May 5, 2008 -
A Canadian legislator who criticized Bully: Scholarship Edition in March has taken note of the GTA IV release, advising parents to monitor what their children play.John Nuraney (left), a member of British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly, makes some reasonable points in an op-ed for Burnaby Now:
One of the top video games for boys in grades 3 to 6 is Grand Theft Auto... While it is admirable that our children of today adapt very quickly to this technology, it is also alarming that, without proper guidance and supervision, they can fall victims to the unscrupulous, complex morals presented in this particular game...
There is a great need for public awareness and debate on the topic of youth and new media. Parents, teachers and retailers must take an active role to ensure that the developmental needs of children and youth are met in an increasingly electronic age...
What we need in dealing with harmful materials and their exposure to children is a campaign of awareness - a collaborative approach that shares the responsibility amongst parents, children and youth, educators, government and industry.
Comments
"Yeah I stopped reading at “grades 3 through 6.” I have no time for people with no credibility. Anyone who does not research a topic should be shot on sight. It’s like crying “FIRE” in a crowded movie theater."
Then would you enlighten us with your great statistical knowledge of what games do boys from grade 3 to 6 like to play? Because, while I do not have anything except anecdotal evidence, the boys of that age I do know think GTA is "totally cool", even though in their cases their parents know better than to let them own it.
Interjecting the mistaken opinion that GTA will poison their children is bad. If he told them that it contained content that the MIGHT not want their child exposed to...good.
"One of the top video games for boys in grades 3 to 6 is Grand Theft Auto…"
Stopped there.
:facepalm:
[i]One of the top video games for boys in grades 3 to 6 is Grand Theft Auto…[/i]
:facepalm(again):
[i]...to ensure that the developmental needs of children and youth are met in an increasingly electronic age…[/i]
LolWUT!?
:facepalm:
Seriously, will they ever give it a rest!?
He doesn't say 'ban teh games'. He says 'raise teh awareness', and I'm fine with that.
Sorry mate. I judge too harshly too quickly.
Not all Canadians are like this.
At least he is putting most of the blame on parents and not on the development companies despite his very obvious and far-from-correct points.
"One of the top video games for boys in grades 3 to 6 is Grand Theft Auto…"
Looks more like your contituants are falling victim to YOUR "unscrupulous, complex morals" considering you think that a rated M game is labeled as gender specific or age rated for 3rd to 6th graders.
Unless you've got some really old 3rd to 6th graders.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I thought it was carefully worded, and put the emphasis on the right place: parents. Flaming for flaming's sake should be avoided here, folks.
Look, it's not like he's saying the game is evil at all. He didn't even bash it at all. Like Skylar said, he's placing the emphasis right where it needs to be.
You guys are acting like Jack Thompson.
"First!?
“One of the top video games for boys in grades 3 to 6 is Grand Theft Auto…”
Stopped there. "
"Seriously, will they ever give it a rest!?"
-Altair
A good question, Altair. My question is, Will you?
(not you, Altair. Flamers in general.)
My thoughts exactly.
He's basically saying "I don't like it, but it's better that parents knows about it." If only some peoples we know would just say that, it'll be an huge step forward.
And yeah - lots of boys at those age just love GTA - I would have.
It's funny how everyone goes on like, OMGZ!! a 10 year old is playing GTA!!!!
But, I recall being that age in the 70's - all that was on TV was cop shows it seemed like - that were cops getting killed by psychos - psycho cops doing the killing (Magnum force for example) and all the like - and if it wasn't that it was horribly mind damaging sitcoms like Three's Company and Laverne and Shirley - sex jokes on and on... bad ones at that - and yes, at my age I clearly understood what they were.
Yet - GTA is so horrible?
Agreed.
I, too, hope people start thinking before commenting. Whenever someone says anything besides "games are cool. let everyone play games," people start flaming immediately.
C'mon. Unless this blog is full of teens (which I doubt given the word "gamePOLITICS") people really should start adding something constructive.
Most parents are aware of what the ratings mean. Some just feel that their children are mature enough to handle the game and don't need some talking head to tell them to watch out.
Horror of horrors, morality that isn't black and white!
Still, pretty reasonable comments for one of the usual crowd of alarmists. From reading the actual piece, it seems like he's at least taken a look at the game to boot.
*blink* *blink*
Did I wake up in bizzaro world or something? Where's the calls for bans? Where's the demands for restrictions?
Stop with the reasonableness dammit!
That should be the focus of any politico's ire.
Too bad he didn't make it clearer that the game is not a product intended for children, or emphasize the rating system.
Like, say, a rating system? MADNESS!
"C’mon. Unless this blog is full of teens (which I doubt given the word “gamePOLITICS”) people really should start adding something constructive. "
Pardon? While i agree that many teens take only a very superficial interest in political matters, i do think we need to remember that there are also quite a sizeable portion (though arguably smaller than it ought to be) that DO take an interest.
- Christian Astrup, 17 years. Presently studies political science and english.
Denmark.
Hell, I've been interested in politics since I was 12 or so.
17 in 5 days
been interested in politics since shortly after 9/11
Says who?
If he would just have LEFT OUT this alarmist, opinionated statement it would be a well thought out message.
I don't recall EVER when I was in 3rd grade having the attention span nor the maturity to enjoyably play or even understand what GTA was (the crime or the game). Mario Bros and Zelda were the titles to have then and I suspect those are the same today. Well, at least "M" rated games aren't the top video games for grades 3-6.
Reasonable, constructive messages reminding parents that "M" is a mature rating and not for kids is fine. Those who feel they have to do a bit of fearmongering to get their message out really need to just sit down and shut up. They do nothing but demonize the entire industry and make it worse for EVERYONE. Parents are confused because of all the misinformation they get. With all the misstated facts and outright lies (yeah I'm lookin at you on that one JT) it makes parenting video games VERY DIFFICULT. When all your information is tainted you go to a trusted source and that trusted source will be the child. We all know that any kid will manipulate to get what he/she wants if they want it badly enough.
Is it REALLY that hard to simply say that GTA is a game for adults and thusly is rated "M" for mature, so please review the contents carefully before deciding to buy the game for your children?
There. I just said it in one simple paragraph...
No grandstanding. No BS to make it sound like I'm protecting the children. A simple message that relays, "Hey parents we've got your back because you work your asses off to raise your kids and we know you don't have a lot of time to invest making sure Timmy didn't get anything he shouldn't have."
Be for the people, not for your own personal agendas.
*puts soap box away*
I was sold here, despite any logical fallacies he may have made.
He's not saying "ban this" or "put it in a backroom," he's saying "make sure people know it's violent."
That's encouraging. Good to know we are represented then :D