Topic

After reset ?? Beer - Booze - NoNo - Purple Flowers - Naked -

Is there going to be an age limit when Glitch goes public ?  

Parents are already talking about how when Glitch goes public their children are going to be playing.  One parent was saying how grown up their eight year old is, and acts like an adult.  They already have a mule account set up.  How will this effect the players now enjoying the game.  Parental control, doubt it, rather all sorts of rules on our behavior to protect the children.

I'm not anti children but there are thousands of games for them to be entertained by, this game should be reserved for adults. 

We all have a blast playing Glitch but once the reset happens will it be the same.

Posted 18 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • It's def true that Glitch has certain..... um, age restricted material in it, but I think it's far better than kids being entertained by other more violent MMOs, with revealing clothings for female characters, and excessive violence.
    Posted 18 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This has been covered in previous topics, with staff saying this isn't a game meant for the kids, but the legalese is found in the Terms of Service:

    If you are under 14 years of age, you are not authorized to use the Service, with or without registering. If you are between the ages of 14 and 17, you represent that your legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms.
    Posted 18 months ago by zeeberk Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thanks zeeberk - that really sounds like good age brackets, I couldn't find it in the forums and nobody has mentioned the subject.
    Posted 18 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I know there have been multiple discussions on this subject before, so I'm just going to add my favorite point to this one: I really want the legalese quoted above to be front and center.  I want it in neon.  This is not a kid's game.  And no matter how better it may be for them than other things, KitkatCat (and I agree!), they should not be on Glitch. Period.
    Posted 18 months ago by Jannisary Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yeah, this game isn't aimed at fourteen-year-old girls, but that doesn't mean they should be kicked out and not allowed to enjoy the game period, especially if their legal guardians have given them permission to play. Should people not be allowed to watch Freakazoid because Cosgrove likes meat?

    Yeah, I'll admit that fourteen-year-olds are more likely to be immature than their adult counterparts. Not all of them are incorrigible bundles of flesh though.

    Also lol at nudity being something people under eighteen should be shielded from. If anything the little Glitches don't have any genitalia, anyway. 
    Posted 18 months ago by Liridona Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Cartoon nudity even!
    Posted 18 months ago by larky lion Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The idea of nudity is, for me, is not a big issue (cause we really aren't right?)..  I am more of the European frame of mind in this respect.  Also, at 14, my siblings and I were allowed to have a creme de menthe apertif after holiday dinners (ala green smiles).  This did not turn me into an alcoholic.

    If parents of 14 to 17 year olds give their children (and yes, no matter what, they are not adults, however wise beyond their years), then those are the guidelines that TS has stated.  Will kids that should not be playing be playing?  You betcha!  .. with or without their parent's permission.  What concerns me more is the level of general social maturity that they either are or are not going to be capable of exhibiting.  And, just so, how they will interact and engage with other players.

    If Glitch had come out when my (now) adult daughter was 14 or 15, for her at that age I would have been confident that she would behave appropriately.   There will be younger players that are not suited for the game due to their level of maturity and there will be those that get along just fine.  Need I say that there are currently some adult players in the game now that leave one to wonder about their level of maturity..

    It is going to be up to TS to weed out child players that do not belong in the game and I hope they will be able to do that effectively.  Not sure how they can, but I have to hope they will manage.
    Posted 18 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I grew up and went to school for five years in West Germany and two years in England, @Princess Fi, I know of what you speak. Also a "naturist" here IRL.
    Posted 18 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I do better than scantily clothed, I am not clothed.

    On a serious note I like gaming with mature people because I hate dealing with kids. When I have played MMOs with kids a lot of them have whined and complained and the Devs had to basically babysit us. This g\me is made for adults, there are drugs, innuendo and lots of inappropriate convos in chat. 

    The thing in the TOS is likely a standard so that if a parent is horrified that their child is playing this Stoot can point to the TOS and say it is not their fault.

