Interesting column, not so sure about some of the comments. My own experiment in such matters had me, an obviously very naive dad, buy my young daughter a model airplane kit. I thought I might balance somewhat the obviously very feminine influences she was being exposed to. Together we built and painted that plastic Spitfire (a beautiful, most historically significant plane) and she proudly mounted it on her bedroom wall, but she still became very much a little girl in pink dresses, etc. I think it's good to expose our kids to "abnormal" infuences and ideas, but one cannot predict what will stick.