Should teenagers bait?

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Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:02 pm

Being a teenager, i thought it'd be interesting to have a discussion and hear your thoughts on whether teenagers like me should be baiting.

-Should there be an age limit? Yet still allowing say over 13's?
-Are you happy with any restrictions on age? Why?
-If you have children, would you allow them to bait?
Or generally anything else you'd like to say, or any points you'd like to make.

Cheers, and looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:06 pm

Most important issue in my mind: are parents aware? Are they involved in the "hobby" of baiting? Do they approve?

Bruin

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:09 pm

Thats a good point.
In my case, my parents are aware, my dad being quite the tech wizz knows im safe, and doesnt see much of a problem.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:32 pm

Is it legal for you to receive/view todger pics from scammers would be my first question.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:43 pm

my main concern would be security. A lot of younger folks I've met have been pretty cocksure about security and a lot have made mistakes. The number of email accounts I hear about being "hacked" is silly. I suspect they were phished or simply guessed. Not good. You need to be pretty careful and sure about what you're doing. Never forget you're talking to a criminal who could have all sorts of connections outside his own area.

Elite Baiter Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 1702

Teenagers should not bait no.

First we deal with criminals - and I cant tell you not to bait, you wouldnt listen to me anyway, but who in there right mind would would want you in contact with criminals?

Secondly what gets posted your far better off not knowing, you probably already know it, but for now its inappropriate.

Thirdly the mods and admin would not want you to be put at any risk of any kind whatsoever.

Thats my thoughts, baiters should be a min of 16 but 18 is more realistic (18 is teenager too)

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:17 pm

As long as you tidy your room, do your homework and wash behind your ears before you login to Eater, I don't have a problem.

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:25 pm

Olly: Are you admitting to being the "youngest" member on Eater? Shocked

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 11:25 pm

Quote:

Thirdly the mods and admin would not want you to be put at any risk of any kind whatsoever.

I think this goes for every Eater member and Baiter for that matter. Laughing

I believe the rule is you have to be 13 or over. So yes teenagers can bait.

Should they? I think so assuming their parents approve and they have the maturity to bait safely.

Teenagers now days are exposed to much more these days than they were when I was a teenager before the Internet was around. I honestly do not think they would be exposed to anything new here regarding graphic material.

So then it just comes down to safety and a teenager who follows the safe baiting guidelines here is just as safe as an adult member.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 12:09 am

Now if you vote for no baiting, at what age would it be possible to bait then ? (isn't that different for everybody?)
And would you rather have them bait and not tell about it, cause that's the trend with my grand kids or have them with a mentor take the first steps so you have the time to explain something.

If you vote yes, you give them an experienced public that can help and advice. And if you let them bait you have more people knowing what a scam is and how to prevent it, I think they should teach it in school Laughing

As for me, who the hell am I that I can make those decisions for other peoples kids, where did I earn the right to do so.

As a site you have no control what so ever about your users, you can just prevent that they write about it here.
Smarter ones have already learned what subjects to avoid while typing in the eater forums.

Just my $0.02

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:17 am

+1 about teaching in school. IT is so rampant out there as it is. Why not educate.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:46 am

Wow--This is definitely a difficult question.

It's hard for me to answer because I have a 12-year-old niece who knows what I do (I sometimes burn my calls to CDs and share with family and friends at gatherings). They (and she) think it's all fun and game, and I try to explain it's a bit more complicated than that Wink

My concern is that some baiters treat it just like a game, and don't realize it's more than that. And aren't careful. I'd worry about kids doing this and think it's only a game.

It is a game--I admit that---but there is a goal. Kids won't think of that, or see the bigger picture. And I worry about carelessness.

This is hard. I know 10 year old kids smarter than some adults, but I just have a gut feeling that kids or teenagers should not be baiting. Though I realize there is no way to enforce it, I'd say a cutoff age of 16. But that's only if it were possible.

It's not just fun and games! There is danger involved, and although tweens and teens are very smart with technology, baiting is different.

I also worry about the legal issues, as well. The last thing we need it letting kids in here to bait. It's dangerous.

So far as parent approval--how can Eater check that or enforce?

I think this a can of worms we are not ready to address yet.

I hope a mod or admin steps in so far as whether we should continue this discussion.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:37 am

Quote:

So far as parent approval--how can Eater check that or enforce?

Not, we fake any document or phone call and kids are even better at it Smile

It's not an eater problem, the kid and the parents are responsible. There are more sites with "not Fit" contents and if.. they will if we know about it or not.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:43 am

I disagree--it would be an Eater problem if they knowingly allowed a minor to do what we do.

The parents and kids would not be responsible in my opinion. Eater would be--because it was discussed and possibly allowed.

Don't forget--Eater can get in trouble....

