To save minors from inappropriate content, YouTube has this handy “verify you’re over 18″ deal. Because that will prevent 13-year olds from saying they’re 25. Yup.

I’ve mentioned in the past that I would always try to sneak into Leisure Suit Larry on my best friends computer when we were little, and they reason we could get on was because they asked you current event and historical questions that 10-year olds just didn’t know the answers to. We tried to find answers in the Encyclopedia Britannica (you remember the books? Before Wikipedia?) but I think we only cracked the code once. Myspace is having similar issues with kids younger than 14 (the new lowered age limit) trying to score accounts. Little kids might not know too much in the way of worldliness, but they sure as heck know how to put in a lower year to make themselves instantly 15.

So, what to do? Keep inappropriate content off of easily accessible sites? Find a new age-verification method? I have a feeling the younger generations will always find a way to get past anything we throw at them! They’re smarter than us.

Dan sez: “Heh… there’s also the radical concept known as ‘parenting’”

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This weekend I had a Skype conversation with Scott and Curtis from the twentyhood podcast. We talked about gaming a lot, and some other nerdtacular topics. I’m a little on the echo-y side (and breathy). Man, I need a better microphone. But they were great guys, and it was a lot of fun!

Link

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I’ve been discussing brand loyalty with Ryan today. When I started shooting Prizefight, I knew that once in a while I’d get pissed off emails from people because I chose a product they didn’t like. Two prime examples of this were the iPod vs. Toshiba Gigabeat S and the Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP battles. Nintendo, Apple and Sony are probably the three brands I would think of when the word “fanboy” is mentioned, and ooooooh boy did I ever hear from those Apple/Nintendo fans when I picked the other product. No, the irony is not lost on me that those are two of my favorite companies.

I’ve had my moments of super fangirliness. However, I do think I’ve become a little more well-rounded since working at CNET, but mainly because I’m just exposed to so many different products. Or maybe I’ve just become jaded… anyway, I digress. I’ve never really been exposed to such irrational and borderline irate brand loyalty since I started shooting this show! I’ve had people write point-for-point counter arguments on the entire segment, just to (in their minds) convince me that I’ve made a mistake. It’s amazing!

Like I said before, I find it especially funny because half the time I pick against the product I actually own. Not sure why it keeps happening that way (at least they can’t say I’m playing favorites!) but it drives me INSANE when they say it’s because I don’t know what I’m talking about. Puh-leaze. The small consolation is that I know, had I chosen the other way, I’d get the same emails from different people yelling at me for not chosing the product they love!

I do like that maybe some people will actually see that there’s another gadget out there that they might like better than the one they’re conditioned to like. Maybe I’m opening some eyes, who knows? More likely I’ll just continue to stir up the hornet’s nest. I’m ok with that.

Sorry, this has turned into a mini-rant. I don’t use this blog often to complain about my “feelings” on things (this is no LiveJournal) but I hope you don’t mind. Got any good brand loyalty stories? Ever feel like you buy things just because it said “Apple” or “Sony” on it? We’re all guilty!

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I don’t even watch South Park, but this is going to be really hilarious. Thanks to Rodrigo for sending this in!

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