Dear RMW,

I am glad abstinence education can work. I read the article you referred to. I was only familiar with that type of education incorporating religion. According to the article superstition was eliminated, and the value of restraining oneself on rational grounds was encouraged.

However, I still wish no further interaction with you.

Not to mention that the bill will penalize doctors and nurses who are conscientious objectors and don't want anything to do with abortions. They can be fined up to 500 penalty units or the dollar equivalent of $130 x 500 = $65,000 ! What is the state of health care like in Tasmania and how will it be helped if there are resignations of doctors and nurses?

@David f
You can say that you wish no further interaction with someone but this is a public debate and if you don't like what your opponents are saying well bad luck. Debate is about covering all facets of a topic. Provided people don't say anything deliberately insulting they are allowed to put their point of view. This topic has been covered extensively from a number of angles. Inevitably people don't like someone's point of view on it. I have seen people indicate that as far as they are concerned a foetus has no rights. Some people are saying that a woman has an unqualified right to do as she likes with her own body. These are all legitimate points of view and I respect them although I don't agree with them. Sensible public debate calls for people to say what is relevent to the debate without any sort of acrimony.

Dear Gadfly42,

RMW can put forth his or her point of view. I am not telling RMW to shut up or restricting RMW's expression in any way. It requires more than one to debate, and no one is obligated to debate. It is RMW's right to express RMW's view. It is my right to respond or not as I choose. It is more courteous to tell RMW that I don't wish to interact any more than to let RMW post and expect an answer from me.

I am weary of the discussion with RMW. I don't know why you're lecturing me.

I read the article, what I'venot worked out fromit is the impact on unplanned pregnancies and STD's the two types of education had.

I suspect that most of us would see benefits in reduced sexual activity for younger teenagers. If that reduction comes at the expense of leaving those who do engage in sexual activity less equiped to protect themselves from the risks of unplanned pregnancy and or STD's its not a hands down win.

The difference between the two approaches and proportions of participants engaged in sexual activity seems to be around 1/6th but no mention is made of how many from each group who do engage in sexual activity are having serious unwanted consequences from that activity.

R0bert