Question on TOS?

See what happens when an eight-year-old is allowed to comment on PFB?
hehe

Never thought this would have so many comments. My issue in writing
this is not with the writer....it's with the TOS not being applied
fairly. It started with the infamous KT and now this....

Because that's not true.

If The PFB Team is going to make exceptions, then why not make them
for everyone? Once The PFB Team starts making exceptions to the TOS,
where should it end? Why should some people be an exception and
others not? Kinda like Target's return policy.

Yes, I think exceptions are great. But how can a TOS be fair to
everyone if exceptions are made? Why should some people get special
treatment. What's the criteria? The problem is not with exceptions,
it's with fairness.

Then they're not exceptions anymore. They can and should be made based
on unusual or extraordinary circumstances. The PFB Team is not
heartless.

I think exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis and I'm
comfortable with that. I don't believe anyone who gets an exception
made is receiving some kind preferential treatment.

The TOS is fair to everyone as everyone has the same rules applied to
them absent, as I said, unusual or extraordinary circumstances.
That's why the PFB Team doesn't doll them out to everyone.

This has been the problem since the initial argument ensued regarding
TOS.

Venice, myself, and quite a few others, have been arguing our case for
weeks now that the TOS has been unfairly enforced. We've been stating
that some people have been allowed to say what they wish, while others
responding have had their comments unfairly removed. The excuse given
is that our comments violate TOS, when clearly the same could be
applied to the other comments that were allowed to remain. We've
stated that enforcement of these TOS rules are arbitrarily enforced,
and that exceptions appear to be made towards certain people. We've
been told that TOS rules are applied equally across the board, yet
evidence clearly points to the contrary.

Now, by their own admission, PFB does in fact make exceptions to TOS,
which only serves to strengthen our initial claim. Personally, I have
no problem with an 8-year old using this site and writing a letter.
Clearly, the letter writer in question can put together a decent
letter, and would be an asset to the site. However, if this site is
going to change the TOS rules at their own whim, who's to say that
they don't routinely do that when deciding which comments are allowed
to remain, and which get deleted?

That's the crux of the whole situation here.

To the people below -
I think this part of the TOS is a legal issue - collecting information
from users under the age of 13 is governed by the Children's Online
Privacy Protection Act.

I got the impression that it was under a parent's account as well.

I don't think moaning about the 13+ rule is apples to apples with
commenting rules. One is site policy and the other one is law governed
by the FTC.

Perhaps the TOS should be revised. Many kids of the age of that
letter writer have been online for a few years and surely this site
provides a communication tool that kids can use as well as adults.

If this is done to protect kids: I feel that the level of moderation
on this provides a much safer environment for a young person to
interact with adults than other websites. If any conversation were to
get inappropriate, it likely would get dealt with promptly.

I just don't think using this site provides much risk to kids, and I
think kids have a lot to offer a site like this.

Yes, our TOS does require users be at least 13 years old. In this case
we made an exception for the following reasons:

1. Every indication is that the 8 year was using an adult account,
most likely a relative.

2. It was a great letter. We are happy to provide a way for this young
person to offer feedback.

He has written two letters so far. If this person continues to write
letters then we will certainly take another look at the situation
however we're not particularly worried about it at the moment.

Thanks for helping make sure folks use our site properly!

Good Eye, didnt catch that.

Wonder what will happen?!?!?! Hmmmmmm


Good Day