Poll: Buying games for teenagers

[chozo_hybrid]

What you did is supposedly against the law... So yeah. But at the same time, I can totally see where you're coming from dude.

Sorry, but yeah. That wasn't okay.

Regardless of any ethical ideas behind it, much of our defense against those who think that games must be regulated because of their effect on children rests on the fact that minors cannot buy M-rated games. What you did circumvented one of the most potent defenses we have against government regulation of games. This example could effectively be used to show that the system is impotent, and twisted to mean that games must be more strictly regulated.

Regardless of whether it's okay for underage children to play M-rated games without their guardians' permission (which it's not), what you did is bad for the industry itself. I don't mean to be unkind, I'm just saying it like it is. Sorry.

We can always trust ya to say the right thing

 

[Omikron009]

You shouldn't have done that. I have to wait a few more months before I can buy mature rated games without an adult, but my parents have no problem with me getting mature rated games. If they were too lazy to ask a parent or guardian, or they didn't have permission for one reason or another, they don't deserve the game.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

YAY - BIG THANKS TO WHOEVER ENABLED ME TO EDIT THE POLL!

 

[DividedUnity]

I'd do it to as long as it wasn't manhunt or anything.

I told them specifically that if they had asked for a shitty game I wouldn't have wasted my time. Not that Manhunt is shitty, but there's no way in hell I would have bought any thing like that for them. I told them shitty, I meant inappropriate... kinda. Red Dead isn't exactly after-school Pokemon-type stuff.

Yeah, Red Dead doesn't really warrant its rating when you compare it with others. He doesn't even sleep with prostitutes or nothing D:

 

[likalaruku]

OK, so this is my story: I was walking out of a store in Westerville near the GameStop and a kid leans out his car window and says "hey mister, can you buy a game for us?" I asked him which one and he said "Red Dead Redemption". Since RDR is a great game, and not the most despicable one these kids will see in their entire lives, I said sure. I lied right to the guy at the counter, something I am not proud of. But like I told the kids, my birthday is coming up and soon I'll be playing this game myself, I don't see why they should be denied just because they're underage. Is what I did wrong?

As long as the kids had the money & at least a $5 tip for myself, I'd have bought them porn & beer if that's what they'd wanted. & if someone had told me it was tabboo to do so, & would have kicked them in the crotch.

 

[riotwraith]

I don't really believe that video games or movies will do any serious harm to kids, but I don't have any proof of that, so I'm kinda middle of the road on this. Buying RDR is A-OK to me considering the low level of violence in it. On the other hand, I'd see buying them a movie like house of 1000 corpses or the devil's rejects as being messed up, even though they've probably seen far worse.

Yes, It's quite nice being a hypocrite. Thanks for asking.

Personally though, I wouldn't have done it just because I'm too lazy to go that far out of my way for a stranger and not get anything out of it.

 

[Jedoro]

Yeah, it may not have seemed like a big deal to you, but would it have been worth it if you'd gotten caught? And if it involved something you weren't proud of, you clearly shouldn't have done it.

 

[Thaius]

:snip:

I appreciate the directness, your point is absolutely true.

Thanks for not taking it the wrong way.

We can always trust ya to say the right thing

Eh, I try.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I believe what you did is against UK law. If caught both you and the store could face a hefty fine, especially you as you lied past the clerk when he investigated.

Naughty boy.

But this is Uhmericah! Here, I believe the law is that a merchant cannot sell to minors - I'm not aware of any legislation about buying on behalf of a minor. Not in my state of Ohio, anyway. Also, the clerk didn't seem too concerned about it. He asked passively if I was buying for myself or the kids, I told him for me, then we started talking about how great the game is and how I can't wait to get it home and play it. All of that was true. :/

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I've been playing 18+ games since i was 13, so like Furburt said, Teenagers do know the difference between a Fruit and Vegetable.

Speaking of Furburt, I'm gonna see if I can't get him and some of the DAGs to weigh in on this. BRB
EDIT: Well Furburt already replied and I missed it. Still, looking forward to what others have to say.

 

[Seatownstriker]

Never been aproached by a kid to do this. If they did approach me, I'd probably just tell them to buy their own damn game. And yes I'd do it just to be a jackass.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Just for curiosity, to the two people who wondered why so many answers on the poll... I always do that so I can gather as many qualities of response as possible. People often give the same answer for different reasons, so I try to cover a many bases as possible. Yup.

 

[LightspeedJack]

I think the whole idea of rating games "18" is rediculous. Don't give 18 games to little kids but as long as they're about 14+ nothing they see in the game will shock them or have any kind of negative effect on them.

 

[El Poncho]

No, but I was surprised to see a sex scene in the game.

 

[Amalith]

I believe what you did is against UK law. If caught both you and the store could face a hefty fine, especially you as you lied past the clerk when he investigated.

Naughty boy.

But this is Uhmericah! Here, I believe the law is that a merchant cannot sell to minors - I'm not aware of any legislation about buying on behalf of a minor. Not in my state of Ohio, anyway. Also, the clerk didn't seem too concerned about it. He asked passively if I was buying for myself or the kids, I told him for me, then we started talking about how great the game is and how I can't wait to get it home and play it. All of that was true. :/

In no state in the United States (saving California, if the law goes through), is it illegal to sell videogames to minors, nor is it illegal to sell them tickets to R rated movies. The places restrict them to keep the blame off of them and onto parents (not that it's working very well. the parents are still blaming the companies, but whatever). But most non chain game stores I've been to will sell games to anyone, simply cause they can.

Disregarding the minutae of the law, I think it was fine that you bought him the game. Most minors are more able to handle the content than given credit for by parents and retail. I mean, if they were really young, like five, then I probably wouldn't, but 12+, they are probably able to handle an M rated game, and RDR is a really good one, so I see no reason not to.

 

[zHellas]

I picked the one that said, "You were wrong in doing so 'cause you weren't their parent/guardian.".

 

[Draithx]

I've been playing 18+ games since I was like 6 or so, I don't think buying that game for them will do any harm.