Very true, but we need to remember that they aren’t morons, either.  The worst thing you can do with a teen is patronize them.

My daughter is watching the show, and it doesn’t have me overly concerned.  We talk openly about drugs, sexuality, social pressures, bullying…..the lot.  I think she has enough savvy to realize the show isn’t entirely realistic; I also know that while she suffers from the angst all normal tweens do, she isn’t depressed or angry.

Frankly, I wish the school board would just shut the heck up about it since that is the single biggest reason teens are flocking to it.  That said, open and honest dialogue – including admitting to the mistakes you made when you were that age – is how parenting should be done IMHO.