One of the great things about bocking is that there is no age barriers, and this is reflected within the community as we see daily how well the varied ages get on, which is lovely and one of the things I doubt you will get to see in any other sport.
However it has come to my attention that there are some adults who are behaving in a very inappropriate manner when talking to younger members. This is an extremely delicate subject and where children under the age of 16 are concerned this improper chat becomes a child protection matter and it is something that is totally unacceptable, morally wrong and in fact illegal.
This is something that everyone needs to think about, as its often forgotton how young or old the person you are talking are when they are faceless. Yes, we are a community but at the end of the day the people you are talking to are STRANGERS and if you are under 16, it is strongly recommended that you do not give out your email address, msn addy or chat about personal details in the chat room.
Here are some guidelines that I feel are essential and if anyone has further guidelines that should be added please suggest them below:
GUIDELINES FOR UNDER 161. Please visit
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk for full internet safety tips
2. Don’t give out your personal details to online mates.
3. Personal stuff includes your messenger id, email address, mobile number and any pictures of you, your family or friends.
4. Remember If you publish a picture or video online – anyone can change it or share it.
5. It’s easier to get on with people online and say stuff you wouldn’t offline – think about what you say carefully
6. Some people lie online – don’t believe everything you are told
7. It’s better to keep online mates online. Don’t meet up with any strangers without an adult you trust. Better to be uncool than unsafe!
8. It’s never too late to tell someone if something makes you feel uncomfortable.
9. There are people who can help. Report online child abuse (
http://www.ceop.gov.uk/reportabuse/index.asp) , or find more advice and support.
10. Stay on first name or screen name basis, don’t give out your full name
11. Be careful about what you say in chat and who you are chatting to, remember not all members are your age some are a lot older, if you feel someone is chatting to you inappropriately, or you feel uncomfortable please show the conversation to your parents or guardians. If you feel you would rather talk to someone within the community please copy the conversation and approach me, Jason, Becky or Locky and we can advise you further.
GUIDELINES FOR OVER 161. Please visit
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk for full internet safety tips there is good advise here which would also help you ensure that members are staying within the recommended guides.
2. Please bear in mind the above guidelines for the under 16’s as most can be applied for you too
3. Remember think carefully about what you say to people you dont know, they may not be as old as you think they are. If you are uncomfortable with a conversation save it and send it to one of us (me, Jason, Becky or Locky), and leave the convo immediately.
4. Dont ask for personal information from other people unless you know they are over 16, if in doubt ask the person if they are over 16
5. Remember if you feel that someone is acting inappropriately, you should report it straightaway.
Any members found to be talking in an inappropriate manner will be banned.Thank you for reading.