Children in an adult gun site?

[Impureclient]

I'm just curious as what opinions are about children being in this site? This site may be a "family" site but I assumed that meant to keep the language clean and so forth in case they wander on or are looking over our shoulder when we peruse in here. There is a lot information on here and some of it is not G rated. Definitely not proper for a young one depending on how you raise your kids. My son is 11 and shoots with me but, if he ever came on this site looking for a SHTF gun and didn't come to me for that kind of heavy question I'd be worried. I understand that not all kids are on the same intelligence level and some are much more mature than others.

I really don't want to hear about those one or two kids that are capable of handling adult situations. I'm more curious as to whether we should be allowing the other 99% of them chime in here while quite possibly their parents have no idea what they are being told by other adults. Now I'm sure a lot of people are going to say it's up to their parents to watch what they do. If that is the case then why do we have moderators? To watch over us right? Even though you yourself may buy your child guns, with your money and not the child's of course as that would be a straw purchase, aren't we assuming too much?

Off the subject a little but, some people should also be more careful what they type on here concerning straw purchases as anybody can see what they plan on doing...hint, hint.

How do we know a child on here has his/her parents permission to be conversing with adults about tools used to kill? Now I already know that they also may be interested in hunting or competition but, as far as I know they need to have an adult buy their gun and I would imagine that more than likely that adult would be the one that the child is shooting with. So if that child had questions that are gun related shouldn't that child go to that adult and find an answer? Then if the adult couldn't come up with an answer for that child, then he has with a couple clicks of a mouse, twelve thousand other adults to talk to about it on here.

I'm trying to be as vague as possible here without pointing any fingers. I'm just trying to look at this site as an outsider. As an "Anti" if you will. Would giving children a place to collect information as if they were an adult, about tools that kill, go over with any of them. We all know how they twist things until white means black and forward is backwards.

I don't know why I'm getting my panties in such a knot here but, I have a sick feeling in my stomach that we should play this one safer.

I hope I didn't stray too much out of what is considered off topic. This is gun related, in the general gun discussions forum and is aimed at everybody, not just moderators, so it didn't seem fit to put it under technical support.

 

[HoosierQ]

Wow. I am not sure how a kid learning how to clean a gun, hit a target, sharpen a knife, or refinish a stock would be inappropriate. I mean if your family are anti-gun all together then I guess that'd be your choice. Otherwise, I am think a kid wants to know what the best bolt action Milsurp is, well, why shouldn't he find out? He can't buy one and would, according to a lot of laws here and there, have to have some level of supervision to fire one.

Plus...have you see video games lately for crying out loud!!!

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

I think SHTF fantasies, yes they are fantasies and nothing more, are useless and a waste of space here on THR. It sounds dumb when adults discuss them and it's scary when children do. I don't think children should be able to discuss that on here, or anyone else. IMO any thread about SHTF, EOTWAWKI, Zombie Apocalypse, should just be auto delete.

Now if a kid wants to ask what kind of shotgun for turkey hunting? Most accurate rifle? Best caliber for hogs? Go right ahead.

 

[jakemccoy]

If there is any kid that wants to hang out at THR, that's a good thing! If the kid is interested in guns, then the kid is going to be hanging out at a site somewhere on the Internet. That site should be THR because the moderators make sure the atmosphere here is civil and family-oriented.

You may think that not allowing kids at THR is a good thing for the kid. That's wrong! That rejected kid would just go over to a site like Glocktalk, where all the other kids and mall ninjas hang out. That's doing a disservice to the kid. Go hang out at some of these other sites to see what I mean.

THR is perhaps the most boring gun site on the Internet, and I mean that in a good way. I am a member at 9 gun sites. THR is by far the most civilized, thereby making it the most boring. In fact, I recently had to quit one gun site because it was too exciting, and that's exciting in a bad way.

Regardless, there's no reliable way to monitor the situation. A fifteen-year-old kid who wants to hang out at THR could easily put in an older age.

 

[hmphargh]

What if a child is interested in firearms and while his (or her) parents approve and supervise at a level that they feel is appropriate, don't have much knowledge? Should they not be allowed to do research and ask questions?

