Parents are more afraid of their kids playing Grand Theft Auto than drinking beer or watching porn says an informal poll on video game parenting site.
The poll asked 1,600 parents what they'd be most concerned about their 17-year-old child doing at a sleepover. Grand Theft Auto (19%) was second to smoking marijuana (49%) and closer to watching pornography (16%) and drinking beer (14%).
"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 ... Of course, parents don't want their children drinking alcohol, but that's a more familiar risk."
Grand Theft Auto in particular has been a target for concerned parents and politicians. A hidden sex game in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas kicked off the Hot Coffee scandal in 2005, which was followed by lawsuits, protests, lawmaking attempts and negative press. Three years later, Grand Theft Auto is still one of the best-selling games of all time, but this poll hints that parents remain wary.
Source: WhatTheyPlay.com
Reader Comments (71)
jandjcostello5 on 8/16/2008 4:02 am wrote: "dsgoinfishing, respect is not a right-it has to be earned." Kids aren't obligated to earn the respect of their parents or other adults; it's the other way around.
It's commonly assumed in this gamer-populated age that violence and criminal acts in video games are the cause of so many of these misdeeds in real life. This misconception has been around almost as long as violent games themselves, largely popularized by blaming the Columbine massacre on overplaying of the revolutionary shooter, DOOM. Since then, it's caught on and gathered believers as violent games became increasingly realistic, such as Grand Theft Auto. Those who would condemn video games for this reason ought to consider Aristotle's theory of catharsis. That was his word for the emotional release experienced by the audience of a play, and the reason plays were so enjoyable to the masses. Not only were they entertaining, they served as an outlet for the public's emotions.The same holds true today for movies -- and video games. Violent games like Grand Theft Auto are a healthy opportunity for players to take out their emotions on people and objects outside of reality. If I were a parent, I'd much rather my children point gun-shaped polygonal blocks at virtual people and cause computer-rendered violence, than actually go out and kill a real person. I'm 18 years old, and I play Grand Theft Auto. I've drunk one glass of alcohol in my entire life. I've never smoked cigarettes or pot, never tried any illegal drug, never been arrested, and I've never killed anyone. I can do that anytime I like, from my side of the TV screen, and let my character on the other side take the fall for it. And I don't worry. It's his virtual life that's messed up -- not mine.
bearstar55, that is probibly the most ignorant thing I've heard in a while. First of all... article has nothing to do with what the hell you're ranting about. It's about video games and not the color of a persons skin. You're obviously a racist biggot and deserve the treatment you get. Back on topic... meh, video games. I've been playing them since I was five. I'm twenty three now... and I'm not in prison. I've never murdered anyone... I don't do drugs. Infact... video games helped me by increasing my problem solving skills, increasing my reading ablilites, and various other skills. Blaming kids bad behavior on an outside influence is deflecting the issue away from the parent. When I was growing up... I started acting up, I got the belt. Seriously... all these kids need is a good ass whoopin.
Game Daily should be ASHAMED of themselves.
does anyone know of a word to replace R ape D?
Alright... EDIT AWAY.... You are being reported to whatever committe GOVERNS appropriateness in your dealings with the public.
Alright webSITE... answer... answerr and be held accountable... If the word I used can appear in a highly read newspaper, why can it NOT be used HERE? Especially in light of the fact you are encouraging talk about a game that HAS THIS VERY WORD encrypted in it? I'm beginning to get ANGRY. And you don't want me ANGRY, believe me.
dsgoinfishing, respect is not a right-it has to be earned.
Has anyone else noticed that our comments are subject to tampering? I've seen words I couldn't figure out with **** in them and they are legal, factual, and considered well enough to appear in any dictionary. I don't know how else to use the word '****d' (i'll appear as ***d I'm sure) but last time I checked we still had freedom of speech and that word is NOT profanity. Those running this site are conspiring to REMOVE certain words at their whim.... I THINK THIS NEEDS SOME LOOKING INTO.
Wow. it sounds as it 'The Devil' is in everything these days. But that's only if parents allow it.... In California a few years ago, a teenage boy and four of his friends drugged and ****d a girl and had the good sense to videotape the whole thing for 'parties?' later... Turns out the head kid was the son of the local sherrif. Of course the Sheriff set a real good example when he said: 'Don't you worry son, I'll get you out of this..." and went on to hire JOHNNY COCHRAN, O.J.'s attorney! EVEN with videotape evidence, his son, a good boy to the end.....