    But I too would like it in neon when you sign up. I know lots of kids would not listen to it but maybe a parent would notice the warning when they glance at the computer screen and it would weed some of them out.
    Posted 18 months ago by Ani Laurel Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Children in this age will do as they please,most have both parents fighting for a survival of family let alone heavy debt to keep them stressed,Most parents try even with these burdens to at least teach a level of good manners,some work some dont,some kids are good and some are uncontrolable,In the game Faunasphere when they went live,the public stormed the doors and we saw huge amounts of gimme for free happen,like we owed them our inventory.on a large scale this happened till the moderators had to take watch at different spots in the game to tell them no begging or swearing or being abusive in language to another user.It was such a wonderful game ,a lot of us stayed even though it made you totally almost hate kids,but there were always nice kids, well mannered and acted like a good person should that easily changed your mind so you stayed.I expect this will also happen here in Glitch,those that spread rumors in the chat boxes and threads in the forums just for their enjoyment,like they care. Some of these kids they are bored and maybe even pissed at life ,so why not ruin your day.if you cant take the heat from these kinds then find a solitair type game to play.or if you are in glitch for peace of mind go to the mines and stay where there are very few people and relax.This is not new to any game,there are no rules when a kid wants to do what a kid wants to do.and very few ever get banned for your sake.
    Posted 18 months ago by Jellybelly Baby Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I had flashbacks today of Faunasphere's gimme helpme gimme gimme stuff.  Neon is right...
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • And a neon sign is going to stop kids how? 
    Posted 16 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Kids WILL lie about their age. There is no legal repercussions for them to do so. No financial, no criminal, or civil consequence. They already do it with other free public services. TS just covers themselves in the case it's found out. It's going to happen. TS isn't going to be hurt by it, nor will any of the players. The language of  the ToS is so full of legalese that most kids won't understand anyways :)
    Posted 16 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I was thinking in terms of something a parent might notice as they walk past a computer screen to see what their kid's up to.
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I read the title and thought after the reset someone was going to hold a great big naked party.  I am so disappointed :(

    (but I second the thoughts about making the age bracket obvious when the game account is created, despite the fact that loads of kids will lie about their age to play).
    Posted 16 months ago by Trowzers Subscriber! | Permalink
  • a parent might notice as they walk past a computer screen

    Less than a second and its gone.  Unless you mean a neon strip above the screen 24/7 while we're playing.
    Posted 16 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • ... Hopefully guides will be able to mute extremely annoying players for varying lengths of time? (the longer the better).
    Posted 16 months ago by Zeezee Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Actually I'd prefer it be staff who did such things, @Zeezee, but understand what you mean. And unless you actually played this game for a little bit, most people won't recognize its more mature content readily. A parent just walking by, or even simply asking about it probably won't have a clue. And the kid may have a laptop or netbook and play it away from parents as well. It's really impossible to police well. The staff has done an admirable job when they have the information (we had an eight year old on recently who admitted it in their profile), but they have reasonable limits as far as player privacy.
    Posted 16 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • A 13-14-year old is not mature on many things! I don't care how much parents say they are. There are many bright scholastic youngsters that can out do me big time. The point here is that with experience comes maturity. Young kids are so impressionable!  Seventeen appears to be working here, but again, I note in (forums what they write and how they act ) it does  indicate that even that age there is a sense of immaturity. Speaking of personal experience here, no matter how much responsibility one puts on a young person and how mature they present themselves to be they are not as a mature adult! 
    I hope 16 to 17 is the age of of entrance to this game. I really do, I may need to leave the game as already there are a few players that you can not talk to because they act "bratty" and have an  I don't care attitude. I have already muted two of them. So if too many young immature kids,  I may need to leave the game to the kids!
    Posted 16 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 14 is the age of entrance. 

    From the TOS
    " If you are under 14 years of age, you are not authorized to use the Service, with or without registering. If you are between the ages of 14 and 17, you represent that your legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms."
    Posted 16 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Joy

    Before you leave, you may want to be sure that the people you're having problems with are really under 17.  I know several people in the game with the "I don't care" attitude and they are in their 20s.
    Posted 16 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @WindBorn, my friend you are correct to remind me of this. Thank you for being here for me. You are always there when needed!  I have to be careful because there is another level here.
     If I encounter  an adult and ask something of them and they have this "I don't care attitude" generally it stays there. But with younger kids, especially if they find each other, it doesn't end there, a little bullying begins!
    Posted 16 months ago by Joy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have known people over 50 who behaved like kids.  When online, you would think them very young.  I have known young people in school who seem very mature and would pass for adults online.  There is really no way to tell a person's physical age.  We can only go by their behavior.  I am sure that inappropriate behavior will be dealt with.

