Community weekly poll: Keeping violent video games away from children
- 12/5/06 3:35 PM
Keeping violent video games away from children
by Marc Bennett - 12/5/06 3:35 PM
Who is most responsible for keeping violent video games away from children?
Parents (tell us why)
Vendors/retailers (tell us why)
Game developers (tell us why)
Federal/local government (tell us why)
What should be done?
by Hobbit_4 - 12/5/06 5:21 PM In reply to: Keeping violent video games away from children by Marc Bennett
I think that the main responsibility of keeping games away from children is the parent’s responsibility and the responsibility of the Vender/Seller of the Games. Here are the reasons I think so:
For Vendors
1. If the Game is rated M then don’t sell it to people under the age group (I’m in Canada and I don’t know if it’s the same in the US but M is 18+ and these are the majority of the violent games are in this section)… There should be proof of their age if they look younger like picture ID or something… (we have to provide ID for games in Canada)
Parents
1. Are responsible for taking care of their children. If you don’t want them to play violent games then don’t let them. I want allowed to play certain games until I was older.
2. If you play Violent games then Hide them from your Children and get non violent video games for them.
3. If you do not want your child to play a violent game, read up on the game, look at the cover of Gears of War for the Xbox360 is rated M and has a picture of big soldier with a huge weapon which has a bloody chainsaw bayonet on it (sorry I am offending any of you, but that’s what’s on the cover)… If that doesn’t give people a hint then nothing will… By the Way Gears of war is a Sci-Fi third person Shooter game… its classified as a action/horror game… (it has aliens or zombies in it I think but I have not looked at it)
I don’t think that getting violent games into the hands of children will stop… Some parents think that those games are ok so there is no stopping them… Then these kids invite their friends over and other kids get interested… (I am looking at the younger teen crowd)… apparently it’s cool to play those games… and some of them are really fun… The first M game I played was Halo… (I love that game, [cant wait till halo 3 or the movie of halo])... and your right I talk on xboxlive while playing M games on my Xbox360 and I hear childrens voices I was surprised at number of them that I have heard.
I don’t think that there is anything that is simple which the government or game developers can do to stop this… If the government bans all of the games then all of older gamers will get mad, and the some of the game developers loose jobs… The developers are making money so what’s motivating them to change what they make? I suppose the Government could make rules… but what? Its not simple…
Where are the parents?
by Falconias - 12/5/06 8:31 PM In reply to: What should be done? by Hobbit_4While I agree that vendors should not sell mature rated games to people that are under age, the ultimate decision to whether or not a child can play that game is the parents responsibility. What is up with a society that instead of having its parents take greater responsibility for the actions of their children, more and more asks the government to step in and let the parents go back to whatever it is their doing? I'm sure there are some problem kids out there that no matter how good the parents are, would still be problem kids. However my guess is the vast majority of these problem kids would have not have been problem kids if their parents just dealt and paid some attention to them when they needed it. This applies to all aspects of parenting, controlling video games and movies, controlling the food they eat, and figuring out any problems with their child. This increasing neglect of the average child is what is resulting in situations like Columbine and parents sending their children off to so called boot camps because they can no longer control them. The industry and the government have done their part by putting the ratings on these games but ultimately this comes down to the parents.
Agreed
by hagosrush - 12/5/06 9:31 PM In reply to: Where are the parents? by FalconiasI agree with what was posted. It is a MINOR duty of the gaming industries to keep these violent games out of kids hands. The full responsibility however falls on the parents. The kids may be in the stores for a few minutes at a time, but the people with the most influence are the kids. The parents need to stop lobbying for non-violent games and actually parent.
Parents responsibility - definitely.
by Helzundi - 12/5/06 10:35 PM In reply to: Agreed by hagosrushI am a parent of 2 young girls, and will soon be facing the issues of violent video games, and whether to let them play them or not, and if so, which ones.
Even so, I would never lobby for a blanket ban on violent games.
Likewise, I don't drink, but I don't want alcohol banned. Same with smoking. Same with party pills. Et cetera ad nausium.
Parents who support blanket bans on violent games to protect thier kids, would be the first to complain about police enforced curfues to protect themselves.
But I ask you, really, what is the difference?
PARENTS
by bayre - 12/6/06 2:42 AM In reply to: Where are the parents? by FalconiasIt's absolutely the parents who need to take responsibility for their children (as well as the children too). Too many parents have already dumped their kids at schools - daycare - summer camp and the like to get others to take the lead in controlling their progeny. Get rid of the excuses and labels (ADD & ADHD) to help explain why our children behave inappropriately or have little or no respect for anything - and let's get back to basics! If you can't - take a look at history - it's sure to repeat itself!
