Important notice for young people

[Norm]

I have 2 kids who play sporadically, but also play other online games. At the end of the day, it is MY place to ensure that they stay out of danger. Of course, I can rely on the fact that I raised them to have a little sense, and not be so naive to believe anything they read on the internet is automatically the truth.

[Thyralax]

Thank you for responding, Now i know

 

Im still surprised, but not completly.

 

However i still cant see anything about an age in the license that comes when you install the game, or from the webpage version of it, suppose it doesnt really matter anyways.

[sywren]

Ill also like to say if someone thinks the safety of children isnt important, or that the efforts of those trying to stop the countless deaths/kidnaps/and cases of molestation that is ripe with in our society doesnt need to be addressed or that it is a waste of time becasue they are dumb assed kids then i have to think there is something wrong with that person.

 

WTF garbage is that?

It's exactly this shit that creates most of the problems we face in this society. Every idiotic, unconstitutional new law we have is there to protect the children, or protect us from terrorists. All you do is regurgitate the hysteria the media is feeding you with.

It is NOT my job, or OUR job to 'protect' OTHER PEOPLE CHILDREN from the filth of the internet and TV.

 

I agree with you about the ridiculous laws and bullshit over-regulation that goes on in the US, but the way I see it, the best way to fight that is not to point fingers and say whose responsibilities are whose. The way to minimize legislation is through personal responsibility.

 

If we see the kinds of regulations put on internet access in the US as there are in Australia, plan on seeing me throw a great big hissy fit on the steps of the Capitol. Regulating our kid's access to information, thoughts, and beliefs only serves to stunt their education. Because I fight to protect their rights to information, I also plan to make sure that they know how to access it safely and intelligently.

[Entropy]

If we see the kinds of regulations put on internet access in the US as there are in Australia, plan on seeing me throw a great big hissy fit on the steps of the Capitol. Regulating our kid's access to information, thoughts, and beliefs only serves to stunt their education. Because I fight to protect their rights to information, I also plan to make sure that they know how to access it safely and intelligently.

 

I don't think there is any way to access information unsafely (except if you have to fill out forms giving your RL info, or paying for it, etc.).

My personal belief is that there is no safe or unsafe information, and by itself, accurate information can not damage people. If a child finds a porn site, it is very doubtful that it will have any significant effect on that child. If he finds a site that explains how to make explosives, and the child does it and kills himself or others, it is because of the lack of common sense and improper education.

As a kid, I was as free as I could have possibly be (although I had no Internet access until I was 18). I did stupid stuff like any kid, but nothing illegal or dangerous (well, except for once when I almost blew myself up with a bottle of acetylene, but God decided I should live, so the match didn't spark :/).

[Ateh]

While it wouldnt hurt to have a full page pop up banner on the EL webpage that says '' This game isn't for children under 10 or peadophiles '' or something a little less obvious .....

 

even tho my little boy is only 5 months old its ultimately going to be my responsibility to supervise his online habits when the time comes , theres not a chance in hell im going to leave it to anybody else to give him the sort of life skills he needs to survive

 

but at the same time I think back to when I was a kid after reading about ents experiment with explosives and man I did some dumb things I definately nearly died once , broke my collar bone and was about 5 inches away from snapping my neck clean in two , completely unconcious for well over an hour , that was fun !

 

in fact come to think of it if I had been parked in front of a laptop / pc most my childhood I would prolly have alot less broken bones and scars to talk about

 

even if there were big signs up all around the place saying ''don't run up a rusty hose wheel'' id have still tried running up the rusty hose wheel and doing a back flip onto concrete

Edited May 28, 2009 by Ateh

[Peeves]

You're forgetting that no young person has ever read the terms and condition/safety messages of games.

 

It's down to what the parents have told them.

 

Honestly, how many of you actually read the T&C before signing up to a site? Can you imagine a child doing it?

[Vanyel]

While it wouldnt hurt to have a full page pop up banner on the EL webpage that says '' This game isn't for children under 10 or peadophiles '' or something a little less obvious .....

