Forums have an agreement like everything else and, like DarklyDreaming said, "any business agreement it requires that you be eighteen years old". Strictly speaking this applies to clicking "I agree" when installing software, too.

However this is one of those things where if you don't cause any trouble, folks will look the other way.

Way back when I first moved out, I was 17, and I got this bitchin' studio apartment in a basement that used to be a morgue. I had Comcast come over to set up cable internet, and while glancing over the contract, I noticed it said I had to be 18. I asked and the service dude just - like above - "look the other way". Wink wink, nudge nudge, enjoy your internet.

(Incidentally, I got the apartment after the landlord accepted my say-so that I had my parent's permission. I hadn't actually mentioned this scheme to them yet.)

Fun times.

It is a fact of life that a minor cannot enter any legal agreements. A parent or guardian can usually consent to an agreement on their behalf.

Even gamedev.net:

2. Age

a) Customer certifies that he or she is at least 18 years of age. If the Customer is not at least 18 years of age, then he/she has been granted the permission by his/her legal guardian to act on that guardian's behalf. Under these circumstances, the underage Customer has been granted permission to use Provider's services and enter into this agreement on behalf of the legal guardian.

b) Provider's software and services are not directed to children under the age of 13. Provider's software and services will not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under 13

[/quote]

So then they surely could add that snippet:

If the Customer is not at least 18 years of age, then he/she has been granted the permission by his/her legal guardian to act on that guardian's behalf. Under these circumstances, the underage Customer has been granted permission to use Provider's services and enter into this agreement on behalf of the legal guardian. [/quote]

Ok I see what your saying (I think). That it's only a 'legal thing' to be there. Possibly... But when last did you sign up to a forum that required you to be 18?

(If anyone want's to know why you have to be 18, there isn't any reason. It just states it in the Agreement. And 'they' don't plan on changing it).

[color="#1C2837"]But when last did you sign up to a forum that required you to be 18?[/quote]

[color="#1c2837"]They all do. It's implicit whether they mention it or not. Some will opt to mention it so that if there is a "situation", the website can show that they made it super crystal clear and it was the other party (in this case you) who lied.

[color="#1c2837"]Just stay under the radar, and don't raise a fuss with admins. This is law. It may vary by state but it does not vary by website.[/font][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]
[/font]
EDIT: Oh, and the other reason not to raise a fuss with mods is so that you don't put them in a spot where it looks like they're condoning it.

[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]

[color="#1C2837"]But when last did you sign up to a forum that required you to be 18?

[color="#1c2837"]They all do. It's implicit whether they mention it or not. Some will opt to mention it so that if there is a "situation", the website can show that they made it super crystal clear and it was the other party (in this case you) who lied.

[color="#1c2837"]Just stay under the radar, and don't raise a fuss with admins. This is law. It may vary by state but it does not vary by website.[/font][font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]
[/font]
EDIT: Oh, and the other reason not to raise a fuss with mods is so that you don't put them in a spot where it looks like they're condoning it.
[/quote]

Ok ok I get it... I'm still gonna stay here though.

At least you guys had better answers than they did