What's your feeling on kids playing violent games?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:16 pm

I posted a new article on the homepage and I wanted to provide an outlet for people to express their opinion on this matter. Read the homepage to get the full story on why this came up.

KOF Clan Leader Joined: Nov 16, 2005 Posts: 3542

If I had kids......Then no way. Reading a book or playing outside would have to do. Or I would probably buy them a wii

KOF Clan Member Joined: Jun 05, 2006 Posts: 6138

i am very careful with what i let my children play. I believe that parents need to supervise what there children are playing. I don't trust the age guidelines. I have found things in games and on television that say they are age approved for my child that i believe are not.

I check all new cartoons, television shows, anything that they want to watch, i view first. I determine what is appropriate and what is not. Only the parent can be the true judge, not some stranger making up guidelines that they think are fit for young gamers/viewers.

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:58 pm

Gman wrote:

If I had kids......Then no way. Reading a book or playing outside would have to do. Or I would probably buy them a wii

I got my kids a Wii thinking that it would be a good choice. Now all they ever want to do is play video games. It doesn't even have to be the violent ones. I am a hard a$$ though and only let them play when they earn it....{does that make me a hypocrite since I play whenever I want?}

BTW, where is the article?

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:19 pm

I submitted it but it hasn't been posted to the homepage. I'm waiting for the approving people to approve it.

BTW, we have a wii but i dont let them play whenever they want. my 7 yr old has do his homework first and then he can play.

Spammer Joined: Feb 27, 2007 Posts: 699

I'm going to probably be one of the minority here, but I'm of the opinion that I dont need to monitor the content of the games or movies. That doesnt mean I wont pay attention or warn my children about the violence, language, or other issues. It just means that I think there are other more important issues I should be worried about.

Let's just forget about the video games and TV shows/movies for a second, and lets look at reality. We have wars, terrorism, rape, murder, child abuse, family abuse, drug abuse, etc etc....and that's just on the news. That's not including the shit you see walking down the street, living across the road, or next door. Let's also include the things your kids hear at school, at the playground, at home, or in the stores from other people. Rampant profanity, vulgarity, racism, etc....

When you get all that out of their faces and away from their ears, then you should be concerned with their video games and cartoons. They see all that crap on a daily basis, and most of the time they are already becoming dead to the reality of those issues and problems.

I grew up watching all the scariest movies, any book I wanted, watched virtually any tv shows I wanted.... but I also had a parent who took the time to explain and make me understand the differences and who made sure I still was an active child. Books were my best friend growing up, and reading about sword fights, battles, and gruesome plots and deaths were always things I wanted to read more of. It didnt make me twisted and demented.

I feel as long as you find a good middle ground between staying active and allowing them to play as they want, your kid or kids are less likely to try and do things behind your back.

Most of the lame excuses about video game or TV show violence being responsible for our kids being violent or out of control is a joke. It's called an easy out. They blame it because people dont want to take ownership of the fact they are lousy parents or simply werent being there for their kids.

Can video games accelerate violent tendencies? Sure it can, just like drugs, alcohol, abuse, and adrenaline. However, that doesnt make it the reason. Your living enviroment is 500% more likely to encourage or push your violent tendencies then a stupid video game.

Do you really think that people who live in bad neighborhoods kill, sell drugs, do drugs, rape, and fight because they play video games or watch violent shows? Nope...they do it because thats what they are taught and thats what rules their lives...

Like I said, I'm more likely in the minority.....but I just feel that more of the issues are beyond the video games, and the video games are an easy excuse.

KOF Clan Leader Joined: Nov 16, 2005 Posts: 3542

DevilsReject97 wrote:

I'm going to probably be one of the minority here, but I'm of the opinion that I dont need to monitor the content of the games or movies. That doesnt mean I wont pay attention or warn my children about the violence, language, or other issues. It just means that I think there are other more important issues I should be worried about.

Let's just forget about the video games and TV shows/movies for a second, and lets look at reality. We have wars, terrorism, rape, murder, child abuse, family abuse, drug abuse, etc etc....and that's just on the news. That's not including the shit you see walking down the street, living across the road, or next door. Let's also include the things your kids hear at school, at the playground, at home, or in the stores from other people. Rampant profanity, vulgarity, racism, etc....

When you get all that out of their faces and away from their ears, then you should be concerned with their video games and cartoons. They see all that crap on a daily basis, and most of the time they are already becoming dead to the reality of those issues and problems.

I grew up watching all the scariest movies, any book I wanted, watched virtually any tv shows I wanted.... but I also had a parent who took the time to explain and make me understand the differences and who made sure I still was an active child. Books were my best friend growing up, and reading about sword fights, battles, and gruesome plots and deaths were always things I wanted to read more of. It didnt make me twisted and demented.

I feel as long as you find a good middle ground between staying active and allowing them to play as they want, your kid or kids are less likely to try and do things behind your back.

Most of the lame excuses about video game or TV show violence being responsible for our kids being violent or out of control is a joke. It's called an easy out. They blame it because people dont want to take ownership of the fact they are lousy parents or simply werent being there for their kids.

Can video games accelerate violent tendencies? Sure it can, just like drugs, alcohol, abuse, and adrenaline. However, that doesnt make it the reason. Your living enviroment is 500% more likely to encourage or push your violent tendencies then a stupid video game.

Do you really think that people who live in bad neighborhoods kill, sell drugs, do drugs, rape, and fight because they play video games or watch violent shows? Nope...they do it because thats what they are taught and thats what rules their lives...

