Minors

I am not questioning LL when I ask this.I am questioning the users:

First, if and why do you think that minors should not be in SL and I mean on the grid we play on.

Second, Do you think that the maturity level of a 16-17 is THAT different from a 18 year old?

Now I will answer my own questions

1. I think minors should beable to play on Second life that are between the age of 16+,why because..

2.Most 16+ teens are at a 18 year-old maturity level.Yes we get the punks that have no value in their life and want to make everyones life the same,but for the few that REALLY want to play SL I think they can control themselves.

Why I am asking this is because my 17 year old brother wants to play SL badly and since I found out that minors are NOT ALLOWED in SL, I stopped him from using my account to save my own ass.My 16 year old cousin wants to play it to. I know for a fact that they are both at a 18 year old maturity level.


Just wondering,
Hero.

Hero, simply put there are numerous threads in the history of the forums reference this subject some are too tired to repost or explain this again so Id simply suggest doing little forum historical research.

Shadow.

It's not Linden Lab picking on minors. The reason you have to be 18+ years old to be in the Adult version of SL is because of litigeous (sue happy) parents.

If you are under the age of 18 in the USA, and you happen to be exposed to pornography (which is available inside of the Adult version of SL), sex, dirty talk, talk about drug use, or whatever is deemed adult-content, then LL can be sued or shut down by sue-happy parents or the government.

It's not about maturity level, but more about protecting the service from being shut down.

I think the maturity age should be based on when you can get a hard on if you aren't retarded. As far as females, their harmones kick in a little earlier. Better to learn about life in Secondlife and not get pregnant than to get pregnant in Firstlife. As for the morality of it, Teens are gonna learn it in Firstlife anyhow early on. But altimately the Parents should make an intelligent Judgement.

I agree 100%... Children should not be exposed to Adult material and generally Rated (R) stuff. Protect the Children... We don't need to grow a culture of moral decay.

Damn Blake..I may have to use this for my tagline. It's a classic!

LOL! Bring on The Flames LOL!

Blake.. You and I should hit up that Strip Club in WVA off RT.9 just down from Charlestown... lol

So the Parents may ask *Dick can you get a hard on yet?*

It's not the kids I'd be worried about, it's the adults. The net makes it far too easy for predators to get into contact with minors already. Kids are amazingly creative and would add much to the community, but it just wouldn't be safe for them.

That's why LL is doing this teen service thing. The draw to SL for kids is undeniable, SL is an amazing service and I think kids would benefit the most... as long as they're not being swooped down upon constantly by semi-anonymous creeps.

I'm all for the teen service in parallel with the adult service, I think it's a great move by LL.

Hell, if it's not safe for them; then it certainly isn't safe for me and im 43. There could be a 13 year old Genius out there smarter than I am.

I agree, alot of 16/17 year olds have a higher maturity level than some of the other players in this game.

But then I do agree that having youngsters in the game could open up a whole 'paedophile' can of worms. But then there are those all over the net, really you are safe nowhere, any age.

I think maybe the limit should be dropped to 16/17 and have the kiddie grid for the younger lil urchins.

I doubt the 13 year old would convince you to run away from your parents for a weekend of forced bondage or something.

I think what I'm saying is emotional maturity and intelligence aside, what most kids before the age of 16 lack is bitter experience. 18 is a convenient age at which most modern societies have decided that if you don't know to stay out of the strangers car by now, you're on your own.

/just sayin'

Edit:


True, but at least in adult SL the deterrent is present; no kids to prey on. One of the great things about SL for me is I don't have to tolerate the A/S/L crap from naked, searching predators sitting alone at home hoping I'm secretly a pre teen girl.

I'll have to ask my Mommy about that, she just turned 81.

Uh.. was that sarcastic? Please tell me it was.

We can argue about the maturity levels of humans until we're blue in the face.

The legal age in the USA is 18. Had the company been in Europe or something, this age restriction would probably be nonexistent. Simply put, it's a US-based company. The Lindens HAVE to cover their ass.

Don't you think it's a little late for that?

I havent seen the romper room version of SL, nor do I plan to go there.
I am picturing several vans driving around the streets of the kid SL and offering candy to the residents lol.

Personally I think SL is fine with out kids and there should not be a second grid.

Just wait a while and there will be a teen grid. Then every year we will get a flood of new players as they graduate to the main grid

It seems like you don't care as long as it doesn't affect you. o_O; What about all the mature, level-headed kids out there that can't experience SL just because they're too young? Speaking as someone who recently turned 18, it's really annoying not being able to invite any of my friends who are 16 and 17 even though some of them are even more grown-up than I am.

I understand there are legal issues and all that, and I'm not too happy about making a second grid either (mostly because I'd rather the minors be allowed into the main grid, within limits, of course), but you just sound ageist.

Since I have not been around for the numerous threads concerning this, I'd like to take this time to explain my feelings on the subject.

Putting aside all the legalities for a moment, I don't like the idea of restricting access and perm-banning anyone thought to be a minor. I find this to be rude and affrontive in cases where no one has broken the rules or done anything wrong. I know that right now, though, it has to be done because the rules say 18+.

