Important Reminder

[Fay]

Just wondering, If showing someone your age when you are below 18 isn't allowed, then why do I see people's ages on the birthday calendar, I saw someone's 15th birthday coming by today with their nickname. You might want to correct this?

As for given out your age, I don't think it really matters as long as you don't give any other detailed description of yourselve, you could even post a photo. As long as you don't tell where you live (well you could say which state but that would be too large too search) and your real name and other contact details. I think age and photo is okay, any further information is too much, Pedophiles ussualy look for easy targets and you won't know where someone lives just by their photo and age. Ussually they try to figure out what school their in or where they live. As long as you keep that secret you will be fine. But I can see the concerns involved as younger people aren't always aware of this danger and easily tell what school or city they live in. Aswell as their photo and age.

I think it would be fun to start a photo thread for the adult users though just so we get to know each other a bit?

[Susan9608]

Pedophiles ussualy look for easy targets and you won't know where someone lives just by their photo and age.

I disagree with this. Pedophiles, once they identify a potential target, work their way into the minor's trust. Once a minor trusts the individual, he or she might reveal their locations and futher personal details to the pedophile.

By not allowing people to post their ages if they are under 18, we are trying to eliminate the possibility of a pedophile - or any other unscrupulous individual - from even identifying a potential target. That's our policy.

If someone's age is showing on the birthday calander, then we will fix it.

We have had several threads where people post photos of themselves; you are welcome to continue those threads and post your photo. If you are a minor, though, I certainly hope you will have your parent or guardian's permission before doing something like that.

[Fay]

Yes, I can see your point of pedophiles targeting on people they know their young by age, but if the pedophile is really out to get someone they will find a way, although ussualy they will just go to myspace and find a target there, I think it's very unlikely they will go here to find a target, but I'm happy to see you take steps that incase they do that it's as prevented as possible.

I'll go see if I can find those topics I thought they were probably removed because of this rule.

[Ly&Pigs]

Just wondering, If showing someone your age when you are below 18 isn't allowed, then why do I see people's ages on the birthday calendar, I saw someone's 15th birthday coming by today with their nickname. You might want to correct this?

We asked all members under 18 to hide their age and date of birth in their profiles but not all of them did so. With hundreds of users on this site, we usually have to wait until some show up on the b-day calendar to fix their profiles so it doesn't show their age anymore so yes we do fix them.

I think it's very unlikely they will go here to find a target, but I'm happy to see you take steps that incase they do that it's as prevented as possible.

You may think it's unlikely but internet predators can strike anywhere there are groups of teens hanging around. It has happened on this site. And with all the precautions maybe we can prevent it from happening again.

[freddy's mom]

It does seem silly to argue about the rules of a forum, doesn't it? After all, this is the World Wide Web, so there are plenty of other places to go and "talk" if we don't like the rules where we are, right? I teach young teens and see a lot of ignorance of how sick some people are out there. In one way, it's sort of wonderful that kids are still enjoying being kids for a while! Let's just say that the rules are there for a reason, right? I'm excited about joining conversations about one of my new loves (piggies). I am interested in seeing if the threads are as informative as the cavyspirit.com website has been.

[Cheritypie]

Hmm, how fun. I live with a paraniod knife freak, an over-protective mother, and I seem to have a sword in my garage, whilst being a pyromaniac myself...

I could helpwith the pedophile problem...


But being the complete and total lazy person I am, I think I'll just hide my birth-date.

[Faunn]

We can't say our age, but what about something that gives you a basic idea? Like 'I'm in high school' or something like that...?

[storminstaffs]

i've just seen this think i need to edit my intro

[Susan9608]

Yeah, if you have any information in any of your posts that contain your age, clues to your age (like, I'm only in junior high or I'm just a freshman in high school, or I can't drive yet or I still am dependent on my parents) then PLEASE edit those types of comments out of your posts and profiles. If you have passed the time period which allows you to edit your posts, please private message a moderator, and we will edit the information accordingly.

[i-love-nev]

Originally Posted by CavyCrazyChris

I don't worry, I'm too boring for anyone to want to stalk me... haha!
~Chris S.

Noq that is 'a come back' ahahahaahahah

[Sammy and Peanut]

Can you say what grade you are in?

[cavy-cool-crazy]

That'd still give away your age, so I'm thinking no.

[Percy's Mom]

No. Grade is definitely an age indicator. Even if you had to repeat a few grades and are chronologically over 18, any grade other than being in college or university infers that you are a minor.

[auburnmare5]

I am glad that the site is trying to protect the younger users.

You guys are right- there are aot of people in the world who are crazy.

[SNUGGS]

Thankyou for the protection, I'm happy that there is such strict rules here...
It's for the safety of everyone!

[BubuCandyBlue]

Very glad to read this, you are really watching out for the young ones of the forum! I just find it annoying any time you subscribe somewhere it asks such personal info, and some even check it up and don't let you go further if you put something wrong in .....

[sophistacavy]

I thought a "minor" was defined as anyone 14 and under? But that doesn't matter, because as long as you're under 18, you're "not an adult". So, very susceptible to internet predators.

I want to say thank you to T and everyone else who is a mod/admin, for protecting people. Its very easy for a pervert to locate a minor, what with the advent of GPS navigation, Google Earth, and such things, all you have to do is reply to a message that some person sends you, and they could show up at your front door a couple weeks later.

At least our cavies don't have social security numbers, or credit cards, or the ability to be a "piggy pedafile" and stalk other piggies...xD I know which one of my piggies would lose her numbers, be preyed on, and be the predator (by their personailties)

[Angelgal]

I think the mods do an excellent job of protecting the members of this site.
To the younger ones, it may seem strict but its there for good reason.

So many people think "it'll never happen to me" that they couldn't possibly fall victim to something like that but it happenes. If only more forum sites had rules such as the ones here, the internet might be a better place.

[sophistacavy]

Can we post stuff concerning our age when we're actually 18?

[5guinea5pig5]

I'm pretty sure that's fine. I've seen some people say that it's there 18th birthday and it wasn't deleted.