A big hello, also, [CENSORED]

[s-l-u-g]

Hello, everyone at the escapist!
I've been browsing the forums for a while now, so i thought i'd join up.

So, first off.

What's everyones views on censorship of games?

mine; If the parents think the kid can play it. then it's up to them, frankly, there's an 18 (or, M) on games that arn't intended for younger than 18-year-olds for a reason.


EDIT: I just noticed: "If the parents think the kid can play it. " Please don't take that the wrong way, i dont think skill has anything on maturity XD

 

[CrazyBerk]

Oh hey we got some threads like this already, i think you'll find the search button is very handy at times but just not to be a jackass i'll give my opinion.
Basically yours. Parents decision if they think their kid is mature enough to play then let them.

 

[Bored Tomatoe]

The parents should be responsible, Plain and simple.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

If children go on a killing spree, don't blame games, blame neglegent parents for ignoring the game age rating. In england it is most funny, because THE AGE NUMBER IS ON THE BOX.

 

[Zombie_King]

There are threads like this, but, what the hell; I'll contribute rather than critize.

Games have labels based on what degree of violence/vulgarity they have in them. The reason the ESRB puts an 'M' label on, say, GTA, is because they don't want children to be exposed to the sex and drugs (and gunplay) in it. But honestly, how immpressionable are today's children? The child in California...wait, no, I'm sure that's not it - the child who blamed a robbery he commited on his playing of GTA. Do you really think he was stupid enough to play GTA and think 'Hmm, I could do this!' No, the game didn't cause him to rob that store, he robbed the store and plamed it on the game. Most games aren't even based in reality. They're based on, say, being a space marine, or an assassin in the 11th century. If a parent thinks their kid can play a game just to have fun, then by all means, screw the label. Do you think everyone who's playing GTA 4 right now is 17(18 in Europe)? No. And do you think everyone playing it is going to become a gun-toting thug? Almost certainly not. Games don't create violence, violence creates games.

 

[The_Deleted]

Hey welcome to the forum. I gurantee no matter what thread you start some pedant will tell you it's already around somewhere. ALthough, from my understanding, everyone who's used to search button to double check has come up blank.
Seriously, it's really dull to have every second post tell us it's already been done. We haven't all been here from day one so you'll have to forgive our ignorance.

Anyway, if I think my nipper is EMOTIONALLY MATURE enough to play an age rated game that he maybe considered too young for I'll play through first to make sure it's not too severe, or at least make sure he doesn't play it on his own. Basically, he's my son, so he's my responsibilty. And noone elses.

 

[Unholykrumpet]

Hey welcome to the forum. I gurantee no matter what thread you start some pedant will tell you it's already around somewhere. ALthough, from my understanding, everyone who's used to search button to double check has come up blank.
Seriously, it's really dull to have every second post tell us it's already been done. We haven't all been here from day one so you'll have to forgive our ignorance.

Anyway, if I think my nipper is EMOTIONALLY MATURE enough to play an age rated game that he maybe considered too young for I'll play through first to make sure it's not too severe, or at least make sure he doesn't play it on his own. Basically, he's my son, so he's my responsibilty. And noone elses.

I applaud you. When I was working at Wal-Mart over summer break, I gave a parent of the day award (never told them about it, of course. That would be weird, though I sometimes wanted to), and you'd have won it hands down. Need more parents like yourself, sir.

 

[TomNook]

Censorship of anything is bad, nothing good can ever come of it. If everything isn't ok, nothing is.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

We haven't all been here from day one so you'll have to forgive our ignorance.

Never! You must be awesome from birth and know every thread made evar!

Anyway, I think that all these age ratings are a joke. You can clearly tell that they mean nothing to most parents by playing ten minutes of Gears of War online. For a game meant for people 18+ you get a lot of people that are -15.

 

[Kahuna-Kurt]

Hey welcome to the forum. I gurantee no matter what thread you start some pedant will tell you it's already around somewhere. ALthough, from my understanding, everyone who's used to search button to double check has come up blank.
Seriously, it's really dull to have every second post tell us it's already been done. We haven't all been here from day one so you'll have to forgive our ignorance.

