Greetings Nyxeka,

First of all, thank you for your considered and civilized comments. Too often when someone online disagrees, obscenities and argument-by-outrage follow. Then I checked your profile and saw you were from Canada and it all made sense: I've never met an impolite Canadian and I wish folks in the States could learn from your fine example in that regard. Bless you sir.

Second, I certainly hope the all-nighter paid off and you got some sleep! I don't miss those from my college days. Now, on to the comments.

1) I'm glad we could agree that the "Red" piece is fan-service. I was a bit confused by the grammar in your first statement paragraph though. In what way does bringing that up encourage rape-culture? Do you mean the perception of the piece as fan-service encourages rape-culture or the fact that it *is* fan-service is what encourages rape-culture? It sounds like you advocated the former, but you did mention you'd done an all-nighter, so I wonder if you meant the latter, which is what I hold to as the real problem with piece.

2) I am not sure I got my point across in my prior statement. I didn't perform a proper proofread of my comment before posting: my apologies. I meant to say that authors often emphasize what does NOT need emphasizing in the female form (or male form, though I'm not qualified to say what does and doesn't constitute gratuitous displays of the male physique).

3) As for addressing the inappropriate attire of real girl (or woman), I agree that such a matter must be handled delicately and through the proper channels, if it is to be bothered with at all. Quite frankly, in our day and age, it is asking for trouble to get involved in such a thing. If the parents have let their kid run around half-naked, that speaks to deeper issues within the family and possibly with the parents. Is it worth it to make enemies of people who may be unstable? But if the offending person is someone you have to live around or are afraid may unduly influence your own family (or you flat out don't want to live in a world that so objectifies human sexuality), voicing one’s opinion is an option. Mind you, if the offending individual is an adult, tread especially carefully, lest he or she become spiteful and do something rash to you. It also helps to be sure that something like bare breasts isn't the cultural norm where you are located, such as in parts of South America and Africa. Indeed, there are Scandinavian countries where topless is normal, though I think that is a terrible idea in a Western country.

This is all a sign of how the times have changed. A hundred years ago, we wouldn't have thought twice about hurting the "feelings" of someone who wanted to immodestly express their sexuality in order to draw attention and excite lust. We would have told them what was what and let them feel the sting of censure like they deserved.

Back then, people had some concept, however fast diminishing, that sexuality is a wonderful, but dangerous thing that should be handled carefully. Now, instead of using sexuality as it was meant--to cement the emotional bond between a husband and wife so that they can better contribute to society as a team--we instead use it to make punchlines on sitcoms, sell art, and get "upvotes" on social media. We think nothing as a society about what we have done to ourselves: what we have given up by treating so profanely the most intimate of human experiences and the most personal aspects of our bodies. In short, we don't honor our sexuality.

And, like children we fall into extremes of thinking. This shouldn’t be a matter of all or nothing. There is nothing wrong with being attractive. God gave men broad shoulders with toned muscles and women wide hips and breasts in order to be a delight to one another. But for heaven's sake, why is it that we can't see when we have crossed the line between being attractive to being lewd? More importantly, why do we care so much about our freedom of expression and so little about how that expression affects others? Can't we take the middle road that is healthy, considerate, and fulfilling?