why would EC have....

I think this is a site for anyone over the age of 13. And as the gay guys who are refused at EC's sister site are directed here, there is a majority of teenage gay guys.

However, older guys (and gals) can have issues with sexuality, so it may be a bit mean to exclude them . Still, although it may seem a bit "sketchy" as you say, there are lots of security measures to make sure EC is safe.

 

consider me on pirateninja's side, i so much agree with her answer

 

Also: The support sites for people 18+ Are a lot less personal than EC, that's what drew me here, (Even though I was 18 when I joined =P)

 

They have wisdom from experience that we "young people" don't. Even if someone isn't an advisor, they can still help us out. AND it's not like adults don't have emotional problems too.

 

EC wouldn't be the same without our older members. They bring a sense of stability here, which I've noticed isn't present on sites which intentionally ban older users. Plus, they have the same right as everyone else to have "Coming Out Resources And A Safe Place to Chat", don't you think?

The site's welcome message says:

[...] Empty Closets is a place where you can figure out who you are, surrounded by other people just like you. [...] We welcome new members of all ages from 13 upwards.[...]

Older members are as welcome as younger ones. I've explicitly looked for other sites like EC - they aren't as good, and most of them don't welcome older members. And what's the alternative? EC's sister site? That's porn, not a support site.

So, to all the older members... (*hug*)

 

Where does it say that EC is a site strictly for those under 18?

 

I like having the older members. They definately improve it for me

 

Hey! I'm older and I agree that our ages and experiences should be a welcome thing. While I don't pretend to know everything,I think (if someone needed help,encouragement,etc),us older folks have probably been there,done that. I like to think I may be able to offer insight that a younger person may not have,yet.Remember this: Us older people helped to bring gay rights to where they are today.And...I hope that the younger people will keep it and better it for future generations.

 

Bcoz there wise (^_^)

 

If EC was just for under-eighteens, I probably wouldn't find as much worth in the site. Our older members give to the site something that us younger peeps can't

 

I haven't been able to find any sites for over-18s that have the same community feel as EC. Everyone's welcome on this site and that's one of the best things about it.

 

im over 18 and just now finding out about being gay! where else would people my age go??

 

It's simple - EC is about "Coming out Resources and a safe place to chat" - it's the preamble of the website. Of course you can chat about a lot of other things, too. The intention of the website however was to create one for people struggling with their sexuality that also should be suitable for younger people. Most people have coming out issues while they are still young, but I guess everybody of us has heard of older people, and maybe even really old people having coming out problems. It's a resource for all us. And EC being pretty unique in it's approach, it attracts people of all ages - although the younger guys and girls dominate the website. but that's because it's just more of an actual topic for most of them, more younger people are using the net for problems like that, and last but not least there aren't that many websites for that age-range. which is the main reason why this website was created

 

Naw, I find that the older members often give better advice, this place wouldn't be the same without you guys (*hug*)

 

LOL. that pic is priceless, But I really enjoy EC. EC's sister site is nothing like EC. EC is an amazing coming out resource, and not just coming out, but I've seen all sorts of issues worked out by people on this site. Why should "older" people be denied the resource. I also wouldnt want to be denied their experiances, and wisdom.

 

Because EC is about having a safe place to chat, and about dealing with all the problems of sexuality. These things are needed by older people too.

And I think EC is that much the better for having older people on it. I wouldn't have it any other way

 

As an 'older' person, I can tell you that this site is different from any other site I've visited when searching for 'gay' material. Honestly - every other site I've been to was for cruising and looking at porn. Perhaps there are others that aren't, but when I found EC I simply stopped looking! EC is great!

It provided me with a place to interact with other gay people, and discuss issues that were important and relevant to me as a person coming to terms with being gay. Because I wasn't out - and I'm still not to many people - I could talk here openly for the first time with other people. AND I found it VERY refreshing that it is accessible to the 13 to 18 age group - and therefore free from the other 'stuff' that is out there.

Because I found it helped me so much, I'm sticking around to help others. I like to think that I'm able to provide a perspective that your teenage peers can't - and that you might gain something from that.

While it might be 'sketchy' for some older people to be here, there is always a risk that someone older is pretending to be someone younger. That's always a risk.

 

A fair question. Although it would be fairer if the OP displayed his age.

As pointed out by other posters, there are a plethora of sites for gays/lesbians over the age of 18. EC was founded not so much as a "place for teens" but rather in a spirit on non-exclusivity. I like to think of it as opening a coffee house on a street with nothing but bars. Those under 18 are naturally going to gravitate here, but there will be some older folks who come for the same reason they might go to the coffeehouse - they're not interested in a bar, they like the vibe, and they like the coffee.

>>>and I don't mean the Advisors lol

Why not the advisors? Where do you think we came from? Paul didn't phone us up out of the blue. ("Hey, gargoyle, wanna be an advisor on a gay website?" "Sounds like fun. Lemme grab my hat.") We were originally just members - still are, in fact - like everybody else.

Lex