I agree with you. We follow Archbold in the Register - my wife showed this article to me when it first appeared. She pointed out to me that the two dads in the article will likely discover that Archbold thinks they're not manly men, which is an interesting opinion for a guy who's essentially a house husband. I'm not picking on the guy - there's nothing wrong with doing what works best for your family and sometimes the way to be a man is to step back and let your wife do the providing while the husband takes care of the homefront. But his situation got me thinking that Archbold may feel he has something to prove and is finding bad Dads under every rock.
Even if the example doesn't make a case, Archbold's underlying point is certainly true - good dads are few and far between. I suspect decent Dads are missing in the homes of the two kids on the dance floor. I'm also very certain that the two Dads Archbold highlighted would've put a stop to the show immediately if one of their own kids were in it. But other people's kids are tricky. If there's not immediate danger or obvious wrongdoing (and two 14 year olds putting on a kissing show is on the cusp) putting a stop to things can put you on the wrong side of an obnoxious parent.
I agree with you ESPECIALLY concerning one parent “correcting” another child. I have the strong feeling that if the Dads saw their child kissing and such... he would intervene. However, I can say without a doubt that what is “right” for your child isn’t necessarily and automatically assumed correct for another. Simple (and relatively stupid) example: I volunteer at my elementary school. I made a “suggestion” to a first grader that tissues were available and it isn’t polite to pick ones nose. Well... I was somewhat scolded by the teacher because nose picking isn’t under the behavior guidelines and I stepped my bounds. Like I said... silly and stupid example but shows that many parents volunteer and aren’t 100% positive what can and can’t go on.