things? Or is it possible that "parents" includes millions of different people who feel differently about many things.

    1. Re:I can't believe I have to mention this by SeaFox · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Also, it can't be possible these "parents buying the game with kids on tow" are buying the game for themselves never intending to let their child play it, too.

      Just like when a family is at the store and buys beer as part of their weekly grocery shopping -- they must be letting their children drink.

  5. Logical fallacy by Xtifr · · Score: 5, Informative

    The fact that someone bought the game while accompanied by a child does not mean they're buying it for the child. My brother often takes his kids to the game store, and and may buy game for himself or for his kids. Or, frequently, both.

    That said, yes, there probably a lot of people too clueless to realize that the one game that is probably the most famous of all games in the world for not being for kids isn't for kids. But trying to estimate the number of people in that category by counting the number of people who happen to buy it while having a child in tow is just as clueless, in quite another way.

  6. This is an outrage. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What we need is a law forcing parents to raise their kids the way I think they should be raised.