goodbye, goodnight etc...

You can start it on here Jo...well I am knacked got to do some paperwork for Glyn and then off to bed for me, probably about midnight..so se you all 2morrow

Ohh, I don't know about that. The things I'd like to talk about in a column - as I do actually want to be a columnist - would be pretty serious, and things I have strong opinions on.. I wouldn't want to bore anyone, lol.

I actually think peoples opinions are quite interesting, always nice to see another slant on things

Haha, I can rant on for ages and ages though, lol!

I like a good discussion and we can always provide a soap box for you to stand on if needs be

Lol, maybe maybe.. but I just worry that I may upset someone somehow, and everyone is so cool on here, lol.

We are laid back Jo, so I suppose that is cool

ah, go on jo.... 'tis yer chance to test yer columnist skills out....

Oh lol. I can't just randomly rant on about something, lol.

Ha! i do it with relative ease... you know you wanna

Just remember, you asked for this. This is going to be more of a rant than a column, really, so it won't be properly structured.

I think the level of sex education in this country isn't good enough. It can't be, if there are all these little kids out there having sex, getting pregnant and catching STIs. It's appalling, and it really worries me!
I didn't have any sex education when I was at school, because it was a Catholic school. I happen to think this is irresponsible. No matter what they're faith is, and how they think other young Catholics will also wait until they're married to have sex, it's clearly not happening. And surely, in this case, health comes before religious beliefs? The things you'd hear at my school of girls getting up to no good with boys several years below in the toilets. It's outrageous.
And I don't like the fact that the government just gives a load of benefits to these kids, and give them a house. I know of people who have got pregnant for that soul purpose - to get away, and so they don't have to go to school. They make things far too easy for them.
I think sex education should be compulsory at EVERY school, and made a bit scarier, so kids will be worried about having sex. There should be talks at schools from people who hae had STIs to give all the grusome details and all the crap they had to go through - if they're willing. Also bring someone in - also if they're willing - who's had an abortion. Have them talk about the process, and how it effected them emotionally. Have a young mother come in, and talk about how she struggled to make ends meet, about the sleepless night, about baby blues, etc etc. Scare them about it while they're young, teach them how to be responsible when they're older, and also talk about the emotional side of sex.
Sex doesn't really seem to mean anything anymore. Kids are having sex because everybody else is, and they don't want to be left out. I don't think they realise, or actually think about, what they'll be missing out on by waiting until they're older, more mature, and have more understanding about life and love, etc, and having sex then when it actually means something.
Also, I think there should be a harsher penalty for underage sex. Have them spend a few nights in a prison cell, both of them. Or something that's going to make them think again.
I think parents need to buck their ideas up as well. They can't be talking to their children enough about the dangers of sex, and how amazing it can be at the right time. And I don't think their or their child's/children's embarrassment should be a reason not to, when so much is at stake.
My solutions may not be the right ones, but something needs doing, because this country is in a state.

I'ma shut up now. Hope I didn't offend anyone, or anything. Don't hate me, please.

i think that was a well good column jo... i agree completely with it... when we were at school, the sort of things they taught us in sex education were just so irrelevant or angled in such a friendly pc way that reality was somewhat distorted..... i saw a programme about sex education in holland... they show it how it really is in a more graphic way... it actually works... they don't have the same problems as we do....

We should have them come scare us into not having sex then!

Well, the youngsters anyway.

hahaha

Did I say something funny?

indeed... the last bit where you blatantly don't want to be scared into not having sex.... made my sides split

Hahaha! That isn't what I meant lol. I said "us" meaning the British.. but then changed it to mean those who actually go to school, because us older lot don't need to be scared. I didn't mean myself there. You always seem to think I'm on about me, lol.

why is that do you think?

I don't actually know. Because I'm the one talking/typing? I don't know. Because more often than not, I'm not on about me!

if it were in a book, i would read it as first-person-narrative.... don't really know why.... must be a brain thing

I shall talk in second person narrative from now on then when explaining things, haha!

that will be most interesting

I just hope I won't have to explain much, I can see it being slightly difficult.

sorry... i don't understand....

It's a lot easier to say "they/he/she/her/him" and "I" than it is to say "you" I think. Especially when trying to explain things. You'll have to try and think a completely different way to say it right.

And I just did it by saying "you'll" - go me!