Hi all, I wanted to ask about having a way to show when we have young members asking or participating in the threads. Since the gtg my nephews want to join and be part of stuff and wandered if they could have a junior member status show up show users can see without clicking on the avatar? What is everyones thoughts just think it would help guys understand if they seem inexperienced. I know there have to be other young people interested too but maybe intimidated a bit.
Interesting idea. Are you thinking that would help the replies take into account of them having less experience?
Great! It is good to know they want to be a part of a great group of guys with like interests. We all love putting up firewood and especially love the heat we get from burning it. If they are more interested in the tools, there is a forum especially for that. Firewood, we are here. Then there is also the everything else forum. Check all of them out and go to where your main interest lies. As always, much can be learned about someone by the questions they ask and if they truly want to learn, they will ask. Also an introduction by them will go a long ways. In addition to this, I would highly suggest they put something in their signature line indicating they are new and willing to learn. For example, most will put in their signature line the tools they have or like, the stove they have and any other pertinent information. For example, I think in my signature line I have that we have burned wood for more than a few years. This also somewhat indicates that I am not a young man any longer.
Perhaps the avatar border could be "Green" as in young Greenhorn member, per under 18 or some such. Would there be a starting age limit? I only ask because some of the content can get a tad racy, with some pics and memes containing fully spelled out adult language. Just lookin out for the youth, is all.
Yes schlot I know we are all willing to help and patience is key with the young crowd. Backwoods Savage none of us are as young as we once were lol but we haven't forgotten ever. Eric VW yes something like that like rookie stripes in racing.
Unfortunately the avg. 13 yr old today knows more racy words, and how to get more pics than I'll ever know.
I totally agree, but wouldn't want someone without any clue about the FHC family to ever hear, "I saw it on my dad's firewood site!" Know what I'm sayin.....
I might be able to do something like that, but im not even sure if we currently accept members under the age of 18.
I think that is a good policy. Can you imagine the repercussions of a minor following some suggestions on here and getting hurt....seriously? Could happen?
Someone could lie about their age and sign up anyways. I hear that's rare on the internet these days tho... cwn877, I'd for sure talk to them about what they might see both here on the site and the 'net in general. They seem like good kids for sure and I'm not worried about them seeing bikini tops or anything that hasn't already happened in the barnyard (especially here on FHC) but more so about getting bad advice off the 'net. Before they run out and try something new, it'd probably be best if they ran it past an adult first. Especially if it involves trees and chainsaws. And I'm positive that some of the best advice they could receive in that department would come from somewhere close to home.
I agree and most of are fortunate enough to have someone close to home to learn from. I don't worry about what they see more so that if they ask a question or make a statement people would understand that they are young and not ridicule them. I grow up in an era without computers and had to ask questions got laughed at and run off a few times but found some truly smart people that helped me out. I'm not afraid to match wits with any of the ones that laughed now. Heck I couldn't solve a rubrics cube before the internet I can now though. Just want the next generation to learn from our mistakes and have a place to turn that's trusted if they have no one. Just a thought.
Making FHC "kid friendly" wouldn't be too hard. The site self-moderates in that direction anyways most days. I think having the option to make younger members more noticeable is a good one. Sig lines and profile details are not always visible from a mobile device, which the most likely way a youngster is going to access FHC, so perhaps a title line like the staff have would work well.
This is a great thread and a great discussion. And all of you guys bring valid points to the table. My biggest fear on the site is having someone take information and misuse it. What I'm trying to say is, let's say someone asks me the best way to take a top out of a tree. Most if not all of you who know me know I won't give any specific advice to such a question. Not because I don't want to give it up, I don't want something I say to be misused or accidentally used incorrectly and end up getting someone hurt. Now, granted, whether a person is young or old, if they're looking for specific information on the good ol' interweb they can certainly find it. I'm simply showing why I don't like to give certain info up, unless it's via a convo or something else. If a person is over 18, they're responsible for what they do. But I'm all for the younger ones who want to learn to be allowed to participate in the forums, however their parents will have to decide if they can or can't join. They have the final say. Thats why we have the "over 18" policy here. Kinda the same thing as Facebook. I refuse to let my kids participate on Facebook until they are no longer minors.
