So my 11yo Son...

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Bernie

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My 11 and a half yo Son (going on 25) is nagging me silly to allow him to buy Grand Theft auto IV for is XBOX360.

I am not very comfortable with this as I do not think the themes and story line is suitable for a 11yo. He is quite an impressionable boy. We do not allow him to see age restricted movies either.

Sure he will probably get to play the game at his friends, but I still do not have to allow him to buy it.

Am I being totally anal about this. Has anyone else been in a similar situation, what did you decide?

If he was 14/15 I probably wouldn't mind so much but I think 11 is just a bit too young.

I am of course at the moment the devil incarnate and only out to destroy his life as he puts it :D

What to do???
 
Bernie said:
My 11 and a half yo Son (going on 25) is nagging me silly to allow him to buy Grand Theft auto IV for is XBOX360.

I am not very comfortable with this as I do not think the themes and story line is suitable for a 11yo. He is quite an impressionable boy. We do not allow him to see age restricted movies either.

Sure he will probably get to play the game at his friends, but I still do not have to allow him to buy it.

Am I being totally anal about this. Has anyone else been in a similar situation, what did you decide?

If he was 14/15 I probably wouldn't mind so much but I think 11 is just a bit too young.

I am of course at the moment the devil incarnate and only out to destroy his life as he puts it :D

What to do???
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U are to anal ;)

Kids should be taught right and wrong. And they wont know what wrong is unless they life it. (My take on it) I swear and they know every swear word there is I bet you... Do they ever swear ? NO they know which is swear words and which is not. I let them watch what ever they want. Not 21 rated though :D. They know and understand that it's just a movie, and how movies are made.

It's all about how you raise them I think, and every Parent has he's own way of doing it.

The above works for me, I can't say it will work for you ;) To each he's own :)
 
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Pitbull said:
U are to anal ;)

Kids should be taught right and wrong. And they wont know what wrong is unless they life it. (My take on it) I swear and they know every swear word there is I bet you... Do they ever swear ? NO they know which is swear words and which is not. I let them watch what ever they want. Not 21 rated though :D. They know and understand that it's just a movie, and how movies are made.

It's all about how you raise them I think and every Parent has he's own way of doing it.

The above works for me, I can't say it will work for you ;) To each he's own :)
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I like your take on this subject matter - I totally agree! :)
 
I think you should stick to your guns Bernie. It is not suitable material for an 11 yo.
He may learn bad language and see unsuitable things elsewhere but that doesnt mean you have to be the one that makes this possible.
 
Kids don't have the self-discipline to control themselves fully. If they are exposed to improper things too early and if it becomes second nature to them then problems will arise.

I see it everyday. Kids that come from these types of homes are a-holes to work with.

Of course you have to show them what right and wrong is but to let them get engrossed in an orgy of violence is not the correct way of doing it.
 
Stick to your guns (excuse the pun) this game is NOT suitable for an 11 year old, hell it may not be suitable for some 30 year olds I know!
 
oh please. let him play its just a game.
if he doesn't see it on the game, he'll catch the exact same thing on the news, or in the newspapers.

Ive seen it time and time again, with the kids I grew up with.
example A : girl - wasnt allowed to watch TV, no clubbing, no boyfriends : Today - complete slut.
example B : girl - same story, father very strict : Today - crackslut.

Just teach you kids right and wrong, don't blame video games!
 
Picard said:
Kids don't have the self-discipline to control themselves fully. If they are exposed to improper things too early and if it becomes second nature to them then problems will arise.

I see it everyday. Kids that come from these types of homes are a-holes to work with.

Of course you have to show them what right and wrong is but to let them get engrossed in an orgy of violence is not the correct way of doing it.
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I get what your saying

I was raised this way and I turned out fine, so did my 2 brothers. Self discipline also gets taught. They will not learn it if you keep doing it for them. I let my kids make their own mistakes and life with the Ccnsequences there of.

If they want to climb a tree to the top I let them. If they fall and get hurt I warned them and they didn't listen. Next time they will listen. I won't let them get hurt on purpose though but Some lessons needs to be learned the hard way.

I was raised by the "School of hard knocks" and so does my kids. We have the greatest respect for each other and I let them make their own mistakes.

Forcing your kids not to make mistakes is just wrong in my eyes. They will grow up being very dependant on you way into their 50's ;)

That is just my way of thinking and like i said before.... To each he's own :)
 
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Killove said:
oh please. let him play its just a game.
if he doesn't see it on the game, he'll catch the exact same thing on the news, or in the newspapers.

Ive seen it time and time again, with the kids I grew up with.
example A : girl - wasnt allowed to watch TV, no clubbing, no boyfriends : Today - complete slut.
example B : girl - same story, father very strict : Today - crackslut.