However, I think the rules should be changed to 18+, 16+ with parental permission. Kids under 18 can play Mature video games as long as the parent buys them, so that doesn't seem to be much of a problem. And if the kids -lie- about their parent(s) giving them permission, then LL wouldn't be held responsible, right?

To give them full reign would be one-sided, though. I think 16 and 17 year-olds should be allowed in, but there would be some sort of mark on their profile that would show them to be a minor. NOT a gigantic flaming arrow above their heads that says "WARNING: MINOR", but a small symbol or some words in their profile for people who feel like looking. To make it obvious and deliberate would segregate the minors needlessly and would make some people ignore them or even abuse them just based on age. If the person doesn't "act like a teenager", I see no reason to broadcast it to the world. A small mark would do.

And also, people with land should be able to decide if minors can go there or not. I understand that some places in the grid are simply not suitable for -most- people, no matter the age. Anything graphically sexual or unnecessarily violent should not just be waiting on a platter for 16 and 17 year-olds to dive into. And in any case, if they are mature enough to be here in the first place, they should not -want- to go.

Also, I support the idea of banning people who are needlessly immature, even if they are over 18. If a minor was running around on the grid like a complete moron, by all means, they should be banned. And the same goes for non-minors.

The point is, I feel really bad that people under 18 can't join even if they're grown up to handle it and could potentially even provide something useful to the community. A TeenSL is a bad idea because if you create wonderful things there and make lots of friends, as soon as you turn 18, you have to leave it all behind. No amount of cheer and happiness displayed by others about the "graduation" will change the fact that you're leaving behind everything you have known and worked at for maybe even years.

If kids are allowed in the main grid, they could be checked up on there, too. The Lindens could keep tabs on their inventory, where they go, what they buy, etc. If anything is deemed unacceptable, the minor could be warned. No insta-ban, a warning. But just one. Just because I am for minors on the main grid with no immediately obvious indicators doesn't mean I think they should be able to run free and do as they please. But I do think some people are more than willing to judge people based on age for no other reason than they are younger than them.

I am a smart and individualistic person and have faced ageism my entire life. I am 18 now, but it's not fair to other people like me who are young and smart and mature to be dismissed simply because the other 99% of minors are raging idiots. I think the legal issues can be bypassed if there is a contract in place stating that parents must be aware and give permission for their child to be here. TeenSL is a step in the right direction, but it won't be enough until minors are allowed as well.

I like SL a lot I don't want to lose SL cause somebodies mommy saw them bumping pixels with a dirty old man and sues LL into nonexistance. As for the small inconspicious mark on the profile Hell No they should have to wear a neon sign that says "Jailbait" in big flaming letters, so everyone is warned

I can't believe this post is dragging on for so long...
This is the law... if you don't like do not try to convince us ro LL to open SL to under 18s. But take it up with the governemnt in your Country and change the law...

this is a pointless post. SL does have mature content therefore LL is forced to play by the rules... no under 18s. It is not their or current users fault.

If I had a 16 years old son or daughther I would not like him her to be here for reasons we all know and I don't need to explain.

Also LL would have no way to make sure that only brown ups 16s would joins... you would end up with plenty to hto heads messing the SL experience up for all over 18s members.

can we move on now?

If there is a contract requiring parental permission that states LL would not be sued by the person agreeing to the contract or any one of their family members, I would think there would be no suing. If LL denies responsibility for minors getting in under false pretenses, and the contract is agreed to, that should get rid of that possibility, no?

And in any case, that would be why some areas would be off-limits to minors. Such as sex clubs. And inventories would be checked and screened for sexual animations and the like.

As for a gigantic flaming sign, that hardly seems fair. Minors are people too, believe it or not, and would -you- like to wear a gigantic flaming sign? And why would people need to be warned, anyway? Warned of what?

If a small mark is not enough, maybe a different colored name. That way minors could be identified in places/situations they do not necessarily belong. But a big obvious "warning"? I hardly think that's necessary. Or polite.



I am only stating my opinion because I am new and have not been around for the apparently endless multitude of previous threads. I'm sorry if you think I am beating a dead horse. For me it is a rather new horse. So just let me say my piece and I'll be on my way.

If you don't want to read through my crap, then don't. Ignore it. No one is forcing you to read anything. And anyway, I didn't start this thread in the first place, so don't blame me for commenting on it.

Ok,
No offence, I know you said you just turned 18. With that above quote I beleive you.

One thing I like about SL is that I do not have to worry about the age of anyone. There should not be any kids in SL under 18.
Besides,, I would go crazy after the first 10 min of people shouting "DID YOU SEE THAT ENSYNC CONCERT LAST NIGHT? OMG THAT WAS THE BOMB!!!!"

Look at whats goin on in this country. The right wing conservatives are on such a morality trip right now , parts of the country can't even listen to Howard Stern ( who is mild compared to some of the things ive read on SL). The last thing i would want is for these supposedly moral people coming after the Lindens, and tryin to shut down SL.