Making it easier to tell who's a minor and who isn't

[Kekewy]

I realize you don't allow explicit content on the site, but many adults are still uncomfortable RPing with minors. Is there any way you could do something to indicate who's a minor and who isn't? Maybe a different coloured username or a something? It would definitely make searching for partners easier and make the site a bit safer for adults looking for RP partners.

 

[Chordling]

This is simply impossible.  No one can accurately tell how old someone is on the internet.  Not even with personal IDs.

 

[Count Gensokyo]

Tl;dr nope, not happening, son.


@Kekewy

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

You'll just have to trust that they don't lie when you ask them if they're 18 or older. That's what I do. I just hope that I'm not being lied to. 

 

[Kekewy]

Ummm... Do we not put our birthdays in when we register? Someone puts in a date that would make them under 18, they get a different colour username. It's as easy as that. Is it 100% foolproof? No. But nothing is. I'm on sites that mark age in such a manner, it's not impossible at all.


If the site admins don't wanna do so, they don't and that's up to them. I just thought it would make things easier on the adults of the forum, since many of us (from looking at ads) don't want to rp with minors.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

The site already has a date of birth field for profiles, which clearly indicates a member's age.


The problem is, anyone can claim to be of any age and get away with it. There are tons of children and kids online doing things they legally shouldn't, ranging from simply using social media that according to the Terms of Service they're not allowed to use, to more serious things like piracy and pornography. I read a detailed article on this once (would reference but I can't find it anymore). The security experts have tried their best worldwide, trust me, but currently there does not exist a way to force the world's population to be truthful about themselves on the internet if they don't want to be. The methods that potentially could do this are considered too extreme and difficult to pull off, not to mention that they'd stomp all over people's freedom and privacy *woof*


I imagine nothing short of an Orwellian scenario would suffice to change this.


Oh yeah, or if people actually raised their children to grow up with more integrity. Or just.... Raised them, for a start. Instead of letting them run amok in this world where every shred of information known to mankind is within their reach.

 

[call me rae]

You can always check their profile or about me. Some people have their date of birth listed OR they say in the about me section.

 

[The Mechanist]

You just gotta hope that they ain't minors, I don't have a problem doing with people a few years younger than me, that usually means the occasional minor, as long as I'm in the know. Now if they lie to me that's a different story

 

[Trombone Geek]

I think maybe instead of basing it on their age, base it on their skill. The long-running RP I'm currently in almost didn't accept me because of my age, until I proved myself. I feel kinda put down when people act like people around my age are bad roleplayers just because of our age. :/  It'd be much easier to do a brief background check on someone, and much more reliable too.

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

I don't look at age unless it's a romance role play. I personally feel uncomfortable having my character kiss another when I'm an adult and my partner could be 13 or even younger if they lied to get on the site.

 

[StoneWolf18]

I feel like this would enourage age discrimination even more and a whole lot of other problems if it were a thing. >.>

 

[Count Gensokyo]

What do you mean? I see people giving their opinions.

• Believing minors on the internet are going to be honest about their age if they have any sort of motivation to lie about it.
  
• Believing we can track everyone on the internet's age without some sort of big ethical debate arising.
  

• Oh yeah, or if people actually raised their children to grow up with more integrity. Or just.... Raised them, for a start. Instead of letting them run amok in this world where every shred of information known to mankind is within their reach.

  
  Apparently, lying by, say, a couple of years is enough to be labeled as having a bad upbringing? That's a little silly, honestly. I'm not talking about seeing "adult content" or whatever, but maybe something as simple as updating a 3DS when it tells you to look over the legal stuff with your parents if you're a minor. Let's be honest here: if you were a minor, would you have time for that stuff? Nope, you'd just update the 3DS so you can get playing sooner.
  

I realize now that I may sound like I'm coming off as condescending, and I'm sorry about that.

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

I see what you mean. And I agree with you, like, completely. But people above are still giving their opinions and that's no reason to say that the thread is filled with naivety. Because doing that is basically calling the person whose statement you don't agree with naive. There's no reason to do that. 

 

[StoneWolf18]

• Believing minors on the internet are going to be honest about their age if they have any sort of motivation to lie about it.
  
• Believing we can track everyone on the internet's age without some sort of big ethical debate arising.
  
• 
  Apparently, lying by, say, a couple of years is enough to be labeled as having a bad upbringing? That's a little silly, honestly. I'm not talking about seeing "adult content" or whatever, but maybe something as simple as updating a 3DS when it tells you to look over the legal stuff with your parents if you're a minor. Let's be honest here: if you were a minor, would you have time for thst stuff? Nope, you'd just update the 3DS so you can get playing sooner.
  

I realize now that I may sound like I'm coming off as condescending, and I'm sorry about that.

Mhmmmm, something like this would be that motivation to lie about their age.


That and Little Timmy doesn't want to read through 600 Terms of Service pages with with mommy. He wants to play Pokemon immediately. X3

 

[call me rae]

Also since I think there has been some confusion I believe what the OP was getting at was less of a way of vetting people's age and more of a way to differentiate accounts based on the DOB you put in when you signed up.


