Parents fear video games more than pornography and alcohol

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Parents are more concerned about their children's exposure to video games than alcohol, violence and pornography, according to recent polls conducted by What They Play website.

Nearly 3,000 respondents in two separate What They Play polls concluded that drinking beer and watching pornography were less objectionable activities for children than playing certain video games. Further, viewing violence was more acceptable than seeing content involving sex and sexuality within games.

"These poll results demonstrate that parents are as apprehensive about their children's media diets as they are about traditional social issues such as alcohol, drugs, violence and sex," says John Davison, president of What They Like, Inc. "When it comes to video games, parents should know that What They Play is a resource that helps demystify one of the most popular - and challenging - forms of entertainment their kids are into."

"Although these findings seem surprising at first, they hint at fears parents have about video games," says Cheryl K. Olson, Sc.D., co-author of Grand Theft Childhood. "To some parents, video games are full of unknowable dangers. While researching for Grand Theft Childhood, parents we spoke with in focus groups often bemoaned the fact that they didn't know how to use game controls - and felt unequipped to supervise or limit video game play. Of course, parents don't want their children drinking alcohol, but that's a more familiar risk."

The results of the initial What They Play online poll, conducted April 4-10, 2008, found that the 1,266 participants were most offended by the following in a video game:
1 - A man and woman having sex (37 percent)
2 - Two men kissing (27 percent)
3 - A graphically severed head (25 percent)
4 - Multiple use of the F-word (9 percent)

The second poll, which ran August 1-6, 2008, queried parents on what they'd be most concerned about their 17-year-old child indulging in while at a sleepover. More than 1,600 respondents revealed they're more apprehensive about their child smoking marijuana (49 percent) and playing the video game Grand Theft Auto (19 percent), than watching pornography (16 percent) and drinking beer (14 percent).
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The second poll, which ran August 1-6, 2008, queried parents on what they'd be most concerned about their 17-year-old child indulging in while at a sleepover. More than 1,600 respondents revealed they're more apprehensive about their child smoking marijuana (49 percent) and playing the video game Grand Theft Auto (19 percent), than watching pornography (16 percent) and drinking beer (14 percent).
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:?

If parents would not let video games be babysitters I'm sure they'd realize that playing Grand Theft Auto isn't as bad as underage drinking.
 
I hear stuff like this a lot, I dont see what the big deal is??? I as well as many other gamers I know love to use the chain saw in Gears of War, but its funny how these same gamers who love that, are also the nicest people in real life. I almost exclusively play FPS, only with the exception of Wii games and GTA really. Yet I am also a person who would would run to the rescue if I saw someone picking up a shoe to kill a spider. I have to save the spider. I feel bad when even a bug is killed. So I put that game on pause where I just picked up a prostitute, to save the life of a tiny creature.

Point is, So many parents think, "If my kid plays this, he or she will learn its ok." I couldnt disagree more.

Look at the answers to that poll. #1 a man and woman having sex. Uhhhh.... thats life! Granted you teach your kids its something special, its not like you should go sleep with everyone you meet. But for those couples who fall in love... That is nothing bad, thats life.

#2, 2 men kissing. So now the picture becomes even more clear of who these parents are. Why would you teach you kid its wrong to be gay? If your gay, your gay, if your not, your not. It does not dictate who they are as a person. To me, parents concerned about this are following the same basis as racism.

I just think people need to lighten up. Entertainment is suppose to provide us with outlets to fantasy worlds, where you become a hero. You play as someone who has super human powers, can save the world, can conquer armies, can use magic...ect. What people fail to see, in that fantasy world where you are a super hero saving the world, that is the same as sawing someone's head off in GoW. It is entertainment that allows us to do things we cant, and most of us wouldn't dare do in real life.
 
ProdigalGamers.com said:
I hear stuff like this a lot, I dont see what the big deal is???
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You don't see the problem in that parents fear harmless games over alcohol?
Point is, So many parents think, "If my kid plays this, he or she will learn its ok." I couldnt disagree more.
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It's quite possible, though.

Overall, I think you missed the point. We've all heard, "blah blah games r bad, mkay," but for parents to think it's worse than binge drinking just shows you something.
 
fhqwhgads said:
You don't see the problem in that parents fear harmless games over alcohol?It's quite possible, though.
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No, I think you read that wrong. I mean, I dont see what the problem is, as to why these parents think the games are bad. I think you thought I meant it like, Whats the problem with parents thinking its bad??? I think thats the way you took it. Correct me if Im wrong. I can see a problem there, but I dont understand why they make such a fuss.

I got the overall point too. :) Its really the same point, its just that the parents thinking its worse than the drinking and stuff just shows to what degree that point goes to.
 
This is a problem with a lot of people. They don't understand that they need balance but they go to extremes like this. I would rather have my kids playing video games than being around booze and porn. It's that simple.
 