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:03 am

^^I can't seem to find it but I remeber somewhere it is written the minimum age is 13 to be a member of Eater.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 18313

@Bravo: You're thinking of when you register for a forum. There is a question that asks if you're over 13 years old or not. That has to do with U.S. COPPA regulations and gathering/saving info about a child (email address, etc) and not about baiting. Most forums have the same check box/choices when registering.

@Dwatina: The conversation is fine.

Quote:

it would be an Eater problem if they knowingly allowed a minor to do what we do

Why? We use all fake info to write back to scam emails. There isn't any part of it that could be considered contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

I'd hope that baiters who are still young teens will have permission from their parents but it's not something we check, nor should we, as it's not our role.

I personally think it's fine for teens to bait and everyone, regardless of age, should bait safely.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:25 am

In the end, young baiters and their parents are ultimately responsible for their actions. Personal responsibility. The forums here are only for discussion of the topic and education on safe technique. It is up to an individual to take the leap. Riiiight?

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:35 am

^
Spot on!

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 3:49 am

-We are encouraging them to discuss their activities with their parents. If their parents are doing their job, they will know, because they are monitoring their children's internet activities.
-We are not encouraging teenagers to do anything illegal.
-We are not sending inappropriate messages/images to teenagers, and we are not requesting inappropriate messages/images from teenagers.

The truth is, your average teenager is in much more danger on social networking sites than he/she is on Eater.
-On Eater, they are being taught the basics of online security. On social networking sites, they are being encouraged to share their private information with the world, click on random links, and spam their friends. Facebook, for example, keeps changing their settings, revealing more and more personal information unless the user knows how to go in and change their settings (and understands the need to do so.)
-On Eater, we have established--and adhere to--a set of ethical standards. On social networking sites, anything goes.
-On Eater, the teenager knows he/she is dealing with a criminal, and is taught to take appropriate precautions. On a social networking site, he/she has no idea who his or her friends are, and is much easier prey for thieves and pedophiles.

There are some teenagers who shouldn't be baiting. There are also adults who shouldn't be baiting.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:24 am

^^I agree 100%. On social networking sites a teen or tween can find todger pics (or pretty much anything else, for that matter) for a dime a dozen. Here on Eater when they occur it's within the context of a bait that's following strict guidelines of safety and the collective ethics of this site. As long as OP's parents are in the know, I'm not worried. Besides, if some lad sends todger pics to someone underage, ultimately it's the lad who stands to get in trouble (although we know that will probably never happen).

I think it shows maturity of thought to have posed the questions in the first place. Thumbs up

Olly, PM me with your Fake Site questions anytime you need -- you're doing great! Very Happy

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:31 am

We have seen some teens mature here. We have seen some adults regress here too.

I agree with Dorothy regarding teaching safety on the interwebs. Most teens on social networking sites have no concept about being safe and or smart. Pictures that they put out there are there for life.

Maturity is not a fixed concept. If 13 is too young, is 14 old enough? My hope is that the teens have a good enough relationship with their parents or guardians they can share their baiting activities.

Certainly bait safe. Be on the internet safely.

OTOH having spent a lot of time with teenagers, They already KNOW how to bait. Their parents, their teachers and each other. Learning to bait here is certainly for a good purpose!

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:47 am

Hi Olly, did my repeated nagging about your bedtime and your viewing the todgers get to you? - I was joking, because I figured out long ago that you are a mature person. Very Happy

And like TheFae, I think it's great you asked.

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:58 am

I see everyone's point here and I agree/disagree to a certain line about maturity and the internet webz, I'm not sure anyone answered my question though, is it legal for a minor to be exposed to adult material?

Putting up NSFW is not the same as an age disclaimer, and some baiters do not censor their more risque' trophies, and now that we know he is young, whether it's part of his persona or not, where do the legalities lie?

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:05 am

Well, this topic is really relevant to me, being a teenager myself.
At this very moment, I'm 18, which is the age of maturity here. This means I am already mature, yet I'm still teenager.

When I first joined here, I was 16. For the entire time my parents knew and I assured them that I bait safe - this means I told them I use fake names, my IP is not traceable and there is no danger for me whatsoever.

Personally if you bait safe and make your parents aware, there should be no problem at all.

But the stickies talking about baiting safe are there for everyone, not just for teens so...

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:08 am

bravo95 wrote:

Teenagers now days are exposed to much more these days than they were when I was a teenager before the Internet was around. I honestly do not think they would be exposed to anything new here regarding graphic material.

Back when I was a teen, and my C64 was the closest thing to the Web I had, porn was still abundant, albeit in print rather than digitalized. And a bit of nudity never gave me any nightmares. Bravo is right, today the exposure is much more intense than it was back then, so I don't think a todger pic or two will do any harm. I'm more worried about safety and sensible behaviour. I wouldn't let my own kids (not that I have any) bait until they were 16-17.