Must be 17+ to join

So

Yes	25.5%	[ 35 ]
No	41.6%	[ 57 ]
I don't care	32.8%	[ 45 ]
Total Votes:			[ 137 ]

[Frothy]

I see nothing wrong with the BDSM, pregnancy, and other lifestyle threads. The majority of the ones I've seen have been created with the intent to inform and educate. There is a difference, for example, in teaching someone under 21 what beer is made of, how it's made, where certain ones come from, and in encouraging users to binge drink or descent into alcoholism.

Gaia's mods ultimately use their discretion to decide where that line is and who crosses it, and I'm fine with that. The site uses 13+ as a bar because that is the line recognized by law. They do not encourage cyber sex or other explicit adult behaviors so they don't have to raise the limit to 18+. I doubt they will in the future, either, as limiting their target audience would decrease their potential income. In addition, given the generally "cutesy" nature of the site, it doesn't necessarily lend itself to what your average internet denizen is looking for in an 18+ site (at least in my opinion).

[Catena Carswell]

Instead of asking the question, should we ban anyone under 18 because of the content people have been known to talk about on this website, allow me to pose a few far more interesting questions.

Why is it a bad thing to talk to teenagers about things that they will be encountering in their lives sooner rather than later, and in fact likely live in a society where they already have on a daily basis? Why is it so necessary to hide away discussion of things like sex and pregnancy where teenagers can't participate in it, like it's some sort of frightening contagion? Why is there still this sort of default philosophy that when talking to kids you're supposed to act like perfectly normal aspects of adult life are terrifying, sinful, awful things?

Do you think that this attitude of coddling and hiding away certain aspects of adulthood from teenagers is actually conducive to healthy emotional and mental development?

Do you honestly think there's really that huge of a gap between the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old?

[bizu]

M a l c c h i a t o

Lapine Lequesne

Also, @OP
I dont think you have to be 18 to participate in sexless, consensual BDSM.

BDSM is not all about the sex.
There's much, much, much more to it.

As a matter of fact, yes, you do.
You must be of the age of majority per your state. Which actually varies from 18-21.
Yes, it's not all about sex, but there is still a lot encompassed within the community that requires you to be a fully understanding adult.

Well, I was refering to "having to be 18" as age of consent.
While yes, you still have to be above the age of majority for non-intercourse BDSM( and intercourse bdsm = age of consent) I'm just pointing out that BDSM is not just cut'n'dry 18+

[bizu]

Kitty Gnar-Gnar

Instead of asking the question, should we ban anyone under 18 because of the content people have been known to talk about on this website, allow me to pose a few far more interesting questions.

Why is it a bad thing to talk to teenagers about things that they will be encountering in their lives sooner rather than later, and in fact likely live in a society where they already have on a daily basis? Why is it so necessary to hide away discussion of things like sex and pregnancy where teenagers can't participate in it, like it's some sort of frightening contagion? Why is there still this sort of default philosophy that when talking to kids you're supposed to act like perfectly normal aspects of adult life are terrifying, sinful, awful things?

Do you think that this attitude of coddling and hiding away certain aspects of adulthood from teenagers is actually conducive to healthy emotional and mental development?

Do you honestly think there's really that huge of a gap between the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old?

Dont teach safe-sex. It encourages ********]
Gotta teach abstinence.

[Catena Carswell]

Lapine Lequesne

Kitty Gnar-Gnar

Instead of asking the question, should we ban anyone under 18 because of the content people have been known to talk about on this website, allow me to pose a few far more interesting questions.

Why is it a bad thing to talk to teenagers about things that they will be encountering in their lives sooner rather than later, and in fact likely live in a society where they already have on a daily basis? Why is it so necessary to hide away discussion of things like sex and pregnancy where teenagers can't participate in it, like it's some sort of frightening contagion? Why is there still this sort of default philosophy that when talking to kids you're supposed to act like perfectly normal aspects of adult life are terrifying, sinful, awful things?

Do you think that this attitude of coddling and hiding away certain aspects of adulthood from teenagers is actually conducive to healthy emotional and mental development?

Do you honestly think there's really that huge of a gap between the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old?

Dont teach safe-sex. It encourages ********]
Gotta teach abstinence.

God forbid we teach the kids about one of their primary evolutionary DRIVES.
Whoops, I forgot, not supposed to teach about evolution either.

