Age Verification on LPF?

[styropyro]

I'm more with regulating based on post count, because you have a better chance of figuring out how a person really is then just by age. I've been modding and building lasers for nearly 5 years and I'm only 17, I know I am responsible with lasers because I learned how dangerous lasers were by reading up on the forums.

 

[charliebruce]

I disagree with age-only (for the same reason I disagree with any age-based restrictions in society), the only way to know if a person is likely to be safe and responsible is to see how they behave and what they do in their time on the forum. Most of the time, you can judge someone's maturity based on a very select number of posts (I have my own personal method for judging users based on their text and behaviour). I personally wouldn't sell any laser-related accessories to anyone I didn't deem responsible, and even then, if I'm not sure about a member I'll give them a set of terms/conditions of sale, before accepting payment. I'd be more vigilant still if I sold complete units and not just parts.

 

[lasersbee]

I'm more with regulating based on post count, because you have a better chance of figuring out how a person really is then just by age. I've been modding and building lasers for nearly 5 years and I'm only 17, I know I am responsible with lasers because I learned how dangerous lasers were by reading up on the forums.

Just by your posts and language we can see that you are responsible
and laser safety conscious... no matter what your age...
But it is difficult to put together a set of parameters that will
include everyone and make everyone happy... hence a line needs
to be drawn to protect the majority...
Where that line is or should be... I have no clue...

Normally the line is drawn to protect the most irresponsible or protect
against the irresponsible...

Jerry

 

[Codiejman]

I would be afraid for my eyes if some of my friends had a high powered laser friends older than me. Muturity is something that is a must when having too much laser power. That aren't toys

 

[hakzaw1]

Well, I really don't know what to say about Age Verification.
I agree with some arguments, but I do agree with Grix.
I'm 16 and I feel I'm can handle high powered lasers because of all I learned here. I think there are also other people like me.
On the other hand, I think how I was when I was younger. All I cared was about burning. I had a credit card and nothing would stop me. Luckily I've always been myself and more mature than the other buys.
Now, I have older friends that have 100mW+ lasers and have no IDEA of how it works. Asking for protection is, then, worthless. I've done my part, convincing my friends to buy at least the $8 ones (since they all have greenies)
That's a very complex question.

Now, I won't comment on what Tech_Junkie said. He's also right.

I think you mean ...don't agree with some...


and,...guys,...not ..
'buys' ...perhaps-- just sayin'

ps

And belated Welcome 'Brazil' from Texas---Len

 

[DJNY]

Igor hands out disclaimers that need to be signed before sending the laser.

Interesting, never heard of this before :thinking:

 

[diachi]

I'm not putting down kids, but lets face facts. Out of 100 kids, you will get maybe 10 that is responsible. That's 1 out of 10. Sorry but those are not good enough odds to convince me that anyone should be selling high powered lasers to kids. Facts are kids like to play. That's why most kids dont own a BB gun. Lets be realistic here.

So you are saying because of other idiotic kids, and we are not ALL idiots, infact the majority of us are not - that myself and several other very responsible members who are under 18 should not be allowed to buy lasers on this forum?

 

[siqueirah]

I think you mean ...don't agree with some...

The first mistake was a wrong word's choice. I meant I ALSO agree. I was trying to highlight the fact that I also agree with Grix.

About the "buys": the G is right above the B. I pressed the wrong key by accident.

Thanks =)

 

[hakzaw1]

You are welcome--happens to me ALL the time. thank god for the edit button. lol

 

[Rafa]

I didn't read the thread... anyway I'm just 15 and I am SURE that I have more responsability than LOTS of >18 yo people. So it doesn't really matter the age. Never judge someone for how it looks, age, etc...

 

[charliebruce]

i mean an adult can buy one for a kid ... but they are taking the risk. but then again there are childish adults who like to point lasers at planes

Exactly the reason why restricting it by age would not work, and is not fair... There are mature kids and irresponsible adults, so drawing a line and saying "Anyone younger is immature" is flawed. The "ideal" solution would be a maturity test (should such thing exist) - but a better indicator of maturity than age, is how someone behaves. The forum is a pretty good way of judging that - after a few hundred posts, most people have "shown their hand" pretty well.

 

[Grix]

kids are not responsible, they just say they are, further dding to the irresponsibilty. a kid can say that they are responsible, but the second that a laser gets sent to their house they will turn it on point it off a mirror and blind themselves or others. be it as it may that im only 18 and still kinda immature i do still believe that high powered lasers (50mw and up) should only be available to someone at least 18 (considered and adult).

Nice logic there.. Just because you are 18 and immature, everyone under 18 have to be immature.

 

[siqueirah]

By they way, someone has just started to talk about the 1W 445nm lasers. It'll soon become popular. That's what I'm afraid of....

 

[charliebruce]

Nice logic there.. Just because you are 18 and immature, everyone under 18 have to be immature.

More blunt, but exactly the point I was trying to make

 

[Tech_Junkie]

Guys dont get defensive. Obviously you guys are an exception to the rule, but you cant just hand out lasers to kids without knowing their stance. And most of Joe Public are morons.

So you are saying because of other idiotic kids, and we are not ALL idiots, infact the majority of us are not - that myself and several other very responsible members who are under 18 should not be allowed to buy lasers on this forum?

Did you miss the above quote, or just read what you wanted to hear?

 

[StardustSprinkles]

I have to say I totally disagree with any age restrictions on a forum. I'm 16, look at my sig, none of those lasers have been used irrisponsibly by me, or anyone I've let handle them. It sucks, really, because I think that it is true, most people my age would look for a highway or flying plane as soon as their laser came in the mail, but this is true with any age group, one of my friends' parents has called me a pu**y before because I wouldn't hit the airplane they saw flying through the night sky, same with alot of older guys I know, I've had to forcefully defend my laser before because this guy was like "give it to me, I wanna shine it on that plane!". When it comes down to it, it's the luck of the draw, you can hope you get all semi-responsible people with common sense and the ability to forsee consequenses to their actions, but you'll always have those few like "viper" "mrgoogfan" and that kid who ripped off Pheonix77 (was it?). There's some very irrisponsible who own guns, cars, knives, and obviously lasers are next in line.