# Parental consent for minors to post **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492 "2010-02-18T17:45:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/1 "2010-02-18T17:45:48Z")
Special consideration has been given for a poster due to his age. IMHO,giving such consideration will encourage trolls to register as minors. Therefore, minors should provide parental consent to TPTB in order to post and be treated the same as all other posters. * * * In the pit, a thread regarding an issue with an alleged minor shows where special consideration was given to the minor because of age. Posts of the minor were removed because the posts contained personal data which might reveal the poster’s real identity. A rule of the SDMB is that a poster should own their words. Moderators will not delete posts written in good faith (spam, socks, etc. need not apply). In the past moderators have declined to delete threads and posts but have chosen rather to close threads and let the threads fall off the main pages of the forums rather than honor posters’ wishes for thread/post deletion. By showing special treatment to minors, SDMB encourages trolling as minors. I submit that a simple solution would be to require minors to provide parental consent. I personally think the consent should be moderately strong, i.e. a valid credit card. note- I think the moderators made the correct decision to delete the personal data of the minor given that there is currently no requirement for parental permission to post. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/2 "2010-02-18T18:11:00Z")
This makes no sense, if the concern is trolls pretending to be children then they will just provide “consent” with their own credit card. And have there actually been any cases of trolls impersonating kids? Seems like a solution in search of a problem to me. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/3 "2010-02-18T18:16:31Z")
> [@Angry Lurker](#): > > This makes no sense, if the concern is trolls pretending to be children then they will just provide “consent” with their own credit card. > > And have there actually been any cases of trolls impersonating kids? Seems like a solution in search of a problem to me. Of course a troll could troll as a teen using their own credit card. But there would be no special consideration, no deleting posts, no OMG what about the children. Because, presumably any actual child would be posting with full parental permission. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/4 "2010-02-18T18:18:55Z")
However in the world would we monitor that sort of thing? In the case referred to an adult sent a PM to a (supposed) minor with potentially adult material and adult references in it. Just plain ol’ common sense should rule the day here. That was an inappropriate thing to do. The adult has been given a formal Warning about the situation. Acting inappropriately around a minor, here on the board or anywhere else – common sense should tell you that is a foolish and jerky thing to do. We expect you to use your better judgment. This is a rare incident in all our time here and it should be an isolated incident. If it happens again we’ll take action. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/5 "2010-02-18T18:19:50Z")
Special treatment has to be shown to minors for their own protection. The recent kerfuffle over a now-banned member is a stand-out example - in the general case, not the particular. Further, some time ago, another member was banned after (IIRC) attempting to groom another. This is not, however, a blanket excuse. The raison d’etre of the SDMB is to fight ignorance. If that means educating a youngster by deleting his posts, I’m cool with it. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/6 "2010-02-18T18:25:05Z")
This is not a child-centric sort of place; it should be a given that this is not exactly Disneyland here. Currently this is how we’re handling the issue of minors: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3\_board\_faq#faq\_sdmb\_rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_faq#faq_sdmb_rules) > [@](#): > > Minimum age for registration on the SDMB is 13 years. Registrants found to be younger than 13 will have their posting privileges revoked and forfeit any subscription fees. SDMB content is intended for mature audiences; parents or guardians paying subscription fees for children aged 13 through 17 are responsible for determining whether the SDMB is a suitable environment for their child. It’s entirely appropriate that parents bear responsibility for what their children are viewing online – these are choices parents should be making. We are not your Mama and not your Nanny. We are not teaching Sunday School on this site. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/7 "2010-02-18T18:31:00Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > This is not a child-centric sort of place; it should be a given that this is not exactly Disneyland here. > > Currently this is how we’re handling the issue of minors: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3\_board\_faq#faq\_sdmb\_rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_faq#faq_sdmb_rules) > > It’s entirely appropriate that parents bear responsibility for what their children are viewing online – these are choices parents should be making. > > We are not your Mama and not your Nanny. We are not teaching Sunday School on this site. Thanks for posting the relevant rule. I like it. However it does seem to have been enstated when the board was pay-to-post. The parental consent was obtained via credit card. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/8 "2010-02-18T18:56:03Z")
Yeah, we should probably tighten that up some since you don’t have to be a subscriber to read or post here. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/9 "2010-02-18T21:32:03Z")
Why not just make the age required to post 18. That way if anyone claims to be a minor … off he goes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/10 "2010-02-18T21:34:12Z")
edit: this joke probably wasn’t appropriate ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/11 "2010-02-18T21:48:33Z")
Trouble is, age restrictions are unenforceable unless the person in question happens to mention their age, particularly since posting is free for “guests”. I don’t use Paypal, so I’m not familiar with its rules, but if a minor can set up a Paypal account (either following or ignoring their rules) then even age restrictions on members are unenforceable. It’s like the silly rule notice on some “adult” sites (not that I would ever think of checking such sites out :-)) saying that “you must be 18 to enter”. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/12 "2010-02-18T21:53:15Z")
