Including children.

Having that support and the freedom to explore my passions, and to choose reason over doctrine made a big difference in my life.

My new found principles ran contrary to my Father's beliefs, and instead of being understanding that I am a free individual, with decision making capabilities of my own, he chose to belittle me. Now we have a poor relationship due to his close mindedness.

"Curious", if you really love your child(ren), as I believe you do, the best advice I can give is to continue to love them with understanding and compassion, even if they find alternative beliefs.

Is the guy outside Price Chopper in a lobster costume "harming" the children of parents who don't eat shellfish?

Children (and all people) are confronted with differing ideas and messages all day. You don't want your kid being introduced to new ideas by a guy standing on the side-walk holding a sign then gouge out your child's eyes or lock them in the closet. Because otherwise it's going to happen somehow by someone or some company.

If you are a good enough parent you'll know that you've properly taught your own children the values you hold dear. Or you're a good enough parent to respect the choices your kids make.

Otherwise you as the parent suck.

Perhaps Curious is inadvertently projecting (his) own insecurities onto the little folk.

Thank you for being willing to engage in discussion about this. As Sam indicated, exchanging ideas and thoughts is very important!

I personally disagreed with a great deal of what Free Keene stood for at the beginning of my coming to understand what being opposed to public education and the coercive state was all about. I was after a government police officer for eleven years.

Once I comprehended precisely the truth about what Sam and Ian speak of… as a person who considers himself to be very moral I had no possible way I could keep my job.

I understand it is hard to understand at first… but please give what Free Keene has to offer a good long reflection. I truly believe that children would be much better off if they were educated in a way that taught them alternatives to advocating the use of force to solve problems.

Again– thank you for taking the time to ask Sam and Ian questions.

I like the answer to #1. I'd consider adding a point about the decreasing quality of education in the US over the years, as evidenced by world ranking, and the extremely high cost of public school relative to private alternatives.

Regarding #2, I think what you say is true, but perhaps misses the point of her question. Obviously babies cannot decide whether to have their diaper changed, for example. Even though they're crying, you do it anyway. If a toddler wanders out your front door onto the street, you rescue him back … not decide he has made an informed decision to become independent.

There are ages at which kids are not capable of making certain kinds of decisions.

Regarding #3 … I think molestation of a kid before they are capable of consent constitutes force, and warrants a stronger response than just ostracism. I'm concerned about the reaction this woman may have to that response …. I wonder if you might add a caveat that this is your opinion, and others in the liberty movement may disagree.

Actually, it might be better to add that at the beginning, so it's clear you're not speaking for everyone — you know how people have a tendency to ascribe beliefs of one individual to others they associate with.

Regarding #4, I think offering to take their kid out of videos, if they request it, would be considerate. You know … blurry face effect or something.

Regarding #5, I know you use self deprecation here to make the point about government education, but I think it may be taken as insulting nonetheless.

Personally, my response to this question would be a bit more nuanced. Parents' wishes are an important consideration when talking to kids. I think the criticality of the issue must be considered, as well as the age of the kid. In this case, the core issue at hand is really that the kids are being taught theft and extortion are ok. That's a very serious issue, which affects others. Also, you might say that middle schoolers are of an age where they can hear a different perspective, think about it, discuss it with their parents, and reach a conclusion.

This goes back to question #2 — at what point are kids capable of handling these ideas for themselves.

Anyway, these are just my opinions/ideas … I wasn't the one who was asked, and it's your letter, so take any of them you consider useful.