"A plea to all minors trying to get onto adult oriented fan groups"
02 / 05 / 04
General
Okay, minors, youths, soon-to-be young adults, I have a request for you. I completely understand being a squealing yaoi/slash/shounen-ai fangirl/boy. I know you just want to go out and soak up as much of whatever character/couple you can find. Really, I can respect and sympathise with your plight. However, unless you're careful, or unless you have understanding parents who you know won't mind this pasttime of yours, please consider the following.
When you go to places, (sites, mailing lists, forums) that you know are labeled with 18+ or "age of consent," you're putting the entire group at risk just by being there. Again, unless you have parents who don't mind, know that they have the right to make sure you don't have access to these places. Unfortunately, the usual status quo to ensuring this is to try and close it down. So not only do you get cut off, but everyone else who enjoyed it don't have access, either. Everyone loses, and you create a tense situation in regards to how mature adults think youths really are.
Like I said, I do understand your problem. You want to enjoy this along with other, like-minded people. Don't you think if we adults could, we'd let you on as well? But in the US, current laws and social conditionings make it impossible.
There are alternatives, however. Just as adults create 18+ places, why not start create age specific groups/sites of your own? Hey, you tell us to keep out, we will, (or we should). I don't see where it's illegal for you to swap fics/art/etc among your peers. And when you do reach 18, those places you were sneaking into? Either they're still around, or something similar is waiting. The minor thing is temporary; being an adult lasts until, well, death.
But sneaking onto places and then having your parents complain takes it away from everyone, and there won't be anything for you when you do become an adult.
Please, think about this, not just for our sake, but your own. I know it seems like you'll never be legal. Hah, you don't know how soon the time is going to come where you wish you could be a minor again. All that lack of responsibility will become a distant memory.
Sorry, spammers forced my hand. Comments reviewed before being published.
still winds
