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by cunning stunt who u calling chicken on August 13th, 2009
Help answer this question below.
by BigDaddyBS on August 27th, 2009
Yes, it should. BUT there are problems.
from the blog at http://www.answerbag.com/blog/comments/204?page=2& (#38 & 39)
#38 - what about keeping those under the age of 14 from joining AB?
#39 - How, exactly, do you propose that be done?
People don't like to give their credit card numbers to sites JUST to prove their age. so, there's no real other way to do it.
Therefore, AB, as many other sites, rely on the honesty of users to enter their information correctly. AB DOES require a birth date. If the user enters an "incorrect" birth date, how is that AB's fault.
The other problem AB has is that sometimes a member of the correct age, will allow their younger brother or sister to ask a question, rather than asking it for them. OR the younger one gets onto their siblings' or parents' account and "goes to town". How can AB protect against that?
So, we have people, as you've noticed on this blog, who pay attention to questions and answers, and, when underage people make mistakes by referring to their age, referring to their grade, referring to various other things, they are usually reported, and taken off the site.
and
from http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4541849
For your example (comment at http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/4541729 - "ex. "whatis the average penis size of a 4 year old" there is another one that asks about a 12 year old i believe. I think these questions are innappropriate to be asking. You cant prove that its a 12 year old or some 40 year old pervert."), it may seem inappropriate to you, but to a mother whose husband was, shall we say "small", she may be worried about her son's size when he's grown.
You're right in that we have no idea whether the person asking (or answering) is a pervert or not. By the same token, that type of question is not that titillating or arousing, so why would they ask it, and why would a pervert risk detection by answering?
AB is a self-policing site. If you feel that certain questions are inappropriate in the "normal" AB, remember that there's an "Adults only" AB. You can either use the Wrong Category flag to suggest moving them, or FEEDBACK at the bottom of the page of the question you are worried about, and on the feedback page, making your suggestion or complaint.
FYI: Minors (14-16) are PROBABLY the vast majority of those asking about "size", and many are probably doing so to get reactions such as yours. They tease and discuss it among themselves, and some are truly worried about it... And the minimum age that is supposed to be on AB is 14 (see the TOU). Again, if you find any younger on here, use feedback from their profile, and point it out.
So, should they be removed and those people who asked them banned? No. AB is a site to find answers to all questions. What about the answerers? Should they be banned? What about those who answered them in good faith, and in a true attempt to be helpful? No. If you don't like a section, stay out of it. For example, I very seldom enter into the AB4Adults section. I've placed questions in there through moderation, but...
You DO have to have a slightly open mind about many questions here. If you don't, maybe AB isn't for you.
and
from http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/5672805 (comments)
Of COURSE kids can lie about their age, just as many adults can and do.
Just because they don't, or they slip and state in a question or answer their age makes no difference.
The reason for the age limit is because of some of the conversations, images, videos, etc., on AB, are more "adult", and as in the movie ratings, it's to protect AB from legal recourse for pandering to children. It's also to help protect those children from some of the predators out there. If they lie about their age... Well, that's like lying about your age to get into the Army, right? It's not the ARMY'S fault that YOU lied.
and
from http://www.answerbag.co.uk/a_view/4653689 (comments)
The problem is, if the TOU states an age, and a website knowingly lets people in UNDER that age, they can be liable for any problems that occur, or any advice given that person. Why are YOU asking that we allow rules to be broken, and possibly cause AB to be sued/shut down for allowing those underage (by their own statements, mind you), to knowingly break them? (Think child safety online.) Now, I'm not sure of the reason for the arbitrary age, unless it's a law in another country, as in the US, they've struck down COPA.
.
But if a site makes rules, and you don't wish follow them, you're always welcome to leave.
