Remember a few weeks ago, when Prudie published the letter from the widower who wanted his new squeeze to sleep with him in the nude at all times, even though there were rafts of children in the house?

The same letter, with identical details was published by Ask Amy this morning in the Chicago Tribune. The only difference is that it was written from the woman's perspective. (Just go to http://chicagotribune.com . It's on the bottom of the page with Dear Abby, etc.)

It's generating the same silly responses, too.

Cool! In theory, they could have decided to work it out by both writing different columns, and agree with what ever consensus (if any) they got. In reality, of course, it's totally bogus.

One of these days, when I have nothing better to do, I'm going to create a folder of links to all those advice columnists.

At least this version identified the ages of the kids. It makes a difference in what is reasonable, like keeping the door locked all night.

Or the adults could build the kids a dorm over the garage......

Check out the incredibly sexist advice, though!

The Prudie letter was written by a man and Prudie told him that his insistence on nudity was unreasonable and he should just drop it and forget about it if he wants to keep his woman.

The Amy letter was written by a woman and Amy told her that it would be in her best interest to resign herself to putting a lock on the door, allowing her children to see by their exposed naked shoulders that her and her boyfriend are "in love" and getting used to sleeping naked at least 3 days out of the week if she wants to keep her man.

So, each of them has been given conflicting advice contrary to their own wishes. I'm really glad the karmic wheel of justice has rotated in this fashion; the earth fairly trembled with the seething resentment of men the world over, locked in a darkened death grip with women who steadfastly, justifiably, certifiably, remained clothed. Ah, how the tables have turned...I hear the sound of triumphant paper-waving right now! There will be a veritable run on deadbolt and slide locks at the hardware stores this afternoon..!

if you let your kids run into your room at any time anyways? is it normal?

i really dont know as my parents divorced when i was young, so it was never an issue in my house. and by the time my mom remarried i understood that you knock on closed doors...

children demand privacy the older they get, so why not teach them about respecting each others space when they are young?

My take on this is that Amy is an imbecile.

:)

Amy isn't usually am imbecile, even if she did screw the pooch on this one. I'd recommend giving her another chance if you have the time another day :)

who would win at jello wrestling-- Prudie or Amy? And would either excercise the decorum to not pull hair?

deduction:

if you let your kids run into your room at any time anyways? is it normal?

...

children demand privacy the older they get, so why not teach them about respecting each others space when they are young?

At 8 or 10, it's reasonable to expect a kid to respect a closed door. At 3 or 4, or even 6, it's not so reasonable. Not only are they not "there" yet cognitively, but they also are more likely to feel they need Mommy or Daddy are weird times, like if they have a stomachache, wet the bed, or have a bad dream.

I'm telling you Incog, I had no problems teaching my stepson to knock when he was in that 4 year old range.

Part of the problem with my kids was that until my kids were 4-8, we lived in a house that had no doors on any of the bedrooms. Hard to teach them to knock on a door that isn't there. At least they'd knock on the bathroom door. Usually.

Kids get sick, and they sometimes need you without coming and knocking first. Having a kid with a chronic medical condition, I never sleep with the door closed. When we need privacy, we lock the door, otherwise it is open.

When they are older and coming in after I go to bed it will be open too!