34 replies to this topic

[Nathaniel]

I can't believe I didn't notice that MD existed until just yesterday. Wow. Not that it matters for me either way.

My status gives me no right to comment about it, but I'll just say that I'm not sure that I exactly understand why it's necessary. Since the rules are apparently the same as the rest of the boards, it's not like discussing cigars or the stock market or whatever is going to traumatize younger members, and most juvenile members are not going to be interested in the said discussions anyway. That's the way it's always been. This just strikes me as an incredibly strange thing for a forum to do, though I feel the exact same way about OtBP. I suppose it's because PureZC is not a very traditional forum. I was under the impression that the staff wanted to decrease the focus on general discussion and refocus on Zelda Classic however.

I guess it's just one of those things where you have to be older to truly understand where we are coming from on this. You are at a much different part of your life now than you will be when you become an adult. People change a lot as they get older, in more ways than you might imagine at face value, and even in some ways that you might not wish for.

This brings up another thought. GM could have worked. It was only because a few members, including myself, who were acting irrational and immature that it was axed after two days. If it was a sign up forum, like the debate room, it might, just might work.

No, I can't ever see GM (General Malcontent) working under any sort of special conditions. PureZC was never ready for such a thing, and I don't think it ever will be. Think about it: It turned the community completely upside down in just two days. Nothing else has ever had anything close to such a negative impact here. It brings out the worst beast in all of us who get involved, and most, including adults too, can't handle that.

I'm not asking to get into Mature discussion prematurely, because I really have no interest, but I do think that the age regulation is a bit absurd when practically half the moderating team only turned 18 less than a year ago.

Some of our mods turning 18 less than a year ago was just a coincidence, so I understand why you are getting that impression. What really happened was that Radien proposed the idea back in June, as it went under a lot of discussion before it would ever be launched (unlike GM, which was sprung onto us so quickly). You know that he is well over that age of 18, much like I am. He wanted to have a place to discuss stuff that only interested adults, without interruptions from those who were too young to understand well or had a perspective that simply parroted that of their own parents, for example. So thoughts on adult topics would not only be on a level of adult maturity, but they would be independent minded (thus not simply agreeing with someone older than you that you look up to).

[Siguy]

I've just become used to the internet as a place where everyone has more or less equal access, regardless of age. I've not felt this young in years.

[Radien]

Nathaniel touched on a lot of things that I might have said, so I'll keep my response short.

I was under the impression that the staff wanted to decrease the focus on general discussion and refocus on Zelda Classic however.

In general we do, but part of running the forums is shifting things around now and then to try to best suit the current audience. You'll notice that we occasionally shut down subforums that aren't getting enough use, for instance, or in rare cases we shut down ones that are causing problems.

For that matter, I might point out that General Discussion is almost always the busiest subforum on any message board, regardless of the topic of the website. We don't want the ZC discussion to dwindle, but as long as it doesn't, it's okay if there's a lot of "general" discussion.

I'm not asking to get into Mature discussion prematurely, because I really have no interest, but I do think that the age regulation is a bit absurd when practically half the moderating team only turned 18 less than a year ago.

Age 18 is simply the best dividing line available, since it has legal significance in many countries. Age restrictions are imperfect, but there isn't really any other way to do it that feels fair.

As for moderators under 18, this actually came up in a staff discussion. Note that unlike the Debate Forum, moderators don't get instant access to MD. They have to sign up just like everybody else. If any of them were under 18, in theory I'd have to turn them down. I will admit I'm glad this isn't something we have to worry about at the moment.

Either way, though, it's not a *legal* issue... just a judgment call.

[Koopa]

.. or had a perspective that simply parroted that of their own parents, for example. So thoughts on adult topics would not only be on a level of adult maturity, but they would be independent minded (thus not simply agreeing with someone older than you that you look up to).

Although I must mention it's not a legal obligation for anyone that turns 18 to henceforth disagree with their parents on everything.

I've just become used to the internet as a place where everyone has more or less equal access, regardless of age. I've not felt this young in years.

You haven't seen all that much of the internet, but then the parts that you haven't seen are the ones not really worth seeing. But don't worry, siguy: Most of the adults on PureZC have been here for years, joined up before they turned 18 and so have not only years of life-experience but years of PureZC-experience too. You'll get there soon enough.


Anyway. MD is really just another GD, with the very same rules. It's not GM and it's definitely not "the Lounge" (for those who remember, AGN's private porn forum).

[Golden Chocobo]

Excitement. It's like an all inclusive club that GC is qualified for. I enjoy mature discussions with lads over the internet.

That was not said to be taken suggestively by any means.