Bless the Shelter Workers for they shall inherit the earth

[this_lil_piggy]

I get where you are coming from now.
I thought you were wanting to avoid some of the silly-ness that goes on in the kitchen when the kid-showers visit (IE the recent visit by 30/06 and her childish bologna).

You pour your soul, time and money into rescuing and educating, you pour your soul, time and money into this website. If a haven where you can kick up your heels and talk as an adult with adults without younger ears is what you want, then do it. Nothing to mull over. I think you are totally entitled.

[CBrewton5]

I can understand the point here, but I think it's be more reasonable to say 15+ than 21+. 21+ would exclude many of the members here, even some of the most productive and the ones who are Cavy Stars/Champions. I don't think it's fair to exclude them, yet I don't think it would be fair to say if you were under 21 yet a Cavy Star/Champion that you could get in anyway. That would be excluding people strictly because they could not afford to donate for whatever reason.

Just my two cents, and this is coming from someone who is 31 just as an FYI.

[Ly&Pigs]

On a different post, someone brought up their opinion stating they thought it was unfair to restrict the VIP lounge to just the contributors/donators. The VIP lounge is part of being a donator. You donate, you get that forum privilige.

I think alot of the arguments on this thread are just that many are under the age of 21 and don't want to be "restricted" to any part of the forum. They don't want to feel "left out". I will stand by whatever decision T makes whether I agree with it or not. On this though, I agree with her. I dislike trying to debate with kids who end up resorting to name calling, immaturity and childish behaviors. It's like beating sense into a rock. T's a wonderful person and I admire and respect her greatly. If she feels the need to have a room in her home (the forum) just for adult debate then that is her decision. She doesn't make hasty or irrational decisions by any means.

[CavySpirit]

As I mentioned earlier, I'd prefer 25 or so, but definitely not younger than 21. I'm already now limiting participation in the Kitchen to 16 years old. I'm done arguing with 8th graders. It ends up being rather pointless and a waste of energy. They can either read and learn or they can't. I may consider exceptions to the 16 thing based on forum longevity. Maturity is just too subjective.

I haven't quite figured out how to implement it yet.

I don't think it's fair to exclude them

If it's an "adults only" forum, how is it not fair? Once again, the point is 'adults only.' The entire online guinea pig community caters to kids. I think it would be a kind of cool feature to have a section that caters to adults. It would be a first and unique. It wouldn't be based on who you know, like some forums have, or popularity or anything like that. Very objective. Only thing is, if you don't act like an adult, you get kicked out.

The only thing I'm still thinking about is the lying about the age thing. Since the forum would be public, it would encourage newbies to lie upon registration. It would be nice if there was easy way to verify age. Probably not, though. Overall, I'm still an honor system kind of gal.

And no, in this case, donations don't change your age, so just because you donate, if you are under 21 you are under 21. I really would want to be 'fair' about that aspect of it.

[emoxrobot]

After thinking about this whole thing T and discussing it with other members of different age ranges I feel that this is the first time I do not agree with you. I will explain to you why.

First of all I am 20 as I'm sure you know and maybe to you I am not an "adult", but I pay my own bills, live in my own apartment, I have one more year of college before I have my degree, I do not depend on my parents in any way not to mention they don't even live anywhere close to me. I pay every cent of my college education which means I have a job also while balancing school. In my school there are no dorms or food cards so that means that every little thing I need I provide. I can vote, I can choose to fight for my country and have had a very rough four year relationship with a man that I almost married.

I have visited near by shelters and often visit a cavy rescue to see how everything is going and listen to the rescue owner's concerns and struggles. I do my best on this board to become knowledgable and help others when they ask for advice. I am supportive and donate money to Cavy Spirit once a year.

I agree that fighting with children gets frustrating and maybe there should be a place for people who are older, but when a 20 year old woman who takes care of herself and is well educated is put into the group of "young children" that is when I get irritated.

[CBrewton5]

I dislike trying to debate with kids who end up resorting to name calling, immaturity and childish behaviors

I agree wholeheartedly, but that's childish behavior, which can come from any aged person in my experience. Excluding all the teenagers on this forum from a certain area because there have been a few that have thrown temper tantrums is unfair, IMHO. We'll all have to agree with whatever T decides, we have no choice, but this is the place to voice our opinions about it and hopefully have them weighted in on the final decision.

[standuprookie]

I'm under 18, and I have no objections. If the adults want to have a adult section, let them.
-The V.I.P. lounge is for donating members.
-The adult part would be for adults.
-The rest of the forum is for everyone.
If you are under the age limit and don't donate you miss out on two sections, not that big a deal. I just became a cavy star and if there wasn't a V.I.P. lounge I still would have, it didn't have much to do with influencing me to donate, it's just a perk. And about leaving people out, lets not forget what this forum is about it's mainly for guinea pig information, there are some social places, like chat and the café, but the main purpose is to learn/educate people about guinea pigs.

