From: Vares Solvang
Yeah, cause God knows we don't want our teens to ever learn to think for themselves.
We should just isolate them from the outside world until they leave home. Then it's ok to just throw them to the wolves totally unprepared.
I agree. Allowing the mixing of teens and adults will put teens at risk. But, imho, it's better that they learn to tell the different between safe and dangerous adults (and people, generally) in SL, an environment where they are reasonably protected, then in, say Real Life where they're not so well protected.
From: Caliandris Pendragon
I still think it's daft that teenagers of 16 can make love in RL but not as avatars. That they can be put in charge of a dangerous weapon on wheels in RL but not in charge of an avatar on the main grid. That in many countries they can be called upon to die or kill for their country in RL but must be protected at all costs from pornography or paedophiles in SL.
I completely agree, the double standard is crazy - and stems from LL (sensibly) wanting to cover their butts against lawsuits.
From: Caliandris Pendragon
The internet hasn't changed the fact that most children who will be abused - 1 in 5 at the last estimate - will be abused by someone known to them and their family.
You're comitting the cardinal sin of discussing the issue of child abuse here - you're dealing with it in terms of statistics - in terms of rational thought. Child abuse is such a hot button for many people that even the thought of making a single child slightly more vulnurable makes them start to pull at their hair and scream "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!".
From: Caliandris Pendragon
UruLive while it was in operation allowed children and adults to play and encouraged family participation. I was initially doubtful of this, but then realised that it was a very good protection that other adults never had any idea whether the person behind the avatar was an adult or a child.
I doubt that is very good protection.
From: Caliandris Pendragon
I'd say that a common area might be a very good thing...it could be kept PG, would encourage exchange of ideas and objects and might teach people in the main grid that teenagers are often intelligent, literate, thinking, creative people, and not griefers.
That would, imho, be one of the most valuable things SL could do for the internet population, to allow the normally very segregated worlds of adults and teens to mix and thus to shatter stereotypes.
From: Caliandris Pendragon
I would be interested to know if Linden liaisons noticed a big difference in the behaviour on the two grids.
Cali
As would I, but I doubt any official of LL will respond to this topic, simply because it would be putting their butts at risk (or could be interpreted as doing so).
From: Hiro Pendragon
Yes, if and only if:
1. It is none of the existing areas of the main grid.
2. It is entirely seperate from the main grid.
3. A chat-monitoring system is put in place for both chat and IMs and is aggressively used and made publicly aware.
1) I definately agree with.
2) I definately agree with.
3) I completely disagree with, because A) LL would have to disclose if they did this, and B) Teens would become aware of it, and so would the 'bad' adults... and it'd get circumvented by the people who really wanted to, and turn into something that makes the majority feel discomfortingly like they're living under a police state, without actually doing much to catch the criminals. Just like ID cards in the UK.
From: Wanda Rich
Experience tells me 16 year olds don't 'make love' - they fumble, fiddle, grope and giggle.
A subtle difference, but a difference none the less.
Yup. Every adult knows this - they were 16 once.
From: Mad Wombat
Hahahahaha, 16 year olds often have kinkier sex than us grown ups.
Yup. Back when I was 16 I had far less of an idea about risk and did kinky things that I won't even think about doing now as I consider them too risky. My parents would have tried to stop me, but BECAUSE I knew they'd try to stop me, I just did them anyway behind my parents' backs. I learnt from that that if any parent wants to stop their kid screwing up and putting themselves in danger, the first job of the parent is to teach the kid that the parent WON'T go ballistic, overreact, or even stop them doing most 'bad' things... if the kid thinks the parent won't stop them doing something they think is bad, they're much more likely to tell the parent about the real dangers they're exposed to and the real risks they're taking. Oh, and don't even think about using this to try to trick your kid into telling you things - you do that *ONCE* and you've lost that kid's trust for many, many years, possibly even for life.
From: Lewis Nerd
Yep, Second Life is indeed a 'video game' on a computer so it's at risk. It's only a matter of time. When, rather than if.
Lewis
Like the existance of burnt bits of toast, this is sad but true.
From: Star Sleestak
I don't want to protect teens, I want to be protected from the little bastards! There's a reason that I'm living a child free lifestyle.
I agree. Personally I do a lot of BDSM in Second Life, and I notice that a lot of people in 'the scene' (and a lot of people generall) are very immature (especially about sexual issues, and with regard to their ability to roleplay realistically). It's hard enough dealing with all the clueless adults! I know that some teens are very smart, but please, I have enough on my plate as it is - I don't want to be exposed to even less mature people then I normally have to deal with sometimes. I want the ability to live in an adults-only world, just to boost the average level of maturity of the people I encounter - not necessarily sexual maturity - just the ability to hold a decent, intelligent conversation without resorting to things like "lol", "omg" and phrases like "r u?".
