Category: Zone BBS Suggestions and Feedback
off the back of the previous post re the age limit of users, comments were made re the content of the site, and the fact that some of it is quite explicit. There are some users who feel that kids shouldn't, for example, be allowed on the site because of some of the content, and because users don't feel that they should have to curb what they say/do on here, as the majorty of users are adults. In my personal view, I think certain sections of the site are highly inappropriate for viewing by users who are under 18. I think it would be a good idea if say, the grafiti boards, were not accessible by users under 18, although I imagine that a good many people will disagree with me on this. Quicknotes I think are different because all kids will hear things that we perhaps wouldn't want them to hear, but some of what is posted on the sex addicts board for instance, is definitely not the type of talk the average 14 year old is likely to come across in general chit chat. I think if the date of birth is under a certain date, or if the user withholds the year of birth, then the grafiti boards should be out of bounds. and yeh, I realize that users might change their age so they can see it, but they do so then at their own risk .. any thoughts?
I think it's more trouble than it's worth. If we put that up, it'd be really easy for someone to lie, anyway. I know I did when I was younger. If you are over 18, click here. Is taht really a deterrent? And then you begin being the judge of appropriate or not. It's the parents' job to teach their kids to recognize what, in their mind, is inappropriate and act accordingly. We say up-front that some parts of the site may offend, so there is warning given.
I agree with admin on this. It's really not worth it, since odds are that it's very, very, very likely that the kids will lie.
I'm with Admin and Maddog. When we start putting limits on who can view what section of the site, we start forcing our own views of right and wrong on others...and I, at least, don't want to be in a position of doing that. I remember reading content when I was 14 that was as bad if not worse than the grafiti boards, and I'm relatively ok 10 years later. On the flip side, if a child's parents want to put themselves in the position of judging content, and if they request that a child's account be disabled (and we can prove that it's a legitimate request), I see no problem in disabling the account. Of course the child can then go to www.hotmail.com, create a free email account, and sign back up...but that's on them, not on us.
But if the kid's blind, then you don't have to worry about it, because hotmail has you covered with graphical verification requirements... sorry couldn't resist!
I concur. It wouldn't accomplish much. As for you being ok 10 years later Chriss? I'm not so sure. JK
I disagree!
hotmail has audio feedback in the pictures, so nothing you can do about it, but i just don't think there should be this limit because well, duh, its really easy to lie... and well the more it is denied to you the more interest it brings.... so yah,
Personally now I wish we could get rid of all the kids, but on the other hand when I was a kid I would have been on here just the same, so I can see both sides of the issue!
On the other hand though, if for those seections you put up this type of warning and the kid lies about his/her age and goes on those boards regardless than you are clearly not responsible and have gone to the limit of your ability to verify that only "adult" viewer view the contents of these boards/topics. From a "covering your behind" standpoint it might be desirable but I don't really see anyone (bsides the goblin perhaps) bringing law suits against the site any time soon so personally I don't see why there's such a strong need for such disclaimers.
That's dumb. don't do that.
Claire maybe not under 18, but under 14 or 16. Besides that, I totally agree.
Well, I agree with Chris n and the others about this. There's no point in having an age limit because you can easily lie about your age in the date of birth section of the profiles. Then, you'd get access to all of the site anyway.
I do think, though, that if parents just want kids to play the games and not the QNs or boards or graffiti, they should be able to do so. The other issue is that the boards are searchable even when not logged in currently. Maybe a separate domain or subdomain so kids who want to play the games, and who have worried parents, can do so. I mean, even a six-year-old can play anagram mania. They might not get loads of words, but they can try. Anybody can play high-low or keno too. A lot of the games are pretty simple. With blackjack, you just do the easy math.
to be honest I don't think kids should be on here. I really don't. I think that as best as can be done their access should be restricted. Lets just say if I was a parent I think that if I saw a site that did offer to that degree protection to with in the best of their abilities then they would definitely go in the good books so to speak because that would then show a degree of responsibility.
yes, but here comes the lying again, and I agree to the point that if you know this site is unsensored then why come here? I mean I came to this site to experiment what it was like, and yes, althought i made the excellent job of annoying almost everyone, I am still here, why? because I like the people i have met so far. Of course, there can be sexual conversations in quicknotes, or boards but there is still nice people out there.
to right, i've met a few great people. there's good and bad in every place you go to, but that's not the issue. The main issue is what is or isn't sutible for kids and whether adults should have to watch what we say because of the kids that are on this site.
See that's what I mean - they might be people who lie, that's why it's a bit more difficult.