    Ideally parents will take an interest in what their children do on the internet.  Sadly, many do not and many don't know even a fraction of what their kids know about computers and the internet.  Tiny Speck can only go by what people claim and by their behavior.

    There is no doubt that as thousands enter the game there will be some problems.  People will cause trouble no matter what age they are.  Get used to that idea and deal with it.  Avoid people you don't like.  It's a large "World" here.  Move on.  Don't become a child yourself and complain because "kids" are stealing rocks or fruit or whatever.  Just move on to another location.  Continuous bad behavior will most certainly be dealt with in some way.

    Lets have fun and not sweat the annoyances.
    Posted 16 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Maybe the enclaves for the player groups I heard about once might be implemented after all. Would certainly provide a "Gatekeeper" function.
    Posted 16 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Fokian, What is this of which you speak?  What enclaves?  How would they work and we "use" them?
    Posted 16 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Devs have said all along that group halls will be added after launch.  With group halls you will have a place to hang out with other members of your group and an in-game chat line (currently functioning).  Group admins will be able to control who can use either the hall or the chat line.

    See this Glitch blog post from last January
    www.glitch.com/blog/2011/01...
    Posted 16 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Kids lie about their ages.  Parents often use computers as babysitters (like their parents did with TV).  A casual stroll by the computer won't tell parents anything about Glitch.  It will LOOK like a kids' game (just like Faunasphere did)  Parents will probably be happy their kids aren't playing WofW or other violent games.  I was rarely bothered by the "gimme" kids in Faunasphere because i had pretty basic fauna.  As long as we don't get too flashy in glitch we should be okay.
    Posted 16 months ago by Marla Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 2 things:
    1.so many kids grow up without the guidance of (mature) parents;
    2.the 'Gimme,Gimme' attitude is actually encouraged by most (if not all) facebook games,and facebook for the moment is still the place to be for so many,many kids;
    ~while I don't condone it,I can understand why so many kids are the way they are. I may not owe them anything,but their parents do.Sadly though all too many kids get fobbed off,given material things to compensate for the lack of having a mature adult spend quality time with them (whatever their reasons may be).

    I can understand, I respect a parent's right to decide what is ok for their child,and what is not,but -and I am going to go out on a limb here- when it comes to allowing your kid to play a game even though you know he/she is below the minimum age,because you say the game is ok for him/her to play, then I respect your right to choose,but I ask myself the question: What lesson is this child really being taught? Is he/she learning that it is ok to ignore/break the rules,esp on line cos it's highly unlikely they will ever get caught?

    eta: On a side note,an observation, while age and maturity are so often thought of as being the same thing, they're as different as chalk and cheese,but while age can be legally verified, I don't think maturity can.
    I have met some terrifically mature kids,and some horrifyingly immature adults.
    Posted 16 months ago by ~Scilly~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Windborn, I am looking forward to the group halls and they came to mind when I read FF's post.  However I thought perhaps he was speaking of something other than this, based on the standard definition of what an "enclave" is.  But then again, perhaps I am wrong.  Fokian?
    Posted 16 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Scilly, I'm not sure what you mean by "age can be legally verified".
    Are you suggesting that TS requires a valid driver's license to register? Because I am an adult who does not own any photo ID due to not being a driver. In fact, my boyfriend (24 this month) does not have one single piece of legally valid photo ID for this same reason.

    I don't see any non-intrusive way to "legally verify" people's ages online. I also don't see any reason to, in this case. "Children" (I don't think people stay as children for as long as some of you may think) and teenagers are aware that drugs and alcohol exist. Non-sexual nudity does not harm children, they have bodies too, and there is absolutely nothing on a glitch's body that a child hasn't seen (we've got no genitals, after all).

