I've always had a natural gift with children, making them feel welcome, in a new, or unusual situation to them. Eventually, they feel comfortable enough around me to think I can be trusted. If some of them decide that I'm a friend, that's good. It's unintentional, but it's good. Unfortunately, some parents decide to take the whole 'being friends' thing to the next level. I'm talking about being friends with their kids. My parents always told me when I was younger that 'I'm your parent first, alongside with guide, and assistant with what you need help with. But I'm not your friend'. Well, I could live with that. But some parents want to be so chummy with their kids, they decide that they'll be their friend, rather than their parent.
Some parents decide to turn a blind eye to their kids behaviour, ignoring anything that doesn't have to do with them, in some cases, or in most, getting kids age inappropriate games, and movies to watch. Some games I've seen kids play, which are far too age inappropriate for them to begin with, are Grand Theft Auto V, Hitman 2, 'Assassin's Creed' series of games, The 'Call Of Duty' series of games, a classic example for them, and, in some cases, Fortinte. The last one isn't as bad as some parents make it out to be. I personally think it's more of a PG rated game, rather than an M rated title, though, that's just me personally.
But that's besides the point. I'd estimate, that on average, on GTA Online (an extension to GTA V), at least 85% of players aren't old enough to be playing that game. I admit, when i started playing the game myself, my parents knew, that at age 17, and turning 18 the following year, I would be mature enough to play the game. In the past, I got a little violent, when I played one particular M rated title. Dead or Alive 4, a fighting game. I know it might sound pathetic, and rather weak of me, but because I was...the way I was, let's say...I was rather violent when I returned to primary school. But, I was worse when I was younger still. I was probably in grade 1, when, after watching an episode of the Simpsons, I nearly killed my younger sister, by suffocating her in one of the couch cushions. I'm not proud to admit that. The good news is she's still alive. The bad news was my mum had to physically hit me, to get me off my younger sister, and The Simpsons, for the next 5 years, was banned in our house.
I just wish parents would consider what the effects of playing violent games would do to kids. Some parents want to be friends with their kids. Others want to avoid confrontation. Those kinds of parents, we either call stupid, or spineless. You're the parents, so start acting like it. I mean, just think about this image:
If those parents weren't enablers for kids' bad behaviour, and more of a positive role model for them, trying more to be a parent, rather than as a friend, society wouldn't be as bad as it is right now. Maybe if parents spent more time focusing on helping their kids find friends, rather than trying to become one, or completely ignoring them, kids wouldn't be so badly behaved.
But that's my 2 cents on this. What about you? Any other questions, or comments? Let me know in the comment section below, or contact me to tell me your thoughts on this.
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