Absolutely
by arkie77 - 12/6/06 3:26 PM In reply to: PARENTS by bayreIf you don't want to take the time to keep an eye on your kids and what they're playing on the game systems and what they're watching on t.v. and if you don't want to bother disciplining them, then don't have kids. It takes a lot of time and effort to raise kids. When you have them you not only get them you get the responsibility and privilege of raising them.
I would be willing to bet you don't have kids
by photobuff55 - 12/6/06 7:05 AM In reply to: Where are the parents? by FalconiasPlease read my post submitted a few minutes ago. You can't control kids once they are able to drive and earn their own money. You can set a good, decent, moral base and pray they continue, but YOU CAN'T CONTROL THEM. Nor should you. They need to learn to become responsible adults in their own right. That is why the ratings and laws to enforce them become valuable tools in parenting.
Keeping video games from kids
by jbroberts - 12/5/06 8:51 PM In reply to: What should be done? by Hobbit_4It is time for parents to be parents instead of giving in to every whine and demand. The kids will ask for the moon, but as parents and grandparents we have the responsibility to monitor and restrict them from accessing inappropriate games. Working in the medical community with a wife and two daughters in education I see first hand the kids who can't separate video games from reality. It isn't positive or pretty.
Proof of age
by Misfire&ice - 12/5/06 11:24 PM In reply to: What should be done? by Hobbit_4I don't mean to be argumentative or rude, but even if proof were required wouldn't they just get around it? You know, the same way they do for cigarettes and alcohol.
Vidoe Games..Who's fault
by geoffreper - 12/6/06 7:49 AM In reply to: What should be done? by Hobbit_4Parents are to blame for young chldren playing on violent games.WHY?.Because someone that produces either films,dvd's or videogames for the adult population isn't to be held responsible for children getting their hands on them.The onus is on the parent(s)to take responsibility.Ask yourself this....is it someone elses fault if you have an adult film or dvd in your home,and you 5 year old son/daughter gets hold of it,or even an adult magazine? I have grandchildren between the ages of 14 down to 3.If I am playing on a violent video game,and they happen to visit,I turn my pc off immediately,no buts no arguments.If parents are concerned,dont buy them yourself AND DON'T buy them for your children(not even let the child buy them).
Responsible Parenting
by djbltrn9412 - 12/5/06 8:28 PM In reply to: Keeping violent video games away from children by Marc Bennett
What children learn is what the parents teach by example, instruction and discipline. If a parent wants their child to become violent, parent behavior will likly succeed by demonstrating violence in the home. This transfers to all of the other 'sins' that the parents believe in. Providing the example of what you wish your child to become, however, does not carry with it, that your dreams will be translated with accuracy through the static of todays world of fear and hate.
I truly resent your message
by photobuff55 - 12/6/06 7:21 AM In reply to: Responsible Parenting by djbltrn9412We have a terrific home. We don't smoke, we don't drink, we don't fight (at least in front of the kids), we have family time, we go to church, we enforce discipline, but in the end it's up to the kid to choose how to live his/her life. My son bought these games on the sly with his own money, and I had no idea at the time because he was very careful to keep it secret, knowing I would not approve. He's fulfilled his "violent" tendencies as an adult, he's now in the US Army serving in Baghdad. But if there had been ratings, and laws to enforce them, he would not have been able to buy them secretly or otherwise. Even good parents need tools and resources to help them! It's not about WHO is responsible. Obviously, in the end, it's the parents. But at some point you cannot control - nor should you - what your older child is doing with their life. IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE TOOLS TO BE A GOOD PARENT.
Wake up
by jjjonesy - 12/6/06 11:36 AM In reply to: I truly resent your message by photobuff55If you think you are unable to monitor/control children, you're kidding yourself. You should have been checking on what they were doing behind that closed door of theirs. Playing a game behind your back? - walk over to the console, take the disc out, and snap it in half. They won't keep paying $50 for a game they know will get broken. They're still hiding from you? - cut the electricity to their room. You have to work? - lock the console up until you get home. You have to take an active role, not just sit back and watch them unfold. And if you think he's old enough to choose how to live his life, then out of the house he goes. At that point, he is an adult, his mental development is almost over, and this becomes a moot point.
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
