Posted by spoonifur Not sure what is confusing about that. I explored with older people when I was a minor, people didn't ask my age. Now that I am not a minor, I realize that I don't want to be responsible for endangering one. I was stupid, I should have let people know my age. Darn kids and all! I'm okay with being a bit of a hypocrite. ;)

I agree, this completely makes sense. I actually explored as a minor with adults as well, but now I definitely won't explore with minors. It's not being a hypocrite - it's just a difference in your level of risk aversion.

Well...


It stands to reason that if you went exploring as a minor, and:

a) Didn't get yourself hurt/killed/arrested
b) Didn't get anyone else hurt/killed/arrested


...That, therefore, you would be a little more accepting of exploring with a minor.


And yes, that's a hypocritical mentality.





Put the guns away, I'm not armed.

Glad to know I'm not alone on this subject. Though I have yet to go exploring with anyone, I'd never go with a minor for the very reasons that were stated in earlier post.
If they're age of majority, cool.

Generally, I agree, no minors. However, being 19, I sometimes explore with a couple of friends who are 17, and that is my one exception. They have been doing this as long as me, and have even shown me a couple of my new favorite places.

I have not had any issues exploring with people of different ages. I am probably the oldest of anyone I've ever explored with at 53. To date, I keep up with or outlast everyone I've gone with.

Posted by Cosmic No minors.

Posted by KD20 Agreed on no minors.

Posted by d0dg3r As has been said, no minors.

It seems like no minors is a popular opinion, and I guess it really depends. I, myself am a minor, (edited. dumb me had to do a double check on age of majority here) and I have been exploring for two years. I never have graffiti-ed, broken into a place (never smashed a window, kicked down a door, tore down a board etc), stolen, been rude to anyone along my journeys, and so on. I enjoy abandoned places and rooftops because I'm very interested in photography and these are fantastic subjects to shoot.

I'm also interested in the history of the buildings (often will spend hours after exploring it online trying to find info about it) and hate to see one in poor condition that can be avoided (vandalism, stolen from, etc). I like everything left as it is. I like to think that I'm trustworthy, and have never given up a location (I have full memberships on other UE sites) to anyone other than the group of three friends I usually explore with, and I know none of them have either.

This being said, I can understand why many people have said no minors. I have explored with lots of friends, and it's clear that some just shouldn't do it. I have explored with people who do stupid stuff, and just immature people in general. How I choose who I explore with is pretty much as fiftyone_eggs said it...

Posted by fiftyone_eggs Age differences? No. Maturity differences? Yes.

There are some kids who act mature for their age. There's some adults who don't act mature. No one suddenly becomes mature as soon as they hit legal age. Everyone is different.

Posted by DJ Craig I agree, this completely makes sense. I actually explored as a minor with adults as well, but now I definitely won't explore with minors. It's not being a hypocrite - it's just a difference in your level of risk aversion.

I have never tried exploring with adults because if something is to happen it's a lot more difficult on the adult than it is on the minor. It's not hard to understand why not many people explore with minors, and when I'm of legal age, I likely won't explore with minors either.

Posted by TunnelRunner33 I've been thinking a lot lately about something, and I was curious to see what other people had to say on the topic. I recently went exploring with a friend that is literally half my age, and at one point we were engaged in some pretty dangerous behavior. We were attempting to work our way down a "ramp" of collapsed beams and ruined floor sections to the basement below. My partner was taking the lion's share of the risk, assuming the point position on the "ramp," and I couldn't help but feeling a bit guilty at having brought such a smart and brave young man with me to this mouldering potential death-trap. I remember wondering to myself that if something terrible were to happen to us, would I bear some sort of extra blame or responsibility due to my age? Don't get me wrong, I recognize that he is old enough and mature enough to make these sorts of decisions on his own, and I respect that. That still didn't prevent me from wondering if I was doing the right thing, though. I'm curious to see what other people have to say about the topic. My partner and I eventually pulled out, deciding to come back some other time in the daylight in order to see better. The building has since been closed back up, so it looks like a return trip is out of the question, at least for now. Although I was disappointed to find it sealed, I must admit that I also felt a little relief as well. It meant that we didn't have to brave the "ramp" again. That's kind of a fucked up thing to say, because I really would like to get to the building's basement. I just don't want to get myself, or worse, anyone else killed in the process, especially a young person with a lot of promise and potential. Has anyone else faced this dilemma, and if so, what was your decision on it? For myself, I have decided that as long as someone is legally an adult, they are old enough to explore with. That being said, however, I might be more inclined to avoid the most dangerous activities if I am with someone very young. PS... To my exploring friend if you read this: Please don't take this as me saying I wouldn't explore with you again. You were an excellent partner, and it was cool to 'work' with you. Maybe if we do anything so risky again, I'll just make sure to take the point position!