    The idea that this should be an age-controlled game is rather selfish actually, as it benefits nobody but those of you who don't want to have children around.
    The information regarding 14-17 requiring parental consent and not allowing it before then is actually very common, as the law generally says that anyone under 13 is legally incapable of clicking an "I accept" button under any circumstances. At 13/14 they can be held (marginally) responsible for things they do which break the terms of agreement (such as hacking databases, causing damage to the website through their actions, etc), so they can be allowed into the site. I am surprised it is not 14-18 or 14-19 as BC's age of majority is 19, but maybe they are using California as their legal base of operations.
    In any case, trying to prevent people in that age range from being allowed to play is a little bit ridiculous to me, as someone who was on the internet in those age ranges, and kept entirely to myself. If I were still 12, or 14, or 16, I wouldn't ever have spoken a word in chat.
    I have a feeling that most of the people claiming to be young ages and asking for internet-money/items/favors on other websites are actually just trying to play on people's pity, and aren't actually all that young. I'd wager that most "kids" today are far better at playing video games than people in their 30s and 40s - They've been raised on the computer, it's literally instinctive to them! Just like our grandparents maybe still can't quite figure out the remote control all the time.
    Posted 16 months ago by Biohazard Subscriber! | Permalink
  • No Biohazard,it was not a suggestion for TS to use,but it was meant simply as a side note,an observation in general terms,that a person's physical age can be verified using a variety of documents,such as a birth certificate for example; but a person's mental age/maturity does not conform to the norms of physical age. I also said that one doesn't automatically mean the other,they are two separate issues,because we all age and mature at different times.Some youngsters have a higher level of maturity in some areas/issues,than many adults do for the same areas/issues.

    You are very right when you say that children don't stay children for as long as many think.To me that is sad,childhood is such a short and precious time,being an adult is the rest of your life...but that's a topic for another thread.

    For me personally,a player's age makes no difference,if knowing someone is fun,then great,if a player demands too much from me,or gets clingy,or if hanging out with him/her is vexing,then I just avoid them.
    You say people who want age restrictions, and want them to be enforced are being selfish,and these rules would benefit only those who don't want kids around.Why is the concept of having a game created for adults so horrible? There are so many games for younger players out there,and very few non-violent games for adults.
    Posted 16 months ago by ~Scilly~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It is not the concept of a game created for adults that makes me uncomfortable, it is the idea that some adults think that any game children are allowed to play would be unpleasant compared to an adults-only game, and that these assumptions warrant the exclusion of younger people from playing.

    There are not actually that many games for young adults which are neither violent nor demeaning. I had been seeking games that did not revolve around harming others or some version of Diner Dash for years before I found this, and only rarely found anything that held my interest for long. I had never been allowed violence in any form when I was growing up, which essentially meant I was not allowed video games, since even in Mario you are killing things. This game would be a welcome change for many younger people who have also been raised to dislike violence. They could play with friends or their parents, when almost all other non-violent games are 100% solitary.

    I understand the value of age restrictions in some circumstances, such as perhaps the younger people (pre-teens) could play, but without any chat function, so that they wouldn't read things most parents would find inappropriate and to protect them from unpleasant things often directed at children online. I can picture a 13 year old deciding to lie about their age to gain access to certain functions, but not a 10 year old. The game could simply not let them know that there is a hidden Older Kids chat ability.
    And I certainly value the ability of those in charge to temporarily silence troublemakers (or permanently, if they are persistent), but I don't believe in all-out age bans nor do I think it could be properly implemented online, and it would serve only to weed out the honest children (and let's face it, the honest children are usually the polite ones too!)
    Posted 16 months ago by Biohazard Subscriber! | Permalink
  • My 10 yr old younger sis plays this, and has never seen anything explicit that makes her scream..

    Glitch is still very fair game, IMO the sims is worse in some aspects.
    Even said so, the cuteness of this game breaks the age barrier.
    Posted 16 months ago by Aether Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Isn't the option to Block players available to everyone... Or am I the only one who has it?  Not being a smarty-pants, but I do believe that we all have the ability to choose who annoys us and just put a stop to it by exercising our right to click the mouse and block gretchen-gets-on-my-nerves.

    Just a thought.

    PS - my son would love to play, but it is entirely age inappropriate for him.
    Posted 16 months ago by CoffeeSnob Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Maybe this whole question makes the case for a future 'kiddie glitch' game. :)
    I see 2 issues tied up in this thread:
    1. The potential inappropriateness for small people. Some parents are okay with it; others aren't. That said, regardless of how mature someone thinks their child is, and how equipped the child may be to handle the concepts and innuendo in the game, there's also the interpersonal element--the potential impact their child may have on other players...and the impact other players may have on their child. You're letting your child travel unattended through a virtual city--you don't know who they're interacting with or what kind of exchanges they may be having with someone, and you're not there to help them process it or make them behave, if warranted. It could be as simple as someone making an offhanded, mean comment that a person with more life-experience might shrug off that a kid isn't equipped to ignore in the same way. Or it could be that someone's "precious little snowflake" is a precocious brat that's driving everyone nuts. While your child might be "mature" enough, are they? ...really? And is this fair to the other players...OR to your child? Particularly once the game goes live?

