Out of interest... is RYL actually breaking any laws by 11+ children being on here? Are these restrictions for ACTUAL safety, or because some members can't handle seeing "xxx"?
19. The Internet is a global medium. Do websites set up and run abroad have to comply with the Rule?
Foreign-based websites must comply with COPPA and the Rule if they are directed to children in the United States, or if they knowingly collect personal information from children in the U.S. The definition of “operator” under both COPPA and the Rule includes foreign-based websites that are involved in commerce in the United States or its territories. As a related matter, U.S.-based websites that collect information from foreign children also are subject to COPPA and the Rule.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
I'm pretty sure it's also breaking a law by being aware of serious harm/abuse to children & young people without informing the relevant authorities. Can't quote for certain, but this generally happens on other websites.
the thing is, you can't guarantee someone is telling the truth, if you called authorities because you believed member 126 was being beaten by their parents & it was found out to be a lie, you could then be in trouble.
I'm pretty sure it's also breaking a law by being aware of serious harm/abuse to children & young people without informing the relevant authorities. Can't quote for certain, but this generally happens on other websites.
the thing is, you can't guarantee someone is telling the truth, if you called authorities because you believed member 126 was being beaten by their parents & it was found out to be a lie, you could then be in trouble.
True, good point. I just know on other websites I've been on, you have to be SO CAREFUL with what you say, otherwise they will call the police on your ass. Like, even down to your age when a certain thing happened, let alone saying abuse was actively being perpetrated.
I think unless someone tells you what's happening and where and by who with enough detail to actually do something about what can anyone do?
I have once got my mum [she's a headteacher and knows how it all works] to call customer first to give them a tip off on a person who I knew the school, age, abusers name and relation, because I was worried. Knowing it is a tip off, it is treated as such and hopefully someone would record it and if ever another similar tip off came along or the individual told someone it may be taken more seriously or acted upon faster.
But how can anyone be held responsible on the internet, we are not professionals with a duty of care, we are just listeners, its not an expectation anyone here should be held to.
Every site has that issue though. I'm pretty sure you need to be over 13 to be on Facebook, yet that has never stopped anyone. It's a bit like the sites for alcohol. You'll be asked to fill in your age, and anything over 18 will be fine. It's not hard to fake.
It's sad that an eleven year old might need a site like this, but not really surprising, at least from a personal viewpoint.
I think unless someone tells you what's happening and where and by who with enough detail to actually do something about what can anyone do?
I have once got my mum [she's a headteacher and knows how it all works] to call customer first to give them a tip off on a person who I knew the school, age, abusers name and relation, because I was worried. Knowing it is a tip off, it is treated as such and hopefully someone would record it and if ever another similar tip off came along or the individual told someone it may be taken more seriously or acted upon faster.
But how can anyone be held responsible on the internet, we are not professionals with a duty of care, we are just listeners, its not an expectation anyone here should be held to.
Would not be that hard to google first name + location on RYL + location on social networking site + any other relevant information (like phone numbers posted on facebook).
Mods have IP address logged = specific location can be found. Name of victim + name of perpetrator (ie. mum, dad, etc.) found online (ie. listed on facebook or whatever). Accusations + dates of alleged abuse figured out by posts on RYL.
Bingo. Police time.
Edit: I'm just saying what could happen & what the law is *shrugs*
Every site has that issue though. I'm pretty sure you need to be over 13 to be on Facebook, yet that has never stopped anyone. It's a bit like the sites for alcohol. You'll be asked to fill in your age, and anything over 18 will be fine. It's not hard to fake.
Yep. I can remember when myspace was popular and most of my friends were 100 years old to get around the under 13 block.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
I guess Chels, but I am unsure of your point. Does that mean you think what I did was wrong, or that more people should do it, or are you just making an observation?
Weep, I'm new and try to contribute to "the community" :((
Or at least, I try to be kind and supportive in chat. It just happens that I have found it easier to get talking to people in chat than I have on the forums. Anyway...
Personally, I just don't see how describing positive emotions experienced when self harming is going to help anyone who is struggling to stop self harming. In my opinion, if you want to describe your feelings, do so on another website.
Forget your perfect offering
There's a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Leonard Cohen
I don't know what I'm doing :p I guess I'm just loosely meaning... if we are going to make RYL "safe", then we may as well do the job properly. Plus someone mentioned COPPA or something earlier, so I sort of latched onto that :p
I'm not getting at anyone at all, I am just thinking a lot.
Mods have IP address logged = specific location can be found. Name of victim + name of perpetrator (ie. mum, dad, etc.) found online (ie. listed on facebook or whatever). Accusations + dates of alleged abuse figured out by posts on RYL.
IP addresses are tricky things. They aren't very accurate. Even INTERPOL's ant-creeper/hacker database has blips. And people at times have manually changed their IP to an IP from the other side of the world or used tor.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
cymraesfach, the thing is, this site advertises itself as for everyone in or not in recovery, so yes, it may not help someone trying to stop, but where do the people not ready to stop come into this. Its not like people are aloud to say how good something was on the support boards because they are meant to be pro recovery, but R&V is for everyone in or not in recovery. That doesnt mean I think it should be allowing overtly pro comments, but it should be more lax than the rest. If someone is in recovery and finds this one part of a whole forum triggering, why cant they use the ignore x board feature.
I don't go on chat, but surely someone has said on chat that self harming felt good and they want to do it again. Is that then not aloud either? [not sure exactly what I was trying to say right here]
Personally, I just don't see how describing positive emotions experienced when self harming is going to help anyone who is struggling to stop self harming. In my opinion, if you want to describe your feelings, do so on another website.
So you would say only negative feelings about self-harm should be posted? Like saying "I feel bad that I cut, I regret doing that." This site is supposed to be for everyone, no matter where they are in the recovery process. Not being ready to recover is not the same as being pro either.
