Is six-years-old too young to play GTA?
The title says it all, really. Would you allow a six-year-old to play a GTA game?
Depending on your point of view, allowing a six-year-old kid to play Grand Theft Auto is either no big deal (and probably a lot of fun for onlookers) or setting in motion a chain of events that will lead to a psychopathic murderer going on a killing spree in 20 years time.
I don’t believe the second scenario for even a moment, and only right-wing pessimists such as Jack Thompson do. But I’m not sure it’s no big deal either.
This subject has been inspired by an article on Game Judgment, where a writer recalls his experience of seeing a six-year-old merrily playing Grand Theft Auto IV. He’s not impressed, but he also doesn’t stop the kid from having a go as his father seems OK with it.
What do you think? If you have a kid that young do you allow them to play violent games involving murder and extended criminality? Do you worry about the consequences if you do?
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24 Responses to “Is six-years-old too young to play GTA?”
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October 24th, 2010
My son is 6 years old and there is no way that I would be letting him play GTA or any game like that.
Any games I play that are not appropriate for him I only play when he’s gone to bed.
But games like LBP, Modnation, the Lego series we play together.
October 25th, 2010
hell no. I didn’t even want my nephew playing GTA San Andreas when he got a PS2. I would say he was… probably 10-11 at the time.
It wasn’t really the age though, it was more like his mindset and behavior. Some kids are just more easily influenced than others.
October 25th, 2010
“I don’t believe the second scenario for even a moment…”. Well apparently you didn’t hear of the story of where a little kid was killed by his older sister and her boyfriend….because they were inspired by Mortal Kombat.
Or you didn’t hear about the lunatic nerd who ip traced someone and stabbed them for defeating him in a Counter Strike online match.
Video games, movies, books, cell phones, or whatever will ALWAYS have an effect on someone. Sometimes it’s a good effect, sometimes it’s not.
The best analogy I can portray to this is staring into the sun for a long time. If you can stare at the sun, given the “extreme” activity (lamens terms=energy) occurring on the sun (kind of like the “extreme” activity in GTA), and then look away without your eyes and brain being affected then I will kindly shut my mouth and go to sleep here in my bedroom. (It’s 5:27am
)
But do you understand the analogy I’m trying to make? GTA is filled with profane language, crime, prostitution, drug references, and all kinds of foul things of society that a 6 year old mind shouldn’t be exposed to yet….let alone ENGAGE in!
Hell, kids now in the 4th and 5th grade are already engaging in oral and anal sex!! lmao. And then some little kid sees a bukakke session in GTA and then decides to walk up to his teacher one day and pee on her face and say “Owned bitch! Yeah I just owned your face with my dick…erm errmm I mean my “Twinkle twinkle little star
.”
Lol…my view is this…When kids are old enough to own up for their own actions, then they can play such games. Although video games may not directly affect gamers, subliminally it can insert dark thoughts that may awaken sometime in the future.
But hey it’s not like movies don’t have the same influence either. Would you rather have your 6 year old son play GTA 4, or have your 6 year old daughter watch a Lady Gaga music video?
Tell me….truthfully…who will be impacted the most? Make a choice.
Alright ladies it’s time for the Sega man to jump under the sheets and hit some zzzzzz’s.
“Aaaand theeey saay that a heeeeerooo can save uusss! I’m not going to stand here and waaaait!….And they’re watching uusssss, waaaatching usss! They’re watching uuus! Watching usss!..”
Oh sorry lol…just listening to “Hero” by Chad Kroeger (of Nickelback) ft. Josey Scott from the Spiderman 2002 Soundtrack. Man that’s a great song!
October 25th, 2010
absolutely not.
October 25th, 2010
Young kids should not be playing games like this. The problem is that the parents come into the game stores and purchase these types of games anyways for their kids. I remember a young boy who came in the store who was around this age (who barely reached the countertop) that their parent purchased this game for. The salesman even took the time to explain to the parent what was in the game but the parent didn’t care. They purchased the game anyways for their kid.
October 25th, 2010
@ Twilight
and that little kid grew up to be CAD.
Lesson: letting unmature children play mature games will turn them into Bloody idiots
October 25th, 2010
“Or you didn’t hear about the lunatic nerd who ip traced someone and stabbed them for defeating him in a Counter Strike online match. ”
That can’t happen. There is no way the ISP is going to give out someone’s address and info to just anyone.
October 25th, 2010
CaptBirdman,
Lol.
October 25th, 2010
ncaissie
that did happen.
October 25th, 2010
The guy probably gave out his name some how.
It’s not hard to get my name and find me lol (watches his back).
October 25th, 2010
It’s funny how they think games like GTA are wrong but it’s ok for Mario to shoot everything in site with Fire balls. Like I said, does gaming make these killers or are they gust naturally killers that are simply attracted to games like that? I believe some people are just natural born killers.
October 25th, 2010
gust = just
October 25th, 2010
Thank goodness most of you tools won’t have the capacity to procreate. My 5 and 3 year old have both played GTA. No they don’t run around and bust caps. They just like it when dad steals a fire truck and they drive around spraying suckers with the hose. It’s great. The key is that they do it with me. Playing objectionable material isn’t a problem if it’s handled responsibly with an active adult to explain appropriateness with them. I won’t let them play it on end alone, though my son does like to play Superman Returns and I’ll let him thrash the city all day long.
We also play Avatar Drop and I don’t fear that they’ll turn into psychos that drop people off of buildings. We play ‘Try Not To Fart’ and I don’t worry that they’ll become hyper-flatulent. We play ‘Kingdom for Keflings’ and I don’t fear my daughter will learn to kick midgets.
In summary, it’s not the material it’s the parenting.
October 25th, 2010
“(watches his back)”
Lol I don’t know man. Given the Chinese hacking of our US Intelligence anything is possible these days. Haha I’ll admit that as a little kid I played matured games buuuut I was mature person. Given my height at the time people assumed that I was a teenager *snickers* lol.
Um anyways…no one has answered my question yet damnit!
October 25th, 2010
CAD is a fan of Justin Bieber…in fact I heard they live in they in the same neighborhood in Canada and they dress alike and each other’s hair.
October 25th, 2010
^^LOL Roca…ohh man that’s the cruelest insult I’ve seen on Blorge yet.
Ouch.
October 25th, 2010
Hahaaaaaa that was so funny that I forgot to laugh. -_-
October 26th, 2010
Mr. Parrack can you do me a favor and delete the 6th paragraph of my first post please? I went over-board in derogatory commenting and that specific paragraph of mine is disturbing.
So if you can can just delete or edit that paragraph please I would appreciate it, thanks.
October 26th, 2010
“Although video games may not directly affect gamers, subliminally it can insert dark thoughts that may awaken sometime in the future.”
This shows me that you believe it’s in the psychos already and will come out no matter what.
October 26th, 2010
You know what Dave just delete the entire thing…just delete the damn post! I’m getting owned right and left by that STUPID comment of mine. -_- lol.
Note to Future of Sega: If you have nothing good to say…then SHUT YOUR ASS!!!
My response: Yes mam…owned!
lmfao.
October 26th, 2010
LOL
October 26th, 2010
@Sega
Mam? Are you a dame too?
October 26th, 2010
@CaptBirdman
Shut up wise ass
lol.
October 27th, 2010
LMAO