Like I said, I'm more likely in the minority.....but I just feel that more of the issues are beyond the video games, and the video games are an easy excuse.

Indeed......I just wouldn't want one of my kids to own me in FPS and then tell me about it at the dinner table Laughing

But I totally agree with your statement

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:06 pm

I don't feel most kids have developed a good enough distinction between fantasy and reality.

KOF Clan Member Joined: Dec 11, 2006 Posts: 422

Pain999 wrote:

I don't feel most kids have developed a good enough distinction between fantasy and reality.

x2

I believe our environment can affect us, especially to kids. I think our world is challenging enough without subjecting kids to violent video games. Kids can become desensitized enough with society alone.

I remember watching a court program a few months ago. The defense lawyer explained his defense of someone who killed his neighbor in a rather horrific fashion, and it was caught on tape. The lawyer said if you show the jury the video just once then they are horrified, and his case has no chance. If you show it twenty times then the jury becomes desensitized and his odds dramatically improves.

I agree with theWife in monitoring video game contect yourself. You can't trust a government agency for anything these days (yeah, guess what I rated on the politics test). Wink

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:20 am

I picked the "Creepy" response, because the answer I would have given wasn't on the list. To me, it was unclear of the word "allowed" in the premise statement meant "allowed by parents" or "allowed by the government."

I would have liked the following choice shown on the list: "Give parents a simple and accurate rating system for sex/violence content and then let them make the decision." That way each parent's choice is based on their knowledge of their own kid(s). That's close to what we have now, but I'd like to see the system improved to provide a bit more info.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 12:17 pm

This is particularly in reply to Devil and GMan since Devil's reply is more of a testament to why controlling a childs playing time is wrong -and G because he agreed with him.

First let me say Hi Devil I'm glad your still around. And second...

The poll question was "Should young kids be allowed to play violent video games?"

I have to say that all the "facts" presented not withstanding; I don't believe anyone here really knows exactly how violent video games effect the behavior of every child at every age - (perhaps including greater than 30) I bring this up because I want everyone to understand that those evil people who do make laws that we disagree with - such as age limits on certain activities - likely do so with just the same amount or kinds of "facts" that have been presented here. Meaning, most of these "facts" look to me to be "feelings" and moral judgment backed up by little facts that tend to support some position and NOT substantive facts.

Raggety I was going to vote NO because I don't think kids should be spending significant portions of their time sitting stationary for long periods of times playing anything especially video games. But your question suggests to me that you are more interested in only those games deemed violent, so I just don't know that I care because I don't know how they really affect a child's behavior, and I haven't yet let a chorus of generalizations convince me one way or another.

Spammer Joined: Feb 27, 2007 Posts: 699

If all video games were used for teaching and learning, we wouldnt care how often a kid played. It's simply a matter that they are used for recreation that causes the issue. The level of violence is based on upon a parents view of whats violent.

I just feel that focusing on video game violence, when there are far more pressing violence issues that a child will face every day in the real world, is being overboard.

Whats the point in keeping the violent games away when they can turn on the news or a tv show and see just as violent acts? What about going to school and watching kids beat up or shoot one another?

I do feel that parents should be involved and keeping an eye on what their children do. By keeping an eye on habits and playing time, these can be far more preventive tools then simply banning violence in general. I agree with requiring games for children under a certain age to have a rating, but I also feel that its ultimately up to the parent whether the child should play. Some kids are just far more mature and understanding at certain ages then others...

KOF Clan Member Joined: Jun 05, 2006 Posts: 6138

i truly believe that it is up to the parent to determine what is appropriate for there own children to play/watch/listen too. I don't trust others to determine that for me. If my child hears or sees something that i deem inappropriate, its time for a chat.

I have been in the car driving and have had to change the radio station due to songs or things being said that i don't approve of. Its up to the parent to supervise the children, and then talk to them when questions need to be answered, or issues need to be discussed.

Its not my neighbors job, my governments job, the schools systems job, or my villages job. It is up to me to raise a honest upstanding law abiding citizen.

Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:29 pm

thewife wrote:

i truly believe that it is up to the parent to determine what is appropriate for there own children to play/watch/listen too. I don't trust others to determine that for me. If my child hears or sees something that i deem inappropriate, its time for a chat.

I have been in the car driving and have had to change the radio station due to songs or things being said that i don't approve of. Its up to the parent to supervise the children, and then talk to them when questions need to be answered, or issues need to be discussed.

Its not my neighbors job, my governments job, the schools systems job, or my villages job. It is up to me to raise a honest upstanding law abiding citizen.

Well Said!! I agree with this 100%.....put bluntly my children are mine and my wifes responsibility and NO ONE ELSES!! (yes! that is assuming I am not breaking the law and even there we may have some gray areas)

Spammer Joined: Feb 27, 2007 Posts: 699

thewife wrote:

i truly believe that it is up to the parent to determine what is appropriate for there own children to play/watch/listen too. I don't trust others to determine that for me. If my child hears or sees something that i deem inappropriate, its time for a chat.

I have been in the car driving and have had to change the radio station due to songs or things being said that i don't approve of. Its up to the parent to supervise the children, and then talk to them when questions need to be answered, or issues need to be discussed.

Its not my neighbors job, my governments job, the schools systems job, or my villages job. It is up to me to raise a honest upstanding law abiding citizen.

Precisely!!!!!