You're on the right track, but you exaggerate somewhat when you write about earlier ages of childbirth in earlier eras. In any case, when you ask about the right time to have children, Sarah Silverman answered that question.

"I always think I should get on it if I want to have kids. Because once you hit thirty it can be difficult to conceive – it can be dangerous. The best time to conceive is when you're a black teenager."

Several other people here have mentioned how commonplace it is in some communities. Here's another one, referring to Britney Spears.

"Wow! She is amazing. She is 25 years old and she's already accomplished everything she's going to accomplish in her life. It's mind blowing..............Have you seen Britney's kids? Oh my god, they are the most adorable mistakes you will ever see! They are as cute as the hairless vagina they came out of!"

"It is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind."

"Three generations of imbeciles are enough."

There's a difference between "your" and "you're." Errors like that damage your credibility, if English is your native language and/or you are ostensibly fluent in it.

As always, it should be obvious why these things happen. "They" want people, particularly the unmarried, to stop having sex, and they imagine that negative consequences will deter them.

... but the last two posts are the harsh truth. Nobody should say rude things to fat people, that's inexcusable, but obesity is not harmless, and it didn't just come out of nowhere to afflict so many people.

they could just abandon the whole silly enterprise.

Maybe the Broadsheet people see different American Apparel ads than I do. I see their print ads all the time, and they always seem pretty sexy, and actually rather understated and classy. What am I missing here?

First-World exploitation of the Third World creates most of the conditions that motivate people to emigrate. It's in our power to change. Ireland exported a great many people to Britain until (among other things) Britain and other European countries substantially changed their policies towards Ireland. Of all the Central Americans who cross the Rio Grande, very few are Costa Rican; in fact, Costa Rica has enormous numbers of Nicaraguans living there illegally. There's a reason for this, and many more examples. Please, no more blaming the victims.

I normally don't care for the "you're just jealous" explanation, but I wonder if that's what is at work with some of the negative reactions to this ad. It also might fuel some of the silliness that Allie sees. I certainly get jealous when I encounter depictions of people in High School... or college... or post-college... getting laid.

I'm from the generation after this author, and while I'm heterosexual, my mix tape would include much of the same music, for similar reasons. New Wave (but more often, the darker sounds of post-punk) was really my first musical love. People gave me flack for liking "80s music" in the late 90s, but then partway into the 00s, the success of Interpol and The Killers (among many others) was very gratifying. These days, The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Division/New Order, R.E.M., Depeche Mode etc. are all very respectable. And I still hate the Dave Matthews Band and Creed.

Shazzer, it's time to fire that doctor. Laurel, these friends of yours (are they your friends?) sound pathetic. Nancy? Vajayjay? Huh?

They come here (to NC or anywhere else) because we go there. First World exploitation of the Third World creates the conditions that force people into the immigrant stream. Make trade fair, drop the debt, and stop blaming the victims.

The musicians I mentioned helped (and continue to help) me because, among other reasons, I identified with them so much. Morrissey sounded like he needed a friend as much as I did.

How about Lita Ford? Her songs are tacky, but she's an excellent guitarist.

And does it have to be guitar? Tori Amos's piano playing comes to mind.

The dolls look creepy, or just expressionless. That's particularly noticeable because, on the covers of the books and DVDs (there have been direct-to-video releases of the earlier films, by the way) the girls look cute.

American Girl is excessive in some aspects, but all things considered I think it's really positive. Getting kids interested in history like this is wonderful.

A low birthrate is what the whole world needs. There are too many people on this planet already. The idea that each generation should support previous generations is a pyramid scheme, and those are inevitably unsustainable. I don't want to live long enough to need some descendant to take care of me. Who would wish that on their children, or anyone?

Only sixteen percent admit to being non-religious. As a comparison, forty percent claim to attend religious services weekly, when in reality only twenty-something actually do.

You can say/write it. Nothing bad will happen.

But before I get to that: Did somebody write something about soldiers defending our freedoms? Do you really believe that's what this, or any war since the war of 1812, is really about? Wars are fought for the profits of the ruling class.

***

It's only technically legal censorship when the government does it. Don't cry "First Amendment" when it involves private entities. Agree or disagree, it's not applicable.

With that said, AKA Smith, you were indeed snarky and condescending.

... I can find a job there that pays a living wage. I should look at their immigration site again.

...then how could I care? Besides, carrisima, don't you believe that the "souls" of the aborted go to heaven anyway? Isn't that a better deal than being born, and possibly jeopardizing their salvation? It's like the story of the missionary and the Inuit.

I don't think I ever do.