# Getting Grand Theft Auto IV for my son **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329 "2008-05-14T20:09:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/21 "2008-05-15T20:00:41Z")
You can’t stop him from playing the game, but that doesn’t mean you should necessarily allow him to own it. I think you should try to get a chance to play the game yourself. If you decide that it offends _your_ standards of morality–if it makes _you_ feel dirty or debased to play it–then don’t allow it in your house. At fifteen, your son is probably mature enough not to be frightened by the game (and if he is, he will just stop playing it). So this isn’t about what’s appropriate for _him_; it’s about what’s acceptable to _you_. If you set a standard and live up to it, a teenager will respect you and your values. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/22 "2008-05-15T21:00:43Z")
I’ll say it even clearer. The game is all about criminal activity, including theft and murder. Your son is trying his hardest to convince you otherwise(I admire his creativity), but the game is **probably not what you want him playing.** From the impression I get in your OP, it’s a definite, “no” for him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/23 "2008-05-15T21:00:59Z")
[QUOTE=WF Tomba] I think you should try to get a chance to play the game yourself. [/QUOTE] Exactly. It’s not that hard to get a rental copy. Just take into account that this game starts kind of slowly. If you don’t like what is going on in the beginning it gets worse (or better depending on your POV). ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/24 "2008-05-15T22:20:47Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] On a side note: I think it’s incredibly strange that the game is surely not meant for young children, but much of the dialouge, in game jokes and not so witty double entendres are really marketed for mid teens. Either thats thier real target market no matter what they say, or they think anyone playing this has the mind of a mid teen. [/QUOTE] Of course it is. Games rated “Mature” are never actually mature. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/25 "2008-05-16T15:17:43Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] There was an interesting article in Slate on the queasy morality of GTA 4. I can’t find it right this second, though - it’s only turning up another article (which was also interesting - about crime and community). I’ll link if I can find it. [/QUOTE] Is [this](http://www.slate.com/id/2190207/) the one you were looking for? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329/26 "2008-05-16T15:47:27Z")
Yes, that’s it. Thanks! I’ve only been playing for a little bit, but I’ve already gotten very attached to the protagonist - I don’t want to let him down. Dude just wants a new life in America, like everybody else. People keep having the most depressing conversations with me in the car and I just want everybody to be happy and feel better and move out of their shitty apartments into that deluxe apartment in the sky. \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-grand-theft-auto-iv-for-my-son/449329.md?page=1)