Under age users

Woodpecker said:

Hi Ian

I knew that I had seen something that made me think the rules had changed.

This is the Application form for Registering to join our Community

Note the question:  "Are you 16 years of age or older" and below it the sentence: "The safety of children is paramount to the RSPB. To ensure this, you must be over 16 to use this community."

So unfortunately it seems like there is a discrepancy between the rules you pointed to and the application form that the 16 year old user would have been completing at the time

Hello Folks,

Re: the inconsistency between our t&c's and the sign up questions
Please accept our most sincere apologies for this and for any upset/confusion caused, there appears to be a glitch in the software that we need to look into and rectify. We do wholly understand it’s a hard line to take, but the safety of children is paramount. Whilst we have no problem with them reading forum posts, we cannot allow them to participate at this time.

Claire

Unknown said:

Contributions featuring children under 18 can only be accepted if you are the parent or guardian; by accepting these terms and conditions you warrant that you are the parent or guardian and that you grant permission for the contribution to be treated according to the uses set out above.

so i assume anyone under 18 can contribute if on parents account

alan

I may be wrong, but I assumed that particular condition refers to photographs and text contributions made by adults about children, rather than contributions made by the children themselves.

Jennifer T said:

there appears to be a glitch in the software that we need to look into and rectify.

glitch in the software? more like user error... non? :)

kerry g said:

I am defeating what object Ray?

 Sorry Guy

     The system is beating the object not you

        Ray

In Scotland in the eyes of the Law at aged 16 you are and ADULT !

A 16 year old can get Married, so it is quite likely that you would have a 16 year old who has a child and is therefor a parent, but cannot post in the RSPB Forum !

I feel that the 18 age limit is a bit much given the foregoing circumstances.

However,I support 1 million percent the RSPB in their stance of non participation by children on this forum.

Having worked in Child Protection, I know for a FACT, however distressing that fact may be to you all, that Child Abusers are pervasive throughout  ALL levels of our society right up to the very Highest Echelons.

Child Abusers trawl all aspects of cyberspace looking for forums and other chat mediums that attract Children.

The very fact that the RSPB have taken this stance  means that this forum is LESS likely to attract such people

here, not  impossible mind you, but less likely.

Far better that children learn about Wildlife from their parents in safety, than put them at risk from child abusers on the Internet, you have no idea the deviousness of these people and the lengths they can go to  gain a child's and ofttimes a parents trust to achieve their goal.

I lost count of the number of  sensible careful parents I have spoken to who have been fooled by such individuals with devastating results!

RSPB you have my complete support on this one

Unknown said:

In Scotland in the eyes of the Law at aged 16 you are and ADULT !

A 16 year old can get Married, so it is quite likely that you would have a 16 year old who has a child and is therefor a parent, but cannot post in the RSPB Forum !

I feel that the 18 age limit is a bit much given the foregoing circumstances.

However,I support 1 million percent the RSPB in their stance of non participation by children on this forum.

Having worked in Child Protection, I know for a FACT, however distressing that fact may be to you all, that Child Abusers are pervasive throughout  ALL levels of our society right up to the very Highest Echelons.

Child Abusers trawl all aspects of cyberspace looking for forums and other chat mediums that attract Children.

The very fact that the RSPB have taken this stance  means that this forum is LESS likely to attract such people

here, not  impossible mind you, but less likely.

Far better that children learn about Wildlife from their parents in safety, than put them at risk from child abusers on the Internet, you have no idea the deviousness of these people and the lengths they can go to  gain a child's and ofttimes a parents trust to achieve their goal.

I lost count of the number of  sensible careful parents I have spoken to who have been fooled by such individuals with devastating results!

RSPB you have my complete support on this one

 

 

Well said, Borderslass.  Just one more point, in Scotland the parental responsibility to provide appropriate guidance to a child remains until the age of 18yrs,

This seems to have got more and more complicated and all to do with children??? not reaching maturity until 18,as someone who started work full time at 15 it seems really strange,perhaps even they could join the forum and go to Afghanistan on the same day.

Think we should find a way to either lower the age from 18 or find other ways of them taking part as mostly parents would know that they were taking part,after all most would not abuse their position as they could be removed from the forum which must act as a control in itself.At the moment seems that we are encouraging young people to lie about there age so they can join.

Acknowledge it is difficult for RSPB.  

Woodpecker said:

I'm surprised this has turned into such a heated debate when there is actually nothing to debate about.

The RSPB rules here and if they have decided on the minimum age of 18 (or 16 depending on what document they change) then that's their decision and we all have to respect it.

It's their forum and they have decided they aren't allowing children in it. Fair enough.

Had not considered it heated just that we are probably putting young people off from becoming future members and it must be unfair that a young member of RSPB cannot participate on forum after paying sub while older person non RSPB member can join forum.

At the very least in my book that is very unfair and think lots of us are not heated just suggesting the rules which are not clear and are unworkable anyway are looked at.  

Hi Chris

Well said.

It is strange that there is always a difference in children's ages between Scotland and England.  It would be so much easier if one age applied to all of the UK in many aspects of life.

It must put the RSPB in a quandary as to what age is right for children protection.... either up north or down south.

My friend who owns a Forum has made sure he is child friendly, and has gone to great lengths to be sure this is the case.  He is member of a society to back up his case and protect his interests - better for him.

Common sense prevails after all, and as long as parents are sensible that is what counts.  Parents are the ones who know their own children, and some children are more mature than others to be able to use a Forum - treat them as individuals for how they cope with life.

Anyway, I do respect the RSPB Forums plan of action for children as members,  and that it remains so now and in the future.

Regards

Kathy and Dave