Scratch

gettysburg11 wrote:

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

Lightnin wrote:

we don't feel comfortable asking Scratchers younger than that to take it on.

Really? Not even 13 year olds? Most things are based on 13, and I did WAY bigger things than community moderators do when I was 11!

I think that's pretty much been the main argument so far.

The 14+ age limit is not perfect, but it is the best the Scratch Team can do. If we start lowering the age limit, where will it stop?

Aren't there exceptional 12 year olds capable of doing this? Should we lower the age limit for them?

14 is an age by which time you've probably seen some of the worst the world has to offer in terms of internet content. You've also had time to deal with different commitments and understand what that means.

You're probably dealing with (or have dealt with) Secondary School Admission, and understand the importance of issues like this.

juststickman wrote:

iCode-747 wrote:

http://www.infoaddict.com/wp-content/up … /nuke4.jpg

How'd you know my new plans for MIT?

I was using you yesterday.

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

coolstuff wrote:

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

Really? Not even 13 year olds? Most things are based on 13, and I did WAY bigger things than community moderators do when I was 11!

Well, I have a feeling it'll be lowered to 13 after this long debate anyway.

It's staying at fourteen - that decision is final.

A lot of what people don't understand is that there's some really subtle aspects of moderation that only somebody really mature can understand.

And you're using the stereotype that everyone under 14 is immature.

Or that under 14 isn't sensible.

fg123 wrote:

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

coolstuff wrote:

It's staying at fourteen - that decision is final.

A lot of what people don't understand is that there's some really subtle aspects of moderation that only somebody really mature can understand.

And you're using the stereotype that everyone under 14 is immature.

Or that under 14 isn't sensible.

Yep. I hate stereotypes.

Before I said what my age was, how old would you think I was?

It's a shame to hear you think that there is some sort of stereotype. No one here is being stereotypical!

It is a about experience and understanding of the commitment required not about maturity (although that comes with age as well).

As Lightnin himself said:

Lightnin wrote:

I'm sure there are Scratchers who are younger than 14 who are responsible enough, and would do a wonderful job. But being a mod is a big commitment, and we don't feel comfortable asking Scratchers younger than that to take it on.

Well, the Scratch Team could have un-modded anyone they wanted. After all, it has been one full term, right? They may not have been returning (By choice of the Scratch Team) for another term anyway, despite their age.

rufflebee wrote:

Well, the Scratch Team could have un-modded anyone they wanted. After all, it has been one full term, right? They may not have been returning (By choice of the Scratch Team) for another term anyway, despite their age.

Yeah, but by the topic post, it sounded as if they were the only ones being dethroned.

emilypie wrote:

Ok, that's enough of all of this whining about the 14+ rule. I'm sure it was a hard choice for the scratch team to make, even if I don't agree with it either, we are just going to have to live with it. We will all be fourteen at some point, and when we are we can all start running for mod.

The only thing I'm worried about is how most 14-year-olds act. I mean, the 8th graders at my school, who are around 14, tend to swear a lot and us awesome 7th graders act mature and tell them to stop. >:3 Well, I shouldn't be saying that. I mean, it's not the case for all kids that age, in fact, I actually have a lot of 14 year old friends, which aren't mean at all, and I'll admit are a bit more responsible than me. but I guess I'm just jealous. 

I think 12+ is the better choice, because most of us are mature by middle school, because when you get to Jr. high, consequences are bigger when you're not mature. (or at least in my school.  )

Whatever, the scratch team knows best! And who knows? Maybe it will definitely stay 14 for this election, but maybe next time they'll lower it to 13! 

Lols, I noticed that the freshmen at my highschool are getting more and more immature each year. Probably off the feeling the get at being in power during eigth grade, although I can't remeber being like that...Anyways, to stop reminiscing...

I agree with the age restriction, and here is why:
1. There are nasty things on the internet, soem that I didn't discover until two years ago, back when I was 15. If 4chan invades, or people start spamming these things, the scratch team doesn't want to send in people who havn't experianced it before. It would not be good for a 12 year old mod to see some of the monsters that lie around the internet.
2. Also, sometimes the spammers attack mods personally. Two years ago, I believe it was, there was a spam attack, and things were said about the loyal scratchs (including myself) that takes a level self confidence, experiance and intestinal fortitude that a lot of younger kids don't have.

I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but in most cases these things are true. Sorry.

PS I am a senoir at my high school, and turning 17 in the upcoming months.

Last edited by TheSaint (2010-09-29 19:21:57)

Also, I intend to run as a mod. 

Last edited by TheSaint (2010-09-29 19:23:05)

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

fg123 wrote:

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

Okay let me summarize what I'm talking about. I think that 14 year olds are no different than 13 year olds in terms of maturity. I could understand it if the raised it to, say, 16, but 14 just makes no sense at all.

Exactly. Even 12 would work. 

Thank you for accepting my logical logic.

I think rather than maturity, it is experiance that they are looking for. Most kids on scratch are mature simply because they like to learn, and use programming. However, a tweleve year old doesn't have the same experiance as a 13 year old, and a 13 year old doesn't have the same experiance as a 14 year old. Most sites don't allow kids under 13.

TheSaint wrote:

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

fg123 wrote:

Exactly. Even 12 would work. 

Thank you for accepting my logical logic.

I think rather than maturity, it is experiance that they are looking for. Most kids on scratch are mature simply because they like to learn, and use programming. However, a tweleve year old doesn't have the same experiance as a 13 year old, and a 13 year old doesn't have the same experiance as a 14 year old. Most sites don't allow kids under 13.

Experience like what? I'm over 13 and a half. I only have 5 months before I'm 14. I think I probably have the sane amount of experience as a 14 year old.

Everyone: The decision is final. As moderators, we've known about it for a while, and have had plenty of discussion on this. The rule will be fourteen-year-olds.

For those of you comparing 14-year-olds to 12- and 13-year-olds, I will tell you there is a big difference. In the US of A and most of the world, highschool starts at age 14. When I was in grade 8, I thought "Ha! I'm king of the hill - nobody can defeat me!" But then I got into grade 9, highschool. Now I'm bottom of the stack again. I had a point when I started typing this, but apparently I've forgotten it. The point is, while you may think you've seen everything there is to see (in Elementary school), highschool is loads different. The same goes for age. As a fourteen-year-old, you're probably going to get the most experience you'll ever get, even though you may think as a thirteen-year-old that there's nothing more to it.

It's not about commitment. We are making no stereotypes, it's just that there has to be some sort of cut-off age. Fourteen is quite reasonable as such - it's the age where most kids reach maturity.

And allow me to make one last point: complaining about the age limit really isn't helping prove to us that you're extremely mature. 

I'm in the process of writing a topic on what it's like to be a moderator. Expect it in the coming weeks.