Should I Let My 12 Year Old Play Grand Auto Theft?

[ClaryS]

So far my foot has been firmly down, an 18 rated game based on stealing cars and robbing banks , no thanks. Apparently 'all' his friends are playing on line even L whose mum is a vicar and I am being totally unreasonable ( in a 'Kevin' tone of voice). Is it that bad? should I succumb? Or should I stand by my old fashioned principles that an 18 rated game or movie is not suitable for a 12 year old?

[ClaryS]

Don't mind the swearing bit he'll hear that at school. Good point about other older players on line though.

[sherrardk]

Just asked the boy, you have to shot people to rob the banks and shops. As to the other players, my 9 year plays on line x box games (not GTA) and he only has 'parties' with his friends (you make friends like you do on FB), he doesn't just join in with random people.

[ClaryS]

sherradk , thanks for that, yes that's what clary jnr. has just told me . He's also informed me in a very superior voice that he realises its only computer animation and not real and has no intention in real life of pinching the neighbours car and doing the co-op over. He's a sensible kid but....I have this little voice in my head shouting 'Its 18 for a reason!!!

[sinderella]

it is your choice.i personally think that is does not turn kids into monsters.they are usually monsters before they start playing and the media/carer/solicitor uses this as an excuse

[sherrardk]

I don't know much about these games but my thinking is that himself really wouldn't let the boy play it if it was that awful - the boy doesn't smoke, hang round with the wrong crowd, he doesn't swear or backchat and is doing well at school without being nagged to death. He has played age inappropriate games for some time and it doesn't seem to have done him any harm (obviously, if he turns in to an axe wielding maniac sometime in the future I will happily retract this). Basically, he is mature enough to know that it it is a game and I am happy enough to trust my husband's judgement that 'it is not that bad'.

[Mattk]

As a gamer myself with 2 grown up lads whom I've never shielded from such things I don't think it does any harm.

I think it does more harm than good when shielded from such things as it makes the impact much greater when they are finally exposed.

The modern world moves on so fast now with so many friends meeting online rather than in person. If they are playing online they are not playing the story anyway and at that age they will only be horsing around having a great time.

[RATTER15]

I watched cowboys and Indians with scalpings and hangings bank robbings and shootings and then the war films on TV from as early as I could walk (yes there was such thing as TV in those days) To this day I can honestly say that I have never hung anybody and I have never scalped anybody, I have never robbed bank and never shot anybody.

Ok, I lied on the last one, it was a long time ago OK!

[fairycakes69]

Just asked my 20 year old son, who is a gamer. He says no way would he let a 12 year old play, due to the content. He thinks 15 but no younger.

[hc4361]

I've played this game and would not let any 12 year old play it. Comparing it to watching cowboy and injun films is the same as comparing looking at Mayfair and watching snuff movies.

[ClaryS]

Update: I succumbed being outnumbered by OH and older son so now he's got the game and frankly the stuff he's dong online is not that bad. I watched him play for about 30 mins with his friends and yes they were all 'wasting' one another but they just got shot and got back up again. he has strict instructions as to what he can and can't do and what will happen if he does but at the moment they just seem to be wandering around streets getting in cars (ok stealing them) and crashing them. I guess the days of me him and dad playing scrabble are well and truly over...

[sherrardk]

Boy #1 had trouble getting online for some time (as did thousands of others) and he informs me that all players who had this problem are getting 1/2 million in GTA 'money' so he's happy.

[ClaryS]

Oh son would love that, apparently he's saving up to buy an apartment but I've told him if he does no girls are allowed lol!

[RATTER15]

I just watched the video that was posted, from what I can see it is no worse than what they see on TV.

[pixie373]

I'm glad you asked this, clarys. 17year old son has this, and 10 year old desperately wants it. "All his friends have it." I've said no so far and obviously he is younger than your son. But I'm not into these games myself, so can be difficult to judge. My older one says it's fine- but he would, wouldn't he?:-)

[ClaryS]

hi Pixie, like you I know nothing of these games and am an 'older' parent, having had youngest son 13 years after other children so its almost a different generation from his sisters and brother. This game seems to have different levels : the 'Campaign' which seems to be more adult, and the Online game which so far as I've seen is not that bad if you get over the fact everyone is 'wasting' one another and pulling people out of their vehicles to steal their cars. However, children today seem to be able to distance themselves and I've been assured by son (lol) that its 'only animation' -hello its not exactly Walt Disney - so at the moment he's being allowed to play it in the living room with at least one adult around. They can visit clubs and do more adult things but they have to choose to do that but at the moment he seems to be happy zapping people and flying around the roads in his mini convertible. So my conclusion is I think its ok in certain parts for under 18's, but to keep an eye out that they are not accessing more adult content, so no playing the game up in their bedrooms.

[dunnitall]

Deed is done and if you don't mind my saying, that is the problem today. Parent says "no", parent gives in. Why are kids always getting their own way, if they didn't then maybe they would learn they cannot have everything they want when they want it. The next generation might then have a handle on what life is all about in my opinion.

[ClaryS]

dunnitall Up to a certain extent I agree with you, however, sometimes it pays to be flexible, especially if the reason you were saying 'no' in the first place might have been unfounded. I researched the game with the help of AB and decided that the game might not have been as bad as I first thought. Also son is very aware that if he crosses the line the game will be confiscated, and BTW he paid for the game himself out of saved birthday and Xmas money, so was only 'given' permission to buy it, not 'given' the game.

[dunnitall]

Clary of course it's up to you as the parent and my answer was my opinion on why society is like it is today. With what I've read about this just from answers on here I would not let a child play this game whether he bought it himself or not. Of course we have to be flexible to an extent with children, but it depends on the context and that's my viewpoint on how children are being brought up today. I respect your views of course I do, my view is I just wish parents would see how they are giving in sometimes too much to their offspring which can do damage later on.

[ClaryS]

dunnitall Its not just children of today as I can remember 40 odd years ago moaning on and on to get a particular toy all my friends had. Then it was monitory issues that stopped us getting it rather than moral or 'unsuitability' of the toy, and you can't argue with that if your parents have no money they can't buy you it. Todays issues are more complicated and If we just say 'no means no' without rational explanation then are we not raising little dictators not prepared to communicate or discuss issues. Of course this is assuming the parents are capable of rational explanation and discussion or are they guilty of just letting their little darlings have what they want to make life easier for themselves.

[annie0000]

My boys do have games that are above their age, but there is no way on earth I'd let them have GTA 5.

I don't mind a bit of shooting etc where it is clearly fantasy - i.e. Aliens, Zombies, Orcs etc. But the swearing, sexual content etc in GTA 5 in addition to the violence and dubious morals rules it out for me I'm afraid.

I know that isn't a popular stance to take but I wont be shifted.

Even the game's designers are saying that it isn't suitable for non-adults.

It's all a peer pressure thing.