Teens Forum

meh · May 17, 2009

here for about 10 minutes so re-opening. it may not be open long though as i am off and on today.

Lightforge · May 17, 2009

It's a shame it's came down to this I just hope the problem can be resolved and past sins reconciled :-/ oh well it could have been worse i guess.

Angeldove97 · May 17, 2009

meh said:
i'll try to answer a couple of things as talking to you guys has really made me see the light that it's time to stop being angry and get back to work. as arbor said, there will be an age change. We were going back and forth on what the cut-off would be. One thing I was still going over was the not having/having a common area. if people were fired or let go it was because they either admitted to leaking staff posts or because the person who received leaked info told us where they got it. again I do apologize for being so mean to some of you who contacted me that one night. I have no excuse except that I was so extremely angry. shouldn't have taken it out on you all, though. what else....the people asking for teens to apologize, I can honestly say i don't need it. only a handful got flamey or did bad stuff to accounts or whatever. nobody else needs to apologize for them. i think some people who got banned in the frenzy of accounts being hacked into will find the ban is lifted. some of you did get caught up in us needing to get people off to whittle down who might be doing the damage to accounts and computers. if your ban hasn't been lifted please come to the SC box so we can over it. as far as remaining teen mods agreeing with some changes proposed or being yes men...they aren't. at all.

Thank you for this meh :hug:

Richard · May 17, 2009

Here's my quick point of view from this entire situation...

This is the same type deal as the closure of other forums (such as GA) only it effects a more centralized set of people. I've read the things said in teens, and a lot of what's said isn't Christ-Centered. Teens are the most vulnerable to swing one way or another, and I think it has to be more safeguarded. Closing it down isn't indefinite its to re-evaluate the goal of the teen forum so that 'we' as in the site aren't responsible for the lost faith from teens because of that section.

There is no vendetta against anyone.

A lot of teens have felt backstabbed by the closure of the forum, but they don't understand that there are other places on the forum to talk, have fun, etc. I understand this was a more centralized location on the forum, but for instance, Baptist could have fun in Blessings Exchange or whatever forum they choooe. and are not defined to that one section. Going to other sites is something they teens choose, if they don't come back, then so be it, but the closure was in no way meant to close out the teens from the board as a whole.

again, just an opinion

Now I am going to go running!

CrazyPerson · May 17, 2009

OK here is my input on this. IMO closing the forum was a bad idea. As much as people want to say "oh there are other spots on the forum" a lot of those forums are all but dead, and some of the people that we enjoyed talking to are not yet permitted on those forums.

I also have heard that a reason behind this is that parents were concerned about there 13 year old talking to a 21 year old. I understand that concern and the intention to safeguard things but here is what has actually happened.

Also, there is the issue that as im sure you all have heard the teens have found ways outside of here to keep things together. The thing is... that forum although it has the name christian in its name, is not christian based, and the person who is heading up the site is not a christian herself. (yet i might add is doing an excelent job keeping things going) So yea, instead of having one forum, we have a forum that is not moderated by people with a good reputation for doing so (although nothing bad has happened, and its a very slim chance that it will)

Also... the longer the forum is down the more chance people get comfortable on that board. I believe a lot of the teens want to come back here, get some open communication going with those here without the fear of being banned, some of our friends unbanned and things could return to normal.

In short... the way to get us back to a Christ centered forum is to re open the teens section ASAP and be open to working with them, and get some forgiveness going in both directions.

meh · May 17, 2009

ok...i've got to run again. i dont know when anyone will be back to re-open and i don't know what time i'll be back. but we'll re-open as soon as possible to keep the talking going.

scraparcs · May 17, 2009

I'm here for a bit

SuperOktav · May 17, 2009

Richard said:
Here's my quick point of view from this entire situation...

This is the same type deal as the closure of other forums (such as GA) only it effects a more centralized set of people. I've read the things said in teens, and a lot of what's said isn't Christ-Centered. Teens are the most vulnerable to swing one way or another, and I think it has to be more safeguarded. Closing it down isn't indefinite its to re-evaluate the goal of the teen forum so that 'we' as in the site aren't responsible for the lost faith from teens because of that section.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I agree with you about teens being persuadable in nature and that their faith needs to be safeguarded (though strength of faith is much more then just age). Since you are obviously concerned (and rightfully so) with keeping the Teens forum Christ centered, I find the proposed age restrictions a bit counter-productive. I as an older member in the teens, have made several posts to younger, struggling teens, using my recent experience "in their shoes" as a basis for helping them along. I find the idea of just young teens together as more problematic since there are no older peers to act as friends and reference figures. Just thinking out loud and offering an alternate perspective to the matter.

Take care.

scraparcs · May 17, 2009

Got to run now. Please see meh's message above, thanks!

meh · May 17, 2009

i've got to go to bed. if someone else is on they'll open up

icarusforde · May 17, 2009

Thread re opened.

Atlantians · May 18, 2009

K9_Trainer said:
I want to add that I do not think your teen staff team, considering it is now down to 2 or 3 people, is a very good representation of what the teens really do need or want.

The ones who politely opposed the changes initially have gone, resigned or been removed. That leaves you with nothing but people who either agree with your proposed changes or are afraid/unwilling to speak up and no voice for what the cons will be, no voice for the community of teens you have and what their needs may be.

