[Foundation-l] Minors and sexual explicit stuff

[geni]

2009/11/18 private musings <thepmaccount at gmail.com>:
> Ray,
>
> you seem to me to be essentially discussing the 'users' perspective on
> wikipedia - whilst it's my view that the foundation, and the projects could
> (and should) do more to allow things like descriptive image filtering for
> users (I think it would drive participation in places like schools, and
> librairies) I'm also interested in discussing the perspective of
> 'participant' in the project.

Given how disruptive "think of the children" can be mere interest is
not a valid reason for getting involved with this area.

> I think there are important duty of care issues for whomever is responsible
> for children's involvement in projects like wikipedia,

That would be their parents.

>and I don't believe
> the foundation, and projects, should simply pass the buck of responsibility
> upstream to the parent.

What you believe isn't relevant. The responsibility is with the parents not us.

>Encyclopedia's are rightly exciting and interesting
> to children, and I think it's just reality that large numbers of
> participants are minors (wiki's fun, right! :-) - we really should at least
> talk about whether or not these participants are protected / treated /
> advised appropriately.

Per current US law yes. If the law changes we can reconsider our activities.

> for example, it would be my advice to a minor that it's inappropriate for
> them to join this (not safe for work discussion) about whether or not to
> include 'hardcore photos' in the oral sex article (
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Oral_sex#Hardcore_photos )

Please provide a list of your qualifications to provide such advice.

>
> There are important ethical issues here (maybe legal ones too, I don't know)
> - I've tried to reach out to Volunteering Australia (
> http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s01_home/home.asp ) who I hope may
> be able to offer some advice about good practice in working with volunteer
> kids etc.

Wikipedia does not answer to Australian law. Please provide a
transcript of what you have said.

>but I think this might be able to go much further much quicker on
> a foundation level.


>
> I'd like to see some concrete progress (a report, some ideas, anything
> really!) related to ensuring appropriate and adequate measures are in place
> to protect child participants in foundation projects.

They are.

-- 
geni