A question for rationalist parents (and anyone else who has ideas): are there good child-accessible rational arguments for why do right?
Me: Please do X.
Child: No.
Me: You know it's the right thing to do.
Child: Yes.
Me: Well?
Child: I don't want to.
Me: ???
I am not a parent, and probably shouldn't be. While I think this is a sound argument, it may very well be a terrible thing to tell a child.
...Alex has two friends: Barney and Colin. Barney almost always does the right thing. Colin does the right thing whenever it suits him, but when it doesn't suit him, he does whatever he wants.
When Alex has to decide between sharing something with either Barney or Colin, he'll pick Barney, because he can trust him more. If he has to choose someone to go on an awesome adventure with, he'll pick Barney, because he can't
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.