Trollheart

This might seem a little draconian, but I just today offered to mentor a newbie, and then found out she was 13 years old. Now, that's of course not a problem per se, but does open up a whole lot of potential hazards, both for me and for her. In the first place, socialising (hanging around, I guess you'd say) with a 13 year old when you're a year shy of fifty is dubious behaviour at best, and could lead to accusations of "grooming" at worst.

There's also the matter of how we treat these first-timers. I'm referring specifically to the advice given by a member to a newbie about posting a picture of their genitalia to a certain member, and saying this was mandatory practice. Now, I KNOW this was said TOTALLY in jest, and no-one expects anyone to do any such thing BUT should it have been taken up the wrong way --- either by the newb or by anyone else reading that thread: anyone can read them, after all --- and worse, should that newb be considered underage, well, you can see the problem it could create.

Without a mandatory age limit here it would look as if we should be VERY careful about what we say, especially in a sexual context, or anything that could be considered sexual, particularly to those who don't know, and definitely to newbies.

I certainly don't want to restrict membership to a certain age, and yet there are some serious pitfalls that we need to think about. If just one incident --- real or imagined --- gets reported we could all be in some major trouble. What, they'll say, these guardians of decency and morals, has sending a questionable picture got to do with a forum that purports to only be interested in music? Are they trading porn too? Kiddy porn? Shut them down!

You can see how it would go.

So I'd just like to sound a note of concern, and see if anyone has any suggestions or solutions. Perhaps newbs should always be asked their age in the introductions? Perhaps we need to watch our potty mouths more? I'm really not sure. But this is a problem that ain't gonna go away, so we should really start thinking now about how to be proactive, before we find ourselves in deep doo-doo...

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Janszoon

Actually, we already have a minimum age limit to join: 14. This is in the rules you agree to when you create your account. I guess it hasn't been enforced as much lately but it could be.

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Time & Place

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Salami

I was under the impression you were supposed to be fourteen at least to join this forum (although this may have been Urban trying to pull someone's leg) - but you've clearly raised an important point.

Basically, I'm sure that a lot of this responsibility lies with the parents, and although there's nothing wrong with letting your child on the internet, it really should be guided just a little.
I'm seventeen at the moment (joined here aged sixteen), and to be frank the "banter" and the NSFW content of this site is mild compared to my sixth form common room.

Salami

You beat me to it!!!!!

Guybrush

Hah, I didn't think there was an age limit and actually wrote to Trollheart there wasn't one outside of this thread. Sorry for the misinformation, TH!

I only registered that one time back in 2008 and can't remember the registration details, but I assume it's just a box you tick off where you state that you're above the required age or something. Based on this, would you (the mods) ban a member from the forum if they claim they are under 14?

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GuitarBizarre

Also that rule isn't somethign the mods actually put in place. Its part of all Vbulletin registrations, inherent in the software. Kind of predictable its unknown and unenforced.

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Freebase Dali

If it's an issue of legality or something, then I guess we should ban everyone under the age of 18.

Scarlett O'Hara

How can you police something like that though? I mean we have no idea for sure what everyone's age is and it's really not up to us to keep youngin's off the site, it's the parents responsibility.

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Sparky

trollheart you seem a little too over-protective of yourself eh

we all have skeletons in our closet

Freebase Dali

Edited my post for clarity.
I don't actually think we should do it. I was making a statement.