The Middle Distance

as if fetuses haven't been caught on ultrasound wanking in the womb

*lol* Seriously?

Isn't [innocence] just a sentimentalized version of ignorance?

Agreed, it is. I'm glad I was always curious enough to avoid it.

Why is "innocence" considered worthwhile?

I think you view the issue from the wrong direction. Being an innocent person yourself is clearly a disadvantage, but being surrounded by innocents while not being innocent yourself? Damn practical! *has another cynical day*

I still think it's immoral to keep children stupid this way. Of course the opposite (say, child soldiers in Ghana) of having seen too much too young is even worse, but there has to be some middle way, right?
The modern overprotectiveness of many parents towards their children is something that I never understood anyway. I was glad my parents let me climb on trees, for instance: I may have skimmed my knees once in a while and there was a good chance I'd break an arm or something, but that's the only way to learn, isn't it? Of course you should warn your children about dangers, but pretending bad things (or things you simply don't like) don't exist runs exactly counter to that, does it not? How shall children learn to existimate risks later, if they've only known invulnearabilty? How will they deal with the facts that no, they can't have whatever they want right now; no, the world doesn't revolve solely around them; no, criticism isn't evil; no, not everybody loves them and wishes them well; no, working for their money is not going to kill them, if they don't learn it young?
Many Parents really don't seem to see that.