Hey... No need to apologize for having a rant here Moonstone...
In part that's what the place is here for - personal attacks are a different kettle of fish of course - but feel free to have a rant about things that you feel strongly about...
I agree with you about inattentive parents...
It's a plague of the Western world as far as I can see... and can lead to all manner of disasterous consequences...
Just as a general observation... I've found that those parents who have firm spiritual/religious beliefs - whether they be Christian, Pagan, Hindu, Buddhist or whatever - if the parents walk the walk and not just talk the talk are the least likely to be 'inattentive'...
Again... no need to apologize for a Rant... that's fine... We all have things that goad us and make us see red, OK?
Sometimes it helps just to let off the steam... and often it's refeshing to find that others feel the same way!