Greg responds...

1. Okay, I'm going to start by challenging your statement that "Scientific studies have confirmed that cohabitation is not a good idea, it has negative affects on a couple's relationship, and on society." I don't believe that for a second.

This is anecdotal and happily reveals my own bias, but I "cohabited" with my current wife for years before we got married, and I don't think it harmed our relationship, our eventual marriage, our children (or any one's children) or (for God's sake) society. So, if that makes me biased, fine. But we've been together since 1988 and happily married since 1991, and I resent the hell out of anyone who tries to tell me that was a mistake.

But beyond my own personal experience, I truly don't believe that scientific studies have demonstrated what you claim. My guess is that if you actually have read those studies - and I'm not sure I believe that either, because it's an easy thing to say to justify pre-existing opinions - then I'd lay odds that when I looked at who performed and/or commissioned those studies that I'd find a CLEAR bias in one or both of them. And/or that the studies you're referring to are so ancient that the bias was pre-existing.

As for us handling Wally and Artemis' cohabitation lightly, I don't think we did that at all. For starters, all you KNOW is that they were sharing an apartment as many college students do. You have no idea how many bedrooms that apartment had. Personally, I think it was a two bedroom apartment and they each had their own bedroom. And there's nothing in the show that would indicate anything else. All you ever saw was the living room/kitchen. If you're also saying that college age boys and girls can't share housing, I'd respond by saying there's hardly a university in this country that agrees with that assessment.

Now, I'm not trying to be coy. I ALSO think they had sexual relations. (Though that's merely my interpretation; your mileage may vary.) But I don't think there's anything wrong with that either. This was clearly a committed relationship. They'd been a couple for five years. They had a dog together. Long term, I believe the clear plan was to marry and have kids.

So I'm absolutely 100% fine with viewing Wally and Artemis as roll models in this scenario. If you don't agree, that's okay too. Don't let your kids watch the show.

2. Yes.

3. Sure. But I think it's a positive influence.