Would you consider it bad parenting for if a parent willfully neglects to talk to their kids about sex?

Not necessarily. If the parents are going to just tell the kids to wear a rubber (or etc.) and be on their way (which usually amounts to the sex-talk most of the time), they ain't doing much good. If they are going to advise them to actually consider all possible outcomes BEFORE getting into the sack, then it might do some good. But that isn't done. We live in a culture of instant gratification and alas, the consequences for that are evident.

I think so because it's a fact of life, even if their kid was planning to join a convent they have to know about sex and what can and can't happen because it is going to happen to them sooner or later.

It's dumb parenting.

I think its a good idea to talk to your kids about sex when they are at an age where they will understand (what 12 today?)
Most parents are probably too embarrassed to talk about it with their kids. I think kids learn a lot from other kids and especially when they are in school. My parents never talked to me about sex, I learned everything first hand and from other kids and doing my own research.

Knowledge is good.

They're not doing them any favors....and it becomes worse when those same parents don't want their kids taking Sex Ed. at school. As if keeping ignorant and making sex into a 4-letter word will keep them from having it.

Much of this has been a generational thing. That wasn't done, or considered, so much when I was a kid. My mom's answer was always "You'll find out someday" (marriage). So I learned on my own through any books I could find (which beat the hell out of getting knocked up!) My sister-in-law was pretty good about answering questions.

Today it's a tricky situation because little kids find things out before the parents think it's "time" to address it. And when faced with looking into a 6 year-old's eyes, I imagine it's awkward to know how much to divulge.

Tony Marino wrote:

I think its a good idea to talk to your kids about sex when they are at an age where they will understand (what 12 today?)
Most parents are probably too embarrassed to talk about it with their kids. I think kids learn a lot from other kids and especially when they are in school. My parents never talked to me about sex, I learned everything first hand and from other kids and doing my own research.

I think they need to know it long before 12 now because that's when a lot of kids are starting. I found out at 9.