Is it better to be sheltered and innocent, or to be exposed and aware of the bad things in the world?

I don't think it's a bad thing for kids to be "exposed" to the real world. I think it's better for them...the only way kids become desensitized is if they live/witness those "bad things" everyday. To be aware of drugs, the fact that some ppl are bad, and so on is a good thing. So that they know, that is not the way to behave. From ppl I know that have been sheltered they were not able to handle real life when they had to.