Grand Theft Auto, Promoting Bad Behavior? Options

[Paradox of Life]

Grand Theft Auto may be encouraging people to murder people, jack cars, consider policemen as bad guys, create gangs, graffiti, use weapons, use bad language etc. Although the game is rated M it may still be promoting bad behavior from people 17 and older or their younger siblings. Nothing can prevent younger children from watching their older siblings play or even play for themselves. Should there be stricter rules? Every person I know that has the game Grand Theft Auto is under 17. I know people the ages 9, 10 11, 12, 15, 16, and possibly more who have played Grand Theft Auto. Should it be banned from stores? The games feature the several cusswords (including Sh** and Fu**), multiple weapons (slitting civilians throats with daggers, guns), running from cops, stealing cars. Sure it's fun, but is it really worth it if people start turning into "bad guys"?

[*xcaitlinx*]

i dont agree. Have any of you PLAYED video games? every single video game out there influences violence, drugs, alcohol, etc. There's no way around it---if parents dont want their kids playing those types of games, then let it be their decision.

[*kryogenix*]

i dont agree. Have any of you PLAYED video games? every single video game out there influences violence, drugs, alcohol, etc. There's no way around it---if parents dont want their kids playing those types of games, then let it be their decision.

You are wrong. Not every game has violence, drugs and alchohol. However, that kind of stuff is really marketable (hence Nintendo's "kiddie" reputation for lack of many violent games).

  Constant exposure to vilolence desensitizes you it. This promotes that sort of behavior becasue it no longer seems to be a extreme approach.

It's a parents fault if young children see it. If someone 17 or older palys it and ends up as an ex murderer it's thier own fault. They chose to play.

Correct. The US Army uses simulations that are similar to videogames to rid their recruits of the inhibition to kill. After killing thousands of virtual people, you are in effect training your mind to not feel bad after killing them. Parents should be more responsible.

Well at least in Gta San andreas you can create a little gangster that looks like yourself? That should lower crime rates xD... But theres always gonna be these little thugsters everywhere...

That's a terrible argument. If someone breaks a law, then enforce it better. Just because there's always going to be criminals doesn't mean that we should give up fighting crime.

  Aw, but without GTA: VC, how would kids learn about self-defense and Hispanic culture?Yarrrr...

You must be joking, hahaha.

Take self defense classes/buy videos. Because they instill a sense of discipline, while these videogames destroy discipline. As for Spanish culture, go to school.

If you can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality, you have a lot more problems than can be encompassed in a computer game. If anything, that's more reason to let them play GTA... they will think that the fantasy of GTA is as good as the real thing, and won't think "Well, this is fake... I'd better do it for real."

Again, you must be joking, so I will not argue.