Yesterday's “discussion” about “concerned parents” wanting to fence off part of Dolores Park for their “gifts” from “god” led to some pretty good discussions (I think) about the politics of parenting in the city—namely, that us partying youths don't really care much for the concerns of the concerned parental class, thankyouverymuch.

But some parents are feeling the burn of the “anti-kid tone” from us mainstream liberal blogger elites and our wonderful crop of commenters, alleging that “for town that’s supposed to be all about tolerance, this town isn’t very tolerant of kids.”  (Which is partially true: most 20-plus-somethings I know see San Francisco as Hamsterdam By The Bay, in which we're free to drink and do drugs and smoke weed in front of cops and party all night and show up to work 11am and recklessly fornicate in dive bar bathrooms—the only purpose babies serve is a grim reminder of the consequences of shit gone bad.  No one likes a bummer warning—a little human D.A.R.E. lesson of sorts.  But I digress.)

The Sonia Show (who I'm admittedly quoting liberally below) takes this “anti-kid tone” to task, offering up a very reasonable defense of the unspoken majority of non-obnoxious parents living in the vicinity of Dolores Park:

I know that some parents are complainy, helicopter parents. I get it. Some people move to San Francisco, have kids, and then want to change San Francisco. But not all of us. Some of us live here because we love San Francisco. ( I like you very much, San Francisco. Just as you are.)

Children are a part of living in a big city. People without kids are a part of living in a big city. Can’t we all just get along?

And, can’t we all agree that maybe we shouldn’t let dogs run wild through a children’s playground? I have a dog. I love dogs. I don’t want my dog to run unleashed through a children’s playground, just like I wouldn’t let my kid run wild through a dog park.

There’s plenty of room in the park (more specifically, Dolores Park) for everyone. Maybe a low fence to keep the kids from running all over the park is a pretty OK idea, if you stop to think about it. I mean, the dogs would have the entire park to themselves. See? Using common sense is fun.

As for the other story [Supes Propose Change In Muni’s Stroller Policy/SFist]… Is it really hard to believe that parents who use a stroller might need to use the public transportation system, too? We can’t have a discussion about public transportation and strollers without saying shit like, “Everyone with kids needs to move out of San Francisco.” This city wants everyone to get out of their cars and use public transportation, but only people who don’t have kids. Really?

Come on, San Francisco! Aren’t we better than this stupid shit? My husband and I are good, responsible people, and we’re trying to raise a mighty, mighty good man. Is there really not room in San Francisco for me, my husband and The Spawn?

I love San Francisco. I think it’s the greatest city in the world. I really do. Every day after work I drive over the Bay Bridge, and I see the most amazing view of San Francisco, and I think, “Holy shit! I live in San Francisco. What an awesome fuckin’ city!” But I read all these posts and their ridiculous comments, and I get so depressed. I told David about all the comments and how it makes me feel unwelcome in my own town.

“I am sure there are some nice adult-living communities in Arizona if they hate being around children,” he said.

I don't have much of a response to this, other than the fact that parents are not an underrepresented class in America and—dare I get a little hyperbolic—it's parents leveraging the “protecting our children” argument as a reason for banning gay marriage and legislating morality in general.  So when parents in San Francisco want to start changing things (like erecting a gnarly fence in the city's premiere adult playground and, presumably, pressuring the police to crack down on Cold Beer Cold Water and gay sunbathers), it gives us pause.

Anyway, it's almost Friday afternoon now; time for us childless heathens to stop debating and start drinking. 

[The Sonia Show | Photo by Jake Bickerton]