[Caz]

I feel so strongly about the new forum started by a 12 year old , that I have written a letter to the Observer.

Let's see if it gets printed!
A month late would be par for the course though. ;D

September 5, 2003

Accrington Observer

Dear Sir:
I just had to write and voice my opinion on the new forum you publicized in last week’s Observer, as I feel so strongly about it.

Whilst not wanting to knock the young boy’s obvious efforts and enthusiasm, does anyone really think that this is a suitable thing for a 12 year old boy to be doing?
I have two 13 year old boys, and there is no way I would let them do something like this.

The forum is apparently open to anyone, including adults. This 12 year old is the Administrator. So am I to take it that he is going to moderate all the adults who care to post on there?

Anyone with any Internet knowledge will know that forums can be the target of bad language, racism and personal prejudices. Even some of the jokes should not be witnessed by children. Supposedly this boy is in control of this! It beggars belief!

Also do adults really want to be moderated by a child? I think not!

I would also suggest that something of this nature should have a modicum of reasonable grammar and spelling at least from an Administrator. Obviously with a 12 year old at the helm, this is not necessarily going to be the case.

I wouldn’t even recommend that this venture was kept specifically for the children of Accrington. How many of us parents have spent time telling our children about the possible dangers of the Internet and the undesirables who use their anonymity in order to make contact with them?

Now we have an open forum, run by a child, which is obviously targeted at children as well as adults.

Not only that, the Accrington Observer has publicized the fact!

Nice one Observer!

Sincerely,

***** ********