    2. Until I read this thread, it hadn't quite hit home to me that the game is, overall, relatively free of...well...the kind of crap one encounters playing many MMOs -- the stupid, shite-disturbing ne'er-do-wells (who generally seem to fall in an age range from about 12 to 20-something) that have nothing better to do than get up people's noses. It's been delightful. Peaceful. Yes, there are immature jerks in every age group, but I kinda dig having fewer of them here. :)
    Posted 16 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm still thinking of Faunasphere and the general difference between the gimme gimme helpme gimme kids and the more adult crowd. *Not saying all kids or all adults fit that mold*, but it was a fairly obvious general gulf. The gimme kids were *understandably*, as kids (and who had no $$$ to spend ingame as well), repeatedly asking others for stuff and help to be given - *and didn't even try to reciprocate* - not that I didn't try and try again to explain things to them and *attempt* to make good citizens of them (- which was like trying to teach pigs to sing... hmm now there's a thought for this game ;-)...). The adult crowd, on the other hand, always reciprocated and then some, or at least offered to with many thanks and nice words.
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @princess fi, you read my mind and not my words. That's what I meant. :)
    Posted 16 months ago by Fokian Fool Subscriber! | Permalink
  • 2 games, that is not realistic considering how much time and effort has gone into making just one Glitch, again why do we have to always have to "allow" any children.  

    Kids sneaking into game and lying about their age will be hard to control.  

    Parents stating "My child is special and I want my child to have the right to be an adult, therefore I give my child the right to play Glitch".  Must believe they are above rules, rights of other players, and an unrealistic view of how important they are.

    Why is it so hard for parents to just say "no you aren't old enough to play this game". 

    Glitch involves other players who do not want to be your child's babysitter.  

    Views swing like a pendulum on grandfather clock.  People are changing their outlook about children.  Children always being allowed in public settings, is not a civil right.  Restaurants even movie theaters are now restricting parents with children from their establishments. This allows adults without children to enjoy their civil rights and pursuit of happiness.

    This sounds harsh, but asking nicely to not let your children to play Glitch seems to drive some parents into a frenzy.  Maybe they never learned what the word NO really means. 
    Posted 16 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Misc. thought:  If it's *clear* that kids aren't *supposed* to be here, at least the kids who play anyway are less likely to run into overtly stalking pedophiles here.

    Another misc. thought:  I think in the real world, this game would be termed an "attractive nuisance", and a fence would have to be erected around it to prevent kids from playing in it - like a construction site or drainage ditch. Not a suggestion - just thinking with my fingers again...
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This whole thread kind of reminds me of when the TV show the Simpsons came out. Some parents had a fit that it was on too early and that kids shouldn't be watching it because it was an adult show. It is an adult show IMO. Just because it's a cartoon doesn't mean it's for children. That was a whole new concept when the Simpsons came out. Now I can turn on the TV at  5, 6, or 7 pm and see the Simpsons all over it plus many other adult type cartoon shows.
    Posted 16 months ago by Eye Wonder Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Psst: It's hard to tell age without actual written proof from the person. 
    Also, this kind of setting in hardly attractive to some sex maniac, is it? Whoever being harrassed can easily go and open chat and rat em out to a dev or staff. 
    Posted 16 months ago by KitkatCat Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @xoxJulie "Glitch involves other players who do not want to be your child's babysitter."

    Amen to that.
    Posted 16 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have to throw in my two currants:

    I met an exceptional Glitch who organizes grand events and reciprocates gifts freely and happily. The contributions to the game made by this player (about 15 years old IRL) would put many of us old folks to shame. I would like to see us paint each other, if we must paint at all, with a finer brush.

