RWL and COPPA

calria · December 15, 2003, 02:01:51 PM

Everyone remember the honors paper I did this summer for my government class, where I had that lovely survey I made everyone fill out about what you thought of the COPPA laws?
Well, I'm revising it because I've been invited to present it at the Great Plains Honors Conference in San Antonio, and the National Honors Conference in Indianapolis.

Does anyone have any comments they'd like to make about age-appropriateness at RWL, etc? I would like to write a little more in-depth about the ROC in it, but I really don't have much material to work with from what I got this summer.
Anyway, you'll be quoted as a source at a huge college academic conference... think of the ego boost. :D

windhound · December 15, 2003, 02:16:50 PM

Quoteage-appropriateness at RWL

*ponders*
well, the game and forum are about as safe as you can get, there havnt been any wierdos posting links to baddish internet stuff (ie, porn) and the language has been kept to a fairly G level methinks, there are some topics here not-game related that some younger people wouldnt understand, like Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives and such..
On the game and forum there have been the occasional person to send/post things of questionable content.. but on the internet, esp. in a public place like the ROC, RWL in particular, thats kinda inavoidable..

windy's thoughs on the topic.. hope that helps a tad.. probubly not.. meh..

Ashyra Nightwing · December 15, 2003, 02:17:35 PM

Ego boost? Oooh.. I'll think of something to say..

:P

calria · December 15, 2003, 02:19:56 PM

Quote from: windhound
*ponders*
well, the game and forum are about as safe as you can get, there havnt been any wierdos posting links to baddish internet stuff (ie, porn) and the language has been kept to a fairly G level methinks, there are some topics here not-game related that some younger people wouldnt understand, like Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives and such..
On the game and forum there have been the occasional person to send/post things of questionable content.. but on the internet, esp. in a public place like the ROC, RWL in particular, thats kinda inavoidable..

windy's thoughs on the topic.. hope that helps a tad.. probubly not.. meh..

Actually, I know just the place to paraphrase that last bit and insert it into my text! *dances*

Dixie Ros? · December 15, 2003, 02:26:44 PM

Just call me Dixie.

The COPPA is useless. Really. The thing is, well, it's too easy to dodge. You just put in your age as higher then it really is, and POOF; they're in. I think that the COPPA, being useless, should be removed. It'll save webmasters alot of hassle. And besides, alot of COPPA-protected things are okay for mature kids under 13; it should be up to the parents.

~>John<~ · December 15, 2003, 03:21:07 PM

COPPA is useless. Very, very, very, very useless. *looks at pop-up* I'm sorry, you must be over 13! *changes age* *another pop-up* Welcome to our site!

As for the ROC, or particularly RWL, most are mature, and are able to have good discussions in UMD.

Menatus · December 15, 2003, 04:16:46 PM

I've been going on the internet since I was about eight (and for that comment we will call me Ta?a, the Mexican Assassin...O_o;;) and am still pretty young, though not compared to everyone here. I do think the 13 and over thing is pretty pointless. It should be slightly younger.

calria · December 15, 2003, 04:20:32 PM

I can see it now... me in my suit, with my hair up, talking in my "intelligent" voice...

"According to Ta?a, the Mexican Assasin..."

*coughs* Riiiight...

Burninate · December 15, 2003, 04:23:53 PM

I don't like it because it's a silly law. I mean, if you're going to do something as unfair as the COPPA laws, you might as well make it so you have to follow them.

Seriously, like John already said, you can just change whatever is listed. It's not really so much of a law as a request "Oh yeah... ummm please don't collect sign-ups of people under 13... and kids under 13... ummm please don't sign up for basically every interactive part of the internet."

It's also not really fair, the government shouldn't regulate who can talk to me and who can't... that's my parents and my job.

Menatus · December 15, 2003, 04:24:35 PM

LOL.

It's a joke, calria. My cat, Tybalt, I have this joke where at night he becomes Tybalto: Mexican Cat Assassin.

:unsure: Don't take me seriously.

~>John<~ · December 15, 2003, 05:25:17 PM

*would like to be quoted* As John, who goes to the school with the best debate team in the nation, Shanley High School

calria · December 15, 2003, 05:53:54 PM

Quote from: MenatusLOL.

It's a joke, calria. My cat, Tybalt, I have this joke where at night he becomes Tybalto: Mexican Cat Assassin.

:unsure: Don't take me seriously.

:rolleyes: 1-900-sarcasm-somewhat!!!
*grin* I know not to take ye seriously, madame of the goatees. :D

All of you are giving me excellent quotes! Keep it up! *worships*

Riverpaw · December 15, 2003, 07:24:05 PM

*is too busy to spag too carefully*

Okay, then, quote Ming Pan. Do not call me Riverpaw, or that other annoying nickname I accidentally got attached to with the ROME incident.

Anyways, even if COPPA were perfect in preventing younger children from signing up for stuff, it would still be pointless. What COPPA basically says is that all children of the same age are of the same intelligence and that 12-year-olds are incompetent imbeciles who pose a risk to their families and their own safety. Oh, c'mon! I resent that. I am a "gifted child". I'm not bragging, just letting you know that I have (or could have, at the very least) more common sense that someone who happens to be a year older. (Okay, except I'm thirteen, but just pretend it's March 27, 2003.) I've seen adults giving away their information freely on the internet (and in public places, too) and I have been careful enough as to use encryption on my data. So what? Does that mean that they are automatically more "net-aware", simply because of their age?

TO BE CONTINUED, HOMEWORK COMES FIRST

calria · December 15, 2003, 09:11:57 PM

*copies down*
*does your homework*
Please, continue...
(Ming Pan's your real name? Need that for notation...)

Dilf · December 18, 2003, 05:43:32 PM

i do believe the age thing is there for slight legal reasons?
is that right?
i don't know
of course you can dodge that
in the end, its just a warning..
like pornographic sites HAVE to have a disclaimer

however when people get into forums in general, the topics can be a little harsh, but its all dependant on the community
like here, the rules are SO TIGHT its crazy
i can't even use excessive amounts of emoticons.. (im an emoticon man - i love them)
and the language barriers, yes ok so this is for "G" rating or whatever you americans use
i don't know
lost my train of thought
if it was going anywhere...