I have a question for you parents...

[Mom_of_4_Toons]

My oldest son will be 9 the end of this month. My question is this... Do those of you with children his age let them be secret friends with people? I'm inclined to say no, but I have been accused of being overprotective at times. All of you seem very nice, but I'm sure that there are some not so nice people out there. I guess that I just need reassurance that I'm not the meanest mom in the world for not letting him have secret friends. His name is Duckman on LE and Baron Domino Octoboom on Test. On a side note, he browses the boards here and is still in awe when he encounters one of you in-game. He'll yell to me "Mom, it's _________" He thinks it's so cool that some of you are even his friends. You're his heroes, lol. Anyway, just wanted some opinions. Thanks.

[BigCrumbleberry]

Personally, I wouldn't do so unless you know the person outside of this forum -- he's just too young. I guess, though, that if he was closely supervised the entire time it would be all right. By the way, i think one of my toons, Big Crumbleberry was once one of Gus' friends ( could have been my other toon Little Crumbleberry). If you want to be secret friends with Little Crumbleberry (Big is pretty full), let me know!

[Princess Beany]

My oldest son is 8. He can type and read, but I do not allow him to have secret friends. If he ever gets the puter away from me lol. I do let him fill in for me at times of potty break and I do not allow him to talk then either. He is a good kid I just worry about what he might say.

[Fire Mouse]

My boys are 12, 10, 7 and they have only a couple of secret friends. Their secret friends must be children they know in real life or children that I have introduced them to after chatting with the parents for a good lond while.

Myself, I do not trade secrets with children. It's safer all around that way.

[Pebbles]

I also have 3 children ( 8, 6, and 3) They do have secret friends but they are cousins and RL friends. Other then that I will not allow them to have a secret with anyone they don't know in RL.

I don't think your being over protective. Your keeping your chilren safe from those who may be looking to take advantage! GOOD JOB!!

[Mister Clancy Cheezypop]

I am a dad of 3 a 11 10 and 6 year old i wouldnt allow secret freinds unless they are known to me in RL

the speed chat often gets the things over better than the kids could anyway.

[Lady Slippy Wondercrump]

You mean we are suppose to let our kids play the game??? LOL Hmm...never thought of that. LOL I let my 7 yr old watch...she hasn't quite got the whole reading thing down pat yet...she is doing well...but I don't think she could communicate with other toons. Nor pick tasks to complete. Once she is a fluent reader, I promised her she could have her own toon. She is okay with that and she also would prefer being able to read better.

PHEW!!!! Its hard enough sharing this computer and my account with my husband and his duck Skinny Corky Gigglenerd! Never mind with my daughter!

BTW...even I go "OMG! That is someone from the board!" and I get way excited.

I would rather be here on the board saying "OMG! They are on my friends list!" Nobody on here is on my friends list

Oh and to answer the question...If and When my daughter gets her toon...I will play that by ear...if I am actually gonna sit here with her while she plays...secret friends with just anybody might be okay...but if I don't plan on sitting here with her the whole time, definately not. Since I cannot be certain I will be here the whole time...prolly not.

[wile-ecoyote]

My sons are 8 and 4 and they have a shared Toon. Obviously, without reading skills, the 4-yr old can't play by himself, so he's always with the 8-yr old or me or my husband. They have no secret friends. Heck, I just got my first one this weekend!

I don't think they are aware that you can have secret friends with whom you can chat freely. When they ask why a particular toon always just meows or quacks or whatever, I say that some can speak in a special way that the rest of us don't understand, and that's the end of the conversation.

Even at 8 years old, I don't think I would allow him to have a secret friend, unless it was a cousin or close friend his own age that we know in real life. You can communicate adequately with the SpeedChat.

Miss Rainbow Hulaswirl
Toonup 4; Lure training; Sound 3; Throw 6; Squirt 6; Drop 4

[-rcv-]

Ah, so THAT'S why Baron Domino Octoboom seems to play kinda funny. I thought it might be one of Sir Spiffy's buddies after too much adult soda. :)

I kinda agree, keep the kid away from open chat, unless you want to have him learn some new words. There have been a number of times that I've been with a group, and start looking for the "Edit" button. Open Chat in the game isn't as tightly controlled as the forums are here.

-rcv-
Kid Bugs

P.S.: I'm sure you don't want him to be secret with Kid-Bugsette, I hear that Toon is a cross-dresser :)

[Miss_Meowza]

My son no longer plays but when he did, we ran into a bit of a dilemma. I actually decided to let him have secret friends with a few select toons that I was playing with on a regular basis. They were good people and after talking with them for a long time, I felt it would be okay.

The problem was, my son was asking for secrets from those toons for THEIR secret friends and in most cases, these were toons that I didn't know so well. I was uncomfortable with that.

My son is only 7 but was sometimes playing unsupervised for brief jaunts. I just really didn't like the thought of him speaking to strangers without me by his side. It got to the point where all his friends were blue friends and I no longer trusted to let him play alone.

I would say no to secret friends unless you are always by his side!

[Pinks]

My two boys play, they have secret friends. I always, ALWAYS, supervise though. I think it's a personal decision that only a parent should make. I've taught my children to be safe here on the computer, as well as outside in the real world. As far as what they could hear via game play from secret friends, they've heard worse on t.v., school, and gool ole uncle David when he's had a bit too much of the schnozberry juice every Thanksgiving. I think the most important thing is that we supervise our children as much as possible, in RL, and whenever they are on the computer. Help them learn to make wise decisions (no just about TT gags) but about everything. And don't let them have secret friends if you don't feel they are ready. The speedchat is adequate for gameplay.

[Loosy Goosy]

Originally posted by Miss_Meowza
The problem was, my son was asking for secrets from those toons for THEIR secret friends and in most cases, these were toons that I didn't know so well. I was uncomfortable with that.

This is reason enough not to let the youngins secret chat. How long did it take everyone to fill up their friends list with all secret friends? Not long at all, right?

[Terahertz]

Don't take chances with young kids on the internet. My children (9/5) are only secret friend with people we know in real life. I would encourage their RL friends to play, so they can have more secret friends.

LSBT

[Princess Melody Kookyton]

The chat doesn't allow you to swear or say things like ***y butt(i tried saying it to my boyf) its meant to stop you saying addresses and phone numbers but it doesnt

[BabsBunny]

Originally posted by Loosy Goosy
This is reason enough not to let the youngins secret chat. How long did it take everyone to fill up their friends list with all secret friends? Not long at all, right?

I guess I'm not very poopular...(Oops! POPular!)

I still have 3-5 brown names on my friends list..and I dont' think I've ever deleted a blue (secret) toon friend unless I hadn't played with them in such a long time that I forgot who they were!

On a side note: I'm sure I've been deleted from other blue lists, which explains the fact that I always have room to make new noob (un-secret) friends...at least for a while.

I usually delete the brown names from my list if I get a "Full" message...so that I can help noobs as they need it.

But...full list of blue names? I've been playing since November and it's yet to happen to me.

I will ride other's coattails as long as they allow it.


-Babs