**
(Sorry if not all of the above applies to your question. These are at least some of those places I've answered others, and I know most of it DOES apply. And, since much of it was in comments and the blog, it is not available in an answer, so... I hope I covered everything! LOL)
And, yes. The TOU should (and DOES) apply to everyone. ;-)
by Anonymous on August 27th, 2009
Stupid question: What does TOS mean?
by gtravels loves her life penguin on August 13th, 2009
The only way they're really going to know if someone is under age is if they admit it. Those who do get their accounts removed by administration.
by LarryH54 on August 13th, 2009
True, but logistically it's probably not practical. Unless you want to risk your credit card number here.
by Wide Awake @ has closing date woo hoo on August 13th, 2009
One can click on the feedback button below to report an underage user.
by Firebrand on August 27th, 2009
Unless a young person admits they are underage there is not really any way that the Staff can know exactly how old a person is.
At one time most of the top users and by that I mean Sages because that was the top level, were very young. At least one of them was only twelve, three or four of them only 13 and they were posting more intelligent and mature stuff than most of the adults. That was in the days that Answerbag was a Knowledge Database not a Social Forum.
I suppose now we get the kind of immature youngsters that we deserve.
It is a shame that the type of questions and language now used are considered unfit for young people.
I do not think it would be worthwhile for them to put in a button for underage. I would like them to put in a button for Duplicate answers first. They have been promising that one for years. Then they would not have to be flagged as Nonsense.
by Over and Out on August 27th, 2009
When user's sign up (or enter the Adult Area), they agree to the TOS age requirements. Here's a link to it: http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp2m_faq_ab_termsofuse.shtml
The only way AB will know if someone is under age is if they admit to it some way. When that is discovered, they are Penalty Boxed.
If any AB'er notices an under age user, they can alert any CL who will handle it (or use the Feedback link at the bottom of each page to notify Admin.). That is extremely helpful in keeping kids under 14 out of the regular area of AB or under 18 out of the Adult area.
by Civic Cat on August 27th, 2009
If I were a few decades younger and underage, I might avail of this site, and other sites, as well.
by Grandma Roses - my avatar is my real dog on August 13th, 2009
I agree that there should be a flag, just like the 'nonsense' and 'spam' flags. It would be quicker than using the feedback link.
Answerbag want you to open more than one account. Are you?
by lia8888 on September 18th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Would You Consider "Answer Bag" A Blog Site? If So Why? If Not, Why And What Is It Really?
by RZFI7 on August 5th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
How many times have you been in the penalty box and for how long?
by Anonymous on September 25th, 2011
| 2 people like this
How can you block a person without reporting him at AB? Any idea?
by ka_veh on July 19th, 2011
| 2 people like this
do u think its ok for an underaged person to be on here???
by OliverJr.Rox on April 18th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading I just searched AB TOS about age requirements. Why are there so many under age people asking Qs? And shouldn't there be a flag for underage use? I like young people, but really... TOS should apply to everyone.
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Comments
Great information as always.
I need to ask you something ... Are sockpuppet accounts "legal" on AB ... http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7557502.
I've never been asked that before
by Over and Out on August 27th, 2009
Why you don't have at least a thousand points by now is beyond me. +5 for a stupendous (though a bit redundant) answer!
by IntotheForge on August 27th, 2009
Sorry about the redundancy. As I said, those were comments to others' questions. I didn't cut-and-paste them when I did them. But then, the information won't change that much, just the approach. ;-)
by BigDaddyBS on August 27th, 2009
Thank you for the response BigDaddyBS. +6
I wasn't asking the Q for any of the reasons you pointed out. I come across a ton of stuff that states (paraphrase: "I'm 12 Y.O. and.....", or, "My B/F is pressuring me to have sex, I'm 12."
That kind of stuff should be flagged as juvenile (underage) or not appropos.
I do have an open mind.
If AB is a sting site (and I've considered this already) for nabbing child molesters, certainly the owners wouldn't want this known. I have answered Qs that appear to be from young people, and have had some strange responses.
Well, so much for taking some things seriously. Just call me occasionally naive.
by cunning stunt who u calling chicken on August 28th, 2009
I really don't think they're a "sting site". I think they have problems with kids coming on, because their parents do, their older siblings, classmates have, etc.
.
As for any of those that state they are 12, 13, or younger, when you run across them, check the questions out. If you believe they really are under-age, report them in the blog, to a CL, or to admin@answerbag.com. That's what most of us do. ;-)
by BigDaddyBS on August 28th, 2009
Good advice as always BigDaddy!
by Over and Out on August 28th, 2009