12 METRO Friday, December 18, 2009 D Are we there yet? Climbers trek on Perito Moreno glacier in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. Scientists warn glaciers in the Andes could disappear in 25 years Picture: Reuters The Big Picture Unfair to procreate? The mess weve created: Earth A surprising amount of hate mail was sent by people who think children should be adored by all. The arguments seem to run on two lines. You cannot say kids are obnoxious because you were one yourself I would, on my own behalf, assure everyone this was not by choice, and I am not going to do it again. Unless you have raised children you cannot have an opinion which is unfair to people who cannot have children and also unfair to the children that I must have to prove that I do not want children. It also supports the argument that children are only likeable to their parents, as most people have had interactions with children of relatives and friends. Are people who work with children allowed to have an opinion? Considering the state of the planet, it seems shortsighted and unfair not least towards the future generations themselves that need to live with the mess we have created to have children. VHEMT I am writing in to defend my poor, beleaguered husband who is being unfairly judged by his fellow Metro readers. I would like to set the record straight I have it on good authority that he was a wonderful baby and a fabulous child altogether. Far from being an obnoxious self- serving little brat, his mother said he never stopped smiling and was a joy and a pleasure to everyone he met. Mrs Outraged, Dublin 9 Top Man Outraged, you took the words right out of my mouth. Ive waited until now to row in behind you with your sentiments on the children of today, as I was expecting the Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Bon voyage: A big thank you to Metro Mail your little section has kept me entertained for the last year or so. I will miss the ramblings of Dublin as I travel to the other side of the world. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Karl Equality fight: Best of luck to the young male who is taking a High Court case to challenge the law which means he is being prosecuted for having sex with a 14-year-old girl when he was 15. Currently, it seems some people are more equal than others. Pat A mans best friend: Well done, Outraged. I was expecting a tirade from the nations parents in defence of the end result of their collective poor timing and I was not disappointed. The more I see and hear of these little treasures the more I love my labrador. Pied Piper Cowells Circus Maximus: Anybody else think the X Factor is just the modern-day equivalent of the ancient Roman arena? Maybe less viciousness in the arena though. Caesar, Dublin 15 In Brief inevitable backlash against you. And boy, I wasnt disappointed. No doubt most of the responders are those individuals who have turned out the types of children you mention. I do agree children today lack manners, have no respect for adults or authority and expect everything to be handed to them on a plate. When I come across a child opposite to this, who actually knows the meaning of please and thank you, I compliment both the child and their parents, though Im afraid to say that this is a rare occurrence these days. Whatever happened to the idea of children should be seen and not heard. Halpo Wading into the obnoxious-brat debate why do teenagers get on the bus and start blaring tinny, awful dance music at full volume from their mobile phones? Are they that starved of attention they have to look for it from strangers on public transport? Nobody thinks you are cool, nobody thinks you are hard we think you are all a bunch of muppets. Angry Anderson Sendusyour txt AcM, my wife and I are unable to have children, we have tried IVF and are currently five years trying to adopt, with no joy so far. Your comment that people who havent had the joy of bringing up a child dont have a clue was insensitive and nasty. T Outraged, I think you are stereotyping children like the spoilt ones you see in movies. No kid I know actually behaves like that, unless their parents give them everything they want, which never happens. I dont think youre giving parents or kids enough credit. Well-behaved teen txt MAIL to 53131* Metro is saying goodbye to the single life in the New Year as it merges with Herald AM to become Metro Herald. The last Metro as you know it will be on Tuesday December 22, when we will run a special feature looking at the best bits of Metro over the past four years and thats where you come in. We want you, our readers, to tell us your favourite bits from Metro headlines, stories, cute animal photos, letters-page arguments, whatever has made you love (or hate) Metro. Send your thoughts to mail@metroireland.ie. Metro wants you! index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html