Junior section

[david_phil]

I think it is about time we have a junior section to encourage new blood!
What does everyone else think?

[bartonflyer]

........ to encourage new blood!
What does everyone else think?

how about a vampire section under Wildlife?

Not too sure about a junior section, always seems a bit condescending to me - when/how do you go from junior to senior? (apart from being an old codger like me!)

[Bindii]

I think it is about time we have a junior section to encourage new blood!
What does everyone else think?

I think thats a terrible idea...I have enough problems avoiding my own kids without babysitting other peoples children on the forum...

just sayin.....:grin:

[Dotty.c]

we had this debate some time ago and decided against it, my own daughter is a member and she is only 14, though she hasnt posted for a while as she has discovered boys so her camera is gathering dust at the moment, as long as members are aware of every one's age there really is no need as all crits take age into account.

[tonymidd]

we had this debate some time ago and decided against it, my own daughter is a member and she is only 14, though she hasnt posted for a while as she has discovered boys so her camera is gathering dust at the moment, as long as members are aware of every one's age there really is no need as all crits take age into account.

Agree Dotty, a junior section would be a bad idea.
There are two points tho' Yes it's good to know someones age, it's also be nice to know a bit about them, where they live for instance. We need more info in the profiles.
Knowledge of their experience would also be a big help but not to segregate the 'beginners' from the 'experts' after all any of us can be a beginner at something.
The other thing I feel that it's forgotten that youngsters like Dotty's daughter, and younger, may read the forum so some of the language is inapropriate.

[bartonflyer]

Agree Dotty, a junior section would be a bad idea.
There are two points tho' Yes it's good to know someones age, it's also be nice to know a bit about them, where they live for instance. We need more info in the profiles.
Knowledge of their experience would also be a big help but not to segregate the 'beginners' from the 'experts' after all any of us can be a beginner at something.
The other thing I feel that it's forgotten that youngsters like Dotty's daughter, and younger, may read the forum so some of the language is inapropriate.

Watch out tho' Tony, we'll all need to be CRB checked before you can talk to anyone under 18 - how will we prove we're not grooming them?

[lostmysnorkel]

Yeah, a difficult tightrope to walk.

Personally, I do like the anonymity offered here, and I really don't want people to feel that they are being forced to reveal more about themselves than they would otherwise want to. It comes down to personal choice, and people should be allowed to make that choice for themselves.

A tricky one, and I don't know if I can think of an answer.

I'll throw it to my mum who's in education and well-genned up on stuff like this.

[tonymidd]

Watch out tho' Tony, we'll all need to be CRB checked before you can talk to anyone under 18 - how will we prove we're not grooming them?

I'm OK Ian as I'm CRB checked:grin::grin:
Let's face it some of the sexual inuendo is not that subtle and some parents may not like their youngsters seeing such things.
One thing we do not get the 'meat on a bed' soft porn that some sites get.

[tonymidd]

Yeah, a difficult tightrope to walk.

Personally, I do like the anonymity offered here, and I really don't want people to feel that they are being forced to reveal more about themselves than they would otherwise want to. It comes down to personal choice, and people should be allowed to make that choice for themselves.

A tricky one, and I don't know if I can think of an answer.

I'll throw it to my mum who's in education and well-genned up on stuff like this.

I don't think it's too much to ask that we at least know which country someone lives in, for instance what's the point of recomending Jessops to someone living in the US or down under.

[lostmysnorkel]

I don't think it's too much to ask that we at least know which country someone lives in, for instance what's the point of recomending Jessops to someone living in the US or down under.

I agree, but then, should we be forcing people to reveal this about themselves? If they don't tell us, will they stilll be able to be full and active members?

It should be up to the individual t choose - if the y choose NOT to tell us, then yes, they will get recommendations for places and items not available in their territory, but that's for them to decide - not us.

[tonymidd]

I agree, but then, should we be forcing people to reveal this about themselves? If they don't tell us, will they stilll be able to be full and active members?

It should be up to the individual t choose - if the y choose NOT to tell us, then yes, they will get recommendations for places and items not available in their territory, but that's for them to decide - not us.

More and more forums are requiring more personal details to try to stop the web-nutters from joining and it's not exactly pinpointing anyones location to know they live in England, Scotland or the US.
Many forums are also requiring an active e-mail address and issue an activation code via that e-mail address.

[Dotty.c]

Maybe Martin can get age information at registration and share it with the mods if any youngsters join, most would be 14 and over and doing GCSE at school so the banter is not really going to be a surprise to them, why should they not have the right to learn from the vast font of knowledge on this forum, and it is after all up to the members to behave it's not just the young who can be offended by the sexual inuendo's, you can't even join a gym with out giving out some details, ie. address and age. An email sent to each person on joining giving instructions of where to complain if offensive pm's or emails are received, would offer some protection.

[Bindii]

More and more forums are requiring more personal details to try to stop the web-nutters from joining and it's not exactly pinpointing anyones location to know they live in England, Scotland or the US.
Many forums are also requiring an active e-mail address and issue an activation code via that e-mail address.

This forum now requires an active email addy in order to recieve a confirmation link...without it you cannot join...Martin added that some time ago to stop potential spammers etc as most of them cannot be bothered waiting for the email...

I agree a little more info on profiles would be nice...even just a country is enough for me if thats all they want to divulge...I belong to some other forums that will not allow you to join if you dont give your location in your profile...

As for the age thing...if someone who is under 13 yrs joins then they need their parent or gaurdians permission to join...and warns that some of the posts may not be suitable for younger members...this is done via a form that is sent to Martin I think...he will be able to clarify that...if he ever stops playing on his new laptop that is..:grin:

[tonymidd]

I've just followed a link and thus joined a forum that insists upon REAL names being used and they use email activation.

[Bindii]

I've just followed a link and thus joined a forum that insists upon REAL names being used and they use email activation.


But Bindii and Lostmysnorkel are our real names....

promise...:grin: