A side issue of politeness
Submitted by d on June 05 2000 22:31:46
In reply to Long Introduction submitted by Dunstin on June 05 2000 19:02:40
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That is, one of politeness. If your coworker is an extreme militant vegetarian, and you are eating a department lunch, it would be polite to order a salad or a veggie-burger. Likewise, when you are around those particular family members (the one aunt in particular) it might be polite to reduce your contact with children so as not to offend the hypersensitive adults around you as much. In particular, you can stop doing things which you are doing more for your fun than for the fun of the kids (the saying goodnight to the kids is a good example). If you can't or won't do that, it might help to recruit some helpers, maybe the very aunt who is giving you dirty looks. It's hard, I'm going through the same thing, and I'm not even a boylover in the classical sense (although I have been accused to my face of having ulterior motives for befriending children - in church no less - that shock affected me for years). It's unfortunate that American society seems to only let you be very friendly with kids if you are - under 15 or 16 yourself, or over 50 or so ("grandpa") - acting in a professional or "authorized" volunteer capacity - a parent with kids the same age as the kids you are playing with - family or close family friends (sometimes) On the plus side, this overcaution does keep down the kidnappings and the truly evil child molesters who worm their way into the hearts of families then manipulate and molest children at bay. I'm talking about the people motivated by lust or power here. But at what cost? You and I and any number of kids who we would have played with but didn't paid the price. -David, "d" |
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