- Demerzel
- |
- Senior Heroic Member
For what it's worth, I agree with everyone else. I believe that we all are naturally predisposed to dislike people based on any sort of difference -- I think that it's one of the unfortunate things that we unwittingly agreed to when we signed the paperwork to became human beings.
There are a few technical differences between age discrimination on the internet and in real life, but the point is still the same: discrimination against someone simply because of any sort of difference just shows that a person has no integrity or character.
Age, for instance, is not a valid measure of maturity, but it does sometimes lead to discrimination. It's especially complicated and stupid through the internet -- we really don't have a means of telling how old each other really are, apart from taking each other's word for it. Because we're reliant on words to express ourselves, people who can use words the most eloquently are sometimes considered to be the most mature. That's sometimes incorrect -- it's unwise and wrong to judge people when you've met them face-to-face, but even more so when all you have to base your opinions on is some text on a forum. Hell, most of the people I've met on forums are shocked if I reveal that I'm only 15.
Incidentally, discrimination can work the other way, as well -- if someone is being favored just because they're older or they use words more eloquently, or whatever the case may be, then that's also just not condusive to having good, fun conversations.
The internet may not have a set of rights, but I believe that people should nevertheless be entitled to visit and use it freely, without having to worry about being subjected to serious prejudice and discrimination. I'm thankful that, thus far, I've stumbled on the parts of the internet that agree.
Demerzel out.
[Edited on 01.03.2008 7:08 PM PST]