parents....

My parents don't care.
In fact, my Dad sometimes plays these horrible games with me. Emphasis on games.

Interesting topic and healthy range of posts/opinions following.Why do parents make decisions about the content of their children's lives?The answers/reasons are as infinite & varied as the things kids want to do.Parents make decisions about the content of/effects on their kids lives because from the moment they bring a child into their lives they have to make decisions in order for the child to survive.(Do I have the baby or abort it? Do I smoke & drink as a pregnant mother or do I take prenatal vitamins?Do I feed the baby or ignore it?Do I change the babie's diaper or do I let the baby get a painful diaper rash?Do I strap the child into aninfant safety car-seat or do I put thebaby in the trunk?)Parents make these decisions it's what we do, for whatever reason(someday the child grows up, learns, understands and appreciates the choices- or not).

It is foolish to think all parents have positive/redeemable reasons for all the decisions they make about their childrens lives.It is stupid to think all the people having babies are positive/redeemable parents.It is naive to think that the content of your life does not influence who you are.It is stupid to think playing M games doesn't impact your life.Do playing these games make me act differently in the "real" world, I hope not.But simply the basic action of playing the M games(or any video game)is an effect on your life.You are doing it, it is occupying your time & you are enjoying it.In life the one thing you can never get more of is time.Time is always ticking away & your life will only last for a small portion of it.You(& I)have chosen to spend a portion of this precious commodity entertained by the simulation of killing things(gunnin down cops, bombing enemy forces, ripping monsters limbs out, etc.).Does the content of our lives affect us?Of course it does.Should parents worry about this(any effects/all effects)on their kids lifes?Parents don't choose to worry, they just do or they don't.

I've been playing M rated games since I was 6, no joke. I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to play games with sexual content, but everything else is fine.

My dad didn't allow me to play M-Rated games for a short time period when I was like 6 years old, because he thought that was the reason I was always fighitng with my younger sister. Before that, I always used to play Mortal Kombat and Doom on my computer, and I remember playing Resident Evil on the PS1 when he wasn't around. Soon he didn't care anymore, and I've been playing M-Rated games since I was 6 years old, and I am 18 now.

My parents never cared of such things. They didnt mind me having M rated games because they know i wont imitate the game in any way.

It would depend entirely on my kid's nature. Whilst I'm now over 18 (and so I'm able to purchase these titles) back when I was younger I played some of the 18-rated games because I enjoyed them, but knew full well that they would have no impact on me. I'm not a violent person, nor do I swear (except when I stub my toe) and I have a healthy respect for women (they'd kill me otherwise). The problem is that people use age as a definition of your maturity and it's not. I've met many people under the age of 18 who are able to handle adult issues, likewise I've met many over that age who are unable to handle adult issues.

In short, if I felt my kid was mature to handle the game/film (etc) then I fail to see the harm in letting them play/watch it.

OK, I'm going to try to word this carefully...

My parents haven't been activley against M games for a while, and now that COD: MW2 is out, I am going to try to get it. However, as soon as the guy at the counter asks for a driver's license, my dad might get suspicious.

Here's how it might go:

Dad asks "Why?"

Cashier says "It's rated Mature."

Dad says "Oh."

Argument ensues, I get embarrassed, Dad takes me aside.

Anyway, I believe that I should be allowed to play M games as long as I am not influenced by that content. If I go around shooting terrorists, it's not like as soon as I get outside, i will start shooting my neighbors. My parents might respond with "Well, the problem is you'll be desensitized to it." I was already desensetized to it the moment I shot my first Russian in some James Bond game. It's not like we don't already get exposed to this sort of thing. Half the kids at my school preordered this game, and they have played games much more gratuitous. They are some of the nicest kids I've met. I don't get all this "omg its m its bad youll shoot people". Just teach your child the difference between fantasy and reality. Jeesh.

tHat ends my incesant rant.

My mom cares but I understand why I shouldn't be playing rated M games (I'm 21). My mom got really upset when she saw the box for Killzone 2 so I hardly ever play that game and so the only other game I have played that is M is the metal gear franchise. So its not that I just don't play rated M games its just that most M games these days are just gore fests and I'm happy avoiding that.

Zidaneski

my dad always makes comments when i play shooters
but im 24 and i havent cared about his opinion since i was 16 :P

My mom usually gets concerned about what I play and how long I play it.

My dad on the other hand... Just laughs anytime I die. >_>