• boyzmom said on Nov 26, 2006....

  I think romance novels are written to make us feel the need for an ideal mate, that makes us feel safe and there's always cuddling involved. It does not necessarily make us aware of what sex really is and what happens in the real world. I read romance novels and was a virgin until I was 22 years old. Maturity happens on its own with or without such things as romance novels. Now there is a big difference between that and other adult (pornographic) material that tells young readers that it is good if it hurts or gets into more obscene details. There is much I could say about that but will stop there.
  
  
  

• secretlife said on Nov 26, 2006....

  i was thinking about my last post, you know.
  i was thinking....should i put this up with you here?  when i know you're reading me?
   
  i put it up because i know my 16 yr old daughter would be able to handle it.  She's read way ahead of her years since she was a young girl, and i'm sure she's run into erotica in some form or another --
   
  i believe i myself started reading romance novels around your age...
   
  so, i guess i'm ok with you reading this stuff.
   
  there are other things that i write on here.....as do others, that i think might be too graphic for you-  one of the things about being a young girl that is so attractive, is that there is an innocence in you.  sometimes i think that reading all of this very adult material takes away that innocence and i don't particularly think that's a good thing.
   
  of course now i will make myself a true hypocrite by remembering that i was reading penthouse forum at 18....
   

• thexperfectximperfection said on Nov 26, 2006....

  boyzmom-I like what you had to say about this post. It seems to make perfect sense.
   
  secretlife-I am careful about what I read. When I come across material that makes me uncomfertable (which I assume is what you consider 'too graphic') I tend to skip over it. If I skim over a post and notice certain words, I don't bother reading it. The truth is, you have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to my innocence. I value my innocent state and I have no intentions of corrupting it now...*she raises her hand and says* Girlscout's honor.  XD

• Anonymously(?)AJ said on Nov 26, 2006....

  My folks wouldn't even allow me to read Peyton Place (even though we watched the series by that name) until I was sixteen years old, but they were okay with my reading romance stories and novels.  I was always getting those wonderful magazines such as True Story and True Confessions and reading them.
   
  Actual pornography, however, is something I wouldn't want my daughter (if I had one) reading.  However, if she got hold of some elsewhere, I would hope that she would feel free to discuss it with me and ask any questions that the needed to.

• JadeLondon said on Nov 26, 2006....

  I was an early reader. By ten, I was reading novels such as 'Gone With The Wind' and 'Jane Eyre'. My grandmother was always an avid reader and would pass her novels to me. As a child, she would choose what books of hers (romance wise) that I could read. When I was fourteen, she allowed me access to her more 'naughtier' novels as she called them. In no way, shape or form did such things tarnish my mind (I was a virgin until 20). Like you, if it bothered me, I would skip it. I have two boys, and that is all I am likely to have, but if I had a girl, I would do the same as was done to me.

• moonriver said on Nov 26, 2006....

  my parents loved books and kept a fairly large home library, and encouraged us to become voracious readers. perfect imp, if you've read my post on virginity, you'll see how young i was when i first read about sex. but for a young boy of 8 with an imagination that ran wild, even a general magazine picture of a pretty woman in full but sexy clothes, or even an innocent one-line description of a kiss in a teen romance story, already had the tremendous effect of erotica on me.
   
  i first read fanny hill when i was 10 -- my first truly erotic read -- and was hot and bothered every hour of the day (and night) for maybe a month after that. next was lady chatterley's lover when i was 12. then the books of henry miller and anais nin in quick succession, combined with that cute little how-to book, things you've always wanted to know about sex, but were afraid to ask.
   
  looking back, i think it was our family's solid (i won't say wholesome, just consistent) culture, plus our catholic beliefs which aren't necessarily positive, that stopped me from putting into practice with girls what i read in those books.
   
  i think children, when exposed to general literature, will "lose their innocence" by the time they are 10 or 12 even if they are insulated from the grosser forms of erotica that we call porn. the main thing i guess is to give them a solid grounding on good moral values of right and wrong. with that, losing one's innocence at a young age might even be an early catalyst of intellectual and emotional growth. it also serves as inoculation against the really demeaning and dehumanizing aspects of porn.
   
   

• moonriver said on Nov 26, 2006....

  in short, perfect imp, read and critically absorb every book that strikes your fancy. romance (whatever its erotic content), drama, fantasy-sf, thriller, educational and practical how-to's. read and absorb. read and reject. read and recreate, in your mind and in your life. i had written earlier, "writing is breathing." now i'd like to add, "reading is thinking."
   
   
   

• momsrock said on Nov 26, 2006....

  You are going to be exposed to it every where you go. I would rather have some one reading about it than watching it on tv. At least they would be exercising their imagination and learning about grammar and language while doing it! : )

• momsrock said on Nov 26, 2006....

  ...no wonder my kids are messed up! lol

• Mamie said on Nov 26, 2006....

  hey there, I have a 16 year old and I would allow her to read in here if she wanted to.  I know she reads a lot of teen lit and really enjoys it. As long as you remember, we are only writers and we don't have a clue about what is right or wrong for you...you will be fine! Especially since you gave your girl scouts honor!! Keep skipping what doesn't seem right!! all the best to you sweetie!! Mamie

• thexperfectximperfection said on Nov 26, 2006....

  Moonriver-It's hard thinking of a way to respond when my only responce seems to be simply, You're right. There seems to be nothing else to say.
   
  momsrock-I enjoy reading all sorts of things. I just finished Nicolas Sparks Message In A Bottle and I strongly recommend it. On the other hand, I don't like watching anything of a strong sexual nature. In fact, Titanic was the probably most provocative thing I've ever watched and I didn't even see any of the love scenes until maybe a year or so ago. And don't worry, my mom's children are 'messed up' as well. lol
   
  Mamie-I'm glad you allow your child to read what she wants. My mom lets me read whatever I like as well, I think she trusts my judgement because I've never given her reason not to. Thanks for the comment =] I will keep skipping what I know I'm not ready for until I decide I'm comfertable with the material.

• pixilatedcowboy said on Nov 26, 2006....

  I'm a father and I wouldn't mind my kids reading erotica if they were your age.It's much better to let people experience things that to keep them in the dark about it

• thexperfectximperfection said on Nov 26, 2006....

  Hey cowboy, glad to hear from you again. How's the rain situation going? Anyways...
   
  I think that most people my age arent' in the dark about sex but they learn about it from different places. Most, from friends, the media, school (really not that detailed btw), books/novels, or family. Usually it's from a combination of the above but I think that given the other options, what I've chosen works best for me. I prefer not to talk to people about it. That leaves media and school which include mostly just facts about STDs and such. Books keep me from seeing anything I shouldn't be seeing and lets me know many aspects of love/sex (I write both because I learn both and they aren't the same thing).
   
  Well, I'm off to bed. School tomorrow =]  Thanks for the comment cowboy.
   
  Night everyone. Sweet dreams
   

• moonriver said on Nov 28, 2006....

  perfect imp, what i like most about your writing is that they exude a refreshing honesty. my hope is for you to continue reading books on a wide range of topics, relate it to your own life, and gradually develop your own worldview.

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