GTA: San Andreas Hoo-Haa

I'm sure by now that most of you out there have heard about all the hub-bub surrounding GTA: San Andreas. In case you haven't, here's the short version of what has happened. Apparently, the programmers had some fun and installed a nifty sex scene into the game. However, when the game shipped, it was set up so that people could not access this portion of the program. Leave it to the masses, though, to find a way around that. A third-party program was developed to crack the program so that everyone can enjoy the pixelated, porn-ilicous goodness.

Now, suits have been filed and GTA: San Andreas production is being halted. Mods are being put out to disable the naughty bits and the program is being altered so that the sex scenes are removed from the game. Plus, a new ESRB rating of AO (adults only) is being applied.

You know the probem I have with this? It's not the sex scenes. After all, the game was originally rated M (meaning you have to be 17+ years old to buy it). It's the fact that the parents are getting all up in arms and expecting everybody else to do their job of monitoring what their kid sees. To me, this would be exactly the same as going to the movie industry and saying, "I think you need to take the boobies out of this R rated movie, because my kid might see it!"

Well, yeah, miss...that's why we rated it "R". So you would know that your wee ones shouldn't be seeing it!

I can see a lot of you out there gasping and saying, "But, wait! That's not the same..." Yes. Yes, it is. Do you know what the difference between a M and AO rating is for the ESRB? 1 year. That's right. You have to be 17 to buy a M game and 18 to buy a AO game. Wooooo! Boy, does that one year make all the difference!

"But, but...the AO indicates that there is sex! And, we can't let little Johnny see sex! Because, sex is evil." Uh-huh. And, why, exactly, did you think the game had an M rating? Because you need to be mature to play it! If you deem that it is okay for your child to simulate stealing cars, gunning down policemen, running over pedestrains, perhaps simulating drug deals...gee, what's a little sex thrown in with that? I'm afraid we are well past the days of Pong and Pac-Man, ladies and gentlemen. Games are not always the wholesome fun that they used to be.

In my opinion, it is entirely the parent's job to monitor what their child sees and does, not that of industry. If you don't want your child being exposed to sex and violence, then you need to pay more attention to the ratings on these games just the same as you would a movie. Actually ask yourself, "Why does this game have an M rating?" Perhaps you should play it for a bit to judge for yourself. Then, decide whether you want this to be part of your child's recreation.

"But, but...Johnny could go over to Bobby's house and play it there!" Yes, yes he could. Just the same as he could go over to Bobby's house and watch porn on TV, or look at magazines, or find a gun, or take drugs or any number of things.

The only thing that you can do is teach your child right from wrong and hope that he listens and learns. You can't be there with him every second of every day, no matter how much you want to. However, you can control what your child learns in your own home, from you...his parents. Not TV, not industry, not government...YOU. Parents have to take responsibility. Stop expecting everyone else to do your job.