Younger members getting blamed for things

[Daisy and Delilah]

First of all, Jess, you've said everything I would have said and done such a beautiful job of explaining it(as always).

Alyssa, You're one of my favorite people here. I have always loved your posts, both written and pictorial. I always remember the captions you've used on Sassy's pictures. From the beginning, I would laugh so hard and think of how incredibly clever you were/are.
I am so sorry that anyone has upset you in any way. I think you're a great person, and a lovely and gracious lady. Like Jess said, be proud of yourself and don't let anybody here bother you!!

p.s. I'm really going to miss you while you're gone so I hope we can count on you to keep us posted on how you're getting along. Take care.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I agree Alyssa. I think it must sort of be partly stereotype. Maybe they think we are all like... gothic-emo-cutters or something. It is pretty annoying, but don't let it get you down!

(((HUGS)))

[Giselle]

Speaking as a "young member", you should also utilize everything you see on this board as a growing experience. I think Jess said it beautifully when she suggested to keep proving the stereotype wrong. My life is dedicated to battling stereotypes and age is just another check on the list. Maturity does not come with age, unfortunately. Age is not the bringer of wisdom. Age is simply a number. However, with age comes more responsibility and more realization. Just as you have grown with this board, you've realized how others are sometimes blaming younger members for trolling, and that's a wonderful thing, Alyssa. It's wonderful to be able to open our eyes and to see the world from multiple view points. But, as you've noticed, some view points can be critically wrong and the best we can do is to correct those wrongs against us, be it passively or aggressively. When it comes to public forums like these, the best way to combat these unfortunate stereotypes is to keep posting with maturity, composure, and dignity.

I once spoke with a man who studied human behavior, and he told me that companies attract more customers when their employees are *sincerely* honest and willing to help. This shows us that people are attracted to dignity and respect. When you have respect for someone, you open your mind to them and you listen to their advice with earnest intrigue. So what does this prove to us? This tells us that the best we can do is to keep posting. Keep maintaing your dignity in all your posts. Keep your composure. Keep maintaining your maturity, and, soon, the stereotypes will fall away. Don't let a couple troll-ish posts ruin your experience. Look beyond that and find a higher goal in helping others with sincere dignity and respect. Like anything else, it will always repay you in the end

[Flatcoatluver]

Alyssa I felt the same way until last night, I couldn’t sleep and started thinking. I think a couple members in here (including you) are a great role model of how teens and adults should act on PT. It’s not just us “children”, but of coarse this discussion on this thread has already been brought up.I also think I have grown and matured with PT. I was looking at my post last year and I am so embarrassed. I really can’t believe I typed and spelled like that. I know I am not perfect right now. But Geesh!

At work, I am always treated by my clients like I know nothing until I open my mouth. I get a lot of response of how mature they think I am. Also “children” can accomplish almost anything adults can do, and I just proved it to myself when I was asked to teach basic agility class.

I really thought I wasn’t really supposed to be here on PT. That people don’t accept me, and that I am one of those teens who annoy other members. But a couple days ago, some members that I thought didn’t like me started to become friendly and caring to me.

I also have a natural voice that sounds kind of babyish, and I used to try and talk in a lower voice to change my voice, so people don’t think of me as immature, I will answer the phone at work, and people will ask me if my mommy’s there. But once I educate them on dogs, they then ask me how old I am and there always is a shock when I say I’m 16.

Everyone posted great responses and I enjoy reading them. I really think it’s great to post these kind of things, it strengthens are community on pt. I could go on and on about this topic. To bad I can’t type a lot about my English essay I am trying to do right now.

[Miss Z]

Thank heavens for you, Alyssa. I was thinking about posting a thread like this myslef recently, but you can word such matters far more gracefully (and politely!) than I.

I don't come on Pet Talk nearly as much as I used to, yes, partly due to schoolwork taking priority of my freetime, but also due to the matter of this thread. Sometimes, I get fed up of seeing threads made by teens not taken seriously, or opinions being ridiculed or discarded on the main basis that we, as adolescents, don't have enough experience of the world. And that's just complete rubbish.

I thank the adults who've posted on the thread with their sympathetic and helpful posts, you really are great to be around, and as teenagers we know that we can always turn to you for advice and can expect it given in a kind and curteous manner.

No-one knows everything and no-one here is completely thick, sometimes I end up thinking to myself that should be taken into consideration more in certain threads!

[Twisterdog]

Personally, I generally have no idea at all how old someone is, what gender they are, etc. I don't go out searching for that information in profiles ... I don't care.

