A) If you didn't read everything, perhaps you shouldn't be so certain that I am wrong. I've given you and the OP the benefit of having read EVERYTHING you had to say and considering it carefully before I responded. I know I'm the young'un on this thread, but I think I've behaved rather more maturely than you have, even though you are apparently the parent while I am the young adult.

B) I didn't say the girl was right to disobey or disrespect her father. I explained that from the daughter's point of view, what occurred would have been embarrassing and would have seemed petty on her father's part. You don't have to agree with what the teenage girl would think, nor would I expect a parent to agree, but I rather think it's worth taking the time to understand how a young girl would feel about being told off by her father in front of her boyfriend. In the scheme of relationships between teenagers and fathers, this is really rather minor. She didn't exactly run away with a bad boy, smoke pot and get pregnant. She went to a carnival that her dad didn't want her to go to but that her mom didn't mind her going to.

C) I understand that since I'm not a parent, my opinion may not have as much weight as others' opinions, but that doesn't mean it has no value whatsoever. I was a teenager less than a year ago, and it's adults like this--those who assume that we don't understand anything at all--that make it so damn hard for us. It's not easy to be a parent I'm sure, but it's not easy to grow up, either, and I think that it's easy for older adults to forget this. For that reason, I thought people would actually appreciate the fact that I gave my opinion. Instead, I've been rather harshly criticized for even OFFERING an opinion.

D) I'd like to point out that being embarrassed doesn't make teenagers more compliant; it simply makes them angry and thus more inclined to disobey. If you want a teenager to do what he/she is told, you usually have more luck treating him/her like an adult. If you don't give a damn about embarrassing your teenager, you're frankly asking for disobedience and heartache. Teenagers are going through a sensitive time in their lives, and I rather think that should be respected.

E) Please do not take it upon yourself to tell me off. The OP has already done this, and we seem to have reached a pleasant enough understanding. If you want to disagree with me, go ahead. But I see no reason for you to reply for the express purpose of attacking what I have to say, especially without reading it. I'm frankly annoyed and hurt that I've gotten so much grief for a simple opinion. If you disagree, do so respectfully and intelligently. I am a highly educated, bright, and empathetic person, and I deserve to be treated as such.