I think shops should be shut down if they are caught Selling a R Rated Title to kids

[-Dark-Knight-]

Its not much of an issue, as opposed to say cigarettes and alcohol. Hell I just started a thread on it

lol.
I think you did.
Now that, i agree on.

 

[Yuppirox]

I don't think shops should be shut down... I think employees should be fired. D:

Seriously, though. It's mostly the parent's fault for not being with their underage children when buying a certain video game or movie. It's not the stores fault (most of the time), it's the parent's fault.

 

[iCharmarc]

in america its 17+ and u can buy mature games.

 

[Darkrai0203]

This is a bunch of BS

Kids don't make bad choices just because of movies

 

[Erfinjerfin]

GTA exists for doing things that would be moronic to do in real life. That's what's enjoyable about it - you don't actually die or get arrested.

 

[maxelle]

I get so angry at Stupid Parents who blame games for being too violent for their kids... IMO we should be Fineing Stores who are ignoring the rateings and Selling these games to Kids WITH or WITHOUT their Parents consent.

If a game says its for 16+ then it should be only for people who are 16 years or older! I do not give a rats *** if you are 14 and say " but im mature sir I am not going to go kill ppl lulz wtfzors" you can wait 2 years THEN you can get that game..

I Caught out EB games in my area selling a Game with a R16 Rateing to someone who was Clearly Under the age of 12.. and what gets me angry is that the kid who bought the game had NO Parent or Guardian with him while he was purchaseing said game..

And before people get on the bandwagon saying " Dweedle hates violent games gtfo of my forum you noobzor " I play HEAPS of violent games.. but I have the Mental Capacity to know what Fantasy and Reality is.. I do not believe a 10 year old is capable of understanding the Difference between Grand theft Auto and Real life.. the Rateings System does not think that a 10 year old can understand Fantasy from Real Life.. so why does a God Damn Ignorant Parent who thinks " Video Game = Scrabble " think that their 10 year old Child will know the difference between Fantasy and Real Life?

Just had to vent this.. It gets me so angry that Entertaining games are being Demonized by Moronic Parents who dont know **** about Video Game rateings.

(YEAH I know GTA 4 is R18 in NZ but hey! Im 17 and 1 and a half halves so meh im a Hypocrite but I still have a point)

(Holds Flame Sheild)

Wow you clearly need to get a life. Oh I'm 13 and playing a game with blood! I might get nasty thoughts in my head!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!! Please. No one cares. They are games and movie being discriminated against for what is in them and they are the better movies/ games anyway. no one wants to play Pretty Princess Saves the Day, they want Manhunt, they want violence, they want gore. It's just something you gotta get used too. Plus some of us don't want to wait to watch or play games a couple years later. By then we might loose interest or maybe move on to something else. WE want it now. (Not the case for me cause I'm always gonna love horror movies)

And in case you haven't noticed I am a horror buff. I'm 13 and I don't give a damn about ratings. I have seen PG-13, R , and Unrated movie and I am not killing people or thinking about it. I just don't think that it should be against the law to sell movies and games to kids (Like me), if they are "To Violent" "To Gory" or "To Scary".

Give me a break.

The rating system is there for a reason and are appropriately rated. However its the parents job to know what their kid is playing and decide if that is something they should or should not be exposed to based on the maturity of their child.

Is the rating system fair? I think so. Does it apply to everyone? No, every person is different but you can not possibly have a rating system that caters to every individual, that's why regulations and guidelines are set in place for the mean of the population.

Should the stores be shut down if they fail to uphold the regulations? I don't think so. Should the employee be fired? I don't think so; at least not on their first or second offense. If they are deliberately failing to enforce the rules then yes they should be fired but people do make mistakes. There are some 15 and 16 year old kids with beards so a judgment call could easily be proven wrong.

Ultimately it boils down to this. Its up to the parents to determine whether or not their child's age applies to these guidelines. After all, the rating system is nothing more than guidelines based off the average person of each age group. Guidelines that should be enforced by the third party and further regulated by parents.

I think the rating system is backwards and screwed up.

Yeah, 10 year olds should not be able to walk into a store and buy a M rated game. It's rated M for a reason. But it's the parents responsibility to know what their kids are playing, not the store clerk. If the parents aren't involved, and the clerk won't sell them the game, they WILL find a way to get a hold of it either way.

Most of the time they aren't M or R for a reason. Some kids 14= should be able to handle it. And if they can't then don't buy or play it. Its that simple. But don't ruin it for those of us who do.

plus nobody wants little children to play games at a young age. it's better for them to socialise with friends. i've seen people's life being destroyed just because all they do is game, game, game.

Not all of us like to socialize. I revolve my life around my friends, movies/ games, soccer, and school. And I'm fine. I watch violent movies, have fun with friends and play whatever I want and I don't have a problem putting down the controller. And for the record not every kid likes to hang out with others. It's their DECISION to do whatever they please (Or it should be) because its their childhood and they should spend it however they want.

