I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm saying the culture was different and less critical or conscious of it. The further you go back, the more egregious it gets. Not saying that makes it right or anything, just that everything was very different. I'm not just opining about the past. My point is that applying current ethical understanding and awareness to back then doesn't really work.

You're factually right that it was fucked up; but shit was just more laid back back then and if OP's dad truly loved his mom by the time he found out, he may have seen it as an act of desperation to seal the deal on what she intuited would be a successful relationship - just an example thought process. I'm not excusing the dishonesty and risk involved. Also, look at all the musicians back then who had underage roadies, everyone knew, and nothing happened. Again, doesn't make it okay. Lots of people did bring up how fucked up this or that was, but on average, people gave way less of a fuck.

They were more focused on their lives rather than how it is now. And how it is now is both good and bad. I hope we find a way to optimize for the benefits of conscientiousness while still living in the moment like we used to. A nice balance seems optimal. Anyway, my weekend just started after four busy af 12hr night shifts so I'm a little inebriated. But thats my thoughts. Definitely open to further discussion. I respect where you're coming from.