Is it okay for parents to blatantly disregard ratings?

[PlasmaSnake13]

Technically: They can do w/e they want with their kids, as long as they aren't forcing it on you or your (possible) kids.

Logically: No, they shouldn't be bringing their kids to 17+ movies. I look back at PG-13 movies now and see tons of stuff that I can't believe got past the rating, so let's not even dive into R(17+).

Personally: I find it really weird, and not the kind of parenting style I'd want to give to my kids, but again, it's their kids, their lives, and I have to respect that. But yea, still weird.

 

[smithy_2045]

It's up to the individual parent to determine whether it's suitable for their child.

 

[Chibz]

Yes it is. The ratings system is supposed to be advisory, not legally forced on parents. They can ignore it all they want, often at their own peril.

 

[DevilWolf47]

Normally i'm in favor of total desensitization of a child. More flexible morals means that they're less likely to snap, and less sensitivity to mundane things like fake violence and porn means that they can be mature about it.

That being said, i do get pissed off when people always accuse violent games and movies of corrupting children when they make it perfectly clear with the ratings system that children shouldn't watch it. It often turns out to be cases of parental irresponsibility. Don't beat down Netherrealm Studios door because some kid began quoting Scorpion, beat down the kids door and blame the parents for letting him play the game in the first place.

 

[Wintermoot]

atleast the parent should be informed to prevent them from complaining something like "ma,m/sir this movies is for 18 and up due to violence/drugs/cursing/nudity or sex"

 

[irequirefood]

I'm really unsure on this matter. I mean sure, when I become a parent one day I don't really want my child playing all those violent games until they're old enough. But then my parents let me play any game I wanted and I turned out completely fine, I matured much earlier than my friends, and acted the most grown up. So I am not sure.

 

[archvile93]

Well, I've been playing violent M rated games since I was six, and I have yet to commit an act of criminal violence. I could be an exception rather than a rule, however.

 

[The Stonker]

Why is this such a big concern? It's okay to let your child see some blood and guts, as long as he/she understands that it's not real.

 

[Jsor]

Blatantly disregard? No, absolutely not. Parents should, barring household names like Mario, do at least a cursory amount of research on any game they allow their child to play. Simply going to Google and typing a game name should give you at least a reasonable idea of what to expect; there exist very few games that are "family friendly except for one small part."

However, I would never consider getting a game for someone below the age bracket "disregarding" the rating in any meaningful sense; it's more of an informed decision (whether you made a correct assessment is immaterial to the discussion). Ratings are guidelines, and like any guidelines the line is not absolute. I'd say getting an 8 year old ANY given M rated game would be a giant stretch, though there may be an exception somewhere. But giving an 8 year old a T rated game offers a lot of wiggle room, such as why is it T? Even if it's "violence" it can be quite different just based on the art style. Jet Force Gemini was T if I recall correctly, but the "gore" in that game was pretty tame and even laughable, even by the standards of its contemporaries. I'd have almost no qualms about getting that for my hypothetical 8 year old child (given certain personality types).

Movies are a different case, if you get your kid an M rated game to play in your own home, if they get scared shitless and start screaming only your family has to deal with it. If you take them to a movie up to 100 other people have to deal with it. Obviously this only applies to theaters, not DVDs.

Regardless, ratings are a vast oversimplification of what they represent. That's not to say they aren't useful, they're very useful so you don't HAVE to play every game to gauge it's content, they more or less guarantee you won't get any surprises (well... without modding), but acting outside of the ratings is fine in my book.

 

[CrazyMedic]

if you don't care and they are just buying to get timmy to stop bothering daddy then it is wrong but if the parent understands and believes the child is ready for it, I mean at 11 my dad let me watch south park(well he would watch it before me and fast forward past anything REALLY bad) and play halo and I am not some murdering psycho.

 

[dj Facchiano]

Where did I say I was going to interfere? If arguing is your definition of interference, it applies to you as well.

It's not like this is a thought you're just keeping to yourself. You're going out into the public & complaining & it's that kind of shit that gets retarded laws like the R18+ restriction instated, a la Mary Whitehouse.

Just like you have been free to express your thoughts to me and in public, I am free to express mine here and in the public.

Sorry to but in but I most inform you that your opinion is that everyone should only listen to your opinion and If I remember correctly from a previous comment of yours other parents don't have the right opinion because its in your opinion that there opinion is wrong, so please don't talk about how other people should respect your opinion. (IM A BADASS SMARTASS) <-(IT RHYMED)

 

[Eri]

Where did I say I was going to interfere? If arguing is your definition of interference, it applies to you as well.

It's not like this is a thought you're just keeping to yourself. You're going out into the public & complaining & it's that kind of shit that gets retarded laws like the R18+ restriction instated, a la Mary Whitehouse.

Just like you have been free to express your thoughts to me and in public, I am free to express mine here and in the public.

Sorry to but in but I most inform you that your opinion is that everyone should only listen to your opinion and If I remember correctly from a previous comment of yours other parents don't have the right opinion because its in your opinion that there opinion is wrong, so please don't talk about how other people should respect your opinion. (IM A BADASS SMARTASS) <-(IT RHYMED)

You're saying my opinion is wrong, so I'd say you're the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Ninjat_126]

Yes it is. The ratings system is supposed to be advisory, not legally forced on parents. They can ignore it all they want, often at their own peril.