Yeah, I guess. But people always fail to understand something: NO PERSON YOU (not you exactly, but just the average person) OR I HAVE EVER MET IS GOING TO BLOW SOMEBODY'S HEAD OFF BECAUSE THEY SAW TERMINATOR OR PLAYED GTA/HALO. The world needs to stop perpetuating Jack Thompson. Eleven times out of ten, people can discriminate between reality and video games. Really. If we put all the anti-video game/R-rated movie politicians, pundits, and lawyers in a room with an X-Box and a myriad of violent games, when they come out, they won't start attempting to murder people.
And then there are the annoying ****s who take things too far. "You can't see this UNRATED movie because you aren't seventeen" or "You need your parents here to buy that E10 video game"

Exactly. I am getting sick and tired of this happening.

 

[maxelle]

Part Two.

Do you know anything about small children at all? I'm not even close to an expert on this but it is well known that most small children are complete idiots by adult or even older child standards. Things even as simple as shapes and colors are too complex for children below a certain age. From up until about 5 years old, children's minds are still developing rapidly. The mental difference between an 8 and 9 year old are much smaller than 3 and 4year old. Small childrens' minds are very simple, they can't comprehend the difference between fantasy and reality.

Your kidding me. You can't say anything about that till you have met every 3-4 year old and 8-9 year old to actually claim its true. I am mature for my age (I have been told this so many times it gets old. So I'm not saying this most adults are)
I have met very childish adults who shouldn't be allowed any privileges cause more than likely they will hurt themselves. And I also have met many kids that are intelligent, and very courteous. And who cares if we play games and watch movies they entertain the 13= market. Stop trying to censor our every move. It only wants us to break away from you and further ourselves from you.

Btw you aren't a hypocrite if you're 17 and a half...
GTA4 is a dangerous game, i agree

That reminds me of a funny story. Yes kids are buying games they shouldn't buy.

I remember playing for this group of kids in elementary school (Grades 1-5 for clarification) We were playing the halo theme song, and our conductor asked, who has played halo before?
Almost all the kids raised their hands XD

But on a more on topic note, stores shouldn't be closed for selling games, they should just be out of reach, such as an 18 yr old or up area for people 18+ or kids with a parent. However, a parent should somehow be forced to actually RESEARCH the game before they buy it. Some parents i agree, are very very stupid.

However, Shutting down stores will kinda make most people unhappy who actually are 18+.

If some bratty 12 yr old kid came in and managed to get a game and the only store that isn't 50 miles from your house closed, how would that feel?

And edit, to mr. Joker.
You don't give a rat's arse to a kid who can possibly be mentally disturbed, and added a GTA 4 game, they could go out , get guns, and kill people? Possibly your family members or yourself?

Mentally disturbed kids are the ones who should be restricted from it. But what about mentally disturbed adults who CAN buy them legally. Most of the time They are even a greater risk and its legal for them.


Seriously? Another one of the seriously annoying people on this thread. I am getting so sick and tired of you people thinking ALL of us aren't mature till we hit 18. So on my 18th Birthday I will be like "Oh my God!! I can understand Fantasy from Reality I can play violent video games and not be mentally disturbed. Hahahahahahha"

No.

The truth is it depends on the person. I' mfine with it but a 21 year olld may not be. But an 11 year could be. And grandma across the street might not be.

They really shouldn't let kids play these games. I used to have a friend in late elementary school that was extremely violent. He would talk about violent things, and even sometimes hurt you. (in a just playing around manor though, not spitefully) All because he played Halo all the time.

Or maybe it was something else. You have no idea why he was violent unless you walked 2 miles in his shoes. (Quote from a book meaning spend one day as him/her and see what its like)

 

[MetalMario]

(Long thread. Pardon me if this has already been discussed.)

I played Command & Conquer when I was 10. Heck, I played Wolfenstein when I was seven, and I think I turned out alright. o,o

I'm glad I grew up before all these crazy laws came to be.

Ratings are overrated and aren't that big a deal. We only have to blame the soccer moms who want Mass Media to raise their kids for them so they don't have to. If parents would actually take a look at what's IN these games, they could make a much better call than by just blindly following a rating.

Stores aren't to blame. Kids aren't to blame. Game companies aren't to blame. Parents are.

 

[-Dark-Knight-]

I think they shouldnt.
Cmon, why cant little kids experience some head shots, horror, and some freaky beast?

 

[Eivana]

I don't think the shops should be shut down, but the parents should watch the children better... And the employees are to blame. Fire them, do whatever with them. But not go to the extreme as to shut the place down. That could be a major inconvenience.

 

[(s.i.e)]

Not all of us like to socialize. I revolve my life around my friends, movies/ games, soccer, and school. And I'm fine. I watch violent movies, have fun with friends and play whatever I want and I don't have a problem putting down the controller. And for the record not every kid likes to hang out with others. It's their DECISION to do whatever they please (Or it should be) because its their childhood and they should spend it however they want.

that is the most ignorant, irresponsible, and selfish nonsense i have heard in quite a while, there are limits and children should be protected from it as they sometimes are too young and inexperienced to understand it. plus add that to the fact that the child is not the only one living in the house and therefor it is not a smart decision to let them do whatever they please.

and even as some kids don't prever to socialise for any reason they got it is advicable to stimulate them into getting more interest in it again instead of leaving things like it is and allowing them dissapear from the outside world.

those nannyshows form a good example of what would happen when kids can do what they want. sooner or later the parent won't know how to deal properly with them which will cause even more problems. i suggest you watch one of them, that is practically what happens if people with simulair ideas like you manage to get even more rights for kids of an even lower age.

it already bugs me that 12 to 16 year olds can smoke pod and drink alcohol on the playground in the park. it wil not be solved by telling them that they can do what they want because they are not ready to take the responsibility.