Perhaps you know I'm a middle-aged married woman ... or perhaps you might have thought I'm a teenager, or a man. How would anyone know, unless they read something in a specific post? And why would anyone care?

I could care less how old someone is. I don't know, and don't care. If someone types an incoherant post, I don't read it. If someone is rude and hateful, I call them on it. If someone posts incorrect information, I attempt to tactfully inform them. If someone posts a touching story or an insightful piece of information, I commend them for it. I do these things for EVERYone, I don't care how old you are.

I guess what I'm trying to say nicely is this: no one knows right off the bat how old a member is. If that member ACTS immature, they are probably going to, at some point by someone, be called immature and asked to grow up a little. That person could be 14 or 67 ... it is a person's ACTIONS on here that will garner criticism, not simply that person's chronilogical age. Act mature and you will be treated as such. And visa versa. I know some very mature, intelligent and reasonable teenagers on this board and in "real life". And I know some immature, silly and annoying adults. Treat others with respect, think before you post, don't get dragged down into petty, gossipy arguments ... and no one will ever question your age.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Personally, I generally have no idea at all how old someone is, what gender they are, etc. I don't go out searching for that information in profiles ... I don't care.

Perhaps you know I'm a middle-aged married woman ... or perhaps you might have thought I'm a teenager, or a man. How would anyone know, unless they read something in a specific post? And why would anyone care?

I could care less how old someone is. I don't know, and don't care. If someone types an incoherant post, I don't read it. If someone is rude and hateful, I call them on it. If someone posts incorrect information, I attempt to tactfully inform them. If someone posts a touching story or an insightful piece of information, I commend them for it. I do these things for EVERYone, I don't care how old you are.

I guess what I'm trying to say nicely is this: no one knows right off the bat how old a member is. If that member ACTS immature, they are probably going to, at some point by someone, be called immature and asked to grow up a little. That person could be 14 or 67 ... it is a person's ACTIONS on here that will garner criticism, not simply that person's chronilogical age. Act mature and you will be treated as such. And visa versa. I know some very mature, intelligent and reasonable teenagers on this board and in "real life". And I know some immature, silly and annoying adults. Treat others with respect, think before you post, don't get dragged down into petty, gossipy arguments ... and no one will ever question your age.

That was beautiful...

[DIANESDOGS]

Personally, I generally have no idea at all how old someone is, what gender they are, etc. I don't go out searching for that information in profiles ... I don't care.

Perhaps you know I'm a middle-aged married woman ... or perhaps you might have thought I'm a teenager, or a man. How would anyone know, unless they read something in a specific post? And why would anyone care?

...If that member ACTS immature, they are probably going to, at some point by someone, be called immature and asked to grow up a little. That person could be 14 or 67 ... it is a person's ACTIONS on here that will garner criticism, not simply that person's chronilogical age.

I would have thought you were an adolescent girl by the tone of most of your posts I have recently seen here!

You know, the kind that is an expert on everything and is very condescending of those who do not share your opinions and sense of humor (or shall I say, LACK OF).

I don't post on PT much, but I like to read the threads and see everyone's pets from time to time. I should say that one of my all time favorites is BD with his tongue in cheek, sometimes eloquent style of writing and I did not appreciate your latest effort to bash him!!!

Great that you have contributed here where you are most admired and respected - the "Land of the Lost and Confused". Perhaps it is YOU THAT NEEDS TO GROW UP and get a life.

[Catsnclay]

I will answer the phone at work, and people will ask me if my mommy’s there.

LOL - sorry, but when I answer the phone, people ask me that too, and I'm over 50!!!

I know it hurts now, but when you reach my age, trust me, you will laugh it off.


And BTW, when you do reach 50 - you won't LOOK like it!!! That's the nice perk of looking young now. I have met old school mates that are the same age, and they look like they could be MY parents!

Don't get upset over it, have fun with it!!!!

[dab_20]

I, too, have felt that way before. But as many people explained (very well I might add!) it's immaturity, instead of age. Some people might unconciously assume someone is a younger person if they are acting immature.

I also think I have grown and matured with PT. I was looking at my post last year and I am so embarrassed. I really can’t believe I typed and spelled like that. I know I am not perfect right now. But Geesh!

You took the words right out of my mouth!! I look at my posts before and I cannot believe how much I changed the way I say things... plus I type better and capitalize things! I also cannot believe how ignorant and biased I was. I just coulden't except others opinions because I didn't want to hear them, even though they were right! That is why I'm so glad I joined this forum... I've learned so much, not to forget to mention, I've become a much more mature and open-minded person. I'm very embaressed and sorry for the way I acted when I was a newbie, and am glad how forgiving people are!