It does seem as though, with my own generation (men and women aged 28-38, let's say), this sense of entitlement--especially in urban areas--is out of control. Couple that with a pathetic, cop-out, "if you're not a parent yourself, then shut up" attitude, and you have the ingredients of really unpleasant and downward-moving community standards when it comes to public behavior. I need not be a parent to recognize irresponsible behavior and inconsiderate attitudes. While I'm sympathetic to the need for parents to get out and connect with their peers during the day, they seem to overlook the fact that their choice to stay at home and care for their children instead of putting them in day care--a privilege if ever there was one in this day and age--does not mean that the rest of us, who may be legitimately self-employed and may use coffeehouses as places to get some quiet work done, need to bear the burden of "putting up with" their ill-behaved children. In Boston, where there's no shortage of coffeehouses overrun by parents with small children (and their massive strollers), the rest of us are constantly looking for the next "uncolonized" spot to work and socialize in peace. Cafe proprietors notice this, and it's their right to do what they reasonably can to retain business that they know will simply go elsewhere. (And there are also some smart coffeeshops, restaurants and movie theatres who specifically cater to parents with small children, which I think is an excellent trend.)

I am the proud uncle of several children between the ages of 2 and 6, and I have NEVER had a problem getting them to behave in public places. To whine and complain about it being so hard just reminds me of what whimps many of my peers are when it comes to the very difficult job of raising children in a society where respect for others is fundamental. When you choose to become a parent, you also take on the responsibility of ensuring that your choice doesn't adversely impact the ability of others in your community to continue to live how they prefer to live, and that includes merchants who are trying to please ALL of their customers. The lowest common denominator in that situation is deference to the community and a policing of your own (and your children's) behavior for the sake of the common good.

Sure, kids are going to do unpredictable things, and some of those things can be highly disruptive, but parents and adult guardians of children are obligated to handle the situation. If you can't get control of your child or children, pack up and leave. That's the decent thing to do--it is simply rude to expect the community to adjust to your situation and accept it. (I only wish the same could apply to airplanes at cruising altitude. When will the airlines start implementing "child-free" classes of service?)

I think it's healthy--even if one IS thin, white, blonde and boyish or whatever--to be sensitive to the fact that much of the mainstream (that is, fashion-oriented) media considers that some sort of unrealistic ideal and refuses to give it up. Of course, we keep buying what they're selling, so we aren't exactly giving them a lot of incentive.

As a man, I myself am constantly barraged with images of what is considered beautiful for my own gender, and it's just as depressing when I feel I don't measure up. Being able to call it what it is--biased and even sometimes hurtful--is fine, even I "fit the mold." I'm "lily white" myself, and am often the first to point out racial bias when I see it in the media or elsewhere, when I feel it's actually harmful or inappropriate. But I don't know if this rises to that level. I guess it would have been smarter to include a few models with darker complexions or clearly varied ethnicity, but, at the end of the day, it's just a vapid magazine cover, innit?

I'd say first of all that it is some (probably very tiresome) art director's "vision," and--really--just a way to sell magazines. Made ya look, didn't it? If it HAD been representative of what New Yorkers REALLY look like--let's be honest--it would have been just as attention-getting, but probably not as sexy.