News Parents fear GTA more than porn, booze

[CardJoe]

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/08...n-porn-booze/1

The results of a new survey across more than 3000 parents have shown that videogames are seen as more of a concern than pornography or alcohol.

[Timmy_the_tortoise]

LOL

[mclean007]

What a vacuous survey. If their kids are too young to play GTA4 unsupervised, then don't let them have a copy of the game. If their friends have parents who will let them play unsupervised, don't let your kid go for unsupervised sleepovers there. It's hardly rocket science. If I had a kid I'd far rather (s)he was playing GTA4 than taking drugs, getting drunk, and knifing people.

37% of parents surveyed found "a man and a woman having sex" to be the most offensive thing? How, pray tell, did they become parents?!

[Veles]

The first asked parents what they found the most offensive and found that 37 percent of the participants were most offended by a man and woman having sex

Only because they don't get any anymore.

[Tyrmot]

It would be interesting to know what proportion of those parents had actually seen/played GTA, and what proportion only knew what they'd read in... well, 'What They Play' for example? I'm thinking the results of that particular survey wouldn't be too surprising.

[The Infamous Mr D]

Originally Posted by mclean007

37% of parents surveyed found "a man and a woman having sex" to be the most offensive thing? How, pray tell, did they become parents?!

Turkey baster? :-)

Of course, like most surveys, you can never rely on the sample being an accurate cross-section of the target. The statistics can and often are bent depending on the point the proponent wishes to argue.

Although, having said that, with such an alledgedly high percentage of parents finding consensual heterosexual intercourse so offensive, is it a wonder that the UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the European Union? Perhaps parents are once again in need of a good wake-up slap.

[Mankz]

I do both.

[crompers]

"The second poll asked parents what they are more worried about 17-year olds doing at unsupervised sleepovers. 49 percent were most apprehensive about marijuana being smoked, 19 percent of Grand Theft Auto being whipped out, 16 per cent of pornography being watched, and 14 percent of beer being consumed."

This literally made me guffaw, 17 year olds?!!!111!!

If a 17 year old is only just going to "unsupervised sleepovers" i'd suggest there is something seriously wrong at home, and if at that sleepover they rented ooohhh say Saw they would see far more gore than the whole of GTA.

[Krikkit]

If these people have 17-y-o children with access to the internet aren't looking at porn, they should be worried tbh.

Debauchery and sin is exactly what being 16 - 22 is all about, and lots of kids these days start much sooner than that.

[Veles]

Originally Posted by crompers

"The second poll asked parents what they are more worried about 17-year olds doing at unsupervised sleepovers. 49 percent were most apprehensive about marijuana being smoked, 19 percent of Grand Theft Auto being whipped out, 16 per cent of pornography being watched, and 14 percent of beer being consumed."

WTF? At that point my mum was actually handing me the beer for my parties

Obviously this is a poll of 3000 prudes.

[liratheal]

Hahahaha.

Must be all that rape and murdering of mythical Greek gods that propels it to this level of fear.

[Ninja_182]

I find it more shocking that more people find homosexuality between males more offensive than severed body parts. Does female homosexuality just not get a mention or is that different?

Edit: Todays poll is quite interesting, apparently parents are more likely to let their children play as Master Chief with all the gore associated with the series than play as sonic, probably one of the most family friendly characters ever conceived.

[Veles]

Oh no that's fine because it turns men on

[Mankz]

Originally Posted by Krikkit

Debauchery and sin is exactly what being 16 - 22 is all about, and lots of kids these days start much sooner than that.

I certainly did

[Xir]

Is it an American survey? Where you're counted as underage till 21?
17 year olds must count as-just-out-of-diapers then.

Sure you can drive over somebody in a car but you cant buy a can of beer till you're 21!

[legoman666]

What about playing GTA, smoking a J, drinking a beer, fapping to hot coffee, all while having sex?

[UrbanMarine]

What's wrong with porn, booze, weed and a few hours of GTA at a sleep over? It could be worse with hookers, booze, coke and a few hours of unprotected hide the hotdog. What ever happen to being responsible for your actions and not using objects as scapegoats.

[naokaji]

The first asked parents what they found the most offensive and found that 37 percent of the participants were most offended by a man and woman having sex

I know it has been asked before... but how did they become parents if they find that offensive?

anyway, It's weird that they are worried that much about games, I mean games are a virtual thing, while booze, knife's (or whatever the daily mail is currently hunting down) are real things.

maybe the parents should actually have to play games before they are even allowed to comment on them. but then that woudnt work due to this:

parents we spoke with in focus groups often bemoaned the fact that they didn't know how to use game controls

[Veles]

Bloody focus groups...

[Bauul]

I fear GTA as well, I swear I see the DVD creeping up on me at night.