[lilloulou]

Lapine Lequesne

-age youre an adult in the following places:

Albania[11]
Afghanistan
American Samoa, United States[12]
Andorra[13]
Austria [14]
Argentina[15]
Angola
Australia[16]
Bahamas[17]
Bangladesh
Barbados[18]
Belarus[19]
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina[20] (16 if minor gets married or has a child)[21]
British Crown dependencies
Isle of Man[22]
Jersey[23]
Guernsey[24]
Brazil (those aged 16 or older can be emancipated upon marriage, by being approved for civil service, by graduating in college or for being economically independent)
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada (provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan)[25]
Chile
China [26]
Colombia
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia (16 if minor becomes a parent or marries – a judicial act is passed with prior hearing of minors parents and getting an opinion of the Social Care centre)
Cyprus
Czech Republic (16 if minor marries)
Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands and Greenland)[27]
Djibouti[28]
Dominican Republic
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador[29]
Fiji
Finland [30]
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India[31]
Indonesia [4]
Iran[32][33]
Ireland (or upon marriage)[34]
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Laos
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi[35]
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Oman [36]
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines[37]
Poland [38]
Portugal (minors are emancipated upon marriage - art.º 132.º Portuguese Civil Code)
Qatar
Romania
Russia (minors are emancipated upon marriage or in case of working on a labour agreement or being engaged in business activities)[39]
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis [40]
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia (16 if minor marries – a judicial act is passed with prior agreement of minor's parents)
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka[41]
Sudan[42]
Sweden [43]
Switzerland[44]
Syria
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey [45]
Ukraine [46]
United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland[47][48]
United States,[49] (except Alabama (19),[50] Mississippi (21),[51] Nebraska (19 or upon marriage),[52] Puerto Rico (21)[53])
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe

I'm not sure where you got your numbers and on which point they are based on but something is wrong for the Canadian age since it should most likely be 18 not 25.

[bizu]

lilloulou

Lapine Lequesne

-age youre an adult in the following places:

Albania[11]
Afghanistan
American Samoa, United States[12]
Andorra[13]
Austria [14]
Argentina[15]
Angola
Australia[16]
Bahamas[17]
Bangladesh
Barbados[18]
Belarus[19]
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina[20] (16 if minor gets married or has a child)[21]
British Crown dependencies
Isle of Man[22]
Jersey[23]
Guernsey[24]
Brazil (those aged 16 or older can be emancipated upon marriage, by being approved for civil service, by graduating in college or for being economically independent)
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada (provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan)[25]
Chile
China [26]
Colombia
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia (16 if minor becomes a parent or marries – a judicial act is passed with prior hearing of minors parents and getting an opinion of the Social Care centre)
Cyprus
Czech Republic (16 if minor marries)
Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands and Greenland)[27]
Djibouti[28]
Dominican Republic
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador[29]
Fiji
Finland [30]
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India[31]
Indonesia [4]
Iran[32][33]
Ireland (or upon marriage)[34]
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Laos
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi[35]
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Oman [36]
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines[37]
Poland [38]
Portugal (minors are emancipated upon marriage - art.º 132.º Portuguese Civil Code)
Qatar
Romania
Russia (minors are emancipated upon marriage or in case of working on a labour agreement or being engaged in business activities)[39]
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis [40]
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia (16 if minor marries – a judicial act is passed with prior agreement of minor's parents)
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka[41]
Sudan[42]
Sweden [43]
Switzerland[44]
Syria
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey [45]
Ukraine [46]
United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland[47][48]
United States,[49] (except Alabama (19),[50] Mississippi (21),[51] Nebraska (19 or upon marriage),[52] Puerto Rico (21)[53])
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe

I'm not sure where you got your numbers and on which point they are based on but something is wrong for the Canadian age since it should most likely be 18 not 25.

They're all countries that are 18 and 18 exclusively. My post includes this bullet under the "If you want to use 18+" meaning "signifigance of the age 18" so this was specified. Nothing's wrong.

the numbers in brackets are from wikipedia citing their sources.

[Dexigone]

Hello there!

Huh? I see the need for pregnancy support threads because teen mothers are more common than ever before. I see the need for a lot of "alternative lifestyle" support communities. But BSDM support threads? That is relation to sex, I'm not sure if this technically appropriate for a website like Gaia. Let me ask you this: do you want a bestiality support thread or guild?

Here's another idea: people make fun of the person starting up a PCOS or Autism support community due to the negativity that people on the spectrum get, and how women are scorned by society by having facial hair or whatnot. Guess what: I have PCOS and I have a form of Autism and I haven't seen many people on Gaia with either one of them. I got made fun of both times for bringing that up. I haven't seen one of those damn support threads or guilds that relate to them. But are they really on Gaia?

Sorry that I am not as liberal as you guys expect to be, but I don't want to see 18+ content on a website that is 13+. I have my limits. I say we don't need to focus on these "fetish"-related things (that I doubt that you can causally talk to your elders about) but causes that have a personal impact on Gaians.

have a nice day

[Ramielion]

✦ SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD SEX IS BAD

[stan Ioona]

No, just no.

This is the internet.

If they don't find inappropriate things here, then they'll just go somewhere else for it.

