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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
 Posted - 03/11/2002 : 21:33:51
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Megan has a little quibble with this forum. Seems some of the folks here forget that she's only 15. She feels a little "scared off" sometimes. Can we have a Jr. SFN? And maybe remember some of the people asking questions might want the answers in simpler terms?
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2002 : 21:35:12 [Permalink]
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Can you or anyone else give me any ideas on how to do that? If it's a good idea, bad idea etc...
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Lars_H
SFN Regular
Germany
630 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 10:49:41 [Permalink]
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Oops, I did not pay any attention to that.
Maybee it would help if the posters age was displayed underneath his/her name, where the nationality is displayed. People would then be able to give more apropiate answers without thinking to much or looking the posters age up in the member profile on a hunch.
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 11:27:52 [Permalink]
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Instead of posting age, what if under 18 were listed as Jr Skeptic Friend or Skeptic Friend Jr? Where Jr were included in their forum rank thus indicating that they are indeed of an age where perhaps a little more moderation may be required in the explanation.
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There is no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've known. Sagan |
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Lars_H
SFN Regular
Germany
630 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 12:31:14 [Permalink]
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quote:
Instead of posting age, what if under 18 were listed as Jr Skeptic Friend or Skeptic Friend Jr? Where Jr were included in their forum rank thus indicating that they are indeed of an age where perhaps a little more moderation may be required in the explanation.
Sounds like a good idea but people have to know what it means. If I were new to the forum and would see Jr. behind sombodies title I would just think it was something to indicate how long you have been a member or how many posts you made.
You could bury the explanation in some faq somewher. The Problem is that people don't read faq's. Just a single category for everyone under a single age would be a bit of generalized, too. Being 17 can be very different from being 13. The Age would be more selfexplantery and offer more degrees.
Maybe a function to turn the display of the age off for everyone who feels silly to have it displayed so prominently, but still wishes it to be included in his profile would be called for.
More ranks and titles for forum members would still be fun. 
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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 12:46:43 [Permalink]
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I think a JR forum might have some merit, but frankly there are things that are above my head and I either stay out of them or do some research before I ask questions.
I don't think younger people necessarily want people talking down to them either. If people have been nasty to her, maybe we should look at how we treat each other and not just speak kindly to people because they're a certain age.
I guess I'd have to ask what "only 15" means. How specifically should we treat her differently?
"Not one human life should be expended in this reckless violence called a war against terrorism." - Howard Zinn |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:22:02 [Permalink]
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Imagine speaking to a person face to face, whether most of us realize or not we moderate the way we speak to people who are younger and honestly curious about an issue rather than a bit older and already have a fully formed opinion regarding an issue. I'm not saying a 15yo can't have formed opinions and informed opinions but not all aspects of her understanding and opinion formation are fully developed. At a younger age, sometimes more explaination is required than with someone you expect to be at a 'certain level' with regard to concepts because of their age.
I don't 'talk down' to my 11 yo, however, I do take the time to explain any of the concepts she might not understand because she's never been exposed. At a younger age there are things children ask questions about that the explainations require going deeper into the meanings of some concepts that are taken for granted an adult has had some exposure to.
For instance, when I explained the multi-verse concept to my kid I also had to explain the concept of dimensions much like VD did with Megan and that there are currently 4 recognized dimensions.
I hope this is making some sense, simply because I do know what I'm trying to say. Megan is very well spoken and so may seem older. However, she is still a child (no offense Megan) with a childs curiosity about things. Someone this age is probably trully seeking answers to her questions based on experiences beyond her. She doesn't yet have the capacity for filtering some of the information as presented and always separating the good from the bad. She may also be interesting in understanding the thought process behind some of the conclusions that are drawn, where we assume an understanding of the thought process because we, through our own experience, have either drawn the same conclusion or at least see how a specific conclusion could be drawn.
Not different treatment just further explaination of concepts.
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There is no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've known. Sagan |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:23:19 [Permalink]
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I basically agree with Gorgo. I don't understand everything. That's where you ask a follow up question or ask for clarification.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:27:10 [Permalink]
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She's 15!
I didn't forget, I never knew.
How come a 15 year old writes like she's done post grad work? She fooled me.
