Rad Dad Redemption

I've temporarily lost my cool dad status. Despite my son's well-planned and executed request (in which he invoked his "mental, physical and emotional health") to be able to purchase Red Dead: Online, I refused to let him have anything to do with it. Red Dead: Online is the networked version of the Red Dead Redemption franchise. From everything I've read, its Mature rating is well deserved. Per Claude:

The M-rating reflects several concerns for a 13-year-old: graphic violence including shootouts and brutal melee combat, strong language throughout, sexual themes and partial nudity, alcohol and drug use, and gambling mechanics. The game is set in a gritty, morally complex Wild West where players often engage in criminal activities.

The online component adds another layer of concern - your son would be interacting with strangers online, and despite content filters, exposure to inappropriate chat or behavior from other players is common in online gaming environments.

The truth is, I'm not just being protective of my son. I also don't want to support a game like this under any circumstances, and I lament that this is now mainstream entertainment that 13-yr.-olds are after.

When I worked in a video game store, I once found myself being that snobby clerk guy who brings to mind characters from High Fidelity. A customer asked when a game called something like Dark, Bloody Death was coming out. In my exasperation with the myriad of such games, I replied, "hopefully never." Not great.