ProdigalGamers.com said:
Look at the answers to that poll. #1 a man and woman having sex. Uhhhh.... thats life! Granted you teach your kids its something special, its not like you should go sleep with everyone you meet. But for those couples who fall in love... That is nothing bad, thats life.

#2, 2 men kissing. So now the picture becomes even more clear of who these parents are. Why would you teach you kid its wrong to be gay? If your gay, your gay, if your not, your not. It does not dictate who they are as a person. To me, parents concerned about this are following the same basis as racism.
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Maybe if they don't want their kids exposed to those in video games, they ought to buy more age-appropriate games for their kids, or pay attention to the content label and be involved.
 
Hi. I am a parent. Most of you all know that. My kids play videogames, but are seriously restricted. Heck, I don't even play crazy violent games in front of them.

My opinion? I have and will continue to have a zero-tolerance policy in my house for pornography and alcohol. Why? Because pornography gives kids a false impression on what intimacy is really supposed to be for. To those who object, have kids and then you can chime in. :D Alcohol is the same. Not happening. Why? Kids don't need to kill their brain cells (even when it appears like they are not using them) at such a young age. It's also a false impression on what is acceptable and what is not. If I say okay on alcohol, my credibility goes out the window. If they get caught, I have nothing to say. Again, if anyone objects, have kids and then your opinion will be counted. Sorry about the abrasiveness, but it's plain truth.

Videogames are another issue. One time, I played God of War and my son was in the room watching. A while later, I caught him attempting to remove his sister's head in the same manner as Kratos popping the top off of Medusa. Nixed it. I have the game still, and will only play it if my kids are asleep. Kids pick up on violence real quick, and won't hesitate in acting like mongoloids with their friends and siblings.

It all comes down to stupid is as stupid does. If you do stupid in front of young kids, the yard monkeys will do stupid in return.
 
Well, I am a parent, and sometimes my kids imitate things in a movie er game, and then I do not like em to have too much exposure to that game/movie....but for the most part I am not worried about what they see in games er movies unless it is an extremely graphic sex scene er extremely violent scene (because they are so small and tend to mimic things). Most stuff involving violence er sex in movies and games does not seem all that bad though.

My kids are too little to be going to drinking parties or having porn collections, but I don't mind letting them have a sip of an alcoholic drink every so often...I mean they are curious. So, I don't really fear them drinking now of course, but when they are in their teens and can drive and stuff...then I might get concerned over it, if they are not in a safe setting.

And I am not worried about porn at all when they get older er anything.

So, I guess the only thing really affecting much of anything for my kids right now is the media...but for the most part they can handle that just fine.

So...I guess I am just not worried about any of it.

I think kids look to their parents a lot for guidance, and kind of follow in their example to a certain degree. They will make their own choices as they grow, but if I show them how to responsibly handle things...then I do not think there is a reason to fear any of the things.
 
I can respect that, Mrs Enigma. My point in my post was that parents have an obligation in regulating things that can have a negative effect on our kids' behaviour. And when we absolutely know something can harm kids, then we as parents are obligated to do something about it. Too many kids these days are getting into immoral or illegal things and gearing themselves up to be the best convenient store clerks in the world (Not bagging on the clerks who are doing that to get through college or whatever). We as parents should set our kids up to be better than what we became.

This article just proves that a lot of parents are incompetent and probably shouldn't have kids in the first place.
 
Honestly? Alot of parents focus on things that they know their children are prone to do. more so, than what they normally wouldn't do. Which is a great tactic, but if little billy is too caught up in smut magazine and videos. Then we need to something more, just don't focus on one thing.

I respect their wishes.
 
Dart said:
I can respect that, Mrs Enigma. My point in my post was that parents have an obligation in regulating things that can have a negative effect on our kids' behaviour. And when we absolutely know something can harm kids, then we as parents are obligated to do something about it. Too many kids these days are getting into immoral or illegal things and gearing themselves up to be the best convenient store clerks in the world (Not bagging on the clerks who are doing that to get through college or whatever). We as parents should set our kids up to be better than what we became.

This article just proves that a lot of parents are incompetent and probably shouldn't have kids in the first place.
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Oh, I was not arguing with you Dart. I was giving my response as a parent to the original post and your post happened to be above mine is all. I respect the way you are raising your kids, and think it sounds like you are trying to be a really good dad for them.
 
FrakAttack said:
Hot-button-topic viral promo for WhatTheyPlay.com, so, of course those numbers must be true. :P
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Hm. You have a point. Well, if it's a shock article and a lie, then it's not far from the truth. There are plenty of idiots who are responsible for kids. I saw plenty when I went to my son's school for the first time. "Gangsta kids" bringing their own kids to school, idiot hillbillies chain smoking next to their infants while their older kids are getting registered, etc. Indeed, soon enough our world will be ripe with dumb after the generation of indifference passes away.
 
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