The rule is a general guideline folks.
Karyuu is right in regard to settings, but, Donari and some other young folks have given me more faith in young contributors and their potential.
I will say though that our best current contributors hold some college, a bachelor's, degree or higher.
I should say also for the younger people- while a year or five seems like a long time to you, it is not to those of us facing middle age.
This is a practical limitation, forwarded in good sense, and positive hope, we can and will make exceptions.
The rule protects us from the whims of uncommitted folks.
I am very much an agist, but as I sit on my rocking chair with my shotgun yelling at kids to get off my lawn it is still true that I can see brilliance in the young and make exceptions.
It is incredibly important to any young person who wants us to make an exception that they think it through very completely; if you fail you set the youth movement in PS back.