 

[Honsy]

that is the most ignorant, irresponsible, and selfish nonsense i have heard in quite a while, there are limits and children should be protected from it as they sometimes are too young and inexperienced to understand it.

Agreed.

Sure, if a kid is mentally stable, is not very impressionable and can tell the difference between real life and a video game, it's fine.

However, I do think that we should protect the children that are not ready for that.

Also childhood is not a time of 'doing whatever you want'. The way I see it, childhood is a time of learning.

12 to 16 year olds can smoke pod and drink alcohol on the playground in the park.

Wait...what?

 

[derekkoch]

this is definete BS because i've been playing mortal kombat since i was like 6 and that is truely brutal...yet you don't see me runnign around with a katana chopping people in half with their guts flying everywhere and their spine in two

 

[Galluo]

Kids are smarter than you think. If I actually followed the rating I would have never found out about smash bros or even watched the Matrix. (That movie rules) I do agree that maybe some kids like younger than 5 should probably not be playing M games or watching R movies. Also while I don't see anyone shooting random people, these days all people talk about at my school is blowing things up and shooting things which I guess is a bit disturbing...

 

[Zazie]

Your kidding me. You can't say anything about that till you have met every 3-4 year old and 8-9 year old to actually claim its true. I am mature for my age (I have been told this so many times it gets old. So I'm not saying this most adults are)
I have met very childish adults who shouldn't be allowed any privileges cause more than likely they will hurt themselves. And I also have met many kids that are intelligent, and very courteous. And who cares if we play games and watch movies they entertain the 13= market. Stop trying to censor our every move. It only wants us to break away from you and further ourselves from you.

While children develop at different rates there is a certain point where almost all of them should know a given thing and the only exceptions are either child prodigies or mentally handicapped. I am referring to those that don't fall under the latter two categories.

Where did I say anything about whether 13 year olds should do anything? Also where did I mention anything about censor anything either? I was saying that it is a bad idea for small children to play video games I didn't say anywhere that they should be banned from doing it.

 

[(s.i.e)]

Wait...what?

in the nearest town (which is practically a city) there used to be a problem with teenagers that well... just sit on parkbenches doing nothing. like i said 12 to 16 year olds drinking and smoking all kinds of stuff.

it has been taken care of for the most now however it still forms a good example of what will happen if young children get the oppertunity to do whatever they like in their childhood. kids can easely be convinced to do bad things.

 

[CrossTheRoad]

I dont think it matters

 

[Brettt]

this is definete BS because i've been playing mortal kombat since i was like 6 and that is truely brutal...yet you don't see me runnign around with a katana chopping people in half with their guts flying everywhere and their spine in two

Probably because there aren't any katanas in your immediate vicinity.

Ratings can sometimes seem stupid, and I agree that they can be outrageous, like Call of Duty or something somewhat realistic. But I think it is just common knowledge not to sell those overly disgusting violent games to people under 12. I mean, by 12, unless you live a VERY sheltered life, you have been exposed to at least small amounts of such violence on TV, movies, etc, and you have become jaded to an extent, but allowing like a six year old to play games like No More Heroes is just stupid, because obviously children are much more impressionable at that age. We must remember that at like age 10, children are already somewhat jaded, because I recall kids about that age on my bus who drew violent things (People getting blown up, hung, etc) but they were normal. Annoying, but still normal. There are certain ratings that shouldn't be played by a younger age, but I think divvying out the age-based ratings (3+, 10+, 12+, 16+, etc) isn't going to do any good, and rather they should have two ratings: Mature and Innocent. Now as stupid as that may sound, it is much easier to determine whether or not your child should be exposed to such sexual and violent themes.

Now, we all know that that is not the current rating system nor the point of the thread, but we do know that many shops do break these rules and sell children violent games when they are below the age. Now, when it is an obvious disregard for the ratings and everyone can see that its a mistake, the employee should be fired, but if it wasn't too much of a mistake, such as selling a 15 year old a 16+ game, they should be given some slack, because it is too difficult to determine whether or not the child should play the game when they are within a year or a few months of the next rating increment.

On the whole, I don't personally play many videogames, and so, I don't feel particularly affected by this issue, but I would prefer it if there were less kids out there who became messed up by playing violent video games too young for too long.

 

[I cant think of a name]

If a parents don't want their kid playing a certain game then they should supervise what their kid buys and plays.

Maybe this thread should be moved to the debate forum.

 

[CombeeKing]

I Acually Stopped Reading Ur Post, Because The ERSB Ratings Say You Can't Buy A Certain Game At A Certain Age, But, If Your Parents/Guardian Believe You Are Mature Enough, They Should Be Able To Buy That Game.