Members Age Restrictions, Hidden Threads, and Other Annoucements...

[M]

We have decided to add an age question to our application and have required new registered users to be 18+ to be able to join this website. This wasn't done because of anything that has happened behind the scenes, but it has been something that we have been discussing and debating for a while. We feel that this will be better in the long run, as minors will be unable to register. Here's a simple rundown:

• New members will be required to provide their date of birth and indicate that they are over 18 years of age. We will be updating our Terms of Service to reflect this.
• Current members will be allowed to stay, but those that have indicated that they're under 18 years of age will not be allowed to post in the Partner's Megathread. Punishment for breaking this rule will be severe.

Other announcements:

• We have moved server providers to better protect this website from DDoS attacks. Page load should be must faster. Let a moderator or admin know if you're having issues accessing this site.
• We have a new tag called [Members]. This tag is restricted to staff only for now. This tag will prevent anyone that's not registered from viewing a thread that has the tag. We have already applied this tag to the Picture Megathread and the Partner's Megathread.
• There has been a modified version of the PPH with fake emails going around. I have attempted to track down all mentions of this handbook on the forum, but please contact a moderator if there's a post/thread that still has fake emails in it. There are scammers looking to take people's money, so be careful with who you send money to - even if it seems legitimate.

 

[stellabelle]

Thank you @Marquis for the update and all of your hard work to make the forum better.

 

[crova]

Thank you, @Marquis
Threads where methods of ctb are discussed should be too accessible only for registered users.

 

[TAW122]

Thanks for the announcement Marquis.

 

[JustOverIt]

From all of us here thank you Marquis

 

[Kim]

Thanks for the "only members- threads" It's a very good idea!!

 

[Raggas]

I don't know how I feel about having to require proof, that might put a lot of people off. But I suppose it's better than having young people in when they are still in their formative years.

 

[Roberto]

I think is a very good idea. I would like to give support to teenagers in another way. Teenagers are in a difficult age, with a lot of emotions that change abruptly, and sometimes can lead to ctb when they have chances to overcome the problems. If the problem is depression for instance. Many of us have passed a depression during teenage, and sometimes talking with a therapist we can change the perspective and find hope. and overcome the problem later.

 

[Kdawg2018]

I think 18+ is a good idea, if I found this site at age 14, I wouldn't be typing this rn. Yes, everyone has the choice to ctb, but if you want to ctb because of family life, etc, as a kid or teen, you can't always see that things can change and you can get control over your life as an adult. If you are a teen and your family discredits your request for help, or says that depression is just a phase, please know that you are being neglected for your mental health care, I was, and didn't know it for a long time. Reporting neglect can remove you from your home in some cases, so consider how this would affect you, how bad the abuse/neglect is, because I don't want you to end up in a worse situation. Sometimes having a life change, or therapy, etc, can help on the other hand.

 

[retarddd]

Glad you're responding to the whole scammer email thing that was going around.

 

[Letmego. Please]

Thank you for the rule changes, i feel bad on one hand because i was younger than 16 when i first tried to pop my clogs, but at the same time i would never have asked an 'adult' to help me. And although depression has always played a part in my life, it hasn't always been a negative. Nor do i feel its wrong to want to help a teenager to find a way to live their life till they are better equipped to make the most of what it may have to offer them. I may still be here in this place again at 40+ but i am glad i didn't die pre 16 or that the internet didn't exist to help me.

 

[Arak]

@Marquis ,

´New members will be required to provide their date of birth and indicate that they are over 18 years of age. We will be updating our Terms of Service to reflect this.´ Next thing is requiring a copy of photo ID as proof ...

´hidden threads´ is not a bad idea at all, but personally I´d want to keep all those bots away ... restrict their access anyway. robots.txt

 

[Sixfeetunder]

I think having to be over 18 is a good idea. Although I wish I ctb as a teenager, many people are suicidal as teenagers and get better once they're adults.

