Would you let your kids play/watch violent media?

[QUOTE="JediXMan7"]

[QUOTE="lightleggy"] exactly...all the kids who have murdered someone over a video game (which I believe is a small number...) had issues already, antisocial tendencies, the games didnt caused that, yet a lot of "experts in the field" just love to blame at something so they go around making campaigns like "video games are responsible for our society's status!" and how would playing a violent video game make them mature earlier? the first gory videogame I played was dino crisis when I was like 6 and I was still a kid with a kid's view on the world after playing it. also when I say violent I mean games with gore or tons of blood...I dont consider punching someone or war games as "violent video games"lightleggy

I think that kids should be interested in age-appropriate things. Who decides what's age appropriate? I suppose the parents do. It all depends on the child. I think that if a child is exposed to mature-themed media then they may miss out of other things that are for their age group. But it depends on the child.

Alright. Just wanted to be clear.

What's your point? And I didn't say "mini Einteins," whatever that is. What's an Eintein?

Again, depends on the child. What's age appropriate for one is not for another. Though I still don't see gore as good for those other 13.

Depends on their attitude. If they're easily coerced by works of media, I'd think twice. If not, then I don't mind.

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

No I would not. I think if the majority of pediatrician's and child psychiatrists believe that violent media has negative influence on kids, I'm going to go with their recommendations.

lightleggy

Yes as long as it wasn't too sexually oriented.

[QUOTE="lightleggy"][QUOTE="sonicare"]

No I would not. I think if the majority of pediatrician's and child psychiatrists believe that violent media has negative influence on kids, I'm going to go with their recommendations.

sonicare

Assuming they're still toddlers, keeping them away from GTA, blood, sex, and gore goes without saying. I'll probably lighten up once they get older anyway.

It depends on two main criteria:

1. Is it something so important to watch or interact with that age is irrelevant?

2. Are they too young to understand what's going on in the first place and the violence would only serve to confuse or scar them?

While I can't protect my (future) offspring forever, I have huge qualms with them watching movies or playing games that they absolutely should not be playing. Do I want my kids playing Mortal Kombat or watching A Clockwork Orange? Absolutely not. Whether or not these media objects scar them isn't the question. The outcome of the media in question is more relevant. When they are ready to watch these movies with an open mind and a clear background of education, then I have no problem letting them approach said media.

I played Mortal Kombat when I was 14 or so. I thought it was campy and dumb then and I still do. That being said, I don't want my future children playing the game before they are ready for it. I don't want my 8 year old son playing that game or any other game where violence is clearly and markedly the point of the game. Not until I play it first or they reach the age where it doesn't matter anymore.

Movies like A Clockwork Orange, or No Country for Old Men, or some other dark movies are not things I want my kids watching. While they're young, they should be focusing on movies more towards their age that have arguably the same level of depth, such as older Disney films or anything by Pixar. When they're old enough to understand and cognitively reason why certain stories are dark or violent, then they can watch them. I'm going to go ahead and say that I don't want my son or daughter watching something that would only do harm till they are old enough to understand and rationalize what's going on in front of them.

once i thought they were mature enough. so like, teenager maybe. i don't remember when i first experience violent media but i'm pretty sure i was at most a teenager, and i'm fine. so if they're a teenager i'm fine with them watching most things, i guess.

I watched violent movies and played violent video games growing up, so, yes I think I would let them do the same.

I would make limits. I wouldn't let them play games like GTA or anything with dark elements until they're older and can understand better. I would be cautious with what movies they would watch. I would like to wait till their older and can understand things better. I would of course explain it to them that what they see in video games and movies is real and they cannot do this in real life.

I'd be more inclined to let them watch violent movies. I'd have to watch the movie first, of course, to see if I think my kids are mature enough to handle it. But when it comes to "mature" treatment of such things as violence and sex, I generally trust movies far more than I trust videogames.

Furthermore, it only takes me two hours to watch an R-rated movie in order to see if the content is appropriate for my child. If we're talking about a "Mature" rated videogame, we could easily be talking about over ten hours. With that just being the main quest, not counting any side missions or bonus content. If I'm gonna be screeening this stuff for my kids before I let them run wild with it, then it's far easier to just stick to the movies instead of the videogames.

If your children become warped from watching media, you need to improve your parenting skills, simple as that. Rather important to teach kids the skill of filtering gold from crap.

Sure, I started playing Hitman when I was 11, and I'm not that much of a violent person.

I'd just teach them that killing in games is innocent fun, it's not real.

Depends entirely on what it was that they're watching.

Porno- No

Violent movies and games- Depends on age and maturity

Let me tell you why you are a silly goose TC. A silly, silly goose.

