Why is this site 18+

[Not_A_Seagull]

title

 

[MidnightDream]

Few reasons probably. Legal reasons, bc kids are more easily influenced by things they can read online than adults, bc immoral

 

[whatevs]

IKR, it should be 7+ tops.

 

[FuneralCry]

Because some people want to force children to suffer in this hellish world against their wishes.

 

[RainAndSadness]

Why shouldn't it be +18?

 

[SilentSadness]

Because that's the commonly-accepted societal standard for discussion of suicide.

 

[Iva]

If I would have known about this site when I was younger than 18, my parents probably would have caught me browsing the site and that would have been a big problem. I'm so glad I found this website as an adult that lives alone. I don't have to be terrified of browsing this site freely.
(Although with that being said-- I'm actually quite paranoid about the potential prospect of law enforcement actively lurking on this site-- secretly trying to doxx us all until they can find someone within their jurisdiction.)

 

[ChildrensITV]

This makes me question op's age.

I think it's for the same reason you wouldn't want under 18 yos on pornsites or getting castrated (It amazes me how circumcision is allowed in the USA for male babies) or befriending adults parasocially or what have you. Can you imagine a 10 yo on here asking for tips? Wouldn't you feel shitty if you realized that you helped a 10 yo CTB?

Also, if you're under 18, there might be some hope for change. Very few 14 yo's lives are irreparable. And even if they are, let them wait until 18 or later to see if it can be fixed.

Another thing is that, we avoid this site becoming a place for angsty 13 yos who have no intention of CTB but who just feel sad or need attention, Let them stay on Eating Disorder forums for now. Young people's minds don't need the shit we post here.

But really and truely, we have no idea how old people are.

 

[Lunareonn]

Is this an actual question or are you trolling?

 

[reiko1337]

Minors are more easily influenced, their emotions are more sensitive too. They're more likely to rush ctb and that can lead to permanent damage in the future if they fail, meaning an even more painful future. You never know, they could do irreparable damage. Also, there's some (not all) that can manipulate minors into dangerous acts against their wishes. There's no reason why this site shouldn't be 18+.

 

[spacehardware]

Because suicide is a decision that requires careful, considered thought, and should not be taken lightly. A person's mind is still developing prior to adulthood and it would be unethical (and in my opinion wrong) to provide a space where minors can partake in discussions around this subject.

Much in the way that while children can express wishes about healthcare, parents/guardians who are 18+ have control over the decisions of what is medically done (within reason). I think it would be dangerous, reckless even, to invite minors into this space, and the site would probably be taken down quickly. I'm here to discuss my views and my considerations around my situation with other like-minded adults.

 

[TimeHasCome6]

Sometimes parents don't make the right decisions, though. They want to limit their children to what they want and it doesn't actually help their kid. I wish I'd had more say in the doctors office and to even my sexuality as a kid.

I think it could be lowered to 13+. I don't think seven year old should be on here but sometimes teenagers need somebody to talk to about this stuff without being sent away for their feelings of suicide. For some people this site is the reason they where able to recover. Why take that away from these kids.

There is an increasing rate of suicide in 13-17 year olds and I don't see why we shouldn't be a part in helping them.

 

[Caoine01]

Thanks to @sohosquare for making a notch on the other side too.

I would like to try to bring some additional facts into the discussion.
My belief is that grown-up people need to be treated with the same respect as grown-up people.

In the legal analysis, however, the extent to which the perpetrator is able to assess his actions as lawful is always taken into consideration. For this reason, drunk or intoxicated drivers, for example, are judged differently than willful speeders. In the legal system, the actions of young people are weighted according to the same principles. In order to find a standard for this, numerous medical brain examinations were used. These state that the consciousness of a person changes significantly up to the age of 21.

A subdivision was then derived:
- less than 14 years of incapacity,
- less than 18 years of conditional liability
- from the age of 21 as an adult.

Here we see where the 18 year age limit comes from. It is medically indicated and itself a compromise between 14 and 21.
The challenge now is how adolescents can be brought to the topic of self-determination.

In my opinion, it should be ensured that the exchange of opinions offered should be designed according to their individual level of development.
But this forum, if it doesn't want to lose its spontaneity, can probably not guarantee that.

I wish every youngster here to find a responsible mentor for PM's.

 

[Sittichmutter]

Because some people want to force children to suffer in this hellish world against their wishes.

Because otherwise some vampires would love seeing kids killing themselves here.

 

[Myforevercharlie]

Because in most countries 18 is the legal age of majority. SaSu is following that.

Whatever you think about it, 18 is the age when one is considered to be an adult.

Knowingly letting minors register can end up in a lot of trouble. Don't you think we've got enough of that?

 

[Lunareonn]

Because some people want to force children to suffer in this hellish world against their wishes.

So you know what they want?

 

[Not_A_Seagull]

Is this an actual question or are you trolling?

Its an actual question , idk why I would troll

IKR, it should be 7+ tops.

Nah it CLEARLY should be when your in the womb

Why shouldn't it be +18?

