An open letter to the young (under 18) people on ATS.

Originally posted by rotorwing
reply to post by CanadianDream420

 

It does...scares the hell outa me!

But you're insulting the intelligence of myself when I was 13 and probably wouldn't have taken any guff nor had any delusions that the world was cut-and-dried. I have a feeling any of that age finding this place out of interest in these subjects probably are not typical, as I was not, and are no fools.

And yet, a couple decades later, I feel no need to be patronizing.

Hey rotorwing. Im almost 30 and I believe a 13 year old might have something important to say. ATS I have realized has all walks of life in. Religious, sexual and age. Stop being so crabby. Dont forget to drink your metamucil tonight cause you know how you are.

Hi there Rotorwing,

Its a well written post. I appreciate your intention. As a father I will have to totally agree with you. I believe most parents in here would welcome your post and same way dont feel bad for those youngsters or anyone who think they will be OK. You felt its your duty to post this; those youngsters will know what to do if they are smart enough.

Thanks!

I have to wonder what you consider "mentally healthy." Do you consider not questioning the status quo "mentally healthy?" Do you consider staying the course "mentally healthy?" Do you consider not discussing abstract ideas "mentally healthy?" If the answer is "yes" to any of the previous questions, then why do you even bother coming to a site like this?

I answered this in the original thread, seek and you shall find.
Laziness leads to ignorance. Deny ignorance.
Please dont Import arguments and get this thread shut down.

Dude. The so-called 13 year old girl is an FBI agent trolling for predators. Haven't you figured that out yet?

Excuse me. I need to go get on the bus and pray.

You bring up a good point; I'm 16 years old and I feel frustrated sometimes because I can't make up valid points in arguments and I am always outsmarted; I joined ATS because I was highly interested in UFO's, and got pulled into politics- something I don't understand all too well.

I have to hop in here...please, please don't come to this thread and tell us how old you are if you are a minor.

To all that posted...I learned from you all...thanks for the good discussion. I come here to be led into thinking, and I'm never disappointed.

Originally posted by summerdreary
You bring up a good point; I'm 16 years old and I feel frustrated sometimes because I can't make up valid points in arguments and I am always outsmarted; I joined ATS because I was highly interested in UFO's, and got pulled into politics- something I don't understand all too well.

You've made some good, valid points in this post. Sometimes it's easy to overlook when we make a good point...some members are LOUDER and not always better or smarter.

Hey guess what? A lot of 'smart' members use a lot of impressive words to intimidate others. 'I can't make up valid points?' Hardly anyone does! We all recycle old arguments and give them some spin that makes them appear new.

None of us know who's sitting at the other side of the screen. Age, size, fitness or fatness. Mental health? Never be intimidated by a forum member. It could be a six year old with a dictionary!

I am 2 years old.

And.

I am an astonishing poster on this edgy website.

My words will make you cringe.

I now allow ads to display, but I never click on them.

I am MegaMan!!!

reply to post by Cabaret Voltaire


You're avatar is rather disturbing too.

reply to post by rotorwing


thanks for what you posted. I was thinking the same thing yesterday. I also remember thinking that the title should have been changed to " I think I know what's really going on." Since in reality, none of us can be sure. But some kids have a deeper desire to learn and share knowledge rather than play flashlight tag. I just hope kids don't get to wrapped up in some of these topics, mostly 9-11. It can get you in the wrong state of mind of you let it.

Originally posted by wayaboveitall
I know exactly what my kids are reading online, and I hope her parents do too, parental guidance is not a negative thing.

Amen to that! After all, parental guidance is the responsibility of...believe it or not...PARENTS! It's not up to the extreme leftists or the socialists who influence the governments of the world. The State has no business & no Natural Right to interfere with a parent raising their child.

Ah, to the good 'ol days when children didn't have to rely on "outside-the-family" guidance simply because the family can't afford to live off of anything less than two-incomes...The days when at least one parent could still stay with their children at home. Yeah, I'm at least old enough to remember that.

