Confusled...

Okay: I posted this stuff on the GTA thread, but bear with me.  It's about Rated M games. To me, there is such a huge range of what is considered "M" that the term almost becomes meaningless.

Case in point: GTA on the "YES, very mature" scale all the way to Penny Arcade. I played the PA  Demo only... but the reason (as far as I can see) that the game is rated M ist he heavy use of foul language. But even then, it's used humorously...

So, my point is this. Soccer Mom does the good thing and plays/ researches GTA befoe little jonny can play. Too violent, too much sex: this rated M game is off the list.  A week later, little Jonny wants to play PA. Mom says, hey this is rated M. I know that rated M  games have lots of violence sex etc... no go.  Note, this logic can also work the other way.

If the ERSB rating system is a valid tool for non-gamer parents to use, how would they know that there are very extreme differences in rated M games?

Now, whenever I bring this up, people say that parents should do research and parent. I thnk that by looking up the ersb rating parents are doing their job. I mean here at 2o2p we are all uber gamers, we know what is in the games. Before you say that parents should extensivly research stuff, ask yourself do you know exactly what your kid is reading? My brother read each Harry Potter novel before reading it to his young daughter to make sure it was appropriate. Do you do the same? If you don't are you "not a good parent"? For the sake of argument, let's say yes, you are still a good parent. Do you watch each movie before your kid watches it? Do you listen to each CD? No, you don't. You look at the media (which is MUCH easier for books, movies, music) and that is it. You can't ask a non-gamer parent to play each game before their kid does, it's just unrealistic.  which is why there is ersb.

I think I'm dense or something. Others think that the system is fine. I just see such a HUGE range in the rated M games that it is almost meaningless.   AO is the retail kiss of death. But it's funny: you can show someone get executed, but DAMN no nipples!  This goes for movies too.  So maybe it's just a US thing?

I am looking for clarification: please keep it civil. Do you guys see a huge range in the rated M games, and if so, is this fine.