Please place your vote then express your reasons in the thread, so as to get a clearer idea of who wants what. Let it never be said again that I made an inferior poll!

Does 16 count as a child or an adult?

Car Expert

Adults are 18 or older, as far as I am aware...

So how come when I pay for bus and train fares I'm an adult?

Car Expert

Well, if we're going for 18 as an Adult... *Votes*

Sorry forgot to post.. I voted a bit ago as maybe & a child.

'Cos the forums don't run the country. If they did, it would be 18.

It's taken me ages to form an opinion on this, and I didn't want to post irrationally. I agree with the quotes below, which were made by jod in the Adults Only thread.

Whilst I think I do have the ability to remain level-headed on most topics, there have been times when I wished I hadn't got into a discussion. I tend to read most threads which have a remotely interesting title, or which are referred to in other threads.

Speaking to the other 'children' (under 18s) here - Ok, so in a way, an adults only section would exclude us from part of the forum, but I doubt all of the adults are going to lock themselves away there permanently. For those of us who truly to value their advice and guidance, surely we can still obtain it by posting anywhere else in the forum? (Please correct me if I am wrong in this assumption .)

EDIT: I voted 'Yes (I am a child)'

I voted yes I am an adult - but it still depends on the format of the whole thing, and think it should also depend on a certain number of posts to show that the adult is not just a newbie who's out to rock the boat. I agree with jod's posts too.

Same as above. I've come across variations of the idea on other forums. (Though one is a 'senior members' forum, rather than being linked specifically to age). It could make posting on some subjects easier if there wasn't the necessity to make sure everything you said was PG... Though I don't think anyone is really wanting X-rated either. But somewhere in between, perhaps...

I voted "yes (I am an adult)" having read jod's posts in the other thread. She makes a very good point, something I wouldn't have really thought of as I don't have kids of my own and tend to forget sometimes that there are "kids" (although very few of them come over a such!) reading the forums too.

I voted 'yes' as a child teenager () to throw the balance a bit. As Miss Ross said, and I on another thread, it's not as if all the adults are going to confine themselves to only the adult section. jod made good examples of where such a place would be useful - it's not for mature content or anything like that, but more sensitive issues, which still do affect music teachers and students alike.

~Wobby~

So, this new poll is currently equally divided... I voted maybe because it depends on definitions!! Namely 'Adult' and what the forum would be used for I tend to agree with Jod though, that it would be a good place to discuss sensitive issues.

I am reluctant to discriminate against any of our young members for whatever reason. I have enjoyed the ABRSM forums as an open forum, innocent and available to all of us, everywhere. I don't like the thought of cutting out our younger members from anything. I find their comments refreshing and amusing and enjoy their curiosity and eagerness to learn. Some posts by our more senior members have been a bit dodgy however I am weeeeeeell above the 18 'qualifying' age but actually find this thread somewhat intimidating. I won't be voting at all.

Who is going to decide what age anyone is anyway? Especially new arrivals.

I think most people know my reasons why its now a yes and I'm an adult.

Of course I'n not going to shut myself in such a place for ever. But I really don't think in a couple of weeks there will be thant many people under 18 who want to know the inside out of whats happening with my extension, though adults who have the builders in will be able to identify with any issues that arrive.

I have been very happy to congratulate exam success, but was grateful to the Double bar that I did not have to read at too great a length the fine details. (however I'm a real one to talk, I'm surprised that everyone's not fed up about my LRSM!)

I don't always want or need to discuss contentious issues, but they do crop up and I'm always grateful for other opinions.

I'm very pleasantly surprised about the revised opinion of the under 18s. It appears you do still want to have your teenage years relatively protected.

For those who missed it on the original poll thread here is my opinion.

No, I don't think it's needed or desirable.
For starters the heading 'Adult Only' is open to misinterpretation.
If you are adult enough you don't need a post things you don't want people to see..... anything like that I keep to myself or discuss in private with friends.

Though the arguments for both sides are compelling.

I agree with that as well. I think I mentioned it on one of the other posts on this topic. I've also read from previous posts that teachers in a lot of areas do seem to know each other, so why can't they discuss it with each other. As sbhoa has said, you can also discuss such matters with your friends.

No - see other threads (can't believe we have 3 running on the same topic!)