Anyway, if I think my nipper is EMOTIONALLY MATURE enough to play an age rated game that he maybe considered too young for I'll play through first to make sure it's not too severe, or at least make sure he doesn't play it on his own. Basically, he's my son, so he's my responsibilty. And noone elses.

can I be your kid...

 

[s-l-u-g]

Great feedback : D

I'm sorry i didn't use the search but like, yah know, i'm lazy. I didn't wanna strain my eyes looking through searches to make sure im a golden egg in a pile of shit (A.K.A OPINIONS).

But anyways, games dont make kids killers. As this quote from Scream proves:

"MOVIES DONT MAKE PSYCHOPATHS!!! MOVIES GIVE PYSCHOPATHS IDEAS!!" end quote.

btw. IM SCOTTISH ;O

 

[Kahuna-Kurt]

you know slug has a point about 'they give pyschopaths ideas', I waited through a bomb threat seminar(i don't care if it isn't spelled right)and they gave out the names of explosive materials as examples and told us where you could buy them(i tried to just see if they were kidding and they weren't, the bombs they talk about worked). None of the speakers really seem like terrorists when they were wearing police uniforms...

anyways they gave us the knowledge and know-how for potential terrorism, what the hack man?

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

In short- don't censor the content, just make damn sure it's not going to get into the hands of kids.

Yes but that is the problem, say if an adult goes out an buys the Texas Chainsaw Massacre on DVD who is to ensure that it isn't for a child. All that can be done is not to sell it directly to a child.

 

[runtheplacered]

I know I'm completely alone on this and nobody else in the world agrees with me, but maybe if we didn't censor children so much, they wouldn't find the things we're censoring so fascinating?

 

[The_Deleted]

In short- don't censor the content, just make damn sure it's not going to get into the hands of kids.

Yes but that is the problem, say if an adult goes out an buys the Texas Chainsaw Massacre on DVD who is to ensure that it isn't for a child. All that can be done is not to sell it directly to a child.

But it's then the adults responsibilty. The guy who sells the film / game to an adult cannot be held responsible for who the adult gives it to.

 

[The_Deleted]

I know I'm completely alone on this and nobody else in the world agrees with me, but maybe if we didn't censor children so much, they wouldn't find the things we're censoring so fascinating?

Absolutely not. There is some truth to this. It's fairly common knowledge that if you tell a child (& some adults) not do something without telling them why they shouldn't they will find out for themselves, be it game, music, film, drugs or electricity.
You need to give people the correct info (which the ERSB does to some degree). But as I've said already, responsibilty ultimatley comes down to the vendors & /or parents.
Parents seemed to be weak willed these days, and pester power holds alot of sway for those who don't have the balls to stand up to their own kids.

 

[RedElectric]

I know I'm completely alone on this and nobody else in the world agrees with me, but maybe if we didn't censor children so much, they wouldn't find the things we're censoring so fascinating?

See where this breaks down is the fact that without a certain amount of censorship (parental or otherwise) there would be no protection from the content that would be otherwise be (or desired to be) kept away from ANYONE not deemed...emotionally mature enough to handle it. It's not the fascination that is the issue, it is the intimacy and accessibility of questionable content.


EDIT: Just to be clear...I'm speaking of protection for those who are obvious minors, and the right of parents to say 'not in my house, bud'. Any censorship beyond the household i feel is...disingenuous.

 

[s-l-u-g]

While I'm here, my avatar isn't TOO revealing is it?... i mean.. you don't see anything so.... DONT CENSOR MEEEE!!!!!11ELEVENONEONE!

Anyways, I think everyone that has spoken on this thread should be on the BBFC (or whatever ratings board you have in your countries) Because we've came to a good conclusion in less than 2 days.

Parent's choice. In the end it's all about MATURITY.

 

[TommyGun465]

yeah. parents responsability.

 

[GuerrillaClock]

I was playing stuff like Turok before I was 15. In my opinion, if a child is mature and responsible enough to differentiate between games and reality, they can play what they want.
People that think it's a good idea to shhot someone because they did it on DOOM are probably mentally unstable and should be in special care - playing games should be the least of their worries.