You say:

Quote

Pierre,

There is a complex world of difference between childhood and adulthood.
But I do not know anybody with this "shielded" "golden age" adult fantasy of childhood that you mention.

You do realize that the idea that "There is a complex world of difference between childhood and sdulthood", is a modern conceit born of ther idea that children are fundamentaly distinct from adults and not simply "small adults". A few centuries ago it was utterly routine for children to be full or near full workers on the farm, taking part in all aspects of the farm including, the butchering of animals. In fact my mother weas helping to bled pigs for blood pudding / or to death when she was 8. The "world of difference" you talk about is in my opinion primarily an ideological view that childhood must be different and the difference must be maintained. Sorry but for most children, past presentr and I suspect future it isn't radically different.

As for the "shielded golden age", I was referring to the idea that children need to be shielded from certain unpleasant realities, like death. That certain subjects not be broached, that certain materials be bowlderdized. The view is omnipresent in our society that children need to be shielded. Whenever someone discusses the need to protect children it comes out. Whenever someone complains that a childrens book is too dark and on and on. The continual prattle of adults that they never heard about "X" when they were kids and how innocent they were. Its a fantasy.

Pierre