-
Posts
-
This young lad has been sent to prison for acting out the violence he witnessed whilst playing Grand theft Auto. Do you think that the games really are to blame? Or is that just an excuse?
Is it the parents fault for letting them have the game in the first place? Would you let your kids play this game, even though it is for over 18,s?
@bat wrote:
This young lad has been sent to prison for acting out the violence he witnessed whilst playing Grand theft Auto. Do you think that the games really are to blame? Or is that just an excuse?
Is it the parents fault for letting them have the game in the first place? Would you let your kids play this game, even though it is for over 18,s?
Personally Bat,,,,my son played this game with a freind at 13/14,,,,,as far as he was concerned it was a game. It certainly didn’t have him trawling the streets looking for victims, nor has it had this effect on anyone else I know who has played it.
It’s more a convenient excuse, of which there are far too many in play in our justice system. Oh! it wasnt my fault, i’m the age of consent but my parents never taught me right from wrong,,,,,, it wasnt my fault, I had a bad upbringing, etc etc etc.
I’d like to say that i’m glad he’s gotten 8 years in prison. The women he attacked must have been terrified, and unlike him, will no doubt in many ways, serve a life sentence. He though, will have access to these same computer games in prison, so wheres the punishment :roll:
Hmmm.. very good question Bat.
I have to admit I have been guilty in the past and I let my then 12 yr old play on grand theft auto.. and other games that were labeled as 18+. I knew in my heart of hearts though that my son knew what the character in the game was doing was wrong. I once asked him if he thought that running people over and shooting people was right. the response i got back was ‘mam I’m not stupid, I wouldn’t really do it in real life.. duhhh’
It did make me a bit concerned though, when he yelled with delight as he shot another passer by in his game.
I suppose it’s all about educating your kids to know right from wrong and reality from fiction.
I often think those kids that commit similar acts to the games they are playing have issues in their life anyway, and get fiction mixed up with real life.
It’s perfectly simple really. We are all influenced by what we view, hear and read. For those who argue that children..or indeed adults..are not influenced by violence whether on a tv screen or games console..then let them explain the reason why advertisers spend billions every day on persuading us what to eat, what to wear, what car to drive, where to go on holiday, what house to buy, down to what condoms we use.
A child raised by wolves, behaves as a wolf.
I think the fact he was on drugs is more of a problem.
All theses sort of stories allways go back to the parents. They should not let their child smoke drugs and they shouldn’t be giving them money to spend on these games and on drugs.i dont think these games r responsible, u cannot blame watchin tv or playin games as an excuse for anyfin, i have the news on in my house everyday, my kids watch it & comment but i dont 4 1 second expect them to go out & either declare war, become a serial killer, shoot/stab some1 for the sheer hell of it or start runnin people down nor unfortunatly do i expect them 2 become mangers of football teams, millionaires, hold parties on massive yaghts or save the world. the latter would b nice but im realistic, im also responsible 4 teachin them rite & wrong, yep thats my job not the games console or tvs, mine
@bat wrote:
This young lad has been sent to prison for acting out the violence he witnessed whilst playing Grand theft Auto. Do you think that the games really are to blame? Or is that just an excuse?
Is it the parents fault for letting them have the game in the first place? Would you let your kids play this game, even though it is for over 18,s?
I suppose most probably think, “it’s only a computer game”, how can that be to blame, but everything can influence a mind, whether it’s a game or film.
If the child playing the game isn’t at the mature age, then yes, they probably would act out what they’re seeing, because they’re vulnerable, and think it’s natural. So, there are reasons (in my eyes) as to why most games have an age restriction applied to it.
My son has some violent games – he’s in his mid teens now. We didn’t really approve of him having them but he’s a gentle person, not into real-life violence or agression at all.
But I do think that violent games can influence some more impressionable people. Also I wonder about some of these driving car chase games might be a bit dodgy if you have to go out and drive a real car after a long session o, for example, Gran Torismo!!
Get involved in this discussion! Log in or register now to have your say!