I've been exploring since I was 16, and I'm 18 now. Before I became 18 I always saw my younger age as a safety net to get out of being harshly punished/ fined if I were ever caught. But in retrospect, I definitely don't think I'd explore with anyone under 18, especially if I was far older.

I am a minor and completely get that no one wants to take responsibility for me while exploring. However, I need not the responsibility of an adult. I think it is a matter of maturity and I am definitely somewhat ignored in the community. Although, I have probably done just as much urban exploring as the average adult on here, along with a couple other minor people. There is no problem if we have maturity while exploring. And because I have maturity I don't need an adult to take responsibility for me. So I never go exploring with adults, just like how you guys never go exploring with the minority of use. Some may not agree with me but that is my look. I know some minors give me a bad image...

Not to rehash the matter, but I simply find it hypocritical that some people who have gone exploring as a minor now hold the stance that they should never go exploring with a minor.


The age thing really is kind of silly particularly when it comes to clandestine hobbies such as this one. Regardless of age, you should sit around someplace and have a pre-explore meeting with everyone, and it is at that meeting that any potential lapses in maturity should present themselves.


Nobody's perfect, and the more people on an explore the more opportunity for things to go wrong (Murphy's Law).


I'll go back to my corner now.

I'm 20. I regularly explore with people in their 30s and at least one or two in their 40s. I think the youngest person ever to tag along was 12. (though if we got caught, she wasn't with us)

But yeah, I see no problem with exploring with minors. They just have to understand that, if the group gets caught, they're doing this entirely alone and will likely face different consequences than the other group.
Basically, anyone is welcome as long as they're trustworthy enough not to get somebody arrested.

Posted by HipsterKitty I'm 20. I regularly explore with people in their 30s and at least one or two in their 40s. I think the youngest person ever to tag along was 12. (though if we got caught, she wasn't with us) But yeah, I see no problem with exploring with minors. They just have to understand that, if the group gets caught, they're doing this entirely alone and will likely face different consequences than the other group. Basically, anyone is welcome as long as they're trustworthy enough not to get somebody arrested.

The only problem with that is if police find out one of your group is a minor, they will always try to pin responsibility on you regardless of what you tell them. A couple of my friends are currently dealing with a similar situation, after one of their explores went wrong. One was 19 and the other was 17 and they are still handling it more seriously because a minor is involved.

Posted by serendipitee I have not had any issues exploring with people of different ages. I am probably the oldest of anyone I've ever explored with at 53. To date, I keep up with or outlast everyone I've gone with.

Ooh Rah! Way to represent the older generation. I'm 41 and still throw hay faster and longer than the high school football players we hire each summer.

im 40, as long as the younger is cool and not a douche i say more power to em.

My best friend is my exploring partner, and her daughter was always so interested to come with us. So we took her to locations we had been to already and knew were totally safe.
Once we had a security guy show up where we were, so I left them hiding behind the barn and went out to deal with the guy, better me than Mom and the kid. We always made sure she was safe both from hazards and the law.
And you know what? She was still a minor when she died. I am very glad we included her, there is not always another day...

Posted by serendipitee I have not had any issues exploring with people of different ages. I am probably the oldest of anyone I've ever explored with at 53. To date, I keep up with or outlast everyone I've gone with.

That's because you move like a butterfly. You are quite agile. I wonder if there is a thread for pictures of POE contortion?

I'm almost 45 and just met up with an explorer two weeks ago that is more than half my age. Ok, he's taller and way more limber than me, but he's patient and cool. I find the common ground of UE being a perfect starting point.

Posted by taddy I am a minor and completely get that no one wants to take responsibility for me while exploring. However, I need not the responsibility of an adult. I think it is a matter of maturity and I am definitely somewhat ignored in the community. Although, I have probably done just as much urban exploring as the average adult on here, along with a couple other minor people.

I'm in the same boat.

I haven't really explored with any others. To be honest, I have to be very risk-averse, which leads me to think I could have issues going in with people much younger. Pretty much any arrest and I'm out a fairly cush, well paying job. I also have to have a level of security clearance for the work I do, so anything on my record would show up on the next background check and cause problems. Maybe after retirement,if there's anything left worth exploring...

The only minor I'll explore with is my sister, and I don't even like doing that because I'm worried about her safety the entire time. Other than that, nah I don't think age is an issue

Mostly go alone these days.