Over a third of UK parents (39 percent) let their kids play 18-rated games such as Modern Warfare 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV, despite not being suitable for their age group.
That's according to a survey conducted by discounts site MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, which concludes that a further 25 percent of mums and dads play the offending titles with their children.
Unfortunately for the watching Daily Mail journos though, it's not just games; the survey concludes that more than half of parents (53 percent) let their kiddies watch 18-rate films, while 66 percent allow music with explicit lyrics.
Managing director, Mark Pearson said: "I was surprised by how many parents have actually allowed their child to watch a film, play a game or listen to music knowing that they weren't old to do so.
"I think that every child is different and what is right for one might not be for another, but I do think that ratings are there for a reason, so parents should execute some caution on deciding what they should expose their children to."
As long as said games aren't used as a scapegoat when little jimmy robs the corner shop, it's all good.
Its up to parents to decide if there kids can cope with the stuff, if the parents thinks its fine then its up to them... this of course assumes the parents have a clue whats in the game, flim, music (I can live in hope can't I)
Its up to parents to decide if there kids can cope with the stuff, if the parents thinks its fine then its up to them... this of course assumes the parents have a clue whats in the game, flim, music (I can live in hope can't I)
I don't ever plan to know less about games than my kids
Its up to parents to decide if there kids can cope with the stuff, if the parents thinks its fine then its up to them... this of course assumes the parents have a clue whats in the game, flim, music (I can live in hope can't I)
I don't ever plan to know less about games than my kids
and I wonder what percentage of parents let there kids watch 15 or 18 rated movies? My guess is that it would be far more than 39%.
Personally, as someone stated earlier, I think it is up to the parent to decide just what is suitable for there childs viewing.
I have to say that I have no problem in letting my 12 year old play Gears of War or Modern Warfare as he's a clever lad and knows right from wrong. In other words I think I can trust him not to grab hold of a chainsaw, knife or gun etc and go out murdering someone right after playing a video game.
I remember my mum renting Predator 2 for me when I was about 13/14.
To be honest it seems once its only violence and no 'sexy time' then alot of parents dont mind. Also you dont want to shelter your kids so much that when they do reach 18 and see a bit of gore they freak out.
I remember the owner of the video shop recommending Robocop and a film called Link, about some mental monkey butler, to my dad for me to watch when he had to go to work one day. This was about 1987/88 and I was about ten!
I don't think it's illegal to buy parental advisory albums though is it? I certainly had no trouble getting Chili Peppers or RATM albums when I was 13/14.
Judging by the voices I hear playing L4D, lots of parents don't care about games at all.
Edit: I mean the voices from the other people playing L4D, not the ones in my head. They're much older.
Its up to parents to decide if there kids can cope with the stuff, if the parents thinks its fine then its up to them... this of course assumes the parents have a clue whats in the game, flim, music (I can live in hope can't I)
In theory I'd agree, but I'd be pretty sure that many of those same parents will be happy to turn around and blame the video games (and probably movies as well) for any behavioural and social problems that the kids might have.
These numbers are of no surprise really. You can regularly enter a games store and see adults buying mature games sussing that they are probably not the type to play GTA etc.
Its up to parents to decide if there kids can cope with the stuff, if the parents thinks its fine then its up to them... this of course assumes the parents have a clue whats in the game, flim, music (I can live in hope can't I)
In theory I'd agree, but I'd be pretty sure that many of those same parents will be happy to turn around and blame the video games (and probably movies as well) for any behavioural and social problems that the kids might have.
i think that the parents who do blame (well not always blame, but show concern over) games and movies are mostly the ones who shield their children from the start.
But yeah i agree that they'd prefer to blame other things for their troublesome child rather then themselves.
I will not let my daughter watch 15's and 18's, but I will, aslong as the content isn't too adult,let her play games of the same rating, why?, I'll try and explain.
