I left There.com to get away form the kids.

Honestly, it shouldn't be the company’s responsibility to keep a kid out of the game. It should be the parents. Parents in general may prefer to let others baby-sit their kids, but in the end, that's the important line "Their Kids". The good parents are the ones who sit there and take the time to read the TOS. To understand what games their kids are playing. There's no excuse for "You don't have time to do it". Having a kid means your time just became your kid's time until they are out of your house and an adult themselves. If one doesn't want to live like that, they need to think about that before taking on the responsibility.

I find it very annoying and depressing to think there are parents out there who would attempt to sue LL for letting their children into SL. The parent should know what type of environment SL is already, there are plenty of warning signs, areas of research, places to ask, etc. One pass over these forums is enough to get some clue as to what is happening. Then again, I've had friends work at game stores get chewed out by parents because the friend wouldn't let the kids buy M rated games without the parent there. Some parents don't care what their kids play. Those parents, though, have no right to complain when they see the kids playing something the parents don't want them playing.

Congrats to those parents who take the time and make sure to be aware of what your children are doing.

The problem is that children don't take into consideration that there are certain things on the internet that they should not be going to. Second Life is definitely not a game for children and I think it has a appeal to them due to the virtual characters and presentation. It's like going to Las Vegas when your under 21, all the lights and colors however it's a adult oriented place. While i'm an adult I still have little interest in the mature rated areas as in the strip clubs, just don't have an appeal for that. I have a large interest in the guns and combat zones or politics (if there are any). Not all children are bad but theres a place for them and it's the teen version of Second Life.

There isn't a bad place either but there are too many kids, it's really aimed towards a family oriented market in my opinion hence the strict censorship and monitoring of items, violence, sex, etc. It has some great technology but I can't say i'm too pleased when someone runs over me with their buggy while i'm trying to have a conversation. Depends on my mood. Sorry for bumping an old post.

Every thread on "OMGZ TEENS IN THE MG!" has suggested that parents will file lawsuits against LL because their child is on the main grid. I agree that parents don't have the time to monitor 100% of the time, but good parents teach their children the diffrence between right and wrong, and this includes being where you're supposed to be on the internet. LL's TOS says that if you are under 18, you must be in the teen grid. Is it LL's fault that they broke the TOS? No.
And it's not like it's any great shakes to get verified, even if you are underage. One word: PayPal.

Ok, so which virtual worlds are for adults only...

You could try Red Light Center, but it's ONLY for sex.

great, wait how is the shopping?

While I firmly believe that parents must take responsibility in monitoring their online access, as a parent, I also understand that it is absolutely impossible to monitor their access to the internet 100%. Unless, of course, they aren't allowed to go to a friend's house.

A combined effort by both parents and Linden Labs to keep kids off the main grid is an absolute necessity to prevent the exploitation of children. Anything less is bad business policy and complacent tolerance of the intolerable.

If bringing new subscribers is more important than protecting children, it's about time to shut down Second Life altogether, and disolve LL inc.

Worth the read.

It's a good suggestion with a very interesting answer.

/139/19/126754/1.html

sorry but i don't know what that is :/

yes makes me happy.. lol so there is hope..

I rarely, if ever respond or post on this forum, altho I do read it consistently. After browsing thru this topic I felt the need to pop my 2 cents in.

It infuriates me when I hear that a parent wants to sue a company such as LL because they allowed little johnny access to their program. Let's think about this for a minute. If the Parents can't monitor the activities of the FEW children they have in their own home, whom they spend Hours and hours a day with, How can LL POSSIBLY, accurately monitor the THOUSANDS of sign ups to their game?

If a Child gains access to SL by fraudulently supplying false information in order to gain such access, then the responsibility should fall soley on the parent/parents of said child to 1) chastise the child and or hand out the correct punishment for doing such, 2) see to it that measures are taken within the household to assure that this doesn't happen again, 3) TEACH the child the meaning of right and wrong, etc.., etc.., ad nauseum.

Parents that feel the need to sue a company such as LL (that has implemented measures to attempt to keep children out) obviously lack the proper skills to raise a child in a proper environment anyway. In this era of Litigation Mania, teaching a child what is morally right and wrong begins and ends in the home, Not in the court room.

Are you a parent?

It is totally impossible to monitor your child 100% of the time, unless you intend to prevent them from ever leaving the house. Peer pressure can have a profound impact on a child as well.