Firstly it is more than likely you are underage or in your early adulthood. Either way, you don't have children. You don't understand why parents feel the way they do, until you have kids of your own. Secondly, you are the kind of guy that is like 'i'm gonna be that hip, cool dad and place minimal restrictions on what my son watches lolol!!' thinking this will make your child love you. Not only this, but you assume this media will only have violence and not any other content where it might be questionable to show to children (gratuitious swearing, nudity, sex scenes, drugs, etcetera).

Now, lets move on. You come off as the type of gamer who has a victim complex all because of what people like Jack Thompson say. 'I turned out all right so you can shove it Jack lololol!!' not only that, but it seems you partly want to use yourchild just to prove these people wrong, because as i said, you have this gamer's victim complex going on. furthermore, it seems you don't even care what interests yourchild might have, you just want him/her to have your interests. That part you mentioned about raising him to love video games? Why not let him decide what he's interested him instead of raising him to be an ultra 1337 gamer (which is what you want)? Furthermore, if you think showing yourchild'all the great video games i played as a kid' makes you a good father, you've got several things coming at you at once.

To my next point, you seem to think there is only an extreme left and extreme right when it comes to violence. Like many people in this thread, what i would let my kid watch/play varies depending on the levels of violence and how old they are. You seem to think everything is ok at any age, and like i said already this 'violent media' is more than likely going to have something else in it that is questionable. Finally, you seem like the kind of guy (and this is the fault of most parents) who is holding unrealistic and whacky expectations of how their kid will turn out, what they will enjoy, etcetera. You don't know thathe/she will enjoy video games as much as you do, just because you are his dad. There are probably other hopes you have for your children as well, all which will leave you disappointed when or if they don't achieve it.

Good day.

It really depends on the movie or game, I would let a kid watch many zombie or sci fi action movies like Zombieland or Starship Troopers, or play games like Halo and Killzone but i would not want them watching some sicko, violent criminal or thug movie with anti-social behavior, degradation of women, rape or drug use. So you still have to be a parent, but there are many so called violent films and games that are perfectly suitable for kids.

It completely depends on the child and the media in question. I'm not going to let my 12 year old watch something like Martyrs or Irreversible, but I'd have much less of an issue with something like, say, Halloween. As far as games go, I'd be more inclined to keep my kid away from things that portray being a criminal as a glamorous/exciting lifestyle than strictly judging on violent content.

It's all a moot point anyway, as I don't plan to have children. But that's what I'd do.

Not without viewing it myself first. Some I probably would, some I would not. One of the great things about never going to have kids is that I don't have to worry about it though.

Let me tell you why you are a silly goose TC. A silly, silly goose.

Firstly it is more than likely you are underage or in your early adulthood. Either way, you don't have children. You don't understand why parents feel the way they do, until you have kids of your own. Secondly, you are the kind of guy that is like 'i'm gonna be that hip, cool dad and place minimal restrictions on what my son watches lolol!!' thinking this will make your child love you. Not only this, but you assume this media will only have violence and not any other content where it might be questionable to show to children (gratuitious swearing, nudity, sex scenes, drugs, etcetera).

Now, lets move on. You come off as the type of gamer who has a victim complex all because of what people like Jack Thompson say. 'I turned out all right so you can shove it Jack lololol!!' not only that, but it seems you partly want to use yourchild just to prove these people wrong, because as i said, you have this gamer's victim complex going on. furthermore, it seems you don't even care what interests yourchild might have, you just want him/her to have your interests. That part you mentioned about raising him to love video games? Why not let him decide what he's interested him instead of raising him to be an ultra 1337 gamer (which is what you want)? Furthermore, if you think showing yourchild'all the great video games i played as a kid' makes you a good father, you've got several things coming at you at once.

To my next point, you seem to think there is only an extreme left and extreme right when it comes to violence. Like many people in this thread, what i would let my kid watch/play varies depending on the levels of violence and how old they are. You seem to think everything is ok at any age, and like i said already this 'violent media' is more than likely going to have something else in it that is questionable. Finally, you seem like the kind of guy (and this is the fault of most parents) who is holding unrealistic and whacky expectations of how their kid will turn out, what they will enjoy, etcetera. You don't know thathe/she will enjoy video games as much as you do, just because you are his dad. There are probably other hopes you have for your children as well, all which will leave you disappointed when or if they don't achieve it.

Good day.

FatCatPatRat

I plan on giving him/her a copy of Mortal Kombat when they turn 5.Lonelynight

If I end up murdering someone when i'm older (Im just 14 at the moment) I hope my parents and society would be mature enough to think of another reason other than playing fictional video games consisting of blasting zombies heads off.

yes.. as long as they won't apply it in real life. ;)

If I end up murdering someone when i'm older (Im just 14 at the moment) I hope my parents and society would be mature enough to think of another reason other than playing fictional video games consisting of blasting zombies heads off.

firefluff3

Unless you're yelling, "Die zombie!" at the time.

yeah I probably would. Noww granted there would probably be some things that stepped over my personal line that they wouldn't be allowed to go near, but I wouldn't let other people create that line for me.