scientia-rex
Sometimes when people on the Internet are like "ADULTS CAN NEVER INTERACT WITH MINORS IT'S CREEPY" I remember how, at 12, back in 1997, I was on the Witchvox forums with people ranging from me to people in at least their 50s, and no one there was ever a creep to me, no one ever made me feel uncomfortable or asked for my personal info, and when I finally broke down after a particularly brutal day of bullying at school and posted about it they were the first adults I'd ever met in my entire life who told me the bullies were the problem and it was okay to be angry about it.
Kids need to interact with adults who will listen to them.
derinthescarletpescatarian
I was practically raised by sixty year old scientists I'd never met on random science forums. I'd show up and talk about evolution with them for hours. When I got accepted into university, they helped me go through how to find a place to live and the basics of living alone (my family didn't want me to go to uni so didn't help with any of this, figuring that if I couldn't find accommodation I'd have to stay home). You're supposed to have friends outside your age group; I'd argue that it's psychologically unhealthy not to. And no, your parents and grandparents don't count.
crazy-pages
The best defense against creepy adults is many many adults who can establish a non creepy baseline and who kids can trust.
procyon-caffeinaeus
younger folk should have those relationships to model what a healthy relationship with adults so they know when one is wrong too
adamsmasher
I have friends where I know their kids and I have a couple friends where I'm closer with their kids than I am with the parent, and it's been so important for the kid to hear "yeah that's wild, I don't know why your parent isn't nice to you about that, but I think it's cool" or whatever. Like sometimes you need to hear an adult validate you. It's everything.
scientia-rex
I don’t remember a single grade from high school, but I can remember with perfect clarity the two whole times an adult authority figure—older male teachers, in both cases, the group we are most likely to associate with creepitude—expressed that the homophobic bullying I was facing was wrong, and it was okay to be queer. God knows my PARENTS, despite being fine with me being queer, never said anything of the kind. Validation really is everything. “You’re okay. You’re not broken.” It saves lives.
3liza
I was raised by a pack of beautiful Gen x goths on an emailing list. one of them was a creep who victimized me, and when they found out about it they turned on him. they were my legal guardians when I went with them to my first science fiction conventions and watched me closely to keep nasty old men away from me in my little cosplays. they taught me as much as they could and I owe them so much. I try to be that person for younger people now. your parents can't give you that experience, as much as they wish they could be the people who transition you to the adult world and parties and staying out late and being on your own, you need friends and chosen family for that. you need Linda the 50 year old divorced coworker and Leslie the guy at the record store who can tell you about bands you would like that broke up before you were born. I've met so many people now and so few of them are abusive or mean or exploitative. it's worth it. these are the people who teach you what "normal" is, your family by definition can't do that