German High Court decides: Age verification by ID-card number not safe enough

Because age restriction doesn't work if you don't card at the door.

I never said I wasn't questioning the system they have chosen. My reaction was to the remark that parents are at fault 100% of the time when children access badness online. While good parenting is paramount... age verification would fill some of the gaps.

I'm really trying to understand your point here. If the scenario is that the kid is subjected to something inappropriate because in loco parentis has broken down, then all bets are off, as far as I can figure. If friend's basement doesn't keep the kids safe from the main grid today, it won't keep them from using friend's mom's verified account tomorrow. Unless I'm missing something.

If you let your kid go over to another kid's house thats your responsibility too. If that other parent is negligent you are responsible to not let you kid go there anymore, or to call the cops, or to sue them, etc.

Age verification is not the end-all-be-all of protecting little ones from ePeens. It's an additional tool which should be used with good parenting to lessen the odds that a minor gets access to "alternative behavior". I understand the internet... especially Second Life... won't ever be 100% child safe, but I don't see why people have such an issue with taking every possible precaution.

Who said I was paranoid about revealing my age?

I'm saying no Identity system will ever be good enough - The only real solution to this problem is parental responsibility.

Age verification doesn't stop your kids from getting alcohol at other parent's houses either.

I would much rather prevent the exposure to Second Life, rather than have to explain what that bad man was doing to the goat. Age verification is a tool to be used WITH good parenting... not as a replacement.

what is an ePeen?

The reason people have such an issue with taking every possible precaution is its intrusive. And the rationalle behind the intrusiveness isn't sound to begin with.

I just think the reasoning behind such systems is flawed, It also gives a totally false sense of security to dumber parents who put faith in these systems.

Now if its teenagers were talking about - they already know what the "bad man is doing to the goat"

If you don't think your teens do, they have you snowed big time.

I would much rather prevent the exposure to Second Life, rather than have to explain what that bad man was doing to the goat. Age verification is a tool to be used WITH good parenting... not as a replacement.

...A second concern is that your child will be exposed to something that you'd prefer that they not be. The same can happen in a library or bookstore just as easily. How do you oversee that? You spend time with your child on the net, you ask your child what they are looking for and what they are finding. You talk to them about everything in their lives. I have a largish home library, over the years items have come into my collection like the works of Anais Nin (a writer of erotica) or the photography of Jock Sturges (an acclaimed photographer of nude people). Has my daughter sought these out? No. Would she likely let me know if she was curious about such things? Probably. If not, would she be harmed? At this age, for a child who thinks kissing is "icky", she'd likely have little interest. Are there items on the net that would harm her by mere exposure? Not in my opinion but I understand that others might feel differently. Again, talk to your kids and let them know that you are there to answer any of their questions. That is your parental duty, internet or not.
[...]
Ask yourself this question "If my child were molested or received an attempt, would they come to me with this information?" If you cannot answer in the affirmative, your relationship with your child has far graver concerns than the internet.

The system is flawed and flawed badly. I'm not averse to age verification either, but this is a bad system that gives a false sense of confidence.

To paraphrase the Jesuits, if you haven't given them the proper self-defenses by the time they are about seven, you'll find it difficult to inculcate them later; if you have done your job, you won't need to worry about it.

[...] I don't see why people have such an issue with taking every possible precaution.

I wrote the following as part of a larger note to fellow parents who had seen far too many scare stories and far too little of the real internet to help assuage their fears when my daughter was inviting her friends to join a google group to share and discuss fiction writing with them:

In the end, it comes down to how much you believe that "bad" concepts can corrupt your kid. To paraphrase the Jesuits, if you haven't given them the proper self-defenses by the time they are about seven, you'll find it difficult to inculcate them later; if you have done your job, you won't need to worry about it.

I think I get it now, so I'm gonna try to bow-out gracefully here, in deference to RL political differences. We just aren't going to agree on the balance between liberties on the one hand, and protection of children on the other. It's difficult to reach a compromise between two absolute virtues.

Wouldn't it be nice if all parents did their jobs as well? Unfortunately it's the kids that suffer if they don't. But at least someone didn't have to give their age.

Think of the fucking children

this isnt about children, and never has been.
and no, i dont actually feel all that responsible for your kids. maybe i would if i were publishing adult (REAL adult) material or whatnot, but im not- so i dont. move your kids comp out of the bedroom and into the lounge room and babysit him yourself.

Then you should be questioning the system LL are using and demanding a better verification system, because Aristotle's system is not very good at all and will increase the number of children here who are falsely verified.

The problem is these age verification procedures are being done to prevent liability.

Liability to those parents who are not being responsible.

I wrote the following as part of a larger note to fellow parents who had seen far too many scare stories and far too little of the real internet to help assuage their fears when my daughter was inviting her friends to join a google group to share and discuss fiction writing with them:

To paraphrase the Jesuits, if you haven't given them the proper self-defenses by the time they are about seven, you'll find it difficult to inculcate them later; if you have done your job, you won't need to worry about it.

I don't care if age verification is being introduced out of true concern, or because the Lindens like the color green. I believe it important to prevent minors from accessing the grid... for the sake of the kids, as well as the people that may be interacting with them unknowingly... or even worse... knowingly.

That is a prejudicial generalization which I feel to be innapropriate. The most responsible parents in the world can be victim to bad and unforseen circumstances.