Age-Restricted Board?

[AnimalAvenger]

If we have an age-restricted board, we can post stuff that may be inappropriate for younger members, like 12 years old if they ever join. What's your opinion on this? Also, at what age should you be in order to access this board? 13? 14? 15?

[streamofpassion]

Personally, I am of the belief that we shouldn't shelter our youth. Either way, since some people do have the view that young kids of a certain age shouldn't hear/see certain things, my argument is, well.. Who is to say that, for instance, if the age limit was 15+.. That any given 15 year old would be able to handle such subject matter better than any given 14 year old? Surely there are some 15 year old's out there that would handle it with a sense of immaturity, while there are also surely some 14 year old's out there who could handle it like any seasoned adult. Since there is no way to tell who can handle what based on age alone, I believe that to keep things fair for all members, you should keep the site completely all-ages.

Edited to add: I'm also not sure how effective an age restricted board would be, because a lot of young kids can and already do lie about their age on the internet to get access to websites that they couldn't otherwise. I remember setting my age as '13' when I was 10 to get onto forums and such; it's easy and it happens all the time.

[Linn]

I agree with Wolf. If we shelter kids, it just makes them want to see/hear whatever we're sheltering them from. And it can be very irritating sometimes.

When Pokemon the 1st Movie came out, there was a scene which explained why MewTwo was the way he was... Sorta. But a girl dies. So what happened? "OHMYGOD! CENSORCENSORCENSOR! OUR CHILDREN ARE TOO SENSITIVE FOR THIS!!!!!!! ......... CENSOR!" The scene's not even on the DVDs anymore. But it was a part of the movie in Japan. >.<

Plus, it's like telling your children not to swear, while putting the word "fuck" in every sentence. I think that anybody who's old enough to talk about animal rights and all that stuff, or is old enough to choose to be a vegetarian, can either handle mature content or ignore it.

[xokellyanneexo]

I said yes, but I don't think you should block it from younger kids. I think you should just put a rating warning in the title or something, that way if they don't feel comfortable looking at it, they don't have to. They can't say you didn't warn them! So don't lock it away. They will just want to look at it more if they can't get to it... And they're going to just find some way in or leave, and you don't want that.

[Linn]

That seems like a good idea.

[AnimalAvenger]

I'll wait until we get at least 30-40 members.

[Black Dove]

I am growing up in a very open household. I got the "talk" when I was seven, I said my first 'cuss' word when I was 11. I don't believe we should have this age-restricted board because I think our generation should be open to all oppurtunities of learning. Some children are raised in strict families who are curious but are afraid to ask their parents because of fear of punishment. This forum could be their sanctuary. I believe if we do install this age-restricted board, we will lose hopeful and even current members (not me, just saying!).

[dynastygal]

Depends...technically, if you're talking about sex, etc. You gotta make it 18+ restricted to adhere to PB TOS.

[AnimalAvenger]

I don't think I'll make an age-restricted board. We don't really need it, and we already have a ton of boards, anyways.