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by EuroShepherd on 04 July 2013 - 00:07
I'm going to be the "bad guy" tonight and make a complaint about other member(s), specifically child member(s).
It's disturbing to me on several levels that this board and parents would allow their children to have an account and make posts on here. (note, i have nothing against kids reading here)
There have been minors who posted here and were clearly mature and capable of rational, intelligent conversations and I have been impressed by them. But, (and correct me if I'm wrong) I believe those minors were over the age of 13.
But the majority of minors, especially under 13, simply don't have the maturity to participate in a forum whose membership is mostly adult. The recent threads by a new child member are encroaching into "troll" behavior, IMO.
I understand it's natural for children to want attention and will seek approval and acknowledgement from others, but they don't have the maturity to moderate themselves.
As for the simplistic questions and comments being made...just too elementary. When I was a kid and I wanted to learn about dogs I devoured books and any literature I could get my hands on, wore out my library card with all the dog books I read. I learned far more by researching things myself and only resorted to asking others when I had questions that the books didn't answered. I believe such method gave a much greater, in-depth education. The internet is overflowing with informative pages all to be had for the searching and reading...
But, my number one concern about child members is the risk that parents are taking in allowing their children access to sites full of adults. It is extremely bad mistake for a minor to give their age and gender on any public forum. It is irresponsible for parents/guardians and site monitors/admins to allow those posts to remain. Even if the parent gives a written consent to a site for their under-13 child to be a member, it's still irresponsible, no matter how mature and safe they think their child is. Predators are extremely opportunistic and unless the parent is reading over their child's shoulder every single SECOND that the child is online (from any kind of internet access) the parents will not know who is talking to their child and what is being said. Predators are very sly, manipulative and know exactly what to say to kids and predators are everywhere. Even if they don't try to entice a child to meet in person, they will work to establish a relationship and most likely to talk children into sending pictures of themselves and talking on the phone. You can have a talk with your child, but they still don't have the maturity of brain development to recognize warning signs til it's possibly too late. Even if this particular minor hadn't given their age and gender, the young age would still be obvious by the way they type and still a beacon for a person with bad intentions. All I saw when reading the new minor member's posts was a child making themselves vulnerable to criminals.
If you didn't have a red flag when you read the minor's posts, please research about pedophiles, child pornography and cyber crime....it's much more prevalent than you realize.
It's disturbing to me on several levels that this board and parents would allow their children to have an account and make posts on here. (note, i have nothing against kids reading here)
There have been minors who posted here and were clearly mature and capable of rational, intelligent conversations and I have been impressed by them. But, (and correct me if I'm wrong) I believe those minors were over the age of 13.
But the majority of minors, especially under 13, simply don't have the maturity to participate in a forum whose membership is mostly adult. The recent threads by a new child member are encroaching into "troll" behavior, IMO.
I understand it's natural for children to want attention and will seek approval and acknowledgement from others, but they don't have the maturity to moderate themselves.
As for the simplistic questions and comments being made...just too elementary. When I was a kid and I wanted to learn about dogs I devoured books and any literature I could get my hands on, wore out my library card with all the dog books I read. I learned far more by researching things myself and only resorted to asking others when I had questions that the books didn't answered. I believe such method gave a much greater, in-depth education. The internet is overflowing with informative pages all to be had for the searching and reading...
But, my number one concern about child members is the risk that parents are taking in allowing their children access to sites full of adults. It is extremely bad mistake for a minor to give their age and gender on any public forum. It is irresponsible for parents/guardians and site monitors/admins to allow those posts to remain. Even if the parent gives a written consent to a site for their under-13 child to be a member, it's still irresponsible, no matter how mature and safe they think their child is. Predators are extremely opportunistic and unless the parent is reading over their child's shoulder every single SECOND that the child is online (from any kind of internet access) the parents will not know who is talking to their child and what is being said. Predators are very sly, manipulative and know exactly what to say to kids and predators are everywhere. Even if they don't try to entice a child to meet in person, they will work to establish a relationship and most likely to talk children into sending pictures of themselves and talking on the phone. You can have a talk with your child, but they still don't have the maturity of brain development to recognize warning signs til it's possibly too late. Even if this particular minor hadn't given their age and gender, the young age would still be obvious by the way they type and still a beacon for a person with bad intentions. All I saw when reading the new minor member's posts was a child making themselves vulnerable to criminals.
If you didn't have a red flag when you read the minor's posts, please research about pedophiles, child pornography and cyber crime....it's much more prevalent than you realize.
by Harrisonsgsds26 on 04 July 2013 - 01:07
What minors?
by troopscott on 04 July 2013 - 08:07
Yeah the girl posting right now shouldn't be allowed to post. On top if that short of a phone call how so they know the parent really did approve. Last but not least my son reads Pdb all the time. But he reads he does not post. He really likes the drama. Says it is better than him and his friends on facebook. We do monitor everything. We have a program that logs his keystrokes as well as takes screen shots. He has no idea. I review it every time he gets on the computer
by Kaffirdog on 04 July 2013 - 08:07
I must admit I have never thought about Euroshepherds points. How about a Junior section with no private messages and a block on receiving private messages, keep all the youngsters in one place, nobody can contact them privately or be contacted privately via the database. Adults could still address their questions on the open forum.
Margaret N-J
Margaret N-J
by Blitzen on 04 July 2013 - 08:07
I agree 1000%!!!
by Blitzen on 04 July 2013 - 08:07
troopscott, your son knows now.
by starrchar on 04 July 2013 - 09:07
I cringed when I saw "11 and female" for the very reasons you mentioned, Euroshepherd. There are predators everywhere. I personally think that even 13 is too young to be on this board. If they are allowed, some safeguards should be in place, such as no PMs.
by beetree on 04 July 2013 - 12:07
Excellent post EuroShepherd, very well said.
Troopscout, I don't think the maturity level is there, either. Shame on the parents, as a matter of fact. Why they have not come onto the Board to explain their permissiveness for their child, or better still, to request the posts with the age and sex be removed, is still another wonderment for me.
Troopscout, I don't think the maturity level is there, either. Shame on the parents, as a matter of fact. Why they have not come onto the Board to explain their permissiveness for their child, or better still, to request the posts with the age and sex be removed, is still another wonderment for me.
by joanro on 04 July 2013 - 13:07
Probably actually a troll jerking every bodies' chain.
by Xira on 04 July 2013 - 14:07
Joanro...exactly what I've thought from the beginning
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