Video game violence: Irish parents ignore age ratings
It seems that most Irish parents ignore age ratings on violent video games. Moreover, if reports and BBC research is to be believed, minors in Dublin are looking for adult-rated video games “all the time”.
Games Toaster reports that similar to the underage drinking problem in Ireland, when children are refused purchase, they sometimes ask other shoppers to buy the game for them. Ger Conolly, Deputy Film Censor at the Irish Film Censor’s Office (IFCO) said, “Our own research of parents’ attitudes would suggest they are very concerned as to the suitability of anything their children are watching.”
Cllr. Aodhán Ó RÃordáin, a Labour councilor on Dublin City Council and a primary school teacher, has said that “ItÂ’s difficult to legislate in this area when some parents turn a blind eye to underage drinking and smoking.”
Philip Mudge, a spokesman for the National Parents Council, does admit that “Shop staff are very good,” but he does add that he’s seen parents buying adult games for children and he agrees that it is “difficult to see how to legislate for this.”
As parents and authorities are concerned that children are getting access to violent video games because other parents just don’t seem to care, Games Toaster points out that it is very difficult for debates/legislation on this topic to proceed without controversy, misleading statements, or high emotion. They say that media is partly to blame for this.
They cite that the game Manhunt was blamed for one teenager stabbing another in the UK, but the police has stated that the game is not part of their investigation. An Irish Times article said that Canis Canem Edit, “depicts a schoolboy tormenting a homeless,” and that it made much about a “another overweight child with a weak bladder”.
However, the Irish Times failed to point out that you actually make friends with the homeless man and that you have to protect the overweight child in order to progress in the game.
Via Games Toaster
It seems that most Irish parents ignore age ratings on violent video games. Moreover, if reports and BBC research is to be believed, minors in Dublin are looking for adult-rated video games “all the time”.
Games Toaster reports that similar to the underage drinking problem in Ireland, when children are refused purchase, they sometimes ask other shoppers to buy the game for them. Ger Conolly, Deputy Film Censor at the Irish Film Censor’s Office (IFCO) said, “Our own research of parents’ attitudes would suggest they are very concerned as to the suitability of anything their children are watching.”
Cllr. Aodhán Ó RÃordáin, a Labour councilor on Dublin City Council and a primary school teacher, has said that “ItÂ’s difficult to legislate in this area when some parents turn a blind eye to underage drinking and smoking.”
Philip Mudge, a spokesman for the National Parents Council, does admit that “Shop staff are very good,” but he does add that he’s seen parents buying adult games for children and he agrees that it is “difficult to see how to legislate for this.”
As parents and authorities are concerned that children are getting access to violent video games because other parents just don’t seem to care, Games Toaster points out that it is very difficult for debates/legislation on this topic to proceed without controversy, misleading statements, or high emotion. They say that media is partly to blame for this.
They cite that the game Manhunt was blamed for one teenager stabbing another in the UK, but the police has stated that the game is not part of their investigation. An Irish Times article said that Canis Canem Edit, “depicts a schoolboy tormenting a homeless,” and that it made much about a “another overweight child with a weak bladder”.
However, the Irish Times failed to point out that you actually make friends with the homeless man and that you have to protect the overweight child in order to progress in the game.
Via Games Toaster
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