But my point is this: if you post here you are assumed to be 18 (under my theory) and the first time anyone says, “but I’m only 16” … insta-ban … even if the guy is really 43. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/13 "2010-02-18T21:54:41Z")
Yeah, but what if he says he’s 43… dog years? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/14 "2010-02-18T22:02:55Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Why not just make the age required to post 18. That way if anyone claims to be a minor … off he goes. Maybe because there are already good posters here that are under 18? Maybe because saying you have to be 18 will make people think this is a porn site? Maybe because our stated goal–fighting ignorance–applies even more heavily to children? It just looks like we’re searching for a problem. The AT situation was unique: he specifically did what he did because he believed Curtis was 13. The stuff with a “recently banned poster” had absolutely nothing to do with the age of people on the board. It does seem like our provision for children relied on the pay-to-post model, so that does need to be updated. But I don’t think anything about a credit card is the answer. Just have a look at other web sites. The one from Youtube looks nice: > [@](#): > > You affirm that you are either more than 18 years of age, or an emancipated minor, or possess legal parental or guardian consent, and are fully able and competent to enter into the terms, conditions, obligations, affirmations, representations, and warranties set forth in these Terms of Service, and to abide by and comply with these Terms of Service. In any case, you affirm that you are over the age of 13, as the YouTube Website is not intended for children under 13. If you are under 13 years of age, then please do not use the YouTube Website. There are lots of other great web sites for you. Talk to your parents about what sites are appropriate for you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/15 "2010-02-18T22:08:30Z")
> [@Angry Lurker](#): > > Yeah, but what if he says he’s 43… dog years? Then you say hello to Ralph Von Wau Wau and ask him how Jake and the rest of the gang are doing. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/16 "2010-02-18T22:29:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > . . . > > It just looks like we’re searching for a problem. The AT situation was unique: he specifically did what he did because he believed Curtis was 13. The stuff with a “recently banned poster” had absolutely nothing to do with the age of people on the board. . . . Do you remember an instance of other members’ posts being deleted? I don’t (socks and spams excepted). This, AFAIK, is the only _blatant_ example of a minor being treated differently than adults on this board. I’m merely stating that if it appears that minors are going to be treated differently than adult posters, it will invite a new style of trollery. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/17 "2010-02-19T00:55:37Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > By showing special treatment to minors, SDMB encourages trolling as minors. I submit that a simple solution would be to require minors to provide parental consent. I personally think the consent should be moderately strong, i.e. a valid credit card. How does having a credit card number prove that you’re an adult? Aren’t gift cards (e.g. Visa gift cards) treated the same as credit cards when used to purchase items? And as far as I know there are no age limits to gift cards. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/18 "2010-02-19T01:45:10Z")
> [@fervour](#): > > Do you remember an instance of other members’ posts being deleted? I don’t (socks and spams excepted). This, AFAIK, is the only _blatant_ example of a minor being treated differently than adults on this board. I’m merely stating that if it appears that minors are going to be treated differently than adult posters, it will invite a new style of trollery. I think I misunderstood who you were talking about, then. And since the posts have been deleted, I have no way of knowing if there was really a reason to delete them. But you mention personal information, which I’m pretty sure has been deleted by request before. I also know that posts from mentally ill people have been deleted, for their own protection. As have posts that could cause legal trouble, again only by special request from that poster. And I really don’t see a troll problem. The AT situation being unique, the only other thing we have is a poster being able to get their posts deleted, right? What good would that do a troll? A troll wants to be seen and heard. In fact, if I thought we were having a really big trolling problem, I’d support disappearing troll posts and the responses to them, effectively forcing DNFTT as policy. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/19 "2010-02-19T01:58:59Z")
Personal information has been deleted in the past, with comments added that they shouldn’t post that information. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-consent-for-minors-to-post/529492/20 "2010-02-19T05:08:44Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > How does having a credit card number prove that you’re an adult? Aren’t gift cards (e.g. Visa gift cards) treated the same as credit cards when used to purchase items? And as far as I know there are no age limits to gift cards. I’ve never posited that a credit card number would be verification of age/parental consent. Nevertheless, I do think it’s a moderately strong indicator. > [@BigT](#): > > I think I misunderstood who you were talking about, then. And since the posts have been deleted, I have no way of knowing if there was really a reason to delete them. But you mention personal information, which I’m pretty sure has been deleted by request before. . . . > [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Personal information has been deleted in the past, with comments added that they shouldn’t post that information. I’ll take your word on it. There are a lot of posts on this board and I certainly haven’t read them all. I believe you when you say that personal information has been deleted in the past. My main beef was with what I perceived to be different treatment. Reasonably objective posters have indicated that the treatment is not unique. I’m satisfied (not that that matters). As Quartz pointed out earlier, special treatment of minors is common anyway for their protection. That being the case, It still might be beneficial to obtain parental consent for minor participation as was originally intended in the rule referenced by TubaDiva.