This site does not offer advice on how to illegally purchase firearms or directions to build a zip gun (though I am sure there are many such sites that exist). This site is a community, and while I know there is a stigma involved with the expression, it takes a village to raise a child. Why should the knowledge of the many intelligent and experienced people on this site not be offered and shared with anyone, regardless of age.

Surely it is better than looking up how to make a pipe bomb out of plumbing fittings or explosives out of guano.

 

[John828]

Hoosier, Impureclient is no troll.

As for the topic, it would be almost impossible to keep children off the site. If a kid is up to no good, he or she will find information from somewhere, so where do you draw the line on access of information?

Should we use discretion? Always. Can a kid ask questions? Surely. Do you have to answer? Nope.

 

[Prince Yamato]

THR not family friendly? Are you kidding me?

 

[black_powder_Rob]

+1 for the Dark Knight, i agree.

 

[HardShell]

This site has been around a while -- I'm still very new here and don't think my opinion on this particular subject would have much validity.

However, based upon what I've seen in that short time and some of the "old-timers" I know who are active here...

... If there is any kid that wants to hang out at THR, that's a good thing! If the kid is interested in guns, then the kid is going to be hanging out at a site somewhere on the Internet. That site should be THR because the moderators make sure the atmosphere here is civil and family-oriented...

... I'd have to agree with that assessment.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm just wondering where else this was posted, as it is an obvious cut-and-paste job.

I agree that some posters are a bit indiscreet.

Do I need to point out that this is the internet? Like in, "Open to all"?

Parents are the only effective net filter.

 

[oneounceload]

Impure -

IF you're THAT worried about what your kid might actually learn from here, how do you feel about the outright lies and propaganda he/she learns in public school, from the mainstream media and from the local library?

At least here your child will see discussion and debate in action - folks who disagree amicably and voice opinions that lead to further open discourse - unlike the current administration's view on folks who disagree about health care.

I would rather my kids learn facts and honest debate here than watch the current tripe being spouted as news on TV

Then again, YMMV

 

[bottom shelf]

I'd rather have them learning from the folks here than their friends at school, or even some gun shops.

 

[Impureclient]

Sorry theotherwaldo, straight from my gray mush.

 

[Justin]

I am calling Troll here...sorry.

If you think someone is deliberately trolling, then you need to bring it to the attention of the staff. If it's not worth bringing to our attention, then please refrain from using the term as way to insult people you disagree with.

Thanks.

 

[General Geoff]

How do we know a child on here has his/her parents permission to be conversing with adults about tools used to kill?

A better question to ask first would be, "How do we know there aren't plenty of children on here posing as adults?"

Because people like the OP would be reluctant to discuss "adult things" with children, they are more likely to just post as if they were adults. The only reason one would even think a poster is a child, is if they flat out say so.

Message boards like this should cater to those seeking information based on (perceived) maturity, not physical age. We don't cater to people who start zombie/apocalypse fantasy threads, and these are often started by full grown men. If a child comes on and posts a question about the ergonomics or reliability of a rifle, there's no reason not to answer that child in a mature fashion. Don't just tell them they're too young to worry about such things.

 

[kd7nqb]

Nothing on this site cant be seen on TV or heard on the radio. If I had small children I would encourage them to hang out on THR.

 

[waterhouse]

How do we know a child on here has his/her parents permission to be conversing with adults about tools used to kill?

Because his parents allowed him to use a computer with internet access?

My son is 11 and shoots with me but, if he ever came on this site looking for a SHTF gun and didn't come to me for that kind of heavy question I'd be worried.

You'd be worried about what your 11 year old may find on the internet? You should be. That just sounds like good parenting to me.

Now I'm sure a lot of people are going to say it's up to their parents
to watch what they do. If that is the case then why do we have moderators?

We have moderators to enforce the rules of the site. The job of the moderators is not to babysit anyone's children. That is a job for the parents and, well, babysitters.

Now I already know that they also may be interested in
hunting or competition but, as far as I know they need to have an adult buy their gun and I would imagine that more than likely that adult would be the one that the child is shooting with. So if that child had questions that are gun related shouldn't that child go to that adult and find an answer? Then if the adult couldn't come up with an answer for that child, then he has with a couple clicks of a mouse, twelve thousand other adults to talk to about it on here.

