Is it okay for parents to blatantly disregard ratings?

[Eri]

Not the parent based on half the ones I've seen.

So you're trying to tell me you know what's better for a kid than their parent?

Except most of "that kind" of parents don't care about ratings and just do whatever they want. I wonder if that translates into them not caring about the kid sometimes, if they just don't care.

If they want to take a kid to a MA15+ film then they have every right to do so & you are wrong to judge them for that.

Are you trying to tell me there is no such thing as a bad parent? If they have every right to take their kid, I have every right to criticize something I feel is immoral. You're wrong to tell me I shouldn't.

 

[llamastorm.games]

Surely it depends on the kind of film
I remember Die Hard being an 18, the original one. I'd let my 10 year old watch that but Saw is also an 18 and i'd never let a 10 year old watch that.

 

[Eri]

Are you trying to tell me there is no such thing as a bad parent? If they have every right to take their kid, I have every right to criticize something I feel is immoral. You're wrong to tell me I shouldn't.

A bad parent is not someone who takes their kid to see Saw because they want to. A bad parent is the one who leaves the kid in the car while they go watch the film.

So you think something is immoral, go make a thread about it & call anyone who disputes you wrong for the sole reason of disputing you? Why the fuck did you make the thread then, so people could agree with you?

A parent who takes their child to see saw is the definition of bad parent. Also, not saying this is why for me, but yes many people do make threads for people to agree with them.

 

[Eri]

A parent who takes their child to see saw is the definition of bad parent. Also, not saying this is why for me, but yes many people do make threads for people to agree with them.

I pity your children if that's what you think a bad parent is.
Will you be taking plastic toolkits off them too? Keeping them away from sports lest they think it's okay to touch other men?

Those are not good threads.

Yeah because tools and sports have tons in common with blood, gore and torture. Ill keep that in mind.

 

[Dodgeboyuk]

i dont have a problem with parents buying video games for children even mature ones as long as they are sure the child can handle it

but if they do this then also need to balls to conficate their video games based on the age rating for bad behaviour rather than a blanket ban on them playing video games movies and television or worse banning only one of them so they still have a mature media outlet

this sends a different message:

blanket bans just say i hate you to the child

gradual loss of mature content says grow up or keep losing

example:
so say a 15 year old has movies and games of all ratings and has behaviour issues

1)
the first step is to take away the 18 rated games and movies and ban any late night tv
2)
if the problem persists then take away the 15 rated games, movies and increase the tv ban by an hour or maybe two
3)
if its still problem they lose their 12 rated games,movies and are not allowed to watch tv past the watershed period

so at the the third step they have had games and movies below their own age rating taken away this would be a bit Humiliating because you would be saying your not mature for the games below your own age catogory and can onlt watch stuff rated U and PG (based on the BRITISH classication system) surely at this point they would get the message and make the choice to lose it all or behave and earn it back

 

[Eri]

Yeah because tools and sports have tons in common with blood, gore and torture. Ill keep that in mind.

Do what you like with your kids then, just stay the hell away from anyone else's.

Right back at you bub.

 

[DforSpiD]

It wouldn't kill a parent to actually look into what they are buying for their children, maybe even try playing it first, and determine for themselves whether their child is mature enough to deal with the content.
But many parents are too stupid, lazy or just don't care enough and will mindlessly give things to their children then complain that these games are corrupting our kids without the slightest regard for the fact that the biggest influence on a child is the one coming from them

 

[Ericb]

As always, I must recommend against feeding trolls. Thank you.

Back on topic...

Only if they lose the right to complain about kids playing/watching said items.

That's a pretty damn good retort. I wish more parents who complain about violent movies/games/songs/whatever would have the kind of logical vision.

But...

But many parents are too stupid, lazy or just don't care enough and will mindlessly give things to their children then complain that these games are corrupting our kids without the slightest regard for the fact that the biggest influence on a child is the one coming from them

Alas.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

Is drowning detrimental to your health?

Phew. For a while now I've been worried that failed logic only existed in forums I frequented. Now I can confirm fully that stupidity is simply an inherent characteristic of the human race.

Unlike drowning, knife wounds, bullets, and Twilight, watching somebody die while you're six causes no significant harm to the body's capability for respiration. Ratings, like laws, are not passed down by infallible people, they're created by lots of old white puritanical men who hate puppies and rainbows.

The short answer to the question is: Yes. It is completely okay.

The long answer is: The old white puritanical puppy-haters have a point. My general policy is to adjust each rating down one notch - in other words, R is appropriate for the PG-13 bracket, PG-13 is appropriate for the PG bracket, and PG is appropriate for the G bracket, and G is appropriate for...unborn souls, I guess. It is completely up to the discretion of the parent, and the discretion of the child. If a child has no desire to see Saw 3D, they probably shouldn't.

Then of course there's the fact that all ratings are not created equal. America gives violence a long leash but is terrified of sex and nudity, whereas European countries more or less invert that.

So the summary of the long answer is: Yes, it is completely okay, but think about it. The day I let a guy on a rating board decide what I child can and can't watch is the day I do something that I haven't thought of yet but I'll come up with it soon and it will be impressive.

 

[sumanoskae]

I don't personally believe in any form of censorship.

In terms of it's effect on the kid...

Well, it obviously isn't going to make them kill people, if it does, we have a names for that... schizophrenia, psychopathy... take your pick

As for their own personal health, if it disturbs them then they'll just stop playing, if it doesn't, then what's to worry about. Last I checked, one needs to experience trauma in order to be traumatized.

I admit that if my 7 year old was playing and enjoying God of War, I'd be concerned. But I wouldn't take it from him/her, I'd just talk to them. If I took it, not only would I be depriving them of something they liked, but I'd make them obsessed, paint myself as a prick and hurt the relationship. If they're honestly getting off on hurting what they perceive as people, then is making them feel ashamed or angry, and depriving them of an outlet really going to help them?

So I say... yeah, it's really not that big a deal. Making mistakes and getting hurt sometimes is part of life. You can't teach people life's hard lessons, they have to learn them on their own

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

I've been playing M rated games since I was 8, (gotta love Mortal Kombat!)... And look how I turned out!

... I think that just negatively impacted my cause didn't it?

OT: It depends on the kid, not the parent, because chances are that kid is gonna be playing the game somewhere somehow anyway...

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Sure, as long as they take responsibility if their kids do something stupid...

 

[AngryFrenchCanadian]

It's not "Ok", but it's their right. The ratings are merely a suggestion.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I'm fine with parents buying any game for their child. Many kids handle each thing differently, and it's something a parent will know.