Hello I think there needs to be an age 30+ listener search function.
I have had many members and guests ask for my age as they do not like chatting with younger people who are just starting out in life and haven't had many life experiences compared to someone who is a little older and wiser with experience in certain subjects.
I'd say this is a pretty important suggestion that needs to be looked at because it happens quite regularly and when I tell them my age they are happy to chat. Some people say it's no big deal, but I believe otherwise as there's already teen listeners so why can't we have more mature listeners that are recognized in a search function?. Thank you.
Great idea. And it shouldn't be difficult to implement either given how it's already partially done with teen listeners.
Hey @MatthewTheBull !
I've been here nearly 7 months and I see this suggestion come up all the time!
If you have suggestions for the site I'd recommend you post them here in the Listener Suggestion Box - otherwise it'll probably get lost and buried in the forums.
Teens have a separate listener category as it's a matter of internet safety, any adults that wish to listen to teens have to go through a vetting process including a voice interview. Nonetheless I understand the frustration of older guests and members who wish to talk to someone more mature.
However, it's important to remember that age andmaturity aren't necessarily correlated and I know many younger listeners who have hadvery successful and helpful chats with older members. Being at the younger end of the age spectrum myself I'll often offer to listen to the member despite my age and say that if they feel I'm not helpful I'll help them search for a listener more suited to them.
For now using the keyword search function onthe browse listeners page can help to find listeners who might take chats regarding more age/life experience specific issues.
That's a really respectful way of putting it.
Sometimes relevant experience is important but often what is more important is the quality of the listener. In other words, a high quality listener without requisite life experience is superior than a poor quality listener with the requisite life experience.
Putting the option forward as to whether they're happy to proceed is really respectful to the guest or member. And do you find they take the option to continue the chat @EtaAlpha? :)
I find they often do actually, usually because they're fed up of searching for someone to listen. Generally I find the chats end up successful, regardless of the eventual topic or age difference.
I'm sure there's good younger listeners, but I still feel there should at least be an option for 30+ listeners to keep everyone happy instead of guests/members asking a heap of listeners before speaking due to age.
I do agree with you, I guess I'm just trying to outline the current options we have! It's not too difficult for a listener to refer someone after all.
Being a good listener, in my opinion, should help to to transverse any age gap, perhaps this could be approached in listener training?
@MathewTheBullI could not agree with you more. This suggestion has been made many times by both listeners and members. I hope you will put that suggestion in the listener suggestion box and then we will see where it goes from there. In the meantime, it would be helpful if listeners would either tell there age in their profile or at least drop some clues as to there age.