Following on from the populrity of my MN kids' penpal thread.

[ComeOVeneer]

Would it be an idea to set up this as a permenant topic in it's own right, a bit like the meet-up topic. So people can post their child's basic details (age, sex and likes) and see if they get a response?

Great idea CoV, go on MN

Brilliant idea.

As long as there wouldn't be any problem with people posing as children type scenarios...

So how would it work, and what about people joining MN with non existent children who want to contact children on MN?

Good idea.

Ah yes, didn't think of the potential problem though. Can see that might be an issue actually.

I did a name search of every single person who has expressed interst on my thread (best I can do to check they are genuine - there is one I am concerned about as it is their one and only post, and I am contacting Mn to see if they can imform me if it is a name change). It is the same as one of us organising a meet up, excercise caution and common sense.

Its just something I thought of, people might abuse it for there own reasons

I do think it's a good idea.

As you say CoV, caution would have to be exercised.

But if we have a meet up we are grown ups (for the most part) not children, I only let me children use the internet when I am watching and they are not allowed in to any form of chat room.

See my previous post. It is easy enough to do a name search to check how much they have posted. Perhaps MN can set it up so you havehad to have a certainnumber of posts on other topics before you cn access that particular topic. I have seen that system on other forums.

Also how do you know if someone "new" joins and chats for a bit then Joins their children to the penpals thing that they are real, also if you exclude newbies and they are genuine that is very unfair on them.

why odnt oyu wait and see if ti works first?

i wouldnt let my children chat to other children online, no way

OK so maybe i have that sort of mind but I think if sicko wanted to chat to kids here then all they have to do is join post a bit get "known" then bring in their "children". The sort of people who do this wont mind spending a bit of time getting known and trusted frist, this is what this type of person does.

Sorry to sound a cow but I just worry, wont even put up a profile or pics

wanted to but didn't join up just for that reason FioFio

i dont even put pics of my children on my profile

why odnt oyu wait and see if ti works first?

I didn't think it was about chatting online though was it?

Was it not about them actually writing to each other a la pen and paper?

Wait for what? See if someone posts my child was talking to a mumsnetters child on line who turned out to be a 38 year old pervert!

OOOOHHHHHH better give then your child's name and address.

Here we are come get us!

I even have a mumsnet only email...... I only use it for mumsnet nothing else.

I guess I am just one of those people who always thinks about the dangers in things

I was thinking allong the lines of old fashion pen and paper. A loyalty of say %00 posts before the topic could be accessed (sp) minimal info posted and contact only by CAT, parents start it off. Still think it to risky?

Should read " a loyalty of 500 posts"