So, I'm helping my seven-yr-old study for his test on insects today (funny!)

[crim son]

I ask him, "How many segments does an insect's body have? Can you name them?" Yes, he knows there are three, and he can name them. "Describe the life cycle of the mealy worm." He describes it, and adds that the mealy worm's body has thirteen segments. "What is the function of the queen bee?" To lay eggs, he responds. "What is special about the 'drone'"? I ask him. He's been doing so well! He gets to have sex with the big lady! answers Henry, and then laughs uproariously.
I couldn't help but laugh with him. What are they teaching these kids today? :rofl:

On edit: I'd try to fix those italics, but for that I'd need another cup of coffee, and I'm really not up to it!

[tigereye]

1. that's very cute

I think they are just more open about these things than they used to be!

my 5th grader came home with some story about Puritan women, witches and "carnal knowledge." I never did get the whole story. I suspect it had something to do with the Salem witch trials and intolerance.... :shrug:

[crim son]

2. It is cute, albeit a bit disturbing.

I have a thirteen-year-old boy who would never have made such a joke when he was seven. Now he's annoyingly free with the sexual innuendo. We were watching a "Buffy TVS" episode the other night and one of the characters was discussing the various weapons used for slaying vampires. She said, "I need to get my hands on some wood" or something like it. I held my breath and then my son couldn't hold it in, and we both laughed. It feels a bit odd sharing a laugh of this sort with my boys, but it's that or act like an uptight hardass, which I won't do. :)

[tigereye]

3. yeah, I turned off some bad sitcom the other night

not only because of the sarcasm, but the innuendo coming out of the mouths of the 13 and under characters... we don't watch a lot of regular tv, so I was kind of shocked. Shows just seem to get meaner and coarser, with little redeeming value, except to reinforce the shallowness. It's weird.

[crim son]

6. It's what passes for wit.

We are a simple people, we Americans.

[mzteris]

7. I think I saw that, too...

Someone had messed with the remote and I was trying to get the channel over to hockey (about the only thing we actually watch anymore) - and it was stuck on some sitcom I'd never seen before.

I was totally shocked by what they were saying. Young boys basically talking about masturbation, etc... gag. It was truly awful. No wonder we don't watch much tv!

[Parche]

4. drones

"Human life strives ceaselessly to perfect itself, to gain ascendancy. But what of the lower forms of life? Is it not possible that they, too, are conducting experiments, and are at this moment on the threshold of deadly success?"


"When the yearning to gain ascendancy takes the form of a soulless, loveless struggle, the contest must end in unlovely defeat. For without love, drones can never be men, and men can only be drones."

[crim son]

5. I've known a drone or two in my life.

They live for duty because the alternative isn't something they are able to imagine. In fact I believe many people live in this fashion, half dead and completely unaware of the fact. They don't have my empathy and they don't have my pity. They are a different species IMO.