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STEPHEN A BLOCH's avatar

Richards' reply raises perennial questions about child-rearing: how do you weigh giving children a sense of security against preparing them for bad things that will eventually happen? At what ages do you expose them to what unpleasant realities?

For example, my wife was raised by Greatest Generation parents who were careful to never argue in front of the kids, so the kids wouldn't worry that their home and family were falling apart. I was raised by not-quite-Hippie parents who argued openly (at least about some topics) in front of the kids, but usually made up afterwards, demonstrating that adults can disagree and still love one another. Early in our marriage, it seemed to me as though my wife saw every argument as an existential threat to the relationship, while I saw arguments as normal, perhaps unpleasant but necessary, parts of adult conversation. (She will point out, correctly, that my parents separated when I was 8, while hers stayed married for fifty years.)

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bruce's avatar

Wow. I've never seen an exchange where Orwell clearly lost. And Richards is too genteel to make the obvious point that Noel Coward's ideal 14 year old boy was crazed with sexual passion for Noel Coward. Richards just sticks with 'If Mr Orwell imagines the average sixth-form boy cuddles a chambermaid as often as he grips a cricket bat, Mr Orwell is in error.'

Makes you wish Richards was right about a revival of men who did not speak muck and women with clean faces. And I've always thought 'Nay, Artifice must queen it once more' by Max Beebohm was right and girls should paint.

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