I Didn't Need to See That...

[Kitten]

I first played GTA when I was 12, and that was IV, which came with the PS3 I got for my birthday. My parents were aware of what was in the game, and I've always been mature for my age, from what I've been told. So they let me play it, knowing that I had my head screwed on right and fully understood what was going on. When V came out and I asked if I could get it, the only question asked was if we had the money.

My sister's boyfriend plays COD in front of their kids, aged 3 and 1, which sounds pretty bad, but both of the kids tell him off for swearing at the other players rather than copy what he's doing. I wouldn't like to think he'll play GTA in front of them though, as the 3 year old is starting to understand things more now. The only games my sister really plays is Need for Speed, and her boyfriend isn't home often because he's in the army.

My first GTA was like erm... 13 or 14.. I don't recall though..

 

[Ryanswannell]

Assuming that video games do influence their behaviour, well, I'd personally rather have my son bone some chick on the kitchen counter than beating the living hell out of someone. He'll want to do the former pretty badly, anyway, thanks to puberty... Being sexually active isn't quite bad. Most people are, anyways. Being violent, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be acceptable under any circumstances. We generally tend to be okay with exposing someone to content that might make him/her behave in ways that are not acceptable at all, but strictly avoid content that might make them behave in ways that aren't necessarily bad. Why?

Again, I don't want to question anyone, but that's something I hear a lot. And I can't quite wrap my head around it.

What I can't get my head around in general - not just videogames - is why nudity is considered such a bad thing for kids to witness. Sexual content I can kind of understand up to a point, but with nudity I just don't get it.

We all have sexual organs and that doesn't change (or it shouldn't at least), so why is it frowned upon so much? I mean what damage could it possibly cause to a child/society, as opposed to the potential damage a child witnesing violence could cause?

EDIT: I don't believe video-games cause children to become violent people either 👍

 

[Slash]

What I can't get my head around in general - not just videogames - is why nudity is considered such a bad thing for kids to witness. Sexual content I can kind of understand up to a point, but with nudity I just don't get it.

We all have sexual organs and that doesn't change (or it shouldn't at least), so why is it frowned upon so much? I mean what damage could it possibly cause to a child/society, as opposed to the potential damage a child witnesing violence could cause?

EDIT: I don't believe video-games cause children to become violent people either 👍

I agree. It's the same thing as a kid....an elbow is called an elbow, a nose I a nose, so why do we give special names to our private parts? It makes them out to be bad.

If anything, I find GTA to be a grim reminder of what happens should I hose to go out in public and become violent. Gun down a few people and cops will be everywhere trying to take you down.

 

[Luminis]

Well, society is full of double standards, I suppose. Specific brands of alcohol are specifically designed so their taste appeals to youths (and, in fact, kids), violence is everywhere. Miley Cyrus can dance like a stripper and shoot sexually questionable videos, but behold if there's a nipple to be seen.

Sometimes, I despise mankind But GTA does make fun of that as well, so...

 

[Slash]

Well, society is full of double standards, I suppose. Specific brands of alcohol are specifically designed so their taste appeals to youths (and, in fact, kids), violence is everywhere. Miley Cyrus can dance like a stripper and shoot sexually questionable videos, but behold if there's a nipple to be seen.

Sometimes, I despise mankind But GTA does make fun of that as well, so...

Exactly.

 

[Bluntified]

If they did, they'd probably have to scratch the shooting people in missions, abducting people in missions, killing animals in missions, illegal street racing in missions and whatever else - because someone, somewhere will have a problem with it.

I don't know, it's GTA, it's not supposed to be politically correct and the games always caused some controversy. What I find most interesting is that you can kill thousands upon thousands of human beings and nobody bats an eye, but go to a strip club or kick a cow, and everybody loses their minds. Makes you wonder how de-sensitized to violence against humans (in video games) we are.

Violence is all over the media, as weird as it may sound, it's a normal thing. Sex on the other hand is still "taboo" for the most part.

 

[Slash]

Violence is all over the media, as weird as it may sound, it's a normal thing. Sex on the other hand is still "taboo" for the most part.

I think that is slowly easing up as well. Still taboo but not as bad as it used to be.

 

[Bones Brigade]

I only have issue with the homophobia in the game.