Simma down now! I have seen the idea before, we have discussed the idea before, I still don't personally like it. Until someone gives me some valid reasons why to do some different, I usually don't. Especially considering the hateful negative climate of this board every time a little change does occur. Don't take my post as negative on you (except for the title), I just think this is something that will require much more discussion and a better solution to consider it. My post wasn't to shut the "discussion" down, I've just stated a personal opinion. Cool now?
......always cool Rob, Appreciate you clearing it up a bit. Still think this may be the best vote practice 'til Nov........lol
0-14 (everyone before high-schools generally) 15-23 (everyone in high school and college, generally) 24-30 (just starting their careers/graduate school) 30-50 (well into their career/post graduate school careers) 50+ (the old people) Using the same names you suggested earlier. All I did really was shrink the first group, enlarge the second and shrink the third. I have generally found little difference in maturity between those in high school and college. While most out of college are about as mature as they will ever be and could probably all be lumped into one group for the amount of information it will tell you. I think it also would more accurately describe the level of general car knowledge and driving skill people have in those groups as well. Most importantly though it tells you a lot more about the actual business knowledge of people in the business/investment forum.
I've warmed to the idea a little, but don't tell Eric. Warm is still a LONG ways from implementing it. I think it would be like the profile thing, no way to get everyone to do it and if they do, not all will tell the truth. However, having this as another element to a more personable community is good, even if only 60% participate.
instead of age, lets put iQ test scores....that way when some one makes a comment, we know if he is an idiot or not...even though you can often tell just from the comment...
I'm late to the party, but here's the scoop on cyberspace. With very few exceptions, the major attraction of web forums is that they are a great leveler. You can be anybody and post here. You can say you are anything and post here. You can be completely different in your forum fantasy life than you are in real life and post here. What's the point of having people identify themselves by age. You may as well ask them for their hair color, or skin color, or religious adherence, or political affiliation for that matter. Notwithstanding the inherent discrimination that age segregation implies, it is also impossible to police. So once again, what was the point here? Oh yes, the original starter of this thread wanted to make sure he was conversing with his age-apprropriate, intellectually-even, fellow F Chatters. Have you tried the personal classifieds?
I don't think that's something most of us need to worry about..... but, in your case you could put "age catagory", Mensa. For me, I'm thinking..... H.R.H.
Alex, I think you need to re-read my post, or is this just a backward way to offend me? Why would I try the personal classifieds? When did I write " I wanted to make sure I was conversing with my age-apprropriate, intellectually-even, fellow F Chatters."? Quite the contrary, I said I enjoyed all the responses and think everyone is an asset to fchat (until now....lol). I'm not sure where you get the idea this is discriminatory. If you choose to use the information in a discriminatory way, that is your issue. I appreciate your scoop on cyberspace, but I, like many others, have been around cyberspace for awhile and I disagree with your assertion "With very few exceptions, the major attraction of web forums is that they are a great leveler....You can say you are anything and post here. You can be completely different in your forum fantasy life than you are in real life and post here.". The major attraction, IMO, is the ability of people with similar interests to interact, learn, and help other people. Maybe some are using forums as "fantasy", but I think that would be for other, more discrete sites. Look, the point is simple, when I say to a neighbor who is admiring my car, "come in for a beer", I find it important to see that it is an age appropriate comment that I'm not making to a neighbors' child. In that situation I'd say "Here's a Ferrari Hat, enjoy". I want to be very clear on this point. I welcome all the fchaters regardless of age. In fact, I think some of the "preproduction" guys are great. It reminds me of myself back in those days. It would have been great to have this interaction when I was growing up. I want to help them just as I'm sure they could help me. My thoughts are not discriminatory and I will not look kindly on anyone putting words in my mouth. Please reread my posts.......... On the point of "impossible to police". I agree, and would not want to. This is an honor system. If some, I would think few, want an age "Fantasy"(?) so be it, I don't care. I doubt most other age-apprropriate, intellectually-even, fellow F Chatters would either.......lol
Eric no offense intended. One of my hot buttons however is herd metality, "us v them" etc. I was born in South Africa, where, for an extraordinary amount of time a small group of elitists got away with putting labels on everyone, and then judging them based on their label. Labeling people anything is plain wrong, except, as you point out, in the case of offering a beer to a child. I love the freedom of the internet in that it really is a level playing field. One of the other commentattors in this thread said that liars are soon found out here, but I don't really believe that. Stupid liars are found out. These types of forums, and especially Fchat, appeal to a fairly narrow band of users, at least the long term ones. Trolls usually vanish of their accord after a short while. So while I certainly didn't mean to offend you, I certainly disagree with you on this specific point. I really enjoy the broad spectrum of comment, from wherever it comes. If nothing else it's entertaining and certainly very diverse.
Are we going to set up seperate areas for the different age groups? As the age goes up the text size will increase....