[emoxrobot]

Originally Posted by CBrewton5

I agree wholeheartedly, but that's childish behavior, which can come from any aged person in my experience. Excluding all the teenagers on this forum from a certain area because there have been a few that have thrown temper tantrums is unfair, IMHO. We'll all have to agree with whatever T decides, we have no choice, but this is the place to voice our opinions about it and hopefully have them weighted in on the final decision.

I understand it's T's choice and I respect her very much. Whatever decision she makes will not cause me any anger towards the forum or any person, but it was bothering me a lot today and I just wanted to express how I felt about it.

Originally Posted by standuprookie

I'm under 18, and I have no objections. If the adults want to talk about adult stuff let them.

Being under the age of 18 and not being included in the "adults only" part of the forum makes more sense than being 20 years old and legally being an adult.

[Percy's Mom]

Originally Posted by emoxrobot

Being under the age of 18 and not being included in the "adults only" part of the forum makes more sense than being 20 years old and legally being an adult.

Legality really doesn't make one iota's difference in this situation. Adult can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I personally do not consider 20 or 21 to be adult. It's barely not a teenager. If Teresa wants to define adult for her purposes as 25+, that's the way it should be. I'm not sure why this is so difficult for people to understand. This is not a public forum where people get to vote to decide policies. It's a private forum, owned by a single person who chooses to allow anyone join if they want to and not have to pay a fee.

[Sabriel]

First of all I am 20 as I'm sure you know and maybe to you I am not an "adult", but I pay my own bills, live in my own apartment,

I think this is the hard part about defining an adult. I was doing this at 16 where there are people who don't do this till they are much older.

I belive in the US 21 is when you are considered a full fledged adult (able to drink, vote, etc.) Maybe that's a good age to keep it?

[Tatalp]

I just wanted to put in my two cents about age restrictions. I do understand why you want an adults-only forum. You just don't want stupid, immature, childish people coming on the board, and an age limit will keep away most young BYBs. However, I think that the younger people should still get to have a say. My idea is that all cavy slaves, regardless of age, would be allowed to post. BUT, if they are under 18 (or whatever age limit you set), they would be somewhat like "cavy caged" on that forum - a mod would have to approve their message before it was posted. That would allow us younger members to have a say without having all the childish people throwing out stupid arguements.
I have disagree with putting an age limit on the Kitchen, let the stupid kids have a say somewhere-and let the intellegent kids have intellegent debates.
Another thought - the immature BYBs are the kind of kids who are likely to lie about their age. How will you be able to verify that people really do meet the age minimum?

[CBrewton5]

This is not a public forum where people get to vote to decide policies. It's a private forum, owned by a single person who chooses to allow anyone join if they want to and not have to pay a fee

That right there is offensive. If it's not up for discussion then why is this thread here open for discussion and not closed like the other 'policy change' threads that are there but locked and therefore not up for discussion. I'd like to think our feelings and opinions do weigh in some if not heavily.

[CavySpirit]

My idea is that all cavy slaves, regaurdless of age, would be allowed to post.

Well, perhaps you all don't realize it, but that has never been the case here. When you register, if you are under 13, you don't get to complete your registration unless and until I here from your parents. You can imagine how many times that's happened--maybe around 6. There about 180 kids out there under the age of 13 who have attempted to register to post here and not been approved because the parents didn't follow through. And there is no way I'm changing my policy to allow them on.

You just don't want stupid, immature, childish people coming on the board, and an age limit will keep away most young BYBs.

No, that really isn't it.

However, I think that the younger people should still get to have a say.

They do. Here in the kitchen.

I have disagree with putting an age limit on the Kitchen, let the stupid kids have a say somewhere-and let the intellegent kids have intellegent debates.

I'm not sure what you are saying here at all.

And choosing 21 has nothing to do with legality. I'd be happy to make it 22. Or 30 and call it the Crotchety Cavy Slavers or something.

[CBrewton5]

Only thing is, if you don't act like an adult, you get kicked out.

OK, so you're willing to exclude based on immaturity, but not include based on maturity? Again, there are many people on this forum that contribute an awful lot as far as discussions and even debates, some have literally made my jaw drop when I found out their real age. I never would have known if they hadn't told me. It needs to be even across the board, if you are willing to exclude then you need to be willing to include, IMHO. Perhaps as a criteria of maturity you can make it based on poos and impactions received. Those who have never received one obviously conduct themselves in a manner that is mature and level-headed and are able to not break the rules, right?

[emoxrobot]

Originally Posted by CavySpirit

And choosing 21 has nothing to do with legality. I'd be happy to make it 22. Or 30 and call it the Crotchety Cavy Slavers or something.

If that's what you want to do T then I respect your decision.