Teens on the Main Grid: pre-emptive discussions

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I happen to delete things that people 'give' me I don't want, but that's me. Other folks might not be so wise.



They do. The parents are the one bringing suit, so the impetus is on them to prove anything untoward happened. So yes, it could easily be shown that the teen had a sexual object of some sort that was passed to me (and certainly not the other way around); however, they might have a very hard time, even with LL's help, that anything else even occurred.

But, just the presence of a lawsuit like that could ruin someone's life. This is exactly the sort of thing that prevents me from wanting to stay in SL should the grids merge. It's just not worth it. I personally knew adults who came under this sort of scrutiny in RL by teens who wanted to cause trouble when nothing happened at all. It's a scenario I never want to experience, thanks.

You know, when I joined SL, I didn't realize it was "adults only". I expected to come in and have to find my way around and co-exists with the minors.

I really just don't care... no that's not entirely true.... I'll be happy to see several of the talented designers, artists, and coders legitimately in my neighborhood.

nor do I worry about romantic or 'adult' content encounters. any teen that can get into SL can also browse a million dating sites, chat rooms, and porn sites, and much more easily misrepresent themselves there than here. additionally, given LL's (justifiable) paranoia about predators and pandering, I'd guess SL is safer than most social networking sites.

I think it's odd that any adult grid member would leave over it, unless they're doing something they shouldn't be (I'm sure they have different reasoning, but that's the only one I personally could see)

I do bet, that given some of SL's press, several parents will prevent their teens from coming here after the changeover.

I can also see AFA adding it to their block list in BSafe in a heartbeat too... which amuses me to no end... please, prevent kids that are conditioned to think like their parents that use that from coming here. A reduction in half-assed fundamentalism is WELCOME. (though I feel for those not so conditioned)

That same scenario could still happen now (with the illegal teens that are already on the MG ). I would expect that some sort of flag could identify the account as teen and not allow them to have access to that continent/content.

I think the question is: do we want to openly allow under 18. They are on the grid in droves anyway, and always have been. Personally... I'd rather not. Having been in mixed environments on other platforms before, there are two things that are notable.

1. A lot of teens are pretty smart, low drama and you wouldn't even notice unless you were told. It's kinda good to excercise caution when speaking to new people (just like now!) because let's face it, you could be talking to someone's impressionable child. No difference from teens running around breaking the service terms right now.

2. Some are clearly kids, and really young, immature kids at that. Who may be friendly enough but can drive you bonkers. What I've seen in such situations is that the 'weird uncle ernie' issue isn't so much the problem as 'twelve year old walks into a nightclub' is the problem ~ everyone is now kind of annoyed, it feels like having to babysit someone's kid and even the kid doesn't like it much.

In such cases usually the adults are patient, pleasant, instructive... and silently screaming to each other in IM's, not wanting to scar the kid's psyche with a 'get LOST you are NOT wanted here!!!" comment. It's just plain exhausting.

I have two kids on the teen grid. It's an okay place for them. Really. Personally I don't think age 13 to 18 should be spending all that much time on computers anyway.

At least now, you have a somewhat legal leg to stand on, if it happened now, the teen lied to be there and is there fraudulently. You expect that evryone on SL is over 18 now because that is how SL is structured. Open the welcome gates to teens and that assumption changes, you could be talking to anybody, age 13 up.

As for what Void Singer said about it being 'odd' that anyone would leave, sorry you feel that way, but that's life. I don't trust teens, not to try to hurt adults, by playing the 'he touched me' card (talked inappropriately). Maybe my strong feelings are colored by the fact that I know a teen in rl who did this, to a teacher, made up a whole scenario because she was 'mad' at the teacher. Truth eventually came out, a year or so and many attorney dollars down the drain, and with the teacher's rl in shambles, trying to 'prove it' which he eventually did. I'm sure knowing of that in rl has something to do with my vehemence on the subject. I don't like them and I don't trust them and I don't want to interact with them.

kid avs? I was talking about people aged 18 and 19 in real life being members of the forum cartel.

