How many former Maingrid teens do you know?

Recently i came upon the realization that i knew several teens and never had any idea until this year. This year 3 people, 2 from 2005, 1 from 2006, revealed to me their RL age. 18(2), 20(1). So that means in 2005 when they started they were 13-15 And to top it off, all 3 i met at adult hang outs - which is where they spend most of their SL time.

There are more teens around us than we think, way, way, way more.

How many people do you know in SL who were under 18 when they started on the Maingrid?

"know"? absolutely none.

have been told by them that they are? several.

have plenty of suspicion? truckloads.

No teens on my list. No contacts to teens. I am sure. Reason: I am very selective with friends and I do not chat with everyone on my SL-ways. Beside one new entry in my friendslist (which is a biz-owner on Zindra I met along the forums and while OH's) I have established RL contact to all my SL friends via several channels. All are in their 30's, 4ß's and 50's.

This means not that I couldn't run into a trap, but it seems you met here some smart ones, which were able to expresse themselfs verbaly matured and act as matured as possible.

I would agree, that many teens are on the grid. The website and no clear statement about age on the start-page plus no fitting process for verifying is an invitation and open-house politic by LL for all the smart teens of the world.

The whole presentation of SL's website looks like it would be made especially for teens and their fun.

Teens are entering *anything* of the internet and to enter SL is easy, interesting and comic-like looking enough for them and they can do that with no risk.

So, no wonder...

I think the popular places are full of them.

They are maybe not in architecture - or philosophical circles, but at all the fun and club places.

I've known some who were teens and have since transferred to the MG. I've also known a couple who admitted to me that they were teens, who their accounts did not last very long. I do not *that I know of* know any teens on the MG.

I can recall a couple of people claiming that they were on the main grid before they were 18, and I've watched a couple of people *poof* after they've said they were still under 18. I don't know anyone's actual age, so I can't count back the years to see how old anyone was when they signed up.

I had one friend who I didn't suspect at all until they said my mum and dad are taking me to see the Harry Potter film, that was over a year ago, she was only on a couple of times after that.

None that I am aware of. I've encountered some I suspect were teenagers. Or really old.

I know a pile of 20-plus people. None are teens. Well, maybe I know a couple. Younger people hang-out in places I know. It's cool. But I also know old people. My partner is 66 after all. Then I know an artist who is 68. And one who is 57. I think I know some women who are in their 40s and even 50s.

Don't actually know anyone under 18 as far as I know. Having said that, a couple of weeks ago I was hanging out near the new noob reception area in Bay City while I had voice activated. I could hear people talking around me, and one of them had clearly the voice of a young teenager, I'd say around 12. When I asked who was this teen talking, they all went silent, so I couldn't AR him.

Three. (T_T)

One was a friend of a friend of a friend and in the end, hardly a friend. He was nothing but spite and drama and I'm more than happy to see him gone. (>_<

Another was the girlfriend of a friend. When I found out she was an underager, I also found out he knew all along. (T_T)

Finally one that I got very involved with early last year. She started demanding that I take on a male avatar for the sake of daddy-daughter RP. When I refused she outed her age, thinking it would convince me. (T_T)

All three situations were NOT fun. (T_T)

None that I know of-

OMG.... 40’s and 50’s! I guess at 42 then I should just retire to the “old fogies grid”!

I dont know of any, but a lot of residents sure act like teens. In fact, from what I see many fresh off TG behave a lot better and appear more mature.

Wow, even 40s and.. like.. 50s?? That's like.. totally *ancient*!




--
Aes

Nah, just join the "Older men rock" group.

Pep ("for the discerning female"

There's no such thing as "clearly the voice of a young teenager". Many women have voices that can easily be confused with that of a child or teen. Even some men have voices that can pass for teens.

If LL's AR process had a reputation of being fair and efficient, then it might be appropriate to make ARs based on weak information. Their reputation is the exact opposite, which means people should avoid ARs based on pure speculation. It's not fair to the other person, and by increasing the workload for LL, it becomes harder for everyone who's been reported to get a fair decision.

My kids are taking me to see the Harry Potter film - much better that way.

I've only met 1 under 18, who I reported.

Yeah - maybe we need a safe grid for the grown ups.

I used to know someone who was very unpredictable and immature. It gradually began to dawn on me that they might be under-age but I had no real evidence. Anyway, they disappeared from SL, probably for griefing newbies at welcome areas, since that was one of their hobbies - which I didn't approve of at all!

The other day I was at a club and idly looking at peoples' profiles. There was one, from Eastern Europe, who had actually put on their First Life profile "I'm nearly 18" - presumably they'd joined without knowing the rules. Anyway they disappeared from the club soon after I noticed.

I have yet to AR any of the people that have hinted or flat out said they were under 18, not that I wouldn't ever, but the situation has never warranted it.

If I don't know these people on a RL life basis, and they aren't engaged in activities that may cause legal trouble for them or someone else, I just shrug and and carry on. the drama isn't worth it, and even if they say so I don't actually "know".

now if someone's claiming to be under 18 RL and engaging in any sexually related activities... my advice is not to tell me, because I *WILL* AR to protect everone's legal ass...

moral of the story.... if an underage person is doing that, they shouldn't talk about it, because doing so not only puts the person they confess to in a position of legal culpability, but also puts the underage person in a legal bind of having committed fraud.

My son is on the teen grid and the other day while I was explaining to him how to transfer an object to his friend while he was on teen SL, it occurred to me how easy it would be for adults to get on the teen grid and mingle with the kids. Likewise teens the adult grid. There is nothing stopping it, but at least there is a little more control with Zindra.

There's some pretty raunchy talk and animations on the teen grid, but nothing like the adult grid.

I've suspected I've met a teen or two in the past, but I was never sure. Sometimes people 18--20ish can seem like a younger kid, especially to us old fogies like me in our 40/50s. If I knew for sure, I'd AR. I'm really more concerned with adults on the teen grid. I figure by the time a teen can blend in with the adults and not be obvious, they're probably close enough to 18. If an adult takes the time and effort to get on the teen grid, then I figure they're only up to no good.

I've run into three underage teens. I told all three that they should be on the teen grid, and AR'd them.

All three told me their age without my asking, which I still find astonishing.

Two and the Lindens knew that they were both here. One has been transferred to Main Grid now. The other was Jesse Malthus. He was a true prodigy when it came to programming and was of tremendous help when the viewer code was first open sourced. He received a Hippo award from the Lindens despite the fact that he was too young to sign a contribution agreement.

Before anyone harps on this, he was a good man who died a couple of years ago. I am just glad he got to have fun doing what he loved before he passed on.

That's been pretty much my experience too. They were all newbies, at orientation areas, and none of them *meant* to sneak onto the main grid. It's just that the signup process makes it easy to get confused and wind up in the wrong place.

I talked to each of them, explained what I was going to do, and they wouldn't get in trouble, just be transferred where they belonged. Then I submitted an AR, and in minutes, each of them poofed away.

Alot.

As a Former TGer that transferred over here last December 2008 I know alot of Teens that did. Most of which were found out and reported. Word did spread around first in TSL when I was there and it's a small community compared with this large MG.