My dad owned 1 shotgun and a .22 rifle, and shot a lot of different guns in the army, but he wasn't any sort of firearms expert. He taught me a lot about shooting and gun safety. When I had a question he didn't know the answer to, be it about guns or the infield fly rule, (this was back before the internet) he generally encouraged me to look up the answer or try and find someone who did know the answer. I'd often have to do things like go to the library and talk to adults face to face, or call up Marlin's customer service and ask an adult a question on the phone.

You suggest that if a child has a gun question they should go to an adult to find an answer. Enterprising young gun enthusiast who come to this site asking gun questions are doing exactly that.

Most gun forums allow large amounts of profanity, some allow pornographic avatars. Compared to many gun forums THR really lives up to its name.

 

[Impureclient]

Just a friendly reminder attack the argument not the arguer.....

 

[rbernie]

The content that we create here on THR is intended to be factual and has a primary responsibility to the truth. It's up to the reader, on the other hand, to determine how to use that content.

It is the job of every parent to make sure that they know what their children are doing, and monitor their internet use.

It is not my job, nor anybody else's, to protect Little Suzie or Wee Johnny from internet content - it's the job of the parent to create and enforce those values. Parents must be primarily responsible for their kids, and the abdication of that responsibility is often cited as a precursor to many, many social ills (most of which, I will remind y'all, are not on topic for THR).

If I decide that my 14 year old is capable of grokking the content of THR - then I'll let him read it. If not, then I'll block the site. But I'd never ask any web site to censor its data in fear that my child might be exposed to it and not be ready to handle it...... (And yes - we've had this very issue rear its ugly head in my household.)

Just a friendly reminder attack the argument not the arguer.....

Absolutely.

 

[9mmepiphany]

if he ever came on this site looking for a SHTF gun and didn't come to me for that
kind of heavy question I'd be worried. I understand that not all kids are on the same intelligence level and some are much more mature than others.

i might be reading this wrong, but are you saying that he isn't mature enough to understand the responses or that only you are qualified to answer his questions?

a SHTF gun might be heavy (actually it shouldn't be) but i would not classify information about it as such

 

[theotherwaldo]

Sorry, Impureclient, when I see text blocks with included and aligned hard returns my teacher instincts say "cut-and-paste".

Nothing against you. It is your duty to be suspicious of anything that may influence your child.

 

[shdwfx]

I'm more curious as to whether we should be allowing the other 99%
of them chime in here...

I'm more curious as to how you propose THR could prevent "children" from accessing the site? Since no solution is technically or morally viable, your question is moot.

In my opinion, 99.9% of the material on THR is perfectly suitable for all children able to comprehend the content. The other 0.1% is usually modded away quickly. Regardless, parents are responsible for policing their children's internet access.

 

[HardShell]

Sorry, Impureclient, when I see text blocks with included and aligned hard returns my teacher instincts say "cut-and-paste"...

He likely typed it elsewhere and then pasted it here -- I have done just that on other sites when typing something lengthy enough to want to proofread/spellcheck/edit extensively before actually posting publicly. (Although, admittedly, I always go back and fix the hard returns and such.)

Just a thought...

 

[TimM]

IMO any thread about SHTF, EOTWAWKI, Zombie Apocalypse, should just be auto delete.

I find this statement very funny coming from someone with the screen name THE DARK KNIGHT. Could just be me though.

 

[Impureclient]

My son is mature enough to stay home alone with guns and ammo with easy access to them if the situation warranted it.
If he went to strangers asking what self defense program and the tools needed in my own home I'd be worried if he didn't
come to me. I'm definitely not anti and don't want my son raised such. I just think that some subject matter shouldn't be
discussed outside the home, especially SHTF scenarios with children.

As to all the inquiries about my composition. I just type it all out in the little message box, getting my thought all out and
then try to make it easier to read by making paragraphs out of it and separating them. Making sure it doesn't go to far to
the right also helps for people with little monitors so they don't have to side scroll.