(that is part of my sleepness, getting bogged down in "teens in SL? always has been? well of course, 18, 19"


I know it warped me. Messed with my mind. Also allowed me to get great grades in college (a lot easier to take a class that requires a paper a week on original historical source material if you can find it quickly on-line).

Computers/internet are not evil. I haven't seen the proof yet, but I blame other things for the fact several of my computers set themselves on fire while laughing hysterically.

I'll go with Desmond's view. That pretty much sums it up.

I probably will not leave, but I have zero intention of being a landlord under those circumstances. I'm not going to be held responsible by some litigious parent for not protecting their little angel from someone else on the Internet.

Of course not. But spending too much time on them is not healthy for anyone, especially teenagers. The internet can give a warped sense of reality if not countered with reality. It is a tool, and any tool can be misused.

Or having to be a bill collector, because the kids have rented from you but don't take their responsibilities seriously.

OK, if someone is 18 or 19, yes, they're a teenager, but legally they are adults. I'm only thinking of the legal ramifications. I know a couple of 50-ish people in the Cartel who are just big kids, too, but that's not the point at all.

If the teens are instantly identifiable by, say, a red dot over their heads (like the white dot for Voice) then I guess I'll grudgingly accept it. But I'm with Elora in that I enjoy being a racy girl now and then, and don't want to have to alter how I act when I see a teen.

I alter how I act (to a certain extent) now because of child avatars.

I do too. Imagine how it will be if the typist actually IS a child. At least if you slip and say/do something risque now, there is no consequence for your actions. Potentially with the merging of the grids, it could be embarrassing at the least, and a legal issue at the worst.

I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I want nothing to do with anything "kiddie safe." I know there are teens here on the main grid already and it is what it is. I don't worry about them accessing adult content here because there is a huge internet full of porn that is much easier for them to get at rather than trying to figure out the SL UI. If kids want to get to porn, nothing short of actual parenting is going to stop them.

Part of me wants to say that I'd rather hang with mature adults, but at least half of the actual adults in SL (and the forums for that matter) don't fit the description of "mature." So, that argument goes out the window.

I know I don't want some sanitized "sims" world. I'm cool with the idea of putting the adult content behind a curtain in the back of the store with a "must be 18 to enter" sign. I know LL is going to do whatever they want no matter I think, so I choose to not get myself into a froth over it.

I get enough of the teen population through WOW. Don't need to see them in SL too. So yes,I would leave. My reasonings don't have much to do with any adult stuff either. I just don't like kids on the internet. Blech.

Especiallyl since you think boys are icky

Just occurred to me: if we merge, and 13+ years are allowed on, what's to stop the 10+ from saying "oh well, the 13 year olds are allowed..." ? I don't know that they WOULD join SL - I'm not sure these days just how savvy 10 year old kids are - but the thought is terrifying.

Sure, I do too. The person on the other side is an adult (I hope), but they are portraying a kid and so I adjust my demeanor with them somewhat. And I actually enjoy hanging out with the kid avas occasionally, they can be a fun bunch. But it's understood that we're all adults behind the monitor, that's what makes the difference to me. I don't REALLY want to hang out with a bunch of kids. O.O

well,i look at it this way ,so long they can steal dad's wallet and spend money on my games who cares!

We've already talked about this. It's a stupid idea. No one wants it except the Lindens, for god knows what reason.

I'm not even sure they HAVE a reason.

I don't want it because it will be easier to monitor my daughter in the Teen Grid. If she gets into the main grid at 13, I think my husband will never forgive me for bringing SL into the family.

I'm afraid if this idiotic merge takes place, we will end up making a rule that no one in the family can use SL.

This topic makes me so angry, I can hardly contain myself. All the jackassery about hiding away all the Adult stuff is so idiotic... It's a huge effort to accomplish nothing, and the only purpose is to prepare for a merge that no one wants.

"Because all the cool sites are doing it"

I know that I would immediately put up ban lines on my parcels. They obviously can still cam in but I can't justify them wandering around my places.