Read on Twitter
I think the sentiment of separating tournaments by age is thoughtful but literally doesn't address the issue at all. Most of these incidents aren't happening at the event. It's happening online, hotel rooms, ect.
Even sports, which has billions of dollars behind it, high school athletes work out with adults, practice with adults, have adult coaches and friends.
The issue stems from a much larger problem in social media and trying to pigeon hole it to just a smash issue won't fix it imo.
The issue stems from a much larger problem in social media and trying to pigeon hole it to just a smash issue won't fix it imo.
Literally nothing is stopping the kids from connecting with the adults. Them playing in a different bracket won't do anything. They can still practice together online, in person, talk through discord or twitter or whatever.
Also, separating brackets still let's kids mingle with adult TOs. You can't eliminate the existence of adults in a kids bracket so it seems weird and unrealistic to try it considering our lack of resources as is.
If I had to offer up a solution to what is a global problem for our small community. I think kids under the age of 16 should need a guardian at majors and under the age of 18 should need parental consent to go.
TOs can't possibly be responsible for the entire under 18 community
TOs can't possibly be responsible for the entire under 18 community
This way TOs can do the best they can keeping the event itself safe, which most have done a great job at. And the parents of these kids take some responsibility in what they're children are doing.
Also while I'm on the subject, we need to stop enabling toxic kids
Also while I'm on the subject, we need to stop enabling toxic kids
WAYYYYY too often I see people excuse behavior cause someone is a kid. You can get on someone's ass about toxicity and then forgive them when they change.
I'm not gonna name any names, but our community has done this time and time again.
You can critique and then forgive.
I'm not gonna name any names, but our community has done this time and time again.
You can critique and then forgive.
Trust me I am so glad social media wasn't like this when I was 17, but at some point we gotta hold people accountable. So as adults we can say, "hey kid that's wrong" while also understanding that they are young and can most certainly change.
With that said I hope any and all decisions are all made openly and transparently. I don't have a huge audience, but I figured I'd throw my thoughts out there. I hope it resonates with others.