While good parenting is essential, social responsibility on the part of service providers should be normal, not something to irritate people. Seriously.

It makes me wonder when people get upset about increasing the protection of children. It would be nice to live in a world where every parent is a good parent, but that isn't always the case either. The person who suffers the most is the child, and it is the child that people should be thinking about.

The only reason I can think of as to why people have issues with increasing child protection is that they don't want the kids protected.

I am a parent, the computer with internet access is in my room.. I track where she goes.. I can not physically stand over her and watch everything she does. I have to fix dinner, i have to fix lunch, i have to go to the bathroom, the dishes aren't going to do themselves, i have laundry to do and fold...
If she does something she should not, and tells me we can discuss it and decide where to go from there... if she doesn't tell me and i find out.. well her ass is grass....
Well i ever sue anyone for a place she may go.. nope not at all...

But.. there are parents who are working numerous jobs, who have children and have internet.. and have the stupid thinking it wont happen to my kids..

And a predator online gets ahold of this child... well here is a parent that works hard, and YES should have been aware of what they're children are doing.. and they will pay for the rest of their lives for it.. now how bout the company? if they had just made it a bit difficult more than likley johny would have found an easier sight to go to.

Darn right I am, of 3 Very well mannered children that I happen to be very proud of. I might also mention that I have, in the course of my parenthood, ran into situation quite similar to what we are talking about. Not ONCE did the thought of persuing litigation against a company cross my mind. I am resposible for my childrens actions, not LL, Not the Courts. Shortcomings and/or poor behavior on my childrens part is MY failure as a parent.

You make excellent points.

You got lucky.

You would also feel differently if your child was found broken in a dumpster somewhere. It must be nice to sit so high on that moral high ground of yours.

Well, if your child is ever on the comp, and you are not standing there, and you have not gone and looked at where they have been.. you are only assuming they haven't gone anywhere...
or how bout when they go to someones house? how do you know?
also.. how old are your children?

No, I didn't get lucky, I raised my children in a good home and taught them right from wrong starting at an early age. I'm Not trying to sound as if I feel I'm better than anyone, so I apologize that it bothers you and you feel you have to resort to snide remarks against me.

All I am saying is that Too many parents what to play the blame game when it comes to their kids behavior....."It's the Schools fault", "It's scocieties fault", "It's Linden Labs fault", etc, etc.

Just how many Obstacles and barriers are going to be enough to keep a child out of a game like SL? I can tell you it's never going to happen, no matter what LL implements. Regardless of the security they incorporate, Children Will find ways in.

My major beef is the fact that too many parents refuse to accept resposibility for their own childrens actions, not to mention the fact that WAY too many people in this world scream SUE at the drop of a hat

Then I would suggest searching the three hundred other threads created on this subject, you're bound to find a response in there somewhere. If someone kept asking ME the same question ad nauseum without looking for an answer first, I am having my doubts that I would respond.

My point is not the lack of what parents do..
But the extremes a predator will and can go to.. I am sure your children are great.
But that does not discourage a predator.. They will spend time gaining that trust and groom them....

Nail on the head. But it's more general than parents. People blame everyone for responsibilities they didn't take.

Maybe it's that not enough file suit.

Service providers online have as much of a responsibility to ensure their service isn't being used for sicko's to get your kids, as parents do to make sure their kids don't get to the services provided.

It needs to be a joint effort between good parenting and social responsibility. Anything less is ignorant, dangerous, and irrisponsible.

The best parent in the world can lose a child to peer pressure or irrisponsible parents of the child's friends. Not every household is as "perfect" as yours, and simply because another set of parents might not be as "good" at parenting as you, doesn't negate the fact that the children are what's important.

Or do you only care about your own kids? It sure as hell sounds like it.

Volatile,
My children don't get on the computers in my home without me knowing about. Also, there are ways of tracking activities on the computer when you're away.
you are correct that, yes, they COULD go to someone elses home and go about wreaking havoc, and I guess you're correct in the fact that I can only assume they aren't, but, I also know that I have a very good relationship with my kids and based on that I trust them as well. As I said in a previous post, I'm not saying that they have NEVER done anything like this, in fact they have, but, Litigation against a company for the irresposibility of my children was NEVER a thought.

ahhh, hey we are actually on the same side it seems... because i would never bring litigation to a company. But i do think a company does have some responsiblity to ensure that it is difficult for predators to get children..