 

[sadsoul]

I think you should have to be 100+ to be able to join this website since younger people are still very impressionable and they honestly shouldn't have access to this kind of information. Also their lives can still get better, you know.

Anyway, I think making this forum 18+ is a good first step. Young people should definitely not be allowed to be a part of this wonderful community, they should seek help from a professional instead. I think the mental health system is great and it can provide a lot of support. I just hope that they don't lie about their age and still create an account here, that would be really awful.

Now, some people might say that age restrictions are anti-choice. But this is quite ridiculous; young people are not denied their right to ctb (although they really shouldn't ctb), they are just denied access to information. Without the information on this site they might still attempt to ctb, but it's more likely that they would fail and end up as a vegetable instead of dead. So these age restrictions might actually save lives. And if saving young people's lives sounds bad to you, you're just an asshole.

So yeah, just my two cents on this issue. Thanks to the mods, you're making this forum a better place everyday. I really like the direction we're going in. Keep up the good work :)

 

[Chinaski]

young people are not denied their right to ctb (although they really shouldn't ctb), they are just denied access to information. Without the information on this site they might still attempt to ctb, but it's more likely that they would fail and end up as a vegetable instead of dead.

Literally anybody of any age can read the information on this site, so l don't see the need for chest-beating about the ideological purity of being seen as "pro choice" tbh.

 

[Shananaginns]

We have decided to add an age question to our application and have required new registered users to be 18+ to be able to join this website. This wasn't done because of anything that has happened behind the scenes, but it has been something that we have been discussing and debating for a while. We feel that this will be better in the long run, as minors will be unable to register. Here's a simple rundown:

• New members will be required to provide their date of birth and indicate that they are over 18 years of age. We will be updating our Terms of Service to reflect this.
• Current members will be allowed to stay, but those that have indicated that they're under 18 years of age will not be allowed to post in the Partner's Megathread. Punishment for breaking this rule will be severe.

Other announcements:

• We have moved server providers to better protect this website from DDoS attacks. Page load should be must faster. Let a moderator or admin know if you're having issues accessing this site.
• We have a new tag called [Members]. This tag is restricted to staff only for now. This tag will prevent anyone that's not registered from viewing a thread that has the tag. We have already applied this tag to the Picture Megathread and the Partner's Megathread.
• There has been a modified version of the PPH with fake emails going around. I have attempted to track down all mentions of this handbook on the forum, but please contact a moderator if there's a post/thread that still has fake emails in it. There are scammers looking to take people's money, so be careful with who you send money to - even if it seems legitimate.

Thanks for the update. I totally agree with the age restriction. I don't feel that a minor would fully be able to comprehend how serious this site is, as well as understand its purpose. I appreciate all I'd your hard work and efforts and am so thankful to have been fortunate enough to not only find you, but be accepted into the community. Thanks again!

 

[Sanguinius]

I think you should have to be 100+ to be able to join this website since younger people are still very impressionable and they honestly shouldn't have access to this kind of information. Also their lives can still get better, you know.

Anyway, I think making this forum 18+ is a good first step. Young people should definitely not be allowed to be a part of this wonderful community, they should seek help from a professional instead. I think the mental health system is great and it can provide a lot of support. I just hope that they don't lie about their age and still create an account here, that would be really awful.

Now, some people might say that age restrictions are anti-choice. But this is quite ridiculous; young people are not denied their right to ctb (although they really shouldn't ctb), they are just denied access to information. Without the information on this site they might still attempt to ctb, but it's more likely that they would fail and end up as a vegetable instead of dead. So these age restrictions might actually save lives. And if saving young people's lives sounds bad to you, you're just an asshole.

So yeah, just my two cents on this issue. Thanks to the mods, you're making this forum a better place everyday. I really like the direction we're going in. Keep up the good work :)

Good post!

 

[Irishsteve88]

Lol I am 30 so how on earth are my ment to prove that. Not a chance are my showing or providing a copy of my ID to prove I am 30 pity