 

Could we have also "This game is not for idiots/lunatics/other creepy folks." added, too?

 

I think that it is the parents duty to keep an eye on their children and the content of the game they play, movies they watch, books they read, etc.

 

Moreover, MMORPG games are usually played by teenagers and adults. It would seem to be a common sense to assume there might be some things children should not see/read, right? But then, it's the parents' duty to take care of their children.

[hussam]

My only advice to kids is:

 

Don't get addicted to toadies

[Aphistolas]

You're forgetting that no young person has ever read the terms and condition/safety messages of games.

 

It's down to what the parents have told them.

 

Honestly, how many of you actually read the T&C before signing up to a site? Can you imagine a child doing it?

 

I have.

[gilhad123]

Honestly, how many of you actually read the T&C before signing up to a site? Can you imagine a child doing it?

I have too.

 

I do not love restrictions forced to ppl, but there is a big difference between "Do not do this or 10 years jail" and "Do not do this as it can hurt you".

My parents did not warned me about risk on Internet when i was teens as the Internet was not here at the time. In fact I do warn my parents about Internet risks now (as well as my childs). The Internet is relatively new and many parents are not fully aware about the risks there, so for some time i think it is good to have warnings (not restrictions) about it on many places. This need will go out after another generation will hit adult age. But many of ppl even a little younger than me are now not fully aware about the internet risks, as they was not raised in Internet society and did not care too much to educate themself after they became parents.

 

So i think it is good to have warnings on many places, but not have laws enforcing it (as laws tends to be misused more than not).

 

It is responsibility of parents to look after their childs. There is no discussion about it. But sometimes information from other sources can help too.

 

As a parent I am responsible for keeping my child safe. in example - you can hurt yourself with sharp knive.

I would not allow babies to came in touch with knife. But when they grow a little, i would allow them to cut bread on wooden plate under supervision. When they can do it safely i would allow them to try cut bread in hand under supervision. Then i would allow them tu cut bread. And later i would give them pocket knife for bread cutting. I do not need goverment to place laws at which age it should happen - it should be, when they are skilled and reliable enought to do it safely - which is very individual. Even when my child have their own knives from low school age, I still apreticiate the shoping lady (?sorry bad english?) to say to them "Here is your knife. Be carefull, it is sharp." when they bought new knifes even many years after i allowed them to cary it. It is not something she was law-enforced to say, nor she could have been sued if they would cut themself, but is was nice and polite recomendation.

Still i am responsible for all their would till they became adults. But responsibility is not "restrict acces" only, it is "teach when and how use it". Nobody sane could think about being able to watch every movement of person 24/7/365 from 0 to 18 years. It is about mutual trust. I trust them to do not overstep the rules we agrred on, they trust me that tere are reasons for such rules. And I explain them the reasons if it is possible. In the rest of cases i promised to explain fully when they would grow enought to understand the explanation.

 

------

Resume: I think it is good to have warnings around in sane amounth. I think it should not be enforced by laws.

[Ryuu]

It is the role of parents and society to keep them informed id rather the gourvement spent money protecting and educating the vulnerable elements of society than spending all that money on a hammer or new carpets for thier office, or so they can pay thier second mortgage...

"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation" -Adolf Hitler

 

Ill also like to say if someone thinks the safety of children isnt important, or that the efforts of those trying to stop the countless deaths/kidnaps/and cases of molestation that is ripe with in our society doesnt need to be addressed or that it is a waste of time becasue they are dumb assed kids then i have to think there is something wrong with that person.

Ripe within society? Are you kidding? It's extremely rare, it's just that almost every case is posted on the news. It gives a distorted view of a the truth. Imagine if every murder was posted on the news, it would make the world look like a pretty grim place indeed.

 

While it wouldnt hurt to have a full page pop up banner on the EL webpage that says '' This game isn't for children under 10 or peadophiles '' or something a little less obvious .....

Why? I see no reason why those people should be told they can't play EL.