In any case, my point is about the absurd social prejudices about this kind of bond between two adults.

Sometimes everyone sees things that aren’t actually there if they’ve been on the receiving end, or have seen it happen to others repeatedly.

And I agree that ‘slut shaming’ shouldn’t ever happen (fcuk how I hate that word, and the very concept.)

By the way, I have two students from the same tribe Haley wrote about and we (the students and I) discussed his accuracy extensively, but a 14 and 16 year old generally aren’t considered the best sources, so I didn’t cite them and instead cited a known and respected researcher.

Here’s some other sources for the same information for the same tribe (Mandinka/Mandingo):

Girls occasionally marry men 50 years older:
http://www.mandinkapeople.org/customs.htm

Men are of “marriageable age” after 26 http://instituto.antropos.com.br/v3/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=515&catid=36&Itemid=4

Girls are eligible for marriage at puberty: http://books.google.com/books?id=Tv454BAg1QoC&pg=PA45&lpg=PA45&dq=mandinka+marriage+ages&source=bl&ots=FKRiDyyWgK&sig=Dn9BX8WWk9R6YYG2T4SlokaxRFU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ryakUIueOunq0QG0pYCoDw&ved=0CGgQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=mandinka%20marriage%20ages&f=false

There’s nothing wrong with it if both people are physically and mentally mature enough.

Society needs to stop dictating our lives by arbitrary numbers.
Everyone ages (mentally and physically) at different rates.

Would you have rather they try to “slut-shame” the accuser and have the allegations turn out to be true as was all too common in the past?

I don’t think gender or orientation is even an issue here.

Because if you are, I suggest you:

1. Get in touch with your critical thinking skills, then re-read my comment.

2. If you still wish to call me this, go fuck yourself with a moose. No, really, do it. 

If you’re not calling me this – I guess I misunderstood your post. Sorry.

BTW, I am an arch-liberal, among other things, and having grown up around liberals who are also quietly homophobic and subtly racist, I know damn well they exist and have no qualms about calling them out, like I am with the Children’s TV Workshop.

That’s exactly what they did, if you read the article and their statement.

Yet another hateful, ignorant conservative.

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/our-blog/2012/11/12/sesame-workshops-statement-regarding-kevin-clash/

Is there any wonder why blacks and gays distrust you?

I have fond memories of our time together. And no, it was not terrible sexual. I think it must have been hard for him to deal with my less than worldliness since he had had adult relationships. Mostly we hung out together, swimming and taking walks and watching TV. Despite the Interwebs insistence that teens are hot hot hot, most of them are actually awkward and inexperienced and not terribly adventurous. I know I was. Anyway, I’m not sure what Kevin’s relationship was like, but I do not automatically assume it was “creepy,” or all out of balance.

She was right. I’m not sure how she understood what the older Sesame Streets were like – maybe we saw some that did not include the horrible Elmo. The older Sesame Street had a balance of monsters and people-like puppets (Bert and Ernie, the Count). The monsters are fun but the balance is way out of whack now.

I believe that Elmo was a direct response to Barney, who was so popular for a time. The repetitious nature of that show was supposed to be based on research that that is how kids learn, and so SS introduced a really really repetitive section with Elmo.  I thought this was a poor direction to go. Sesame Street was intended to be a show that parents would watch with their kids. That is why there are all the cameos by stars that children have no relationship to. No adult wants to hear the Elmo Song a million times – they really turned the adults off to wanting to view the show ever.