Teenagers are in a stage where they are capable of making decisions for themselves and deciding whats best for themselves or are learning to do so, yet they are still in need guidance, not command. Implementing these changes without their input because a minority of parents are complaining just seems like a formula for disaster when the majority is not in favor of these changes.

However, we understand that this is just an internet forum. We realize we are here at our own will and can leave at our discretion, and I'm sure those who are not in favor of those changes may very well do just that.

Again, I want to also point out:
-Many teens are also adults. That is an important point.
-And CFTeens was one of the most active sections with one of the largest populations of the site.

Vendetta · May 18, 2009

Richard said:
There is no vendetta against anyone.

No, but there is a Vendetta that tries to love everyone!

Anyway. I go through several forums on this site (Politics, Theology, among others), but I really loved going to the teens section and being able to be around people my age. Was very confused when I logged on today and couldn't find a teen forum. Very odd, and I've read all 10 pages here, so I know what's going on. I'm not a site veteran, and I don't have any personal relationships with anybody on this site, but man, it's not going to be fun to be unable to post in the CFT section when I still have -teen attached to my age.

But I'm praying for you all to have peace of mind over this matter. The banned comrades, too.

Atlantians · May 18, 2009

The best temporary solution I could suggest involves two things:

1-A group of a few (between 6 and 12 in total) trusted and well know Teen Forum participants of several ages be granted special 'Ambassadorial' privileges allowing them to interact in the relevant Staff areas without Staff power or privileges in order to discuss the Teen Forum changes. Maybe have them be elected by the Teens themselves.

2-When Teen Forums is opened again, it is with the same age restriction as before on the general talking area, but 13-19 on the other areas.
This would be provisional and only be a stop-gap measure before a true revamp is decided upon. This would primarily serve as a temporary ability for myself and the other older members to socialize and prepare to leave the forum on a good note rather than such a difficult and sudden one.

Also: Meh, I can't respond to your PM because your PM box is deactivated.

CrazyPerson · May 18, 2009

Atlantians said:
The best temporary solution I could suggest involves two things:

1-A group of a few (between 6 and 12 in total) trusted and well know Teen Forum participants of several ages be granted special 'Ambassadorial' privileges allowing them to interact in the relevant Staff areas without Staff power or privileges in order to discuss the Teen Forum changes. Maybe have them be elected by the Teens themselves.

I'm not sure all this is necessary but communication needs to be open. I see why your were upset about mods leaking information, but the fact currently is that pretty much all who are left to represent us either agree or were afraid to speak up.

By dividing the forum you are dividing up a significant amount of close friendships... I understand the minority parents concern, and respect the intend of trying to keep creeps away form there children... but the result will not be separation it will be they find a new place they can talk to each other, and that place does not have the mod system in place that CF does. Although I doubt anything is going to happen, i believe what little chance there is is even lower here then in some small forum there.

I think that a lot of the teens on CF really want to return here... thing is the longer you guys sit in the back room debating, the more people decide the new forum is equal or better. Grudges against the staff are not going to cool off via punishment, communication and forgiveness from the staff would lead to communication and forgiveness from the teens section. I am not for a second saying that the teens were innocent... some were not. However having there forum deleted with no warning... they are not in a place to open communication because in there view those attempts have just resulted in burnings.

OK I've said all that before but it needs to be repeated... whatever discussions need to happen need to be done quickly otherwise the teens aren't going to be back. Christainforums.com is a trusted forum, pushing people away from it is not the solution because they will simply go to forums that do not have any reputation good or bad... things happened all ready.

So a question for the staff... if the teens were to pick a few people to talk to you guys (I can bounce this idea off of them) to get our opinions across in a more direct way then an announcement thread are you open to it?

Please take this with respect. If anything sounded even the slightest bit disresepctfull it was unintended and i apolagize.

icarusforde · May 18, 2009

So a question for the staff... if the teens were to pick a few people to talk to you guys (I can bounce this idea off of them) to get our opinions across in a more direct way then an announcement thread are you open to it?

I cant speak for other staff, but this seems like a great idea. I assume you are bouncing it off them via Exile?

icarusforde · May 18, 2009

Never mind.

CrazyPerson · May 18, 2009

icarusforde said:
I cant speak for other staff, but this seems like a great idea. I assume you are bouncing it off them via Exile?

yes. if the staff agrees I will go bounce the idea off of everyone and see what happens. Hopefully, we can get some calm discussion going on both sides.

I want to make sure its going to happen before i ask though.. getting this together just to have the staff say no would cause even more of an uproar... which is not necessary or constructive.

icarusforde · May 18, 2009

yes. if the staff agrees I will go bounce the idea off of everyone and see what happens. Hopefully, we can get some calm discussion going on both sides.

I want to make sure its going to happen before i ask though.. getting this together just to have the staff say no would cause even more of an uproar... which is not necessary or constructive.

Agreed. I'll see what the blue hats have to say about this.

CrazyPerson · May 18, 2009

icarusforde said:
Agreed. I'll see what the blue hats have to say about this.

OK, in that case im off to bed... ill keep an eye on this thread and soon as we here more I will talk to people... also feel free to drop me a pm.

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