You are fine with kids of 11 yrs playing GTA but not watching Saw? Both include features far too mature for an 11 year old. You've just highlighted a problem overall. People still do not consider gaming 'mature'. It's seen as a kids thing to do but most gamers are 20 year olds or above now. Most games are made for us in mind, no longer for 11-13 yrs olds like games in the 80 and 90s were.

Terrible parents -__-

Everyone says " I turned out fine". You're not paying attention to the point which is about desensitization.

I am pretty calm, I am just alarmed and concerned for developers getting the backlash of this because of people pointing the fingers at the wrong people (including parents) such as developers by media outlets and the like. Its not about knowing the people, the effects of desensitization have already become a widespread phenomnenon over the past thirty years in movies and games. Of course I haven't existed on this earth as long as that but as desensitized as I am, I at least had my years of innocence. These kids aren't getting it at all. Sometimes I wonder what conversation that kids going to have with his dad at age twelve with his dad about prostitution and gun violence. He doesn't need to turn into a mass murderer to lose his innocence.

It depends on the Horror film. It also depends on the child. Saw is nothing really. I do consider horror films above gaming in general. I dont see a kid having a nightmare over playing a little bit of GTA lol

Tell me, would you bring an eleven year old to the theater on a saturday night to go and see Pain and Gain or Don Jon? GTA is on the same level in terms of script content. Remember, games are evolving at a rapid pace as technology and budgets increase.

Going Gaga is not what makes a child not ready for a game. Thats only if the child is disturbed in some way (which I am sure most aren't).

I see your point.

Of course I believe in parents having the freedom to show their kids whatever they see fit as I implore anyone to do so, even myself because the rating system isn't 100% accurate. I mean some ratings are ridiculous. I don't consider Halo a mature game at all and I would allow a fifteen year old to play that game easily, and probably a bit younger if it came down to it at thirteen. Its fantasy violence and in no way indicative of the real world besides the fundamentals of war displayed with colorful weaponry. COD is a different story. People put  actual real world or inspired themes into these games. Games like that are inspired by real world counter-terrorism and terrorist scripts  which I would never show to a child. As I told a guy before, in MW2 the terrorist mission was all over the news. I just laughed at all the parents and said..."you bought it and you can't touch Activision nor Infinity Ward. Of course a child isn't going to press skip on a disclaimer to play a terrorist in a mass murder scene in an airport". 

Overreaction on your parent's part

I'm sure you think so, but when I was a growing up the generation before wasn't exposed to videogames like we were so there was a disconnect which is to be expected. Your unwillingness to understand older generations, this is how the gap becomes exposed. They exposed me to videogames, but after I turned fifteen they kind of lightened the reigns on what I could watch inside the house. I respected them and their opinion, because of course they have a point and their intentions were good. Our parents (in the neighborhood) didn't exactly discuss the issue with us but we knew what was going on, but they didn't want us seeing the kid without their permission because we undermined their authority. It wasn't just me but a couple other kids in our childhood neighborhood because we weren't allowed.We were fine, of course but it doesn't mean our parents were wrong. Parents are parents and regardless of how liberal each generation becomes there will always be ones like mine even if they aren 100% the same. Coming to think of it if I continued to hang out with that kid I probably would've turned out similar in childhood, not playing as much sports as I did, gaining weight, and the kid had zero wonder in his eyes when it came to the fantastical because he was so overexposed before his time. Adulthood tends to take that from us, but as kids, lol it sure does a number on you. Theres many pros that came from moving on with my life. This is not about whether chilren turn out fine (thats such a typical gamer response...I couldn't even count the times I've heard that). I come from a rather strict upbringing, so yeah its kind of obvious my parents would have the latch on certain things. Coming to think of it my parents were more aware of what I did even in their technologically impaired state than most parents are today looking back on things. Its these things that I remember looking back.