To me, and my daughter, gaming is pure fiction, its very easy to seperate gaming from real life, however, I think that film is less seperate from real life, because it uses real people, real locations, so it can be more difficult to see the distinction between reality and fiction.
as bad as it sounds i let my lad play games that are age restricted only after i have played through it to see what its like/about but saying that i watched alot of 18rated films when i was only 11+yrs and i know whats right and wrong etc etc but i find games getting the blame for alot of violence lately i think thats utter bull they see worser things on the news everyday there are boundries but we must not wrap our kids in cotton wool i say. wrong or right to some ppl but thats my opinion
It's about time someone put the blame where it belongs. I was allowed to watch movies over my age certification back in the day, but that was only because my parents (who didn't live together but still knew me) were aware of what I was mentally equipped to deal with.
By the time you get to 16 or 17, that age certificate is nonsense. You can be married and have sex whenever you like, but you're not legally allowed to watch other people doing it. Weird and pointless.
So the important thing here is to understand your kids, irrelevant of their age. If your 13-year-old is bright enough to understand the difference between reality and movies or reality and games, or reality and books (which have no age certificate but can be as graphic as you like) then by all means let them watch Terminator movies or whatever. If, on the other hand, they're a knuckle-dragging inbred yokul who lives in a perpetual state of retarded stupor, maybe it's best to keep them glued to Disney.
I think that the term "kids" needs to be clarified in these stats.
Similar to Dajmin's point, it really becomes a moot point after 16, so a lot of these stats may be based on "children" just being under the legal age for the product.
You wouldn't think anything odd with a 16 year old playing GTAIV, but a ten year old is a different matter.
Ultimately, though, parents should be a little more switched on to what their kids are doing and watching. But sadly, we live in times where plenty of parents just don't care.
My daughter reads a fair bit, I read "the road" last year, and she wanted to read it, but I said I didn't think it was a good idea, as its quite a disturbing book.
How is it, anyone can buy a book that is disturbing, with no age limit, however, when they make a film of said book, with a lot of the most disturbing elements removed, its classified 15?.
lol I'm from Australia and if your over 15 you can play any game cause there's no +18 rating. they almost turned down L4D2 and it was moded so there is practically no blood
If 25% of those play the games with the kids then that's probably fine because they know exactly what's going on. I hope the 75% that don't play with their kids, actually know what's going on in the game. They need to bring in 13+IQ100+sane+ so that 13+ could play if they took an mandatory IQ test and a mental state exam to check they aren't psychotic.
The environment that a child grows up in and the way they're treated and taught will have a greater affect on the way they treat others in later life than a single form of entertainment they're exposed to. This much is obvious as very nasty people have existed long before movies and games.
As previously mentioned parents are the people most responsible for their childs behaviour but they're not the key to everything.
If I've been disrespectful to anyone in the past I certainly can't blame my parents. They didn't teach me to treat others that way. I can't blame anything specifically, it's ultimately the culmination of many experiences and aspects of my life and is impossible to pinpoint. Equally I couldn't explain why I don't care to hurt others or start fights. It could be argued that my parents taught me to be that way. Does that suggest anyone who does pick fights or resolves problems with violence is taught by their parents? Of course not.
Although I was never bullied I remember clearly one of my parents suggesting that I should stand up for myself should that happen. I never needed to and I never went the route of bullying either. Why? I don't understand.
For the fact some adults turn out as bad or as anti-social as they are, suggests no one has a clue about how a personality develops or how to fully ensure a person turns out good. If we did we'd all be good, end of story.
Most children at some point in school see a playground fight. That's real violence... two people (admittedly small and weak) attempting to hurt each other. It's more real and it's more violent than any videogame as far as I'm concerned. Equally a child who's bullied at school probably suffers more fear than they ever could watching a horror movie.
In the quest to understand the way the human personality and how it develops people continual to point fingers at subject matters or lifestyle choices they've they have no understanding of. It's as natural as peoples fear of the unknown. As gamers we can all appreciate how utterly naive it is to suggest a violent videogame will make a person violent. As it is to suggest an alcoholic produces children who'll grow up the same. Some surely do, but not all. It really doesn't work that way.
