Poll: should parents monitor what video games their children are playing?
- Thread starter Fitscat
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Yes. Of course. Yeah, if the parent deems them too young or something to play it and all their friends have the game then it sucks, but still, they'll get over it. Parents just need to make sure not to be so paranoid when they hear one cuss word or see a side boob for a spilt second. I couldn't really play M rated games untill I was about 12 or 13. And I'm 16 right now and I'm still limited (My mom REALLY didn't want me to get GTAIV, which isn't even the worst of all of the GTA games). I can still play all of my favorite games pretty much though. To be honest, the only reason that I hated being so limited when I was 9 or 10 was because I was starting to get really bored with almost all E and T rated games.
If you think parents should monitor what kind of movies their kids watch, then the same should be true for video games. They're rated just like movies, and you can't get some of them without being of age just like movies.
Monitor might be a bit too strong a word, though. I think 'taking an interest' was mentioned earlier in the thread, and that's a much better term/course of action.
Monitor might be a bit too strong a word, though. I think 'taking an interest' was mentioned earlier in the thread, and that's a much better term/course of action.
Yes, to a certain age, the age to be decided by the parents up to 16/17 years. No monitoring should be needed past that point or even a few years before. It can also depend on the child as some children are responsible, such as my case. I understood video games to such a greater degree than my parents and cared about what they would think I was responsible and monitored myself.
Yes,
I get angry from seeing an 8 year old get "Rapekillgore 6: revenge of the boner people" from gamestop while their parents don't even look at what they are buying.
I get angry from seeing an 8 year old get "Rapekillgore 6: revenge of the boner people" from gamestop while their parents don't even look at what they are buying.
Yes, yes, and yes. Parents should know what their kids are consuming. Media, food, drink, ideas, etc. Not because parents are infaliable sources of logic and reason, but because someone who is 31 is a heck of a lot better judge of what is socially acceptable and morally reasonable than a 12 year old is.
Of course they should, I wouldn't let my child watch a slasher flick and I won't let my child play a slasher flick. Until I deem him or her ready to do so.
Normally I'd say DEFINITELY YES, but it depends on the child and the game being played.
I doubt that a young girl playing My Little Pony will see a lot of questionable stuff, so adult supervision would only really be useful as a co-pilot for times when the child can't figure out what to do next. It's more adult people who turn what cartoon characters say and do into NSFW material. Little kids are not as likely to connect those dots the same way.
What should definitely be monitored are online games, especially MMOs or other 'social' games where stalkers go to find easy prey. What easier than a horny/angsty/short-sighted kid who is already convinced that anywhere else would be better than where they are now? That's a dangerous combo that few parents even bother watching for.
EDIT: While I'm not a parent, I do babysit my sister's kids for a few hours every day. The first thing they all want to do is play games or go to a friend's house to play there. Of course I tell them all NO until they finish their homework, and if they keep insisting they have no homework then I tell them they can play in the yard until they get picked up. If I do let them play games, I'll either be in the room or else nearby if there's nobody else around to keep an eye on things.
I doubt that a young girl playing My Little Pony will see a lot of questionable stuff, so adult supervision would only really be useful as a co-pilot for times when the child can't figure out what to do next. It's more adult people who turn what cartoon characters say and do into NSFW material. Little kids are not as likely to connect those dots the same way.
What should definitely be monitored are online games, especially MMOs or other 'social' games where stalkers go to find easy prey. What easier than a horny/angsty/short-sighted kid who is already convinced that anywhere else would be better than where they are now? That's a dangerous combo that few parents even bother watching for.
EDIT: While I'm not a parent, I do babysit my sister's kids for a few hours every day. The first thing they all want to do is play games or go to a friend's house to play there. Of course I tell them all NO until they finish their homework, and if they keep insisting they have no homework then I tell them they can play in the yard until they get picked up. If I do let them play games, I'll either be in the room or else nearby if there's nobody else around to keep an eye on things.
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: Yeeeesssssss.
Ahem.
Non-parent here- and of course parents should monitor what their kids are playing. That's called responsible parenting. Video games are games, so just like any other sort of game, a parent should know what they're exposing their kids to.
Long answer: Yeeeesssssss.
Ahem.
Non-parent here- and of course parents should monitor what their kids are playing. That's called responsible parenting. Video games are games, so just like any other sort of game, a parent should know what they're exposing their kids to.
That's their job, quite frankly.
Now, as children get older, or prove they are worthy of greater autonomy and trust, they push their boundaries back and get monitored less.
But until a child is an adult, their parents are ultimately responsible for both their actions and their safety.
Now, as children get older, or prove they are worthy of greater autonomy and trust, they push their boundaries back and get monitored less.
