In the Philadelphia article to which this story was linked, the spa operator consented to give the young girl a wax because she suspected that, come hell or high water, it was going to happen, and she knew she could do a gentle, responsible job. I'm not wholly convinced; I think the mother was a nutcase; but I also suspect that her k/e/e/p/e/r probably had more money for lawyers than the spa operator. Also in the article, the spas are making these nutcases sign releases. Which doesn't turn them over to social services or the cops, but provides liability protection for the owners AND an evidence trail in case other types of abuse occur. It's not what I'd like. I'd like the spa owners to throw them the hell out.

Just from how spas operate, Shazzer, I don't believe a man would get very far in taking his small daughter to get a waxing. I don't know if you've ever been in a spa. The sort of spa that these people go to have men's and women's "sides" for locker rooms, of course. Some areas are in common, like lounges, but not necessarily. Saunas, hot tubs, etc. are sex-segregated. Treatment rooms are private and secluded.

There is no way in hell that a reputable operator would consent to work with a child without a responsible adult present. If you went in with a daughter and insisted, you'd be sent away. If you persisted, they'd hit the panic button.

You might think of that policy as protection for crazy fathers against committing abuse. Unlike their mothers, whom this system is more likely to back and should not.

"Back off, bitch?" Is that any way for a happy yummy mummy to talk? You don't sound like a little madonna now.

Smugness is a social offense. I called you on it. You're sounding defensive. What did you THINK, coming into a diverse group, would happen?

Or did you. Frankly, I think you were showing off. You were wasting your time.

Now go and be fulfilled. Preferably somewhere else.

As Lonewolfy pointed out, you don't know me. Both of you, however, are quick to assume I am unhappy and have power issues with men.

This adds presumption to cluelessness.

You have no way of knowing what choices I've made or how I feel, aside from annoyed and mischievous. What you are doing is projecting. Your projections say more about you than about me. I realize that they are SUPPOSED to work. Find someone on whom they do, will you?

Lonewolfy again is attempting to control the verbal environment with "one last post." That is about as effective as Lisa's unpunctuated "back off bitch" (sic).

Guys, you're NOT very good at flaming. Or reasoning.

Dear me, I hope you're not married to each other.

This reminds me of the time, back in the day, when the black students took over most of my college's buildings. I hadn't a problem with orderly demonstrations and was minding my own business when a number of people came racing up, saying "oh, we can't presume to speak for the black community," and then did. For quite a self-righteous while.

I find lack of communication a worse problem than melanin levels. And the article, which I managed to read to its jargon-laden end, did not promote good communication of anything but a guilt I personally don't think I should have to feel.

My hand is out. I'm hoping to listen. My mind is as open as I can make it and I try every day to make it more flexible. Given a fair chance, I do those things rather well.

I'm LOUSY at mea culpas.

I had such a perfectly lovely flame all ready to go and the system ate it.

Nuts.

Not worth repeating, as you've repeated your psychological attacks and now the "you're just jealous." Good grief, why should I be jealous of anyone's choice if it's worked out as well as mine?

I'm flattered you read my letters, but you should have read them without just looking for what you consider vulnerable points. What you've come up with is silly.

As a feminist, I respect your right to choose. When you invalidate other people's choices, which you did by coming in and smugging, I have a duty to oppose that. If you had behaved like a lady, you wouldn't have gotten flamed.

You're using grade-school tactics. Please disappoint me and don't descend to the "you'll pray for me" level.

If you felt as good as you say you do, you wouldn't be attacking, let alone attacking so poorly.

Why do you think these tactics will work?

That's called the "tu quoque" or "you too."

It's considered a fallacy in discourse. In other words, it's LAME.

Now, you've gone from beamishness to swearing to mock-psychoanalysis, to you're just jealous of my wonderfulness to copycat argumentational strategies.

These are all very childish. If you're going to impress people with your totaled womanhood, you really should learn to argue better.