Just teach you kids right and wrong, don't blame video games!
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lol, oooo sod off :p :D

Example A: girl parents doesnt care, allow anything = today dead from aids or other STD
Example B: Guy parents doesnt care allowed everything = in jail for murder / hard crime

Maybe get him another less violent game? Not hello kitty island but a real nice action game.
 
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didn't read all the comments but here's my personal experience

kids who act out video games has bad parents. I've been gaming since I could say "da da" and I can tell you now I'm better for it. If you can parent well and have that mutual respect going and taught the kid right from wrong, having fun playing a game won't hurt. Because in the end it's not real. And they should be taught that instead of being denied it.

Your choice tho
 
Devill said:
lol, oooo sod off :p

Example A: girl parents doesnt care, allow anything = today dead from aids or other STD
Example B: Guy parents doesnt care allowed everything = in jail for murder / hard crime

Maybe get him another less violant game? Not hello kitty island but a real nice action game.
Click to expand...


letting your kid play a video game doesn't mean you 'dont care' !
what i'm saying is, if you restrict your kids from doing what they want when they are young, they will do the same action over excessively when they are 'emancipated' from you.

this is why I ended saying "teach your kids right and wrong"
I see no harm in video games for kids, that should be the least of your worries.

I remember when I was young, I wanted A sega megadrive with Mortal Kombat. My parents told me I could get it if I got good marks, so I worked hard and got it. Today i'm not running around performing fatalities/babalities on people. On the flipside, if I didnt get it, I would have probably fatalitied my parents
 
GTA IV is rated 18 for Language and Violence in South Africa by the FPB, allowing an 11 year old to play it would be irresponsible in my opinion.

The themes in that game are not suitable for a child to be watching, which is why it has an age restriction on it.

If your happy with your son immersing himself in violence, crime, sex and drugs at the age of 11 you go right ahead.

As a fellow parent I would be more than unhappy if your kid started bringing what he learnt in this game to school and sharing.... That goes for all of the people here who think it's fine.

no wonder the kids of today have no respect or manners.

(PS: I absolutely love GTA IV)
 
Killove said:
letting your kid play a video game doesn't mean you 'dont care' !
what i'm saying is, if you restrict your kids from doing what they want when they are young, they will do the same action over excessively when they are 'emancipated' from you.

this is why I ended saying "teach your kids right and wrong"
I see no harm in video games for kids, that should be the least of your worries.

I remember when I was young, I wanted A sega megadrive with Mortal Kombat. My parents told me I could get it if I got good marks, so I worked hard and got it. Today i'm not running around performing fatalities/babalities on people. On the flipside, if I didnt get it, I would have probably fatalitied my parents
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Rofl :D

i do agree to an extent, but 11 y/o is a bit young to be playing one of the most violant / realistick games ever.(also doesnt it have a no under 18 warning?)

If you buy it for him then set strict rules before you buy it....eg one hours play a day max. maybe 4 over the weekend.

also the good marks idea (see above quote) is a nice touch :)
 
I played with toy guns from the time I can remember. I played violent video games and watched 18LV from a young age. All with my parents permission.

I am not a violent person (been in one fight my entire life), I don't swear and I don't steal.

Video games is just that, a game!
 
andres101 said:
I played with toy guns from the time I can remember. I played violent video games and watched 18LV from a young age. All with my parents permission.

I am not a violent person (been in one fight my entire life), I don't swear and I don't steal.

Video games is just that, a game!
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Good for you :)

Just remember everyone does not draw the line between make believe and reality......columbine(sp?) killers ect ect ect..
 
Devill said:
Good for you :)

Just remember everyone does not draw the line between make believe and reality......columbine(sp?) killers ect ect ect..
Click to expand...

you're one of those "harry potter/pokemon should be banned' people arent you. :p
 
I played what ever games I wanted to when I was young. I still remember other parents not allowing their kids to play Leisure Suit Larry! :D I really don;t think that the GTA games are a big deal at all... I'm sure he won't come across anything new in that game...

If you son is a well balanced child with strong ideas about right and wrong then I say its fine... By 11 years old I think he's probably already learned how to behave by his parents example.
 
I had Scope books in my room in the out and open, I played nasty PC games and listened to the "Outer Brothers" all this and I was only 13 :D

"Put ur arse on my face" remember that :eek:

Anyway, like i said... I tunred out fine ;)
 
Personally, I wouldn't allow it. The game has very adult themes, and I certainly don't feel comfortable exposing my kids to it. Even if they were to go play it at a friends house, they would do it with the knowledge that I don't approve of them playing it, and they know they would catch hell if I found out. The point is - they're still learning. They know that I don't approve of them playing it, therefore it is not good. If I just up and let them play the game, then they would think that I approve, and it would be ok to do the things or say the things they learn.
 
I wouldn't give in to him. He is too young. There will be many such conflicts over the coming years - this is just the tip of the iceberg, believe me. But a game that has an 18 rating should be played by 18 year olds. Finish and klaap.
 
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