Depending on how old the parents are, they probably got away with worse and don't know how to discipline their own kid, OR, they had such strick parents, they've gone in the other direction. Then there's also the fear of being arrested for making your kid behave. The fear of child abuse has gone WAY out of control to the point of beyond ridiculas. [roll]
Now - the story is incorrect in one aspect. Blood testing needles used in pens are NOT 1/2 of an inch long. I know - I'm a diabetic. Those needles are less than 1/4 of an inch long. But then again, you don't get enough of a knee jerk reaction if you tell the truth. [roll]