Apparently there's so much competition for students that tutoring companies have turned to a totally bizarre selling point: sex appeal.

As a former teacher at an all-boys school, I can't even begin to tell you how creeped out this makes me.

But I think it's still messed up to encourage students to think of their tutors as sexual objects, especially when -- though the article doesn't explicitly describe the gender breakdown in the Hong Kong tutoring market -- none of the people mentioned in the piece are male.

It's creepy.

Unlike breakfast cereal and toys, where children arguably have significant influence on their parents' purchase decision, tutoring is a high ticket item where parents weigh in heavily on the decision. I would have to assume that the sex angle would backfire with most parents...at least those who are predisposed to spend big bucks to prepare their kids for the SAT.

Don't accuse me of being discriminatory.

In America this isn't a problem for two reasons: first of all, the kid's mom would slam the door in the tutor's face, and second, kids don't have the money to buy what is basically a kid's version of the CEO's trophy secretary. Who are these rich kids with money to hire themselves hot babes to tutor them?

Britney poses for her first album cover in a tiny schoolgirl outfit, on her knees, with a delicious smile. Then she says she finds it "creepy" that older men find that look alluring.

The same bunch of women in here who enjoy their "Desperate Housewives" pool-boy fuckfests are waving the feminist flag over teen boys who--stop the presses--find some older women sexy, and they call that "creepy."

Here's what's, "creepy": people who have no fucking clue, or who wish to pretend that sex appeal does not make the world go 'round.

You want to stop "creepy" in its tracks? Stop dressing your daughters like sluts. Especially your preteens. Turn off the MTV and put the computer in the living room. Chaperone their dates. Explain that clevage is not what respectable young women put on display. Unless, of course, when you said "third-wave feminism" you were only kidding. Look, just because Conservatives may be way too uptight doesn't mean Liberals have to let anything go.

I find it far more creepy that so many women and girls have no problem dressing like a fucking slut and then act surprised when men and boys actually look at what's been deliberately put on display.

Are there laws about doctors not being able to date current or former patients?

Cause I'm kind of dating my doctor. But, I mean, he's an eye doctor, so it's not gross. Is this illegal?!?

and as recent history demonstrates overwhelmingly this particular subject is one where the people concerned about it usually end up trying to use the law, such as in the examples I gave.

Ms. Price never recommended oulawing people making decisions based on sex appeal. All she was commenting on is the fact that, encouraging adolescent boys to hire tutors based on their legs instead of their brains, and marketing tutors as pieces of meat in an area where the sole determinors of success should be intelligence and teaching ability, is creepy. And it is.

you may be able to outlaw certain specific forms of advertising, presentation and behavior but it's pretty easy to get around this with modern communications. There is a trend towards establishing more control over this by expanding what are arguably specific exceptions from the general rule of mentally competent adults being able to do as they like, for example teachers can't date students OR FORMER STUDENTS, doctors can't date former patients, etc. but it is questionable how far such a strategy can rationally or legally be taken.

I know it's not discrimination against attractive people. I'm not that stupid. I don't like to talk about discrimination because, as a white male, I'm not allowed to have stance. Nevertheless, I find it entertaining to read the broadsheet to see what women are all up in arms about on a daily basis. The majority of the time the issues are laughable. Liberals have the Daily Show, I have this.

Dude, you are totally overreacting.

It's not discriminating against attractive people to wonder whether how they look is the best reason to hire a tutor. No one is saying they can't be tutors.

Everything you say about attractive people getting better treatment is true. In a lot of contexts it doesn't make much sense, and this is one of them, since physical appearance has no bearing on how good a tutor the person is. That's all Price is saying (I think).

Calm down.

I apologize; I was speaking in double standards.

The article quoted someone talking about the beautiful long legs of the two of the tutors, so I was in the mindset of the tutors being female.

I wasn't really interested in older guys when I was in high school, but obviously that's just me and has nothing to do with this at all.

Attractive people attract more attention. People are nicer and more willing to listen to an attractive person. Would Catherine Price be happier if only ugly girls could tutor boys? Where does Catherine Price stand on American companies hiring attractive women? Sometimes attractive women can be an asset in a meeting because guys may be more willing to pay attention to them. Unapologetic sexism (we're freaking animals, think about it). So what? The group with the hot woman got the contract. Does Catherine Price remember what stewardesses used to wear on planes? Even attractive girls become ugly someday - let them bank off of their assets while they have them. I think this stance discriminates against attractive women - they are people too (albeit radiant and fantastically proportioned people) and if they want to tutor, I say let them tutor. Stifling sex appeal == veil. Hmmm.

Why do commercials use smoking hot girls and women to try to outdo their competitors? - uhh, capitalism?

It boils down to this for me: That really hot girl in the apple or buger king or whatever commercial is fun to look at and think about, but it's not going to make me buy an Imac or a burger -- it's just going to reaffirm my belief that I am a heterosexual man who is attracted to beautiful women. (please tell me there's nothing wrong with that)