    On the other hand, this beautiful gift economy and this debate about underage players reminds me of my experiences watching parts of Burning Man being taken over by families. I am all for exposing children to different ideas and lifestyles ... but ... Parents exposed their small children to dangerous (and some extremely raunchy) events and seeing little kids led many of us to feel as though we had to censor ourselves and worry about the little ones' safety - rather than express ourselves and create with abandon. I hope that parents have the good judgment to take better care of their children here - or to take them out of the game. Quashing Glitchy creativity isn't an option.
    Posted 16 months ago by Aleph Zero Subscriber! | Permalink
  • *Climbs up on soapbox and clears her throat before beginning her speech*

    I have played in adult only games and quit because I got tired of being propositioned.  I have played in childrens games and quit because the game makers sole focus seemed to be enlisting children's help to clean out their parents wallets. I have played in all ages games and liked being able to stop sleazy advances by reminding the sleaze there are penalties for making passes at children but quit because most sleazoids didn't care and, sometimes, the sleazoid turned out to be a child him/her self.

    I like Glitch because the characters are sexless which, I hope, will result in sleazoids preferring not to play here (I actually HATE the new bikini's because it is a small step in the wrong direction when it comes to keeping the game free of sexuality) but the downside of the characters looking like children is they are likely to appeal to children.

    If a parent can't, or won't, spare the time to sit down and investigate the game to find out it's for adults, or do what it takes to ensure their child doesn't access unsuitable games, that parent isn't likely to be sparing the time to train their child to be a socially acceptable adult either.

    These unmonitored children are floating around in cyberspace seeing all sorts of unsuitable material and getting all sorts of twisted impressions about the world.  They go into Second Life and get propositioned to form a threesome with a couple who are married in real life.  They go into war games and listen to adults take pleasure in shedding cyber blood and taking cyber lives.  In other games they pick up a gang mentality or admiration for "the mob" or some other illegal group.  There are online games that actively encourage disrespect for the law/women/prostitutes or some other "opponent" or "target".  These children regularly watch adults behaving badly and get adult attention by behaving badly themselves.

    Where can they learn how to be a good neighbour or nice person if their parents are too busy, or self-absorbed, to teach them?  Not in any of the online places I have seen so far!  If a child is not taught how to be an asset to society there is a good chance they will become a liability and then we all pay the price even if only indirectly.

    You can say it isn't your job to teach these children anything, that this is your playground and you want to be able to enjoy it without the hassle of having to babysit other people's children, that there are plenty of games available to kids and why should they be allowed to invade this one and all of that is true but none of it changes one simple fact.

    They WILL come to this game and they WILL learn from us whether we want them to or not.  They will learn some people do not want them around and they will respond to that the same way they respond to such people in their real lives but some people will have a positive influence on them.  Some people will teach them that not all adults are self-absorbed, that manners are a skill worth learning, and that they don't have to be bad to get attention from some adults.

    When these children do start invading Glitch, and they will, I intend to respond to them by rewarding good behaviour and ignoring bad behaviour.  I will treat them with respect and expect them to treat me the same.  I will tell them clearly what they need to do to win my approval and I will spend quality time with them if they behave well.  I will answer any politely asked question and advise them to ask politely if they want an answer.

    If a paedophile can win children over by giving them time and attention why can't I?  I would much prefer these children learn from me than from a paedophile and I think it is sad that paedophiles are the only people ready, willing, and able to go out of their way to form a "caring" relationship with children online!

    I don't WANT to play cyber Mom in this game or any other game but this is the age of the internet.  We live in a global village now and my neighbours have gone to work/play/drugs or drink and their kids are finding their way to my house.

    I can kick them out and hope they don't grow up to be hoodlums who will invade my home or beat me up for drug money or I can let them join me in my game and use our time together to teach them things like manners, a work ethic, or compassion for others in the hope it will help them grow up to be the kind of neighbours I'd be happy to live next to.

    *Gets off soapbox*

    For the record, I was very strict about what I let my children be exposed to when they were young, but the people I have found in this game are so nice I would not have stopped my kids from playing this game if they wanted to!  Of course, once the kids start playing, I probably will not feel the game is still suitable for a child of mine lol

