Reading for minors

[Aine of the Fae]

Quite often while I'm online, people will pop up on my AOL IM wanting readings (because it's in my profile that I'm a reader). Usually it's not a problem, if I'm not busy I give them a quick reading. But today I had a girl who said she was 14 pop up and ask me to give her a reading. I said no, that it's against my ethics to read for a minor without a parent physically present. Did I do the right thing? Or should I have given her a reading like I would anyone else?

[Witchy Cowgirl]

Ya know, this is something I've been thinking about as well. I do think you should have parental consent before doing readings for minors. But I know I've done a few for minors - before this question popped into my head.

The cyber world changes things sometimes, but I really think you should stick to your ethics. If you don't read for minors without parental consent in the real world, I feel this should carry over into the cyber world as well. But if this girl had contacted you with out telling you she was 14 you would've done the reading and that's not something you can control.

[Mithrea]

I've actually had an experience with this. The only reading I have ever regretted doing was for a minor. It has caused me some trouble. It's a bad idea for so many reasons that I won't go into because I don't want to offend any minors here. I think you should never do a reading when you are uncomfortable in any way.

[tarotbear]

AHA! It is for this exact reason that I have IMs turned off - I do not wish to be bothered while I am working with people wanting a free reading at any old time of the day or night. Only people on my buddy list can contact me. When anyone tells me that AOL says I am not online, I tell them to email me.

Another reason I don't do readings in IM is that not one of the people I ever read for that way bothered to thank me in any way.

I do not read for minors - period. I am very specific about this on my website.

[Lavender]

Is there a legal issue concerning reading for minors? How would that work online if you don't know the person's age?

[Aine of the Fae]

the internet blurs the lines. If someone comes to me and does not specify their age, I will generally do a reading for them, unless my intuition says not to. But, to come online and blatantly say "I'm 14 will you read for me?" I can't do that. I don't need the trouble it could cause with parents.

[AmbivalentMirage]

Originally posted by Mithrea
I think you should never do a reading when you are uncomfortable in any way.

I agree! That's why I will never do a reading for an orangutang...they frighten me. j/k, of course. ;) I had to add a comment, being a minor and all. hehehe

[tarotbear]

Wildchild- the first thought that comes to mind is that in the real world, minors cannot sign legal contracts; it has to be done for them by an adult.

By 'giving advice', you have entered into a contract. Should the kids parents decide to take legal action against you, you will have no legs to stand on.

REMEMBER - we take what we do very seriously, the world at large does not. The Imternet is ripe with opportunists ready to cause problems for anyone who is not wary. That is why I ask for payment up front. Minors (in general) do not have charge cards or checking accounts.