While hearing about all these AGS meetings going on, Brittens, Lapaset, Mittens, it came across as a somewhat age restricted group, which later I found it is. So being 14-17 or any age under 18+ you can't partake in these meets. So, while I'am at the age of 14, or anyone for that matter. We miss out on all of outdoor activities, and well, whatever else goes on... So I was thinking, maybe someone could create a somewhat younger version of these meets? I mean sure, have a somewhat restricted age if people of 8 years are using AGS or whatever. But a teen Brittens, might be popular, who knows.
Well, if you can find an adult with the required legal background checks willing to take on the huge legal liability...
No matter how lame it may sound:
Why not involve your parents, for the organising?
I mean being 14 years of age does restrict you a lot, but mainly the finding a place to live. IF someone of you has an open minded parent (or maybe a member of the AGS :D) then they could arrange to accomodate for a few days... Maybe... just maybe...
Otherwise noone will accept that responsibility.
EDIT: Indeed having your parents signing a paper stating that the host is not responsible and so on, could help the situation.
The main thing is that you actually want to meet those people. The members attending Mittens, most of them have been doing for years and know each other and so on. IF you have the same relationship with younger members of the AGS board certainly... But do not do it just because Mittens exists. :)
Because first of all, the "age limit" to these forums is 16... plus that'd mean, as we said, the host of the meeting would be responsible of the underage people. Meaning, hould I ever host one, I would get 12 17-year-olds in my house, then maybe kill some of them, maybe someone gets driven over or falls off the ladder (this never happened in Lapaset ¬¬), the parents would give me a hard time. why? Because I would be legally responsible of you people
Now I'm not saying it couldn't be done, maybe you could take your moms with you, or then sing these papers that say what ever happens to you is not my(our) fault. I think that can be done... right?
For something hat is just a hobby. and meetings of fellow hobbyers, i think having to sort any legal whatsits out is a bit of a faff. Just wait a couple of year pee, I did, and now i get lots of them this year.
18 is a useful age, because then you are legally responsible for your own actions. At the age of 14, it's best to get on with Real Life and wait. I know it's "not fair", but if something happened (and although that's highly unlikely - this is the internet), you'd rather be safe than sorry, and so would everyone else.
Lapaset was just fine, but you never know what you over there in that island cuontry of yours come up with...
So go out, and have a life for a couple more years. You hvae plenty of time to not have one later.
To be quite frank (and not joe or ralph or quentin), as a group, we do not want to be responsible for those who are underage. At these meets, we are all of age, we know (or at least think) that we are responsible adults, and we act accordingly. To be looking after, and being responsible for minors is not something that any of us agsers want or need. There are age restrictions for a reason. Sure, if you want to organise a meet up, go ahead, but remember, there are connetations which go along with it.
Personally I wouldn't be too afraid to take on the responsibility, I don't think it's a real big problem having 14 year olds there in a legal sense, in fact we've done it before and if something went wrong we'd take them to a hospital and help them get back home, same as if they were an adult, nobody is going to sue the group of friends they let their kids stay with. We've had 15 year olds at Mittens before.
My problem with it is very few 14 year olds would fit in at Mittens, it's a group of adults ranging from 18 up to 40, and although you may consider yourself a grown up, it's probably not the case. I certainly wouldn't have fit in at mittens very well as a 14 year old. 16 is a pretty low age limit, and to be frank, you haven't been that involved in the AGS community for very long so even if you were 16, I'd consider waiting a couple of years and becoming well known to people before going to a Mittens. Not that it's required to do so, but you'll have more fun if you know people already.
I don't think a younger Mittens meet would work out, because most people under 16 are not experienced enough, or financially able to travel a long way by themselves.
You could call it 'Kittens'.
Or "shittens"
Shittens & Fuckittens already taken.
Kidittens is something SSH had planned! Maybe he should make his one open to all ages under 17.
The first Mittens was 16+, which was cool - but that was the first one so it was kind of a trial. I think 18+ is best, simply because if you're going to be mature in the internet world, you need to look out for others before problems arise. People under 18 generally aren't a problem, but all the local laws and as Scotch says mixing with majority adults can prove difficult. And no offence, but I wouldn't really want to hang out with 14 year olds. I'm sure you're different to the ones in this town, but they're too intense. Growing up is a very valuable part of life, internet meets should come later on :)
PS - lol Layabout! ;)
Well, there's a huge difference between Nikolas and my kids age group and teenagers. One lot are a group of hardly-able-to-talk-properly, vomiting, ignorant and very hard work. The others are pre-schoolers.
I might as well say it for the umpteenth time... I am going to get to Mittens in three years. So watch out. :=
- Huw