Here's my thoughts.
The PEGI ratings are RECOMMENDATIONS for the age group this is aimed towards. In the end of the day, it is the maturity of the teenager whether it is right or wrong for him. No matter how long ago you were born, it is your mind which actually develops. For example, a dude who is 30 may be kiddish in his nature, or a 14 year old may act like an old man.
So, yeah, this was it.
And you guys were teenagers too, so, really, maybe you should stop saying they're stupid because it's all a part of life.

Do I believe it? Um, no. I take the rating system as a warning of what's inside the game, the rest is completely depend on the person who plays it.

Don't blame you mate, I don't even read my own posts properly :P

!6 year olds can join the military and I think there is still some European countries with conscript under 18.

It should be up to their parents to raise them and deem what's appropriate, not nanny government or mommy corporate.

Yep, and all parents are good people .... NOT!

It should be a society values majority consensus based thing ... don't like that, change your society.

Actually, if you're not the parent / guardian those laws can still be enforced same as with BBFS rated content.
Not that it ever happens much.

But you are aware that those kids will still get out and play these games? And guess what - they probably won't die. Also, in this case I doubt the games are the real problem at all.

I never actually addressed the issue of should or should not, I was just addressing what the poster said.

I don't have a firm stance on the main issue of this thread question, for the reasons you suggested, especially because I have had kids and attempted restrictions at times, but been defeated by the parents of other kids, even though I knew and liked those parents. As a parent it is always a challenge, especially if your partner has a different view on some things, which is often the case I find. And if you let that become a conflict, then often the solution is worse, because your kids get mixed messages and no consistency.

So while I may feel a certain way about things, reality often intrudes on desires and negates them coming into proper effect. You cannot police what you cannot police, without being totally controlling, and that would be worse than what you may be trying to prevent.

P.S. The best you can do most of the time, is to offset how your kids are being impacted ... pay attention to their development ... listen and educate and communicate your fears or concerns as best you can.

meh

i used to play GTA San Andreas and Liberty Cities and many other +18 games as a teenager and still grew up to be a decent citizen of society.


Age ratings means just about nothing if said kids can easily pirate those games and play it that way. I believe in education, not just playing on this forbiddent fruit narrative.
pretty much this.

You cannot always shelter your kids from bad things their whole life, the best thing you can do as a parent is to communicate with them, teach them how to distinguish what is virtual and what is real life.

Bold? i dont think so

despite the popular narrative among soccer mommies and jack thompsons of the world, 18+ games dont corrupt the innocent mind of kids and all that,

Its all about emotional maturity and general maturity level as well.

Ever considered why games such as GTA Online and Call of Duty (also jokingly called Children Online Daycare) are so filled with obviously underage people? because everyone and their dogs are playing it and kids dont wanna miss out on things their friends are also playing.

Somehow you dont really hear of gamers shooting up places and such nonstop (and no, that certain Columbine massacre doesnt count because those people were fucked up in the head already).

Sure and I don't disagree. I just wanted to point out that while the governement could help parents in raising their kids they should not be the only ones. And if you have bad parents, bad games will probably be the least problems you have. I am all for recommendations but the parents should still be allowed to decide in the end. And like you said - and I could not agree more - the most important thing is to talk with your children and explain things to them to make sure they understand that a game is a game and reality is reality.

Well to be fair to me, I never actually specified government, I said society, as governments can differ and change. So an independent body that speaks for the majority would be best, and parents should always have some kind of say.

Indeed.

At best it is tricky, like you and I and others have indicated. That said, I don't think parents should be the sole arbiter of what is right and wrong, and even nice people can be bad parents for a variety of reasons or in some aspects.

While most of us have been born into our societies and have very little say over them, usually our values are reflected for the most part and can mostly be respected.