I get why for legal reasons but like it just kinda pisses me off on how people just tell teens the most generic responses when they have mental health issues

 

[borderline-feline]

It's because 18 is the age of majority in most countries. Minors aren't usually properly equipped to make a decision about ending their life.

 

[Sadbrains]

When I was 12, I tried to CTB (not really considering aspirin did nothing but give me an ulcer) because my Gamecube got taken for a month. Now, do you really want to give access to this site to people under 18 taking aspirin over a Gamecube? As much as I wish my problems were NOT irrelevant around 14+, I strongly believe that I was not capable of making rational decisions. I know this is not for everyone, but scientifically speaking, A LOT of people under 18 aren't ready to make decisions. Hell, I'd say 21, because that's when I feel I finally started to think about things fully.

 

[Mimi_]

A child is going to be influenced too much here. There are almost only users describing how cruel and horrible the world is and how hopeless evrything is (...yet they themselves are still here. Funny). But they probably made it 18+ for, as everyone has already mentioned, legal reasons. Since there is no other measure than clicking on a small checkbox to "prove" that you are not a minor, it is only a façade.

 

[arcadia]

Age of majority of course.

 

[SexyIncél]

Let's go beyond Yes vs No, but look at the real root problem

Highschool students in the US have a suicide attempt rate of 8.9%. My analysis is here. tl;dr: I think this site isn't the right place, but they need SOME safe international forum to talk and realize they needn't be alone. Protected from predators

 

[The Unpenetrated]

A child is going to be influenced too much here. There are almost only users describing how cruel and horrible the world is and how hopeless evrything is (...yet they themselves are still here. Funny). But they probably made it 18+ for, as everyone has already mentioned, legal reasons. Since there is no other measure than clicking on a small checkbox to "prove" that you are not a minor, it is only a façade.

Could you please enlighten us on why the world isn't horrible and hopeless? I really need that assurance, against everything I already know and believe. Literally the only two reasons the vast majority of us still stay is the built-in anti suicide mechanism called pain and the risk of failing an attempt.

 

[Mimi_]

Could you please enlighten us on why the world isn't horrible and hopeless? I really need that assurance, against everything I already know and believe. Literally the only two reasons the vast majority of us still stay is the built-in anti suicide mechanism called pain and the risk of failing an attempt.

This is how you perceive the world. I am not saying it isn't an horrible place sometimes. I know there is a lot of pain I am suffering too, but you can't sum up the world by JUST being like that. it's much more nuanced to me

 

[The Unpenetrated]

This is how you perceive the world. I am not saying it isn't an horrible place sometimes. I know there is a lot of pain I am suffering too, but you can't sum up the world by JUST being like that. it's much more nuanced to me

The pain is greater than the pleasure, probably by a significant margin. I'm not saying it's 100% pain and no pleasure, but living and existing are definitely not worth it. Even worse, we have absolutely no reason to think that it's not going to go even worse, like it has been in the past. Sadly the last 20 years or so have probably been the peak of humanity and it's still horrifying.

 

[sorrowful]

influence, maturity, and younger people may make more impulsive decisions

i have felt the way i do now since i was a child, the earliest i remember is being 8 and wishing i was not on this planet. i began self harm around a year later. i do wish i could of left the world earlier as my existence has only led to continuous suffering. however i still feel as if an age requirement is needed

 

[Sparr0w]

the site's gotten enough flack for "influencing minors to comitt suicide". while a lot of minors have very valid reasons for being depressed/suicidal;
1. it gives them time to reflect on their reasons - if my attempt at 13 had worked, i never would have known i was transgender or autistic. my death would have also been "because the past me would have wanted the current me to die", not "because the thought of working for 30+ years in this hellacape makes me want to ctb". most of the users here have had years to see who they are and the reasons beyond one bad month that they want to ctb.
2. it gives them a chance at life beyond the controlling thumb of an adult - not always, but living life outside of home, or with your own legal money, changes things.
i will also note that it's probably easy enough for a 16 or 17 year old to fake their age, so it honestly mostly just keeps out the younger teens.

 

[QteStimBnnuy]

I mean, it may be 18+ but it isn't reinforced. It's mostly a public face to hold people off that attack the site

It's a chill way to handling things

 

[Lunareonn]

Its an actual question , idk why I would troll

Ok taking this seriously:

I see why you might be upset, but letting children into a space like this is not good for their already fucked mental health in the long run. They can barely decide for themselves. It would be morally incorrect to let children into a forum like Sanctioned Suicide as it would influence them in the wrong direction, as they are still very easy to influence into doing something they might not actually want to do.
While yes, your reason to be upset IS valid, it is no reason to let young people into the site.
Children being let into forums like this would not fix anything that is wrong with the mental health care of the world. Most of us are not medical professionals.

 

[OutOfTheVoid]

cant believe this is a question but:

1. legal reasons
2. children can be easily manipulated by adults, which has unethical implications when we're talking about suicide and self-harm here; it would be a different story if there were a separate website specifically by and for minors (i.e. no adults)
3. who tf wants to deal with kids here? i just want to talk to other adults, not have to worry about some kids being on here