(quick reply here)

((((( Mel )))))

I'm going to tread as lightly as possible here in this thread. Mel I am so sorry that your feelings were hurt in the Social room. Since I was not there and have no idea how the course of conversation went, I'm thinking like was stated above, that maybe there was some "mature" conversation going on about sex and the chatters didn't feel comfortable with there being someone under 18 there.

The chatrooms are public, at least the actual PC chatrooms are public. No one should be told to leave a room because of their age. The way to have an 18+ conversation is to create an 18+ room. Creating rooms in the chatroom are quite easy. If the room is titled 18+, it can be left an open room (not passworded) so other adults can join the conversation. The title then allows chatters to please ask members under 18 not to chat there if they are having a conversation that makes them uncomfortable to discuss around a teen.

I agree that Sexual "issues" are different then a conversation of a sexual nature. Here on this board, we discuss sexual issues and there is a sticky post reminding us to be mindful of young viewers. We don't tell people under 18 not to view and post in this forum, just like we don't tell them not to chat in the main rooms. Yes, there is a teen room, but if only one teen is on, then they can't chat. I think (and this is my opinion) that a lot of the teens on this site are quite mature beyond their age because of what they have been through, and they lean on us adults for advice and comfort.

So, while this isn't necessarily a topic for the Sexual forum, I wanted to reitterate that teens are welcome in all the chatrooms, and the way to have an 18+ only room, is to create one, passworded or not.

Again, Mel, my apologies that you felt it was you. I really don't think it was. I too watch To Catch a Predator, and going to be volunteering, to learn how to be a decoy to catch these people. So I can understand that fear the the adults might have discussing sex while minors are in the room. However, its not up to the minors to move, its up to the adults to use their tools and create a room.

Thanks,

Rayna