[Here in Australia, the rating system is imposed by law. Just clarifying.]


I have a 10 year old friend who is extremely mature for his age. I play COD with him, and Tekken, and Just Cause 2, and Team Fortress 2, and Uncharted 2...

I let him watch some of the less nightmare-fuel parts of Bioshock. But when I'm playing demos for things like Dead Space or FEAR, I switch them off straight away, or at least pause them.


His parent's aren't ignorant of this BTW. We all know he's mature, and I turn down a game right away if I remember there being any overly rude jokes, or language problems, or OTT gore. One or two F words is alright, it's nothing he hasn't heard before. 5 minute long F-bombs is another thing.

There's a big difference between showing some sex/violence in a video game to kids, and watching some Adults-Only-Full-Blown-Gore-Porn-Anime-Thing with them.

 

[dj Facchiano]

Where did I say I was going to interfere? If arguing is your definition of interference, it applies to you as well.

It's not like this is a thought you're just keeping to yourself. You're going out into the public & complaining & it's that kind of shit that gets retarded laws like the R18+ restriction instated, a la Mary Whitehouse.

Just like you have been free to express your thoughts to me and in public, I am free to express mine here and in the public.

Sorry to but in but I most inform you that your opinion is that everyone should only listen to your opinion and If I remember correctly from a previous comment of yours other parents don't have the right opinion because its in your opinion that there opinion is wrong, so please don't talk about how other people should respect your opinion. (IM A BADASS SMARTASS) <-(IT RHYMED)

You're saying my opinion is wrong, so I'd say you're the pot calling the kettle black.

The point I'm trying to make my friend, is that when you take the opinion argument route you always come out a hypocrite, hopefully you've learned something today

 

[Eri]

Where did I say I was going to interfere? If arguing is your definition of interference, it applies to you as well.

It's not like this is a thought you're just keeping to yourself. You're going out into the public & complaining & it's that kind of shit that gets retarded laws like the R18+ restriction instated, a la Mary Whitehouse.

Just like you have been free to express your thoughts to me and in public, I am free to express mine here and in the public.

Sorry to but in but I most inform you that your opinion is that everyone should only listen to your opinion and If I remember correctly from a previous comment of yours other parents don't have the right opinion because its in your opinion that there opinion is wrong, so please don't talk about how other people should respect your opinion. (IM A BADASS SMARTASS) <-(IT RHYMED)

You're saying my opinion is wrong, so I'd say you're the pot calling the kettle black.

The point I'm trying to make my friend, is that when you take the opinion argument route you always come out a hypocrite, hopefully you've learned something today

How am I supposed to learn anything if the person teaching me doesn't listen to his own advice?

 

[Chibz]

SNIP

For once in my life, I'm saying this with literally no interest in offending but... I honestly don't give a stack of fucks how things are run down in australia. In NA, the only region I really care about, the ESRB isn't legally enforced. This is the way it SHOULD be. Back to minecraft...

Why should parents be disallowed from choosing to let their kid play a game if they want to? It makes no sense to do so.

 

[dj Facchiano]

Where did I say I was going to interfere? If arguing is your definition of interference, it applies to you as well.

It's not like this is a thought you're just keeping to yourself. You're going out into the public & complaining & it's that kind of shit that gets retarded laws like the R18+ restriction instated, a la Mary Whitehouse.

Just like you have been free to express your thoughts to me and in public, I am free to express mine here and in the public.

Sorry to but in but I most inform you that your opinion is that everyone should only listen to your opinion and If I remember correctly from a previous comment of yours other parents don't have the right opinion because its in your opinion that there opinion is wrong, so please don't talk about how other people should respect your opinion. (IM A BADASS SMARTASS) <-(IT RHYMED)

You're saying my opinion is wrong, so I'd say you're the pot calling the kettle black.

The point I'm trying to make my friend, is that when you take the opinion argument route you always come out a hypocrite, hopefully you've learned something today

How am I supposed to learn anything if the person teaching me doesn't listen to his own advice?

Less of it being advice and more of it being HEY YOUR A HYPOCRITE! And since I got into the subject of opinion I Immediately became a hypocrite myself. The point of my previous subject is that if you Criticize someones opinion then later say "Hey thats my opinion, and I'm entitled to it!" Makes you a huge hypocrite. By this logic anyone whos ever argued with someone about anything, ever and then at any point in there life says "I'm Entitled to this opinion, stop trying to force your opinion on me! is a hypocrite, and I needed to become a hypocrite myself to even talk about the subject, I know, some pretty tricky business here.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Well, i'm speaking for a viewpoint of a 13 year old child:
I am very mature for my age. I do make stupid jokes and mess around, but i don't want to have sex and i don't want to hurt people. I get annoyed at people when they say gay/sexist jokes, i have gay friends. And i watch R movies. Who out of you have seen dead snow? nazi zombies, blood, gore, all of that all the time. I've watched horror movies and all, i'm fine. But i have friends who i would NEVER want to see R movies, they would be traumatized and generally screwed over.