A Jr Skeptic sounds fine if there is a call for it. But these 15 year olds seem to hold their own awfully well without it.
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It will sometimes be necessary to use falsehood for the benefit of those who need such a mode of treatment.
----Eusebius of Nicomedia,
[i]The Preparation of the Gospel[/i] |
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DVF
Skeptic Friend
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:46:58 [Permalink]
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My only additional suggestion would be to make the designation optional to the member. Alot of people might want their opinions judged without any bias based on their age.
"Know what, if you were in a building, and it was on fire, I'd rescue you."
- My Son 3/5/2002 |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:49:14 [Permalink]
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Agree entirely with Slater.
One should never be shy about asking a followup question nor ask for a clarifaction. At the same time, no one should ever be hesitant in answering.
From the little I've observed, Megan holds her own quite well.
f
"Don't tell me your doubts; I've got enough doubts of my own. Tell me something you BELIEVE in!"
Brother Dave Gardner |
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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 13:53:08 [Permalink]
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Better to learn not to be intimidated by older people or people with degrees or those who have attributes that you feel are intimidating.
There are 50-year-old M.D.'s who don't have the sense that they were born with and there are 15-year-olds that have a lot going for them. Which do you want me to treat you like?
"Not one human life should be expended in this reckless violence called a war against terrorism." - Howard Zinn
Edited by - gorgo on 03/12/2002 14:05:31 |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 14:06:00 [Permalink]
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I sort of opt for maintaining the status quo here. Designating certain members as "Jr" or some other flag doesn't seem to be the thing to do.
Some of the discussion here is complex and esoteric terminology is often employed but I like that myself and never hesitate to grab a dictionary. It's part of the learning process.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 14:38:17 [Permalink]
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Here's an idea... Megan could put something in her sig line, such as "Teen Skeptic... help me out here!" or something similar.
That way we'd all be reminded when we write our answers.
FWIW, I did know she was 15 and I have tried to write answers at an appropriate level. I'd be curious as to how well I succeeded.
One other recommendation... Megan has a tendency to "post and run", that is, not to engage in a discussion but just drop a question and (I assume) read the answers without much (if any) follow-up. Maybe if she would try to make it a dialog, we'd have a better chance of hitting the right notes.
This isn't meant as a put-down, by the way. I know her on-line time is limited (isn't everybody's?) but I bet she'd get better answers if she'd let us know when we're getting through and when we're wide of the mark.
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 19:15:45 [Permalink]
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quote:
Here's an idea... Megan could put something in her sig line, such as "Teen Skeptic... help me out here!" or something similar.
MMM...Nah.
quote:
One other recommendation... Megan has a tendency to "post and run", that is, not to engage in a discussion but just drop a question and (I assume) read the answers without much (if any) follow-up. Maybe if she would try to make it a dialog, we'd have a better chance of hitting the right notes.
This isn't meant as a put-down, by the way. I know her on-line time is limited (isn't everybody's?) but I bet she'd get better answers if she'd let us know when we're getting through and when we're wide of the mark.
You got a point here, Donnie.
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense." -Buddha |
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Mr. Spock
Skeptic Friend
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2002 : 20:02:08 [Permalink]
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I agree that all of us, regardless of age and education, are going to find ourselves hadicapped when participating in certain discussions. I've done post-grad work in philosophy (which, trust me, doesn't mean too much) and I still am a bit intimidated by the abstruse quality of some of the discussions. This may be a bit of machismo on my part--if I can't come off as sounding like I know what I'm talking about, I duck out. (Or else throw a humorous curve ball, like my post on the "great captains" discussion last night). Insofar as Meagan is willing to participate at all (I know that I couldn't have when I was 15) she is a better man than I am.
So Meagan:
As something of a new-comer to the whole Skeptic thing, I find that when I am confronted with a topic or arena for discussion about which I know very little, I am at first a bit overwhelmed ("What on earth are these folks talking about--I guess I'll never get it"). However, with some perseverance, this can give way to a strong desire to learn more about the specific topics that you find most interesting. Reading the posts and following up with any quoted sources is a good start, even if you
don't feel "qualified" to put in more than a word or two at first.
--Mike
"3 out of 4 people now believe in angels. Whaddaya #*!! stupid?!"
--George Carlin |
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