Easier way of checking if a character's player is legal

[Jason W.]

I play this game for the interesting social, political and economical dynamics. If you want to have cyber-sex, there's lots of places to do that. If you want to explicitely RP sex, go inside and do it, most people wouldn't have sex in front of a crowd. (But then.. we aren't most people). I think having a button or display of any kind that says "be careful of your actions, there are minors present" fully extracts us from the fantasy and makes it feel like a "game". People may as well start writing "lawls.. my toon smacks ur toon".

If being able to publicly have cyber-sex is so important, you should start advertising this game a little differently.

Personally, *makes a romantic gesture to his wife* is about as far as I need to go. I have a real life girlfriend, and I get all the real life action I need so I'm focused more on the other aspects of the game.

Basically, while you're all out having sex and whatnot, im in ur townz steelin ur limestonez.

[phoenixannwn]

I think you misunderstand. We certainly don't want people having sex in the town square.
And I share your feelings--I have a boyfriend, I certainly don't need to cyber; but my characters are adults, and I want them to act like adults--adults generally have a healthy sex life.
And since going [[OOC: NO SEX PLZ]] DOES break that fourth wall, I think this is a good solution.

[joo]

For me the problem still would exist. Legalities aside, there is a moral implication.

If someone wants to engage in "explicit" RP, it is naive to think that checking the age they specify will stop them. If someone doesn't want to do so, they can opt out with an OOC message when things are going that way and if the small amount of it they read before they do that traumatises them because they're so sensitive, I would wonder why they're playing a game like Cantr in the first place where people kill each other with swords and bows.

[phoenixannwn]

It's not always about traumatization, sometimes it's about simple irritation.

[Joshuamonkey]

It's not always about traumatization, sometimes it's about simple irritation.

Or religious values. To be honest, with the books teenagers are allowed to have (or supposed to have, in school), I wouldn't expect there to be many legality issues. Most of the time I played Cantr I was a minor; now I'm not, and my opinion hasn't changed. I wish I had skipped over/ignored more events than I did.
I've never had to OOC tell someone to be appropriate in Cantr, because I've never had such a relationship in Cantr. I did in FTO though (in FTO that's how newspawns come). Most of my characters are old, so yeah..

but my characters are adults, and I want them to act like adults--adults generally have a healthy sex life.

I'm not even sure what to say to this. Cantr's a game, but do as you will..

If people feel that something needs to be done, why not simply automate the age verification process? Just add a button that tells you if they're of age or not when you click it.

There's the solution.

[phoenixannwn]

but my characters are adults, and I want them to act like adults--adults generally have a healthy sex life.

I'm not even sure what to say to this. Cantr's a game, but do as you will..

What I mean is--while my characters would like to have sex, I do not want to sit through their sex scenes.

[Addicted]

For me the problem still would exist. Legalities aside, there is a moral implication.

If someone wants to engage in "explicit" RP, it is naive to think that checking the age they specify will stop them. If someone doesn't want to do so, they can opt out with an OOC message when things are going that way and if the small amount of it they read before they do that traumatises them because they're so sensitive, I would wonder why they're playing a game like Cantr in the first place where people kill each other with swords and bows.

Perhaps define explict role play?
I have had several characters find themselves in unwanted or MA rated positions. My characters did not initiate these or realise they were going to happen until it was too late. An OOC message by then was semi-redundant. The damge was done! These were not romances or social interactions gone in a direction of sexual role play. Many were not pure sex, but sadistic, violent acts or sick. perverted actions. Yes I'm naive to think that I can protect those I think would be traumatised by these types of events, but I will keep on trying. I know the responsibility rests on those players whose characters perpatrate these scenarios, but I wonder if knowing a player is underage would stop them. If the answer is no, then either those underage should be banned or measures should be taken to tone the game down. If ALL players acted responsibly regarding minors then I would feel much more comfortable. I still feel we all have a moral obligation, if not a legal one, here.

Someone faking their age or a minor looking for a sexual adventure is another issue entirely. I don't know the answer to this. But I am sure it gives the staff a few headaches.

