The Middle Distance

And to take it a step further, beyond merely trying to shelter them from reality, I am reminded of that group of idiots in the UK who are trying to ban any children's literature that doesn't have a happy ending from their schools and libraries. Because, it might make lil pweshus sad, and chilluns should never be allowed to encounter disappointment, evar. Because as we all know life is always fair and there's absolutely no need to provide children with frames of reference for coping with adversity.

And on the second point, what is this "innocence" anyway? Because children certainly aren't nice or polite or anything short of evil little dictators until they have been *taught* otherwise, frequently from the frames of reference given to them ... in stories, and from the world around them.

IMO a lot of the people who think they are doing kids favors in the world today are really fashioning a monstrous result. I don't look forward to the day when those with no empathy become the norm.