GTA5 - regarding younger people playing the game

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Wolfpup

Member
Jan 25, 2006
151
1
81
I haven't read any "official" threads about the game so I don't know if this is covered or not, but the sheer amount of younger (age 6-13 year olds) who I hear about playing this game baffles me. I live in a relatively well off area of town, midwest America, but my kids come home from school and all their friends are talking about is how fun GTA5 is and all the fun things you can do with hookers, etc. I won't let my 10 yr old go play at his friend's house right now because I know all they will do is play the game and it's just not something I'm going to let him do.

Are parents this obtuse when it comes to the game and what is in it, or am I just being too much of a helicopter parent? I let my kids watch pg-13 and R rated movies with me as long as there is no nudity and we talk about the movie afterwards, but there's just no way in hell I'm going to let them play this game.

I'm horrified that parents let kids play stuff like this. At the same time, I hate to have a child not be "in" with stuff if everyone else is playing it, etc.

Ugh, some M rated stuff I'd be more okay with, but... well, I just wish parents would be more with it on this stuff. There's plenty of good E and T rated games.
 

Wolfpup

Member
Jan 25, 2006
151
1
81
While I don't think a good parent would buy this game for their child, you know the game exists and you know his friends have it. This means eventually he's going to play it.

So you should sit down with him and talk about it. Talk about what the violence is and the difference between fantasy and reality. Talk about why these things are wrong and give him the benefit of some context before he plays it.

This is like ignoring sex until you catch your kid balls deep in a classmate.

I think that's a great idea! Most realistic way to deal with it.
 

Zor Prime

Golden Member
Nov 7, 1999
1,023
588
136
Depends on how mature the kids are. I have two young boys that are close in age. One acts 3 sometimes, the other acts like an adult almost. Just depends. Can't put a number on maturity. Things ain't black & white.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Official method to have your kid living with you their whole life:

1) teach them being smart is for nerds. Get a "My zombie kid ate your honor kid student's brain!" bumper sticker for all your vehicles.

2) cuss and drive like an asshat with them in the car.

3) cuss and shop like an asshat in the grocery store.

4) cuss and mess around with each other in front of the kid inappropriately. Bonus points for saying "Careful or we will make another mistake" and pointing at the kid.

5) buy video games that promote the same. Play them with the kid and teach them to screw hookers and then kill them.