[RLacey]

I dunno, maybe it's just that I only really took part in discussions on game forums, and the kind where people knowing my age was likely just to illicit at "that's the last time we let you take part in a game"-type comment.

People keep saying that maturity isn't related to age, and let everyone makes maturity judgements on forums based on a (most commonly) two digit figure. The number of times people have said that they didn't realise that I was a child when I told them about my age (when I was a child, obviously) made me question whether that's something that we really ought to do.

Anyway, people want to know ages. And you know mine. So there you go .

Oh, and Dasilva, it's not a case of lying about your age. I can state, quite categorically, that I have never told people on an internet forum that I was an adult when I wasn't. I merely didn't tell them that I was a child, and there's a fundamental difference there.

[AFGNCAAP]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

For me personally, it's a kind of dishonesty if someone who is, say, 15 years old doesn't let me know their age, and so I would go on and talk about things that I feel most comfortable talking with to someone older simply because that older person his/herself may have gone through a similar experience and we understand each other. That 15 year old may not be able to be on the same intellectual and emotional level with me, then, and here I am thinking they're in their 20s or 30s at least. Perhaps they'll learn something, but I'd feel I'm the one who got cheated because I wasn't aware of the chasm in age between us.

It just isn't fair. If you were taking them for twenty-, thirtysomething, either your assumption was ungrounded - and therefore you're the only one to blame - or the person showed during the conversation that they actually *are* on a higher intellectual/emotional level than you'd expect judging them by their biological age.

Of course, in case they downright lied about their age (rather than just hadn't revealed it), I agree you have every right to feel cheated.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by AFGNCAAP

It just isn't fair. If you were taking them for twenty-, thirtysomething, either your assumption was ungrounded - and therefore you're the only one to blame - or the person showed during the conversation that they actually *are* on a higher intellectual/emotional level than you'd expect judging them by their biological age.

How would that 15-year-old even know if I or anyone would perceive him differently, if he never revealed his true age? He would have then presumed that I would be ageist, therefore he'll hide his age and I would go on conversing with him as if he were older and more experienced. In that sense he could be seen as being manipulative, expecting certain associations from me and others precisely because he kept a significant type of information from me. So in a way it's still a kind of dishonesty, to him and to me.

[AFGNCAAP]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

How would that 15-year-old even know if I or anyone would perceive him differently, if he never revealed his true age?

By seeing how others, who had revealed their age, are treated.

He would have then presumed that I would be ageist, therefore he'll hide his age and I would go on conversing with him as if he were older and more experienced. In that sense he could be seen as being manipulative, expecting certain associations from me and others precisely because he kept a significant type of information from me. So in a way it's still a kind of dishonesty, to him and to me.

See, my point is: where did these expectations come from - and are they justified? Okay, in certain circumstances they are understandable: a person registering on Polish-speaking forums could be expected to be Polish, someone joining feminist forum should be prepared to be addressed as a woman unless he says he isn't, etc., etc., etc. But why a member of a gaming-related board should be, by default, perceived as an older, experienced person?

[fov]

Why stop at age, gender, and country of origin? Why not require a disclosure of race, religion, and sexual orientation while we're at it? I'm sure there are people out there who'd like know before they respond if someone is black, or Muslim, or gay, because it would change the nature of their response...

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Doesn't matter, fov. If someone wants to find out more about you, they WILL find out one way or another. That's the byproduct of the information age.

[simpson_yellow]

Originally Posted by Thrift Store Scott

I will address the oversight in my profile immediately.

What?! That's where you're from?

*adds Scott to ignore list*

[Wormsie]

Originally Posted by Thrift Store Scott

I like to know someone's country of origin because I try to respond more simply and directly to people whose primary language isn't English, at least until I have some idea how good their command of English is. My everday speech is rife with euphemisms, and as anyone who has tried to learn another language will tell you, euphemisms rarely make their intended point once translated.

That's really not necessary at all, as understanding what is being said is different from translating. When I'm reading these pages I'm not doing any conscious translating at all! I'm thinking in English only. Of course, that might be because I've been taught English for many years, but really, English isn't that hard as you make it sound. Everybody speaks it these days.

Sure, there are misunderstandings, but if you are never challenged or presented with information you don't already know, you would still be at the level of a one-year-old.