I'm starting to lose track of where they are. lol

There's a bus driver on my route who insists on giving me a child ticket even though I don't ask for a half (being 17 and all). My 15 year old [much taller] brother tends to have to pay full price though.

Umm anyway, I voted maybe...only 71 days until I can use the hypothetical forum.

I've voted no, for similar reasons to peri busy. I don't really see how one could prevent "under age" people participating anyway, as no-one is required to give their age when they join the forums. If some younger posters are annoying, one can always ignore them!

Well a bus driver assumed I was a kid the other day...

I think this whole discussion is fairly irrelevant - it's almost completely unworkable to create an age-restricted forum when the internet is basically anonymous. Unless the AB said they would consider this (which given the difficulty of implementing, and questionable purpose of such a forum) then this seems quite futile...

Rrrridiculous idea! Unenforceable, and what's worse, boring!


One of the main attractions of the place is the charming range of geriatrics and moppets, and I can't say that any one age group is in a position to take out a patent on bad behaviour.

As for sensitive issues, PM people about them if you must, or even better, maintain a stiff upper lip and keep all that stuff in the cupboard where it belongs.

I have voted 'no'. Why? Because I intensely dislike exclusivity. And because some of the most mature and thoughtful contributions to these Forums are made by those under the age of 18, and I would value their contribution to any topic.

I voted no (and I think I'm an adult although some would disagree )

I agree that the breadth and range of ages and opinions can be where the forums really shine, and like some others, I nearly always find myself interested in what the younger members have to say (and am delighted that some of them contribute to the teachers' forum, for example). I have been charmed, educated, entertained, even moved at times, when reading some of their posts. Some portray a much greater maturity than I think I had at their age. Many have shown great kindness, sensitivity, thoughtfulness to others, and courage and openness in writing about themselves.

Enough of my ramblings. I have (unless I'm getting forgetful in my old age) kept out of this so far, but these are my thoughts.

I'm not sure I would bother to read / contribute to an adults-only forum (no loss, you may say ! )

One of the main attractions of the place is the charming range of geriatrics and moppets
nicely put all ears

Yes, All Ears, I loved your phrase too. I have voted NO also. I really cannot see any need for anything to be discussed in such detail that would call for the exclusion of members below a certain age. It is a music forum first and foremost, with a cafe for the dafter members amongst us to have some fun and that I think is all that is needed. I was very unhappy with the way that the recent thread about Nureyev ended. If I had been the young member's parent I would have been cross at the thought of my son discussing such details with adults here. It was not the time or the place for it and I was pleased to see it deleted. There are PMs and that very dead alternative forum for anything else. I suspect that an adult section would end up as dead as a dodo soon enough too.

Oh dear...I start an innocent thread and come back from my hols in Bucharest to find it all went horribly pear shaped and got deleted, and seems to have started a number of discussions on an 'adults only' area.

I am left wondering about what happened (but please don't tell me, no need to reopen past discussions).

In the meantime I am firmly against an adults only area...this is primarily a music forum and although we do get into healthy debates on other subjects I can't see what extra benefit this would have. The lovely mix of age groups here is fantastic, and I would not want to exclude any of our younger members from anything I have to say on these fora. If I can't say it in front of them, then I shouldn't be saying it anyway.

If a thread does turn unhealthy (as it appears to have done in my absence), then the mods will delete (as they have done). As I don't know what was said there I am unsure if this is true, but if it went so badly pear shaped why would we want to continue such a discussion as adults only anyway?

I voted 'maybe' only on the account of not knowing exactly what is an 'adult' forum. If we're just simply saying a forum for those 18+, then, no....we don't need one here and I'll try to explain as best why. If there is subject material not suitable for a younger person, then I need to ask why is it not suitable. Is it because they simply won't understand? The topics are too advanced and 'philosophical'? Well, that's okay, kids are surrounded by adults talking about taxes, calories, coffee, politics, insurance etc. that they just won't understand...so in their best interest...they'll probably pursue a different thread or create a new one. However, if we're referring to personal-type material on a more relational basis - speaking of spouses, or a bad day at teaching, then I suggest a person use discretion in this kind of atmosphere anyways. At the music school where I work, I rarely speak in 'gritty' adult language, in order to keep a professional demeanor. So, if I'm off-base, please let me know, then I'll have a better idea of what an adult forum is.