Ah, I remember the certainty, the dense, white-hot, dwarf-star morality of my adolescence. Living at home. Having been outside, meeting people outside my neighborhood peer group or family... Never.

Kid, lighten the hell up. You're not supposed to masturbate either, are you. Yet there you are, certainly multiple times a week (and if like myself, on occassion, multiple times (or many, multiple times)) a day. And your parents give you a curfew - admit it, you've blown that, haven't you? You've had sex yet? Told your parents and your partner's parents, and gotten their blessings? Have you lied/exaggerated to any friends today to make you seem better that you feel you are? What of the thousands of other transgressions?

Oh, and the big one: have you snuck a drink behind your parents' back? Seven years (half again your entire life) before it's legal to? If not yet, trust me, you will. Often.

Life is sometimes more complicated than it seems. More shades of gray. More nuance. Perhaps you should reflect on your life, to see how well it fits an idealized, normative whole.

Beyond these matters, weed is less harmful than alcohol. Your mother is in PAIN. For which weed helps. The pain of managing two teenaged boys, sure, but physical, chronic back pain. What kind of little monster would wish that on their mother?

Finally, she's only duplicitous because of your unreasonable, binary, unsophisticated, arbitrary concern over unreasonable, one-size-MUST-fit-all rules. Rules which, once you've been places outside your narrow, parochial confines, you'll find don't amount to much.

There's much wisdom, warmth, caring and true love that goes from your mother to you and your brother. Focus - and bathe - in that, rather than on your petulant demand that she live her life as a barely-adolescent boy would. In several years time, you'll be glad that you did.

Well said. The Fix was great for its time, but fewer things better is a good mantra. Also, the nature of gossip sites is that hits are generated by less credible, more sensationalist entries, which is counter to what Salon should strive for.

Bryan -

I'm sure that's what Ms. Sandler meant. But it's not what she wrote. There are 10 different ways off the top of my head to convey in words that a writer is expressing the views of a particular individual, not the author. That wasn't one of them.

Considering this error, the disciples vs apostles issue and the unreferenced assertion that Baldwin thinks Bono = Satan, Joan Walsh should Nathan-ize this article too?

Honestly, this seems more a case of bad editing and not bad writing. Even great writers need editors. Writers do these things and that's why editors exist. It seems that this function is lacking in Salon articles.

"...Baldwin's theology -- and criticism of secularists *and Christian poseurs like Bono*"

I'm trying to imagine how very PISSED OFF Jesus would be at a guy that preaches (from the modern pulpit of CDs) peace, forgiveness, understanding. And instead of spending his time playing Baccarat uses his celebrity to free legions of African poor from the yokes held by the money-changers in NY, London and, yes, Rome.

Yup, I'm sure there would be plenty of gnashing of Nazarene teeth at this affront to His values.

Either very poor writing or poorly-thought analysis.

There ARE criticisms one could make of Bono, I suppose. Free country and all. But I'm mystified why the author would accuse Bone of being a Christian poser.

Err, should have read before clicking publish.

Change, 2nd to last paragraph:

Authorities say, "Child pornographers are a $20B/yr business and only molesters mind us tracking everything they do online,"

To:

Authorities say, "Child pornographers are a $20B/yr business and only molesters mind us tracking everything ANYONE DOES online,"

Sigh. We now return to regular programming...

I too wasn't particularly surprised that the Right would take advantage. Their hunger for power and prestige knows no bounds. They have shown it nearly every time their noses were exposed to the sun. It's what they do.

It's when those entities that our Founding Fathers vested with countervailing power to fight this tyranny meekly abstain that our republic faces the most peril. And that's why the situation is so bleak.

The very necessary presence, for a democracy at least, of the loyal opposition was lacking. Both our political, civic and business leaders.

But most especially our press. When they weren't currying for favor by distorting the truth by commission (Judith Miller, etc) or ommission (Bob Woodward, etc), they were lazily following the story-of-the-week like slobbering pack dogs. Or they allowed overzelous lawyers silence them, or weighed whether they'd be on someone's invite list if they pursued a story that was true, if confortable to authority.

If you looked hard enough, the truth was out there. But primarily by avoiding the news congomerates or US based services. Millions of people marched in opposition against the Iraq war before it started because most of us knew that WMD, Saddam/bin Laden, were all facitious. But did much - any - of this hit the media? No.

No loyal opposition fought back, no one in a position to make a difference wanted to be called bad names for speaking truth to power. THAT'S why things have gone so badly.

Even now, if the authorities say jump, the media asks meekly, how high.

Authorities say, "we only spy illegally on BAD Americans," and the media gives that serious consideration instead of ripping this to shreds. Authorities say, "No shoes, no nail clippers, and no fluids to fly safely," and the media meekly nods. Authorities say, "Child pornographers are a $20B/yr business and only molesters mind us tracking everything they do online," and the NY Times takes their word at face value. Salon says, "We'll quickly delete any stories that humbly suggest that you quantify these absurd claims justifying watching every keystroke that every one of us does online."

Good job, media! And Salon. And Joan. Good stenography!