    *Hides behind spice tree*
    Posted 16 months ago by Reni's Mum Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Never quash creativity.  Burning Man is a perfect example.  That is the point this is an adult game and we will be censored if parents continue to believe their child is the exception to the rules.  Not only will we be forced to censor ourselves but then the parents and other players will start the bs of reporting players for being inappropriate to the staff, creating grief for everyone.  I don't like the idea of being forced to play with children because their parents want them to have this "experience".  Parents can be major griefers because they believe they are above rules, and what does that teach a child.
    Posted 16 months ago by xoxJulie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This game is not for children, it says so when you sign up. But when I encounter a young child in Glitch my first reaction is no to report them with a dev, but to teach them some Glitch etiquette. Maybe I'm naive, maybe it's just because I love children. I find it rewarding to help the little ones, but I won't babysit them all day. It's more like guidance, that's also why I like to hang around in Live Help :)
    Posted 16 months ago by Victoria Subscriber! | Permalink
  • "What, me worry?"  Cartoons for adults have probably been around since the first person shared an idea.  Cartoon does not equal "Child" or "for children" though it might equal "childish" at least some of the time.  Parents need to wake up and understand this.  Glitch is for Adults but many children could play and never realize that if they are too young to understand adult humor or too old to care.  The best we can do is be helpful and understanding and explain things to parents who will listen.  If I had a young child, I might not mind him or her playing Glitch but I would want to observe to make sure that my child was safe and happy.  Too bad so many parents either don't care or don't have the time to do that.
    Posted 16 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I haven't seen anyone trying to censor themselves here among children, so I don't see that as a concern that should allow banning of young adults.

    While in global chat (I believe someone was discussing their love of fellatio jokingly) someone piped up that it was inappropriate for them due to their age, and they were advised to leave Global if they did not wish to hear/read such things. Global as it is, is not supposed to continue to exist once the game launches officially, but this is a very valid point for anyone, young or old. If something makes you unhappy, it is simple to remove yourself from the situation here.

    I think that one problem here is the assumption that this game is inappropriate for the ages allowed to play. I can't and won't argue that the drug usage in this game is a good idea to show to actual children (I wouldn't want a 6 year old piping up about sniffing white powder in class and getting their family into a mess of a situation due to a computer game), but 14 is in no way a child. When I was 14, I was the one of the maybe three people in my class who weren't smoking pot every lunch hour. When I was older, in a different school, I found out an 8th grader I knew (12 or 13 years old) was addicted to heroin. The casual use of joke-drugs isn't anything new to these teens, and I completely disagree with the idea that they may harm anyone of a currently permitted age.


    The other problem is obviously that people think "children" are incapable of politeness and demand everything be given to them. I have already said that imposing an obvious, strict age limit will simply weed out the honest children. One can't expect to actually be able to exclude those who are legally minors (non-invasively) and have it work, so all that an older age restriction would do is ensure that your own personal world view is maintained by only allowing in young people who are willing to break rules to enter. At least if you allow them, you'll get a mix of the good and the bad which is all any public game can hope for.

    We already have more-than-full-grown adults attempting to manipulate this game to their own benefit, exploiting bugs knowingly, etc etc. At least when it comes to kids, the most they tend to do is annoy everyone around them (blocking is available, and so, this is not a real problem) and get their accounts lost through gullibility.


    I also think that it is rather annoying that so many people blame "the" parents of every unpleasant child they've ever met online. How exactly do you know their parents don't pay attention to them? Most teens+children have ready access to the internet outside of their homes, do you suggest that the parents follow them around at school all day? Sit over their shoulder while they are at a friend's house and watch them constantly? Stay home from work so they can all be hungry, but supervised?
    Posted 15 months ago by Biohazard Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I fully intend to use Live Help to report youngsters and suspect poor behavior, as well as to redirect questions newbies are posing when there's too many of those. I hadn't thought much about Live Help because I haven't used it to ask any questions myself, and because my squarish monitor mostly hides the list of chat categories, such that really I don't see "Live Help" on my screen, as such, without mousing over the little band of that column that does show.
    Posted 15 months ago by gimmegames Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I can say for sure that if I ever encounter a child playing this game and have proof positive they are underage, they will instantly be part of my block list and I will instantly open live help to report them.

    It's one thing to have kids playing a fantasy RPG.  There's tons of trolls and griefers there which are most likely kids.  This game has way more adult themes than say, WoW and it says specifically in the ToS no kids allowed.

    Plus, I don't want to see this wonderful helpful community ruined by kids hassling for free stuff and intentionally griefing - like mining a rock out with a higher skill than you have while you started mining it first.  Courtesy goes a long LONG way in this game and I've never met a courteous kid.

    Plus, I have to deal with my kid's bad moods all day long.  I don't want to deal with your kids' bad moods all night.

    That's my two currants.
    Posted 15 months ago by zeroDOTjon Subscriber! | Permalink
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