[Wormsie]

Originally Posted by artwking4

When I first started reading these forums, I was under the impression that Trep and Wormsie were brother and sister. But I think I was wildly misreading/glazing over some of their posts... And Worms's avatar threw me off, too. I think it was a female comic character that looked like one of Jhonen Vasquez' creations from Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Eh... or something like that.

It was the genderly ambiguous beatnik from Captain August.

[Dasilva]

Originally Posted by fov

Why stop at age, gender, and country of origin? Why not require a disclosure of race, religion, and sexual orientation while we're at it? I'm sure there are people out there who'd like know before they respond if someone is black, or Muslim, or gay, because it would change the nature of their response...

Why not? There aren't any racists, genderists, or religious haters on this forum so why should people be afraid? Even if there were they would get banned. I'd love to know all about the person I talk to other than the chrismisie avatar I see.

[AGA]

You could just, ya know, ASK THEM? Until you've got a reason to get to know someone intimately, there's no real need to know anything about them. Plus people don't necessarily want to tell you anything about themselves publicly. For a rather obvious instance, if Trep didn't want us to know he was gay, he wouldn't be so open (and dare I say it, flamboyant ) about it.

The stuff people want you to know will become clear if and when they want it to. I for one don't really care if people know my age, location or gender, and that info is publically viewable in my profile...

[Ledgerat]

I agree with a security risk issue more so than the issue of not being respected because of not revealing age or race or country of origin. I myself would prefer the site to maybe just ask the month of birth and if needed an age range like they do on online surveys, etc.

But I'm new here to this here forum, so be completely and totally honest:

I am 5 years old, 6'7" tall, and am blue. (well, blue-ish green...the green is from my mom's side)

Just making a point, that games are fun, these boards seem to be fun even when the debates get heated. I may make some gaming friends on here, I may not. But in all things we strive to be liked and respected for our opinions, humor, and in here our love of games. It may happen that someone talks down to us or changes their behavior to fit what they know or believe us to be and there is nothing we can do about that. So I like how the bios are set up. You can put as little or as much as you are comfortable giving.

Again, I'm new so I've minimized my bio content. When I get more comforatble with the boards and the people, it may get updated...some of it may not (for security reasons). In the long run, I like people to judge me on my posts and ask me if they want to know anything else. Sometimes, its that simple.

[Sage]

So your Mom is originally from Greenville, then?

[rtrooney]

Originally Posted by fov

I feel like if people want to disclose this type of information, great, they should go ahead and disclose it. But if they don't, that's their choice.

I'm one of the few who post an actual photo, as opposed to an avatar. When someone reads "Codger" as opposed to "Senior Member", they look at the picture and know what the former means. I am older than 90% of forum participants.

That said, I've also deleted year of birth from my profile. I just wasn't aware that this info would put me at risk. Got to be more careful.

[Dasilva]

Gee, thanks guys. Now you're making us paranoid.

Did that smilie just look at my date of birth? Die Smilie! DIE!



Dying Smilie

[Ledgerat]

Originally Posted by Thrift Store Scott

So your Mom is originally from Greenville, then?

Took me a second to figure his one out. I guess I am slow today.
but alas, no she is not from Greenville. I am a Yankee transplant.

Yea, You can can get lots of info if you no where to look with just a birthdate and a city/state. THen ask a few question of a person and narrow it down. Heck its almost like an adventure game if you're bored or criminally inclined. Sad.

THe worst I ever did to a person growing up was sign this guy up for a whole bunch of junk mail....toupee suppliers, Vickie's Secret, etc. I guess karma has paid me back tenfold if you look at the junk in my inbox.

[Ledgerat]

Originally Posted by Dasilva

Gee, thanks guys. Now you're making us paranoid.

Dasilva,
that clock over your right shoulder is running a few minutes fast....oh and it looks like your dog needs to go outside.

[Sage]

Originally Posted by Ledgerat

Alas, no my Mom is not from Greenville. I am a Yankee transplant.

Oh well. It's still nice to see someone else from the Southeast, even if you weren't born and raised here. Ledgerat, meet Fairygdmther and Artwking4. Y'all, this is Ledgerat. He's one of us.

[Kwiksnax]

Posting your age helps me out because when I read some of the stupid drivel people post on forums I like to know whether it's because the poster is young or because they are retarded...

[Dasilva]

I think we should have a setting in our profile to say we if look at pr0n or not. That'll be a great way for people to get to know each other...