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NobleNick · 08-30-2005, 08:42 PM

Enwareth,

I have 2 female and 2 male GW characters.

In your father's defense:

- Most toons, regardless of toon gender, are driven by males.
- Most of those males are testosterone overloaded teens and twenty-somethings.
- I would be surprised if there were NOT sexual predators playing GW toons.

I have a son and a daughter that may well be your age. So as a father, let me give you some advice: Rather than attempt to placate your father by saying there is no danger (which, if he has even half a brain, he won't believe), tell him that you realize there *IS* a danger, and to cope with that danger you will do *whatever* . Here are some suggestions for *whatever* :

1.) You will talk (type) like a male teen while playing the game, addressing everyone as "dude," bud," "guy," or "man."
2.) You will immediately place anyone inquiring about your real name, real gender, or real location (more specific than your state) on your "ignore" list; and tell your dad.
3.) You will immediately call your dad in if anyone makes more than 1 attempt to strike up conversation about non-game topics (like "how old are you?"). Disarming and innocuous subjects are how predators often start out.
4.) You will not use TS/Vent.
5.) You will not get "chatty" with anyone anywhere in the game that you do not already know in real life.

If you really are clueless enough to believe there is no danger, then I understand why your dad is worried: clueless kids are taken advantage of much more easily. And in your father's mind, sex-starved teens and twenties don't rank far down the list from the classic sexual predator; and any on-line game is full of 'em.

Your dad will likely be much less prone to worry if he realizes that YOU are savvy enough to realize there is a hazard; and you want to work with him to minimize it. In addition, talk to him a lot about ANYTHING that catches your interest in the parties you are in. NOT knowing what is going on leads to surmising the worst possible scenario; so a clear and busy communications channel between you and him should ease his mind a lot.

[ 08-30-2005, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: NobleNick ]

08-30-2005, 08:42 PM	#12
NobleNick Quintesson Join Date: February 5, 2002 Location: Huntsville, AL, USA Age: 65 Posts: 1,045	Enwareth, I have 2 female and 2 male GW characters. In your father's defense: - Most toons, regardless of toon gender, are driven by males. - Most of those males are testosterone overloaded teens and twenty-somethings. - I would be surprised if there were NOT sexual predators playing GW toons. I have a son and a daughter that may well be your age. So as a father, let me give you some advice: Rather than attempt to placate your father by saying there is no danger (which, if he has even half a brain, he won't believe), tell him that you realize there IS a danger, and to cope with that danger you will do whatever . Here are some suggestions for whatever : 1.) You will talk (type) like a male teen while playing the game, addressing everyone as "dude," bud," "guy," or "man." 2.) You will immediately place anyone inquiring about your real name, real gender, or real location (more specific than your state) on your "ignore" list; and tell your dad. 3.) You will immediately call your dad in if anyone makes more than 1 attempt to strike up conversation about non-game topics (like "how old are you?"). Disarming and innocuous subjects are how predators often start out. 4.) You will not use TS/Vent. 5.) You will not get "chatty" with anyone anywhere in the game that you do not already know in real life. If you really are clueless enough to believe there is no danger, then I understand why your dad is worried: clueless kids are taken advantage of much more easily. And in your father's mind, sex-starved teens and twenties don't rank far down the list from the classic sexual predator; and any on-line game is full of 'em. Your dad will likely be much less prone to worry if he realizes that YOU are savvy enough to realize there is a hazard; and you want to work with him to minimize it. In addition, talk to him a lot about ANYTHING that catches your interest in the parties you are in. NOT knowing what is going on leads to surmising the worst possible scenario; so a clear and busy communications channel between you and him should ease his mind a lot. [ 08-30-2005, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: NobleNick ]