[lilloulou]

Lapine Lequesne

lilloulou

Lapine Lequesne

-age youre an adult in the following places:

Albania[11]
Afghanistan
American Samoa, United States[12]
Andorra[13]
Austria [14]
Argentina[15]
Angola
Australia[16]
Bahamas[17]
Bangladesh
Barbados[18]
Belarus[19]
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina[20] (16 if minor gets married or has a child)[21]
British Crown dependencies
Isle of Man[22]
Jersey[23]
Guernsey[24]
Brazil (those aged 16 or older can be emancipated upon marriage, by being approved for civil service, by graduating in college or for being economically independent)
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada (provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan)[25]
Chile
China [26]
Colombia
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia (16 if minor becomes a parent or marries – a judicial act is passed with prior hearing of minors parents and getting an opinion of the Social Care centre)
Cyprus
Czech Republic (16 if minor marries)
Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands and Greenland)[27]
Djibouti[28]
Dominican Republic
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador[29]
Fiji
Finland [30]
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India[31]
Indonesia [4]
Iran[32][33]
Ireland (or upon marriage)[34]
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kenya
Laos
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi[35]
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Oman [36]
Pakistan
Palestine
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines[37]
Poland [38]
Portugal (minors are emancipated upon marriage - art.º 132.º Portuguese Civil Code)
Qatar
Romania
Russia (minors are emancipated upon marriage or in case of working on a labour agreement or being engaged in business activities)[39]
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis [40]
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia (16 if minor marries – a judicial act is passed with prior agreement of minor's parents)
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka[41]
Sudan[42]
Sweden [43]
Switzerland[44]
Syria
Tanzania
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey [45]
Ukraine [46]
United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland[47][48]
United States,[49] (except Alabama (19),[50] Mississippi (21),[51] Nebraska (19 or upon marriage),[52] Puerto Rico (21)[53])
Uruguay
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe

I'm not sure where you got your numbers and on which point they are based on but something is wrong for the Canadian age since it should most likely be 18 not 25.

They're all countries that are 18 and 18 exclusively. My post includes this bullet under the "If you want to use 18+" meaning "signifigance of the age 18" so this was specified. Nothing's wrong.

the numbers in brackets are from wikipedia citing their sources.

Oh I see now! Didn't actually read the whole list and the numbers were making sense otherwise XD

Anyway, back on the subject.... I think it would really depends on the reason why they would want to increase the site age. And, still, I think some subject can probably be talked about without being too much for a 13 years old -- but I suppose it's probably a tricky problem.

[bizu]

Guchko

No, just no.

This is the internet.

If they don't find inappropriate things here, then they'll just go somewhere else for it.

4chan:
/s
/d
/h
/e
/gif
/r


reddit:
gonewild
gonewilder
wheredidthesodagowild


google:
"porn"
"Dicks"
"Girls gettin' slammed"
"boobies"
"boob"
"half boob"

[YourKingHasReturned]

1.

Quote:

Added to all of this, is of course the items on this site. The favorite examples would be the alcohol, smoking, and the weapons

Kids still know about these, go to a middle school and kids constantly talk about these things so why act like they don't exist?
2.

Quote:

Another example would be the fact that we have support groups for things like BDSM. Something that you have to be at least 18 to even participate in. That's five years over the age set by Gaia.

There is no maximum age though. Many users on this site are over 18 and discriminating against them by saying they can only post things that 13 year olds would know would lose them about 40% of the gaia population.
3.

Quote:

For example, in Zodiacal we have an item that removes the bra and only the hair covers the boobs. Because that's totally appropriate for someone that's 13 years old.

This is so dumb that I don't even know how to describe how dumb this is.

[Infamous]

Kitty Gnar-Gnar

Instead of asking the question, should we ban anyone under 18 because of the content people have been known to talk about on this website, allow me to pose a few far more interesting questions.

Why is it a bad thing to talk to teenagers about things that they will be encountering in their lives sooner rather than later, and in fact likely live in a society where they already have on a daily basis? Why is it so necessary to hide away discussion of things like sex and pregnancy where teenagers can't participate in it, like it's some sort of frightening contagion? Why is there still this sort of default philosophy that when talking to kids you're supposed to act like perfectly normal aspects of adult life are terrifying, sinful, awful things?

Do you think that this attitude of coddling and hiding away certain aspects of adulthood from teenagers is actually conducive to healthy emotional and mental development?

Do you honestly think there's really that huge of a gap between the emotional maturity of a 13-year-old and a 17-year-old?

I've been watching worlds strictest parents and preachers daughters and between the two, I think they answer those questions fairly well. The conservative parents (usually the ones that scream the loudest) seem to be under the impression that if a teen learns about all the terrifying, sinful, awful adult things, then the teen is going to go out and try what ever it is. So the idea is to then make them cover up at all times, stalk the kid, and be just as overbearing as possible to ensure none of this ever reaches their kids ears. Girls seem to get it worse than the boys.

Honestly, those parents more than likely don't let their kid on Gaia if they knew what was on the site. So really it isn't that big of a deal that we have these threads/guilds/what have you.

[Infamous]

The Alpha Gamer

Meromictic

I mean, most people would be in shock if they found out that a 13 year old was pregnant.

o_O I wanna live where you live!

No.. I don't think you really want to. xd

Too much slut shaming here, imo. The younger generation isn't as bad though. So I guess wait until all the old people die first.