I really thought better of Neil Gaiman. Not the first time I've been wrong about someone though. I'm starting to lose the capacity to be surprised to be honest.

I was treated like a crazy person when I insisted (for example) tickling stopped when my toddler said so. Or when kisses weren't expected to be doled out on demand. Or when.... well you know what I'm saying. Consent and bodily autonomy are trampled upon from day one - and if a child's 'No' or 'Stop' has never been honoured, they aren't usually going to magically start respecting others . Sadly, as you say, it's certainly turtles all the way down.