Well, a short explanation will have to do.
Because as Toadlife say, it's an old debate.
We do not, on policy, hire people under the age of 18, due to bad experiences with said under-age people, not doing their jobs as dilligently as perhaps someone with a more mature tint might have.
We have generally found, that some people under the age of 18, act, under the age of 18, which is a shame.
We also find that people under the age of 18 (Not specifying anyone, but unfortunately, this does apply from our experience, to the majority) have difficulty in understand why certain roles exist, and what functions are expected of them whilst carrying out these functions.
Perhaps a Moderator might feel that being a moderator is
cool, and it gets you respect.. which is simply not on at all.
We require more experience and more common sense from people that are going to take on, what is in essence, a high demand, high risk job.
You are right, there is a lot of talent out there, but if the best modeller on the planet was 15, yet still held all his arguments with:
"ur a fucking dick."
Then he's no use to us.
And I've met people like that.
So, as a rule of thumb, no under 18's.
Alos because I know a few under 18's whom have suffered in their education because of OFP.
This is a
bad thing.
And when the majority of under 18's are in some form of full-time education, the last thing we want, is for them to find that they are torn between OFP, OFPEC, and real life demands.
We've known a few guys to chose OFP & us over RL, and that's just wrong.
That's the Admins job to do that, not someone who's future depends on studying hard in school or college, and not falling asleep because they were on OFP or OFPEC until 2am.
This issue is not up for debate.
Although it is a rule of thumb, perhaps nowadays, you'll find we're less likely to stick to it.
But Moderators & Addon Reviewers, will never have anyone under the age of 18 in them.
Just as a club can decide what age group to allow entry to, or a company can decide what age group to aim a product for, we can decide what age group we wish to have on our dedicated Volunteer Staff Roster.
At the end of the day.....
It is the Admin that run this site, it is the Admin that pour in countless upon countless of unpaid, often unthanked, often unrewarding (In the immediacy) hours into bringing OFPEC to you on the best level possible.
We have final say in this site, and no-one can argue against that point, because no-one I know, would be prepared to put in all the hours, and put up with all the shit that we have had to put up with in the past.
If we feel we want a mature Staff group, and don't want it filled with people that unfortunately don't seem to grasp the concept of what is required of them, then that is our privilige and our right.
This issue is not open to debate, as this has answered the debate.
Thank you.