But until a child is an adult, their parents are ultimately responsible for both their actions and their safety.
RatRace123 said:
TakerFoxx said:
This question was answered perfectly by the first 3 posters who replied, and I bet if I took the time to scroll through this thread almost everyone would agree with them.Miles000 said:
As for what I think, yes, parents should monitor their children's games. Let the children play games you know they can handle, but don't think of them as stupid little kids either, trust them a little. I'm a non-parent by the way. My mom was pretty careful about which games I was allowed to have at which age, but she trusted me, which is why she ended up buying me Socom 2 when I was in 9th grade (I hadn't even asked for it, it was a gift, one I was glad to receive). It's also why I was allowed to have a lot of M rated games before I was 18. (Though most of the games I'm interested in carry a T rating.) I was more mature than most kids my age, but by not restricting things she knew I could handle, M rated games became less of a "forbidden fruit" kind of deal. Does that make sense?
Yes. Parents are the gardens of their children and responsible for their upbringing. Parent need to monitor what their children are doing, include playing games. For the same reason you prevent your kid from sticking a fork in a light socket you prevent your 3 year old from playing Silent Hill.
yes....like I f I were to have a kid (and lets just set this in the current gen) I would have "my" games which I think arnt apropriate and he cant play, (and I wouldnt play while he/she is around)
I would try and find some somwhat apropriate games
I would try and find some somwhat apropriate games
...what?
I'm sorry but i'm busy enough working/cleaning/cooking and doing everything else that generally needs to be done to watch what my kid is doing every minute of the day.
At the end of the day they are video games, they aren't real and shouldn't be copied. As long as that simple fact is known why parents should be monitoring their kids is beyond me.
If you go in to a shop and are able to buy a game, why I as a parent should be like "oh you shouldn't be playing this" is just a load of rubbish.
The guys here who are like 15-18 and are being constantly monitored, a guy earlier in this thread was 16-18 and parents are watching him play oblivion and complaining about it, I mean seriously?...seriously? May make me sound like a bit of a dick but that's got ignorant Americans written all over it.
I have a 4 year old younger brother, I'm 21 so although I don't have a kid my self it's not far off.. He's a big fan of dynasty warriors and likes to watch me playing gears/halo other shootey games. (his hands are two small to use both analogue sticks on the controller)
my mum watches now and then but that's more out of a genuine interest in the games/plays them herself.
TL
R:
I disagree with the concept of parents monitoring what games they are playing 24/7 I do agree that kids should be informed that they are just games and shouldn't be copied in real life. It shouldn't matter if my 4 year old brother wants to watch Gears/Dead island.
I'm sorry but i'm busy enough working/cleaning/cooking and doing everything else that generally needs to be done to watch what my kid is doing every minute of the day.
At the end of the day they are video games, they aren't real and shouldn't be copied. As long as that simple fact is known why parents should be monitoring their kids is beyond me.
If you go in to a shop and are able to buy a game, why I as a parent should be like "oh you shouldn't be playing this" is just a load of rubbish.
The guys here who are like 15-18 and are being constantly monitored, a guy earlier in this thread was 16-18 and parents are watching him play oblivion and complaining about it, I mean seriously?...seriously? May make me sound like a bit of a dick but that's got ignorant Americans written all over it.
I have a 4 year old younger brother, I'm 21 so although I don't have a kid my self it's not far off.. He's a big fan of dynasty warriors and likes to watch me playing gears/halo other shootey games. (his hands are two small to use both analogue sticks on the controller)
my mum watches now and then but that's more out of a genuine interest in the games/plays them herself.
TL
R:I disagree with the concept of parents monitoring what games they are playing 24/7 I do agree that kids should be informed that they are just games and shouldn't be copied in real life. It shouldn't matter if my 4 year old brother wants to watch Gears/Dead island.
I think that it's fairly obvious that parents should be MONITORING it. Then we wouldn't have to deal with things like the reppealed law in California a while back...though it did make a good topic for my government paper (easy A).
Yes. They're a fucking parent, it's their responsibility to keep an eye on their child.
What? 24/7? What we're saying here is that parents should be doing their job and keeping an eye on their kid, that's their job. It shouldn't matter if your 4 year old brotherIggy Rufflebar said:
What? That's your parent's choice. They have the right to make that decision for their child. Not anyone else.
If you are talking about young children, then yes, definitely. As for teenagers, it really depends on how responsible they are. When i tell my dad that i'm buying a game, he just asks what it is and might take a look at the back of the case.
The same thing with TV, books, and the interwebs. And explain why certain thing are inappropriate, instead of the lame "Cause I say so."