I still fully support the idea of flagging an underage person at a location. Even if it gives them away. I think many players might stop and tone the scenario details down. I worry though that some idiots would play up even more. We've all met them in game. Clearly though, a complaint would ensue, but by then it's too late.

[muidoido]

I still fully support the idea of flagging an underage person at a location. Even if it gives them away. I think many players might stop and tone the scenario details down. I worry though that some idiots would play up even more. We've all met them in game. Clearly though, a complaint would ensue, but by then it's too late.

Maybe with the possibility of being banned from the community and denounced to the authorities (Special victims unit? ), 99% would not be a jerk. And the other 1% will have their asses busted by Mariska Hargitay, like common pedophiles...

[Cwalen]

Just as a rule of thumb, and yes it is more difficult to apply in Cantr than real life, if you need to ask them for ID don't go there.

<edit> and report to the PD, the rest of the society around you and the authorities if you get it wrong.

We cant filter for this, I could say something that would make the marquis de sade blush without using rude words.

[RedQueen.exe]

I think you misunderstand. We certainly don't want people having sex in the town square.
And I share your feelings--I have a boyfriend, I certainly don't need to cyber; but my characters are adults, and I want them to act like adults--adults generally have a healthy sex life.
And since going [[OOC: NO SEX PLZ]] DOES break that fourth wall, I think this is a good solution.

I don't know how well this would work for situations like that. If I saw some kind of indicator that they didn't want explicit RP, I would steer clear of having any physical relationship at all with that character. I'm just not always sure where different people draw that line, and I'd rather not deal with it.

[viktor]

*shakes his head* i'm not against it but.. i cannot see how this would actually work. a number of points already raised.

sitting at home on a computer, anyone computer literate could sign up. if teens can use fake id's to get into clubs, how could we concievably even attempt to monitor the true age of players. only by using special government issue numbers like birth certificate registry, or a passport or drivers liscence or social insurance number... someone could just to grab thier parents. and even if we did that... cantr is supposed to be a free site and this method would cost and is therefore... unimplimentable


IN GAME! some places already say not to whisper too much outside, so it's not a hard concept that these same societies would, if it became a prevalent issue, ask the same of thier people if they started going at it in public.

also isn't there a general rule we discussed a few years ago that if a player does not wish to engage in sexual rp, they do not have to and could report someone who persistantly keeps trying to force themselves on their char (easily checked by events for the classic (OOC: no sexual rp for this char) or (OOC: i'm younger than you want to know so put it in someone else). ) which is only needed in extreem cases anyways because rpwise, a char could just say in character they are not interested in going inside to fool around or w/e and it never gets to the point of even needing an OOC

also anyone who is a sadist who takes someone and locks them up for disgusting NON romantic horrors should allow for enough time before going all the way for the other char to either interact OR post thier OOC sexlessness.

started playing early 2004 only 2 of my chars got laid, each once, one other time someone wanted to rp forcing themself on my char which is a haneous and execution worthy crime in rl in my opinion, in game i refused to aknowledge it and the guy was executed *snaps fingers* before a tick passed.

my conclusion is.. there's nothing that can be effectivly programmed here with regards to this, regardless of how much we'd want to.

[phoenixannwn]

Again, why I'm saying a "click if you don't want to graphically RP sex" button should be available. Yes, we can't enforce the age thing, so why bother? If they wanna do it, they're gonna do it. If they don't, we should certainly make it easier for them.
Christ.

[Cwalen]

I've been having a bit of success with simply raising the complexity of my descriptions when presented with this problem. Equally useful for determining if someone can write well, can describe their chosen genders responses and if they have any experience with actually being intimate.

Mind you, not looking to get laid means the other party stopping works for me.

[Wolfsong]

Aren't people supposed to OOCly ask for consent ahead of any explicit roleplay, including but not limited to roleplay of a sexual and/or graphically violent nature?

[Doug R.]

It's good form to do so, but it's not required.