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Grand Theft Childhood authors Cheryl Olson, Lawrence Kutner: Parents often ignore game ratings

Posted Apr 22, 2008 at 8:39PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Wii, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PC Gaming Tags: ESRB, Lawrence Kutner

ESRB reported that there's a growing number of parents who are using the ratings on video games when buying them. Alongside this, the BBFC has also opened up a website to guide parents accordingly on video games.

But even with such developments happening regarding video games and its ratings, there's are still parents out there who disregard it. This is what Cheryl Olson and Lawrence Kutner said in their book, Grand Theft Childhood.

In their book, they said that even if parents were "aware of the ESRB rating system, they didn't always pay attention to it". Even if games had M and T ratings on the cover, the parents would just rely on their children's own judgment.

Though most of them might have strict regulations about playing video games in their household, the parents know that their children might be able to play prohibited games in another child's place.

Olson and Kutner added that almost all of the parents they were able to talk with agreed with the age categories and ratings set by ESRB, but only for other children not theirs. They actually would let their own kid play games with ratings higher than they're supposed to.

This is certainly an interesting point raised by the two authors. Now, if you guys are itching to share you thoughts, feel free to do so with the space down below.

Via Game Politics

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How on earth could she have known he is old enough? I agree with letting him play it as long as the child makes teh decision, not the mum.

For example, I can trick an 8 year old into telling me she isnt scared by violence, she'll say it to be able to play the game, it isn't realy true.

It really depends on the child. Throughout my education I have told myself that age does not determine intelligence and I am now one of the top in my school. I was, similarly, ready for 15+ rated games at the age of 8 simply because I am a lateral thinker, I don't operate like other kids, I can solve things they can't.

# What is wrong with people? — Sir Pwn4lot 2008-04-23 01:49

I am fed up with society blaming video games for all their problems.

I am currently writing an article for my blog on this topic but i'll give you a preview:

People assume that video games make people violent. They don't. For instance: Go to the croquet club and see all rich people there, that doesn't make one infer that croquet makes people rich, we know that rich people are drawn to croquet. I put to you that similarly, video games don't make people violent, violent people are drawn to video games.

That was just a small outtake, if you want more reply to this comment and i'll give u the URL to my blog. I am thinking of starting up a "GAMAVAV" site to combat MAVAV. It stands for "Gamers against Mothers Against Video Game Addiction and Violence" lmao.

# how gay — BIG_SHOT89 2008-04-23 02:05

Ok so GTA 3 came out in like 2001? I was in middle school. I played grand theft auto all the time and look at me now...perfectly normal. I havent gone out and killed anyone. I think it is SO stupid that people blame this ***** on video games!! It is ridiculous. Me and my two brothers have played games, including mature games, our whole life and we turned out completely normal....ok sorry I just had to vent.

# 2 cents — dwebs 2008-04-23 08:23

as a child, unable to purchase 18+ and M rated games, i used to get frustrated and pissed off at the rating system and my parents, because the actually payed attention to ratings.

but now that i have become older and now can actually buy these games, seeing a parent buy condemned 2 for her 10 year old child, and another mother reserve GTA4 for her 8 year old child, it makes me wonder, what the hell happened?

Sure these games might not scar the children, or make them want to kill, but they rate these games for a good reason.

i work with children every single day, and i have seen what these games can do to the children. usually running arround "shooting" eachother with their invisible guns, which isnt bad. But when an 8 year old kid walks up to you and starts talking about how awsome it was to bash some guys head in with a lead pipe then procede to breaking his kneck and watching blood pour from what was left of his eyes, it makes me want to talk to the parents.

i dont think that mature games shouldnt be made, i actually thing that they should be un-censored unedited, works of art (i think we all know about the manhunt 2 controversity). parents do need to look at the ratings and ask themselves if they want their kids playing these games, not ask the kids, cause they will cry, and pout, and scream, and kick, and hate you, and find a way to get it behind their back.

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Grand Theft Childhood authors Cheryl Olson, Lawrence Kutner: Parents often ignore game ratings

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