[edit on 9-3-2010 by MidnightDStroyer]

reply to post by MidnightDStroyer


A 'high five" to you. That's why I encouraged the young people here on ATS to involve the adults in their lives with what they learn here!

Thanks!

I remember watching loose change for the first time when I was 15, and it totally blew my world.

I felt like giant shades had been taken had been taken off my head, and I could see a whole new different world

Above all it REALLY scared me. I couldn't sleep I was so scared

In the end though... seeing that movie started me on a path that ultimately led me here, and I feel having not watched that movie, and pursuing the knowledge and ideas that were interesting to me, I would have a much more limiting perspective.

I honestly think ATS is a GREAT site for young kids; not only because you get to read over and view a whole boat-load of information from all over the place, but you get to read the healthy skepticism, and satirical backwash that comes with it.

I honestly think ATS has taught me alot when it comes to the spread of information; whats viable, whats inflammatory, whats inappropriate, and whats plain false.

Reading posts and replies has trained me with a better skeptical eye than I could have ever hoped for, yet the sheer volume of information has also left me with the most open mind I could have hoped for.


[edit on 9/3/1010 by Monts]

Children ARE children,and require protection.

Sometimes they require a clip around the ear,but we adults are here to guide and protect the young.

I find Rotorwing's OP is both sensible and pertinent,therefore I flagged it.

personaly, i dont think anyone under 18 should be allowed to register on ats.

ill put it very bluntly, kids are dumb . (so are most people under 20 tbh)

It dawned on me yesterday when i saw the 13 year old post title (i didnt waste my time reading the conjecture of a child) where the last few montsh influx of completly retarded posts have came from.... its because kids have started registering and using this as the bizaroworld forum of anything and not taking the site serious , the way its actualy presented and meant to be percieved!

kids are dragging this site down badly with their nonsence ... cant their be an ats kids forum, or hell, just point them somewhere else!

Originally posted by boaby_phet
personaly, i dont think anyone under 18 should be allowed to register on ats.

ill put it very bluntly, kids are dumb . (so are most people under 20 tbh)

It dawned on me yesterday when i saw the 13 year old post title (i didnt waste my time reading the conjecture of a child) where the last few montsh influx of completly retarded posts have came from.... its because kids have started registering and using this as the bizaroworld forum of anything and not taking the site serious , the way its actualy presented and meant to be percieved!

kids are dragging this site down badly with their nonsence ... cant their be an ats kids forum, or hell, just point them somewhere else!

Kids are not dumb by any stretch of the imagination! There are some mis-guided ones, and there are some blatantly obnoxious ones and even some that should be locked up for various reasons. Some of those are here on ATS.

Guess what, all that I said above applies to some of the adults here on ATS too!

The young people of the world need to be able to espouse just like me...and I hope they do it where I can hear it and learn from it. I just want them to do it safely!

reply to post by boaby_phet
Maybe you're right? Certainly you'll be partially right...who's to argue?

On the other hand, there are some members in their 20s who post sub-standard threads and replies sometimes There's often no way of knowing whether it's the kids or the adults around here.

In amidst the crud and chaff, a lot of good information is presented without swearing or sexual comments. Age needn't be a factor. I've worked with high school teens for years and many of them are more educated and informed than some of my friends. At least if they get the ATS habit...it's a safe place to roam.

reply to post by boaby_phet


One of the few Oasis's on the internet that encourage critical thinking and intelligent thought provoking conversations and you want them to wait till their indoctrination is complete before they join this site... epic fail

This is one of the few sites that will enlighten children and get them to face the true realities of the world. If anything its post like yours that produce "dumb kids".

Best Regards

Fox

reply to post by rotorwing


Excellent OP.

Thank you for the service you provided to me and the country that i love. It is appreciated.

I would like to add to the kids around here....people will only think you are as intelligent as your ability to write. Don't use TXT speak, and no "walls of text".

I have a senior graduating this year. He will be attending Tech. He is a journalism student to be. He writes exquisitely. The bar is kind of high in that regard.