Then again, I used to go to friends houses or play dolls with my sister (yeah, I know, “geneder a-typical behaviour”).

Well, I had two younger ones — and I also HAD to play with their “stupid dolls” if it was their turn and that is what they selected.

I’m not sure Barbie ever recovered from a scare during one of those sessions. I made a guillotine out of Meccano and the little sister was not impressed…

I wonder if this story counts as gender atypical, gender typical or sociopathological?

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Warren, I did read the excepts and didn’t feel moved to go look for them in the local library. Pulp? I didn’t read them at that age either; preferring non-fiction or long 19thC Russian novels. I was always a “challenge” for my lit. teachers, although one did acquire quite a passion for Thomas Hardy as a result. I still drag out Dead Souls whenever I need a laugh at the absurdity of people.

Just as a side issue; how old were these kids? teens? pre-teens? I don’t understand why a sexual education book would be in a school for those who are, roughly, 13 years and under, but those in college (13 years and over), I see no reason why teens can’t be given unfetted access to those sexual health books – its better to allow them to understand the consequences of their actions, than hide the information away hoping that ignorance will stop them from doing anything.

Regarding parents and sexual education – you’re educated, I’m fairly worldly, but lets be completely honest, there are *ALOT* of thick people out there, and the last thing that is required are parents spreading their old wives tales and stories to teenagers on how to avoid pregnacy; here are some that are used – use toothpaste for lube, virginal flush (using water), having sex whilst standing up, pulling out before ejaculation (whilst conviently forgetting about pre-cum), etc etc.

The list of parents and their irresponsible information, and the results of that can be clearly seen either down at the local social welfare office or the local abortion clinic – young adults not given accurate information relating to sex.

And I’m sorry, I feel I have a right to have a say in it, because ultimately, I am the one, Joe Tax Payer, who will have to pay for the abortion, the birth, the social welfare and the treatment of those STDs, contracted via ignorance.

Funny you should mention junk food. The governor of Arkansas is on a kick to eliminate soda pop in schools. Good start, now how about mental junk food?

*VERY* true – I’ll probably get called a pinko, but I’d love to see television banned – if there was anything that killed the art of conversation, that would be it.

Maybe I was lucky in that, when I was young, at max, the most I would watch in a day would be 30minutes.

Then again, I used to go to friends houses or play dolls with my sister (yeah, I know, “geneder a-typical behaviour”).

Regarding Laurie Taylor, she is using Paul Camerons ‘statistics’ the same way a right winger uses Maxim’s ‘research’ – sorry, start using that guys or any one who quotes him, and you instantly lose any credibility.

Oh, and as for the “100 in their lifetime” – I’m 24, and only had 4, so I guess I have to make up for some lost time!

Regarding the books removed; they’re very scarce on the details of the contents; one sounded like a sexual health book, which is perfectly normal – heck, we had them at one of the schools I attended – it was a Marist Brothers Catholic School!

With that being said, however, the publishers have a rating system, based on the age (for fiction books) that the book is appropriate for – IIRC, the department of education also have a say on books and so forth.

Kids talk about all manner of things to each other.

How to repond? It’s called values education Warren. I’m able to tell you what the older nieces are reading this week, and Taylor doesn’t even know what her own kids are?

And why the almost autistic focus on sex but nare a word on violence or selfish consumerism?

(A clue: “debate” is occuring in the U.S.)