Ask Your Question today
Comment. What do you think? Does it annoy you? What, if anything, should be done about it?
Are you underage? How many of your peers do you think are on here? Why do you use a site intended for adults? Do you wish it to be open for all ages? Why? Do you wish there was an is it normal site for minors or teenagers? Why?
| <=5% | 0 | |
| <=10% | 4 | |
| <=20% | 8 | |
| <=50% | 28 | |
| <=75% | 10 | |
| >75% | 12 | |
| Other (please comment) | 4 |
I'm 18. But, considering I've been here for almost two years, I obviously haven't always been old enough to use the site. To be honest, I feel a bit unaware about all these underage users. People always say there are loads here, but I can't even think of 10. Either way, there are really good users here who are slightly underage. I wouldn't want them to leave, and if they did, then IIN would be losing a few really good contributors.
Age isn't my main concern, but rather the way people behave. I've seen older users treat people aggressively and immaturely. And I've seen underage users leave pretty decent comments.
Either way, I can't imagine that much will be done about it. Even if you aren't a member, you can still read all the posts, regardless of age. If people need help, then I'd like to think they'd get it. And if an older user wants advice and gets a really immature comment from an underage user, then they should know that from common sense or something, and would probably know not to take that advice. Anyway, you can get older users who behave more immaturely than underage users.
A lot of people are underage, but as long as you offer helpful advice and genuine empathy, I don't think your age should matter.
But underage people don't know anything, they have no life experience to use as a comparison in order to make conclusive judgements.
Empathy also clouds logic, making advice less helpful.
We arrive at a paradox.
Empathy can provide an OP with a sense of belonging or at least know that they are not alone. Also, I think some of the under-aged users here have enough life experience to be helpful in most of the asked questions. In some cases you don't need life experience to tell someone that having sex with your sister is not normal.
Yes they can help idiots, but most here don't need someone to tell us answers we already know (having sex with your sister is not normal) so they aren't of use.
"Empathy can provide an OP with a sense of belonging or at least know that they are not alone"
I never thought of it that way, though I was talking more about the ability to give a correct answer. Emotion clouds logic to quite an extent, it causes atleast half of the ignorance (but I tend to view ignorance and conformity as meshed together so almost everyone seems ignorant) on here, with poor education making up the other half.
You're pretty jaded. Empathy does not cloud logic when the subject is rational. A rational, empathetic person is not going to patronize someone who they do not think is acting normally by telling them that they are acting normally, BECAUSE they feel empathy for them and they know that lying may make someone feel better, but in the long term it will just make things worse.
That being said this is entirely irrelevant. Young people are not the only people capable of empathy this whole argument is stupid.
I'll admit life experience would be helpful, but not everyone who is old has that. In some situations a young person could be helpful because they went through the same thing. Example, people get bullied, young and old, some stand up to their tormentors while others just pray they go away. A young person who stood up for himself could help an OP on how to resolve his conflicts by explaining how life went for him. Also, this provides empathy from the user because he understands what its like to be bullied, thus making the OP feel slightly better.
"but not everyone who is old has that"
Very true, that's why Tommy is so selective.
But I still say it does to the point of ruin. Look at doctors, scientists, cops, soldiers, all trained to put logic before emotion. Because feeling to strongly effects their work, emotions clouding logic.
Look at a serial killer, starts out doing everything logically, ends up feeling superior and making mistakes, emotions clouding logic.
If in extreme circumstances it exists, it must be considered to exist in all others. Looking at the posts on IIN actually shows a great deal of this theory. Otherwise intelligent people holding grudges and loosing their ability to argue logically is so common here.
It seems evident to me that logic and reason are effected quite strongly by emotional states.
From the subject matter of the posts, the responses and the way in which people write, I would say that much more than 50% of those on this site are underage. I mean, come on, what adult would write: "I like dogs better than people, is it normal?"
I don't always hang out with a lot of underage people, but when I do, it's when I'm saving kids from a burning orphanage.
Stay heroic, my friends.
I really don't care what someone's physical age is on here. I'm more annoyed with those who have the maturity level of a 12 year old.
Well I, myself am eleven. I just go on here to answer peoples questions, it should be no biggie. To give advice and ask for advice, it shouldn't matter of age.
I vote 50. I kind of assume anyone in high school or living with parents is a minor. This also is confusing since some people are over 18 and still living with parents and demand you know their age. I do not feel like asking everyone age because rules dictate I give out my personal information. Though seriously if you want us to know your age so badly please post it. I am not good at guessing. I also hate how people guess people are underage for liking music. Since you have to like oldies to be an adult. I wish it could just be adults so everyone would just assume that we are all ADULTS.
A small portion of long-term regulars; less than 10%. I'm not so sure about the portion of short-term regulars, but I'd guess at less than 30%. For all users, even those who only comment once, it's probably still less than 50%.
Those are just my guesses though :)
EDIT: Oh, and I'm 17.
"Age isn't my main concern, but rather the way people behave. I've seen older users treat people aggressively and immaturely. And I've seen underage users leave pretty decent comments."
This is true. But I do feel awkward when I feel like I'm talking to a 14 year old. I don't know what to say. My expectations, and therefore the way I am going to react to what people say, are heavily influenced by whether or not I think they are of age. I dont want to talk about inappropriate things- like sex- with kids. An adult can be expected to have enough experience and maturity to understand it. And if not, I dont feel responsible for them.
Depending on how old they are, a child may be scarred. I'm not trying to sound like a bigot, but when an adult says something stupid, he/she should know better.. When a kid says something stupid, its to be expected, they still have learning to do. But more importantly I feel the burden of being morally obligated to show more charity and facilitate their learning without burning them and making them feel stupid...Maybe I should just treat everyone this way. If an adult acts like a kid, maybe he IS a kid psychologically, and therefore deserves the same type of charity....
Regardless, while adults can be just as ignorant as kids, I still feel like there would be a lot less immaturity around here without such a high rate of underage users, even though there would still be some.