I was about 9 when I first played GTA1, and 11 when I played GTA3, it didn't bother me at all. I knew it was all fake and never ever thought about recreating it. Too bad a few people can't tell the difference, and the whole industry suffers for it. It's hard because if the parent is buying the games and the kid isn't there, then you can't exactly stop them. They need to make sure their kid can accept the game for what it is. If they don't and they still buy it then whats the point.
i let my ten yr old play MW2 and gears etc. i draw the line at GTA4 tho. but then i know my child and i know he sees it for what it is.
expanding this a bit further, for me the problem isnt so much the games now its the people they may interact with over the headsets etc.
we live in a society of blameless parents who wont take any responsibility for what their children are doing and blame games! its quite pathetic when you think about it. did everyone just forget common sense?
DONT WE KNOW IT. I HAVING NOTHING AGAINST KIDS PLAY GAMES OVER THERE AGE GROUP AS I ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOW THAT IM OLD ENUFF TO PLAY WHATEVER I DO FIND IT VERY ANNOYING ON GAMES LIKE COD MW2 WHEN YA GOT SOME LIL KID TAKING THE p**s OR JUST BEING A GENERAL SPASTIC THAT DEF NEEDS SORTING
DONT WE KNOW IT. I HAVING NOTHING AGAINST KIDS PLAY GAMES OVER THERE AGE GROUP AS I ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOW THAT IM OLD ENUFF TO PLAY WHATEVER I DO FIND IT VERY ANNOYING ON GAMES LIKE COD MW2 WHEN YA GOT SOME LIL KID TAKING THE p**s OR JUST BEING A GENERAL SPASTIC THAT DEF NEEDS SORTING
DONT WE KNOW IT. I HAVING NOTHING AGAINST KIDS PLAY GAMES OVER THERE AGE GROUP AS I ALWAYS HAVE BUT NOW THAT IM OLD ENUFF TO PLAY WHATEVER I DO FIND IT VERY ANNOYING ON GAMES LIKE COD MW2 WHEN YA GOT SOME LIL KID TAKING THE p**s OR JUST BEING A GENERAL SPASTIC THAT DEF NEEDS SORTING
Over Xmas I was stunned by the number of parents pointing out games such as MW2 or RESI 5 to children no more than knee high (between 5 - and going "is that the one you want"
Clearly this is wrong! Kids still attending primary school shouldnt be playing games with such content.
On a different note- how many people here have had their online experience playing an 18 rated game ruined because some irresponsible parent has handed over the mic / joypad to their pre pupescent child.
SHAME ON THOSE PARENTS - you are helping to wreck online communites - games that require skill and teamwork - skillsets that you develop in your teens and onwards.
Enough with the Lady GAGA singing, whining, etc -when Im playing an 18 rated game I want to play with other adults.
I - an average fourteen year old - watch those City Patrol shows on television, in which over-eighteens are beating each other in a drink-fuelled stupor with their jeans around their ankles, and then letting underage kids play eighteen rated games is wrong? It's laughable that some people can link games and a risk of murderous tendencies in their child. Graphics just aren't that advanced, and when did you last see yourself in third person? It's bordering on the edge of hypocrisy that adults can preach from their lofty position that 18R games are a bad influence on children, then go out and do absolutely ridiculous (childlike?) things in public when under the hazy influence of alcohol. Stupidity........
I saw what i think was a 7 year old discussing with his parents whether or not to get the hardened version of MW2. I find this really stupid. I guess I used to have games that were too 'old' for me, but not from that age. I couldn't help thinking there would be another stupid news article about it.
It should be up to the discretion of the parent - don't sell to people under the rating, but if a parent knows the child can "handle it" then that's their decision.
Let's face it, from 13/14 the majority can handle anything in an 18. It's pretty patronising to just assume otherwise (without looking at individual cases).
By the time you get to 16 or 17, that age certificate is nonsense. You can be married and have sex whenever you like, but you're not legally allowed to watch other people doing it. Weird and pointless.
That's a very good point which I've not thought of before. Though I'm guessing there's a possiblity it might be counter-argued due to psychology reasons most likely. Either that or it's just not been that well thought through.
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and going "is that the one you want"