Example - As the DOB I put in states I'm over 21 maybe there would be some kind of icon next to my name OR my username is a different color or whatever to someone whose DOB indicates they are under 21.


That was my understanding of the first question. it had nothing to do with vetting people's actual ages and more about some kind of DOB specific labelling system.

 

[Cold Ramen Noodles]

Also since I think there has been some confusion I believe what the OP was getting at was less of a way of vetting people's age and more of a way to differentiate accounts based on the DOB you put in when you signed up.


Example - As the DOB I put in states I'm over 21 maybe there would be some kind of icon next to my name OR my username is a different color or whatever to someone whose DOB indicates they are under 21.


That was my understanding of the first question. it had nothing to do with vetting people's actual ages and more about some kind of DOB specific labelling system.

THANK YOU.

 

[Dugym]

Do we not put our birthdays in when we register?

No, some people don't. You have the option not to fill in your birthday. You can also fill in some parts and omit others.

 

[StoneWolf18]

Also since I think there has been some confusion I believe what the OP was getting at was less of a way of vetting people's age and more of a way to differentiate accounts based on the DOB you put in when you signed up.


Example - As the DOB I put in states I'm over 21 maybe there would be some kind of icon next to my name OR my username is a different color or whatever to someone whose DOB indicates they are under 21.


That was my understanding of the first question. it had nothing to do with vetting people's actual ages and more about some kind of DOB specific labelling system.

Mhmmmm, something like this would be that motivation to lie about their age.

I feel like this would enourage age discrimination even more and a whole lot of other problems if it were a thing. >.>

 

[call me rae]

@StoneWolf18 I read all the comments. I was merely offering clarification to those who confused the OP's original question with a suggestion to create some kind of Age vetting process. As that was not what they were asking for at all. 


As I have no opinion one way or another on the actual suggestion I just left it at clarification for those who were confused. If you agree / disagree that is entirely your prerogative and honestly I don't care.

 

[StoneWolf18]

@StoneWolf18 I read all the comments. I was merely offering clarification to those who confused the OP's original question with a suggestion to create some kind of Age vetting process. As that was not what they were asking for at all. 


As I have no opinion one way or another on the actual suggestion I just left it at clarification for those who were confused. If you agree / disagree that is entirely your prerogative and honestly I don't care.

Alright, alright. No need to get so worked up... >.>

 

[call me rae]

Alright, alright. No need to get so worked up... >.>

I'm not worked up, I apologise if that came off salty. I am merely saying I am an impartial observer of the arguments going on in this thread. To use a hokey phrase - I don't have a dog in this fight.


My intention was to only offer some clarification as the thread had rather veered off of it's intendent purpose - which was the OP asking if a DOB labelling system was a viable option for this site. 

 

[Kekewy]

I think maybe instead of basing it on their age, base it on their skill. The long-running RP I'm currently in almost didn't accept me because of my age, until I proved myself. I feel kinda put down when people act like people around my age are bad roleplayers just because of our age. :/  It'd be much easier to do a brief background check on someone, and much more reliable too.

I never said people under 18 were bad role players and that no one should play with them. For myself, I'm in my 30s, the thought of RPing with someone who's diaper I could have changed makes me uncomfortable especially if the RP involves romance, which is what a lot of people are looking for. Also, there's the issue that some parents may be uncomfortable with someone of my age RPing with their child. (Which is perfectly justified, imo)


This doesn't mean I think minors are bad writers. I've seen many younger people that write exceptionally well, many people my own age that can't write at all. It boils down to my comfort and enjoyment of the RP, not a person's writing ability or lack thereof.

 

[Kekewy]

Also since I think there has been some confusion I believe what the OP was getting at was less of a way of vetting people's age and more of a way to differentiate accounts based on the DOB you put in when you signed up.


Example - As the DOB I put in states I'm over 21 maybe there would be some kind of icon next to my name OR my username is a different color or whatever to someone whose DOB indicates they are under 21.


That was my understanding of the first question. it had nothing to do with vetting people's actual ages and more about some kind of DOB specific labelling system.

You're correct. I wasn't suggesting we have to send in ids or anything. Most forum sites require you put in a birthday to register, giving you the option to display it or not. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly as I joined quite awhile ago, that this forum was the same and that birth date could be used to differentiate between people over and under 18.

 

[call me rae]

You're correct. I wasn't suggesting we have to send in ids or anything. Most forum sites require you put in a birthday to register, giving you the option to display it or not. I assumed, perhaps incorrectly as I joined quite awhile ago, that this forum was the same and that birth date could be used to differentiate between people over and under 18.

You can display your birthday. It's why I said go to their profile. I just enabled it on mine to show you.

Spoiler

You can also check people's about me section. Sometimes in their little blurbs they'll put their age. It's where I have mine normally.

 

[fattiest fat cat]

The problem is people lie.  When I was 14, I'd claim to be 24, and I'd get away with it, too.  You can ask for honesty, but that doesn't mean you'll get it.  As someone uncomfortable with writing with people under a certain age, I feel your pain, but it's just impossible....