Spanking children

[miffed]

Spanking children teaches them that it is okay to hit, that violence solves problems, and that violence "teaches a lesson".

Not if they're being spanked because they hit their siblings. I was spanked as a kid and never at any point thought that because my parents spanked me, violence was ok. Spanking taught me that violence was wrong.

I never really considered spanking to be violent or to be even near the same context as beating someone up. My parents always did it in a loving and calm attitude, so it never seemed like an act of violence.

Obviously I'm for.

[tropicsgoddess]

I'm all for spanking, as long as it's not to a point where it's downright abusive.

[Boozy]

I was also spanked periodically when I was a kid, as were my siblings. Everyone did it, and it wasn't considered controversial at all.

My mother tells me that, in retrospect, it was pointless and she wouldn't do it again. My youngest sister was never spanked.

My mother would parent using looks, words, and sheer force of will. The only times she ever resorted to spanking was when she was tired, worn down, and lost it. That's not a good attitude to have when disciplining children. If you choose to spank, you've got to be in control of the situation.

We never settled down and behaved until my mother got control of herself and the situation, and realized that "Oh shit - Mom means business." By the time my mother had reached that point, spanking wasn't needed.

I think a lot of people spank their kids because they don't know what else to do. There are other options. They may not be as convenient, but then neither are children. It's called the toughest job in the world for a reason.

[anriana]

Serious necro yay.

I was spanked as a child. I am also an adult who is heavily into BDSM. I don't know if those two are related or not, but I am probably going to have psychological issues over whether or not they are for my entire adult life.


I don't agree with spanking a child on the bottom, especially naked or on the undergarments. Most of the posters here have said they spank/were spanked on the bum; why? Other cultures punish children on the calves, the upper back, or the hand, why do Americans prefer the area right next to the genitalia? Calves are just as fleshy and knuckles hurt more.


The original article is gone so I don't know how widespread or vague this ban was, but I would fully support a law banning spanking children on their bum.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Children are violent anyway, anyone who thinks that kids can be taught it is naive. My parents used spanking as a last resort punishment, but they didn't use it til we were at least 2. I know someone who bit her baby sister when she was about 2 years old. Her parents hadn't laid a finger on her then, yet, she still was violent towards her baby sister cuz she was jealous of not being the baby any more.

Small kids don't understand reasoning; so it's not going to work on them. They understand pain and violence and embarrassment tho; so that works. My older brother was for example given a smack cuz he pinched me when I was little. The smack taught him that it hurts when you give out hurt, so he learned a lesson there.

Smacking would be bad if you're talking about it being the only punishment, or if the parents are beating the hell out of their kids, but a law against it wouldn't stop those parents. Sure, different methods work for different kids, but why bash a method that works for some people even if it doesn't work for you? Some people praise "time out" to the skies, but it wouldn't have worked for me, cuz I'm able to go off into my own little world so even without books I'd just do that. I used to actually go off alone and sit in a corner alone off my own batt for peace and quiet, so a time out wouldn't punish me at all.

[Boozy]

I must be the small, sole voice of dissent here.
(Please, be gentle. )

I've always believed that violence begets more violence. A lifetime of observation has bore me out.
Spanking children teaches them that it is okay to hit, that violence solves problems, and that violence "teaches a lesson".
I'll admit - maybe I just don't get it. I don't understand how spanking a child teaches them anything. If the goal is to spank hard enough to hurt, and therefore the pain is the consequence to their actions, then you're really just conditioning a pain response, like you would in a dog. Is that the point? If so, that's pretty awful. And if you DON'T spank hard enough to physically hurt, then what's the point at all? Where's the consequence to the child?
I'm not being sarcastic here, either. Seriously, I don't understand the thought process behind spanking, and what parents think its supposed to do for their child. Someone explain it to me.

[DesignFox]

that article scares me. Actually, most things about society scare me anymore. The thing holding me back from having children the most is the state of the world I'd bring them into...

[FormerCallingCardRep]

My Grandmother told me that when she was a little girl her Mother would tell her that in 24 hours she would be punished for what she did. She said the wait was always worse then the punishment. My Great-Grandma had a bad temper and it allowed her to calm down before she disciplined her children.

[BusBus]

FOR!

I also got spanked when I was a child. Nothing scared me more than being spanked. There are some responsibilities associated with using that type of punishment (i.e. don't bruise or break the kid). A friend of mine's father is bipolar, so when she was younger, her mother was responsible for the spanking, because he did not want his moods to effect the punishments.

[AFPheonix]

http://news.bostonherald.com/nationa...ticleid=178173

Scary.

[ditchdj]

I remember once on Sally Jesse a long time ago about "abusive children". They pointed out that the law against child abuse was meant to protect the children but now it's just harboring abusive children. I'm having discipline problems with my nine-year-old, talking back and disrepectful toward my wife and me. I'm about ready to let the goddamn system have her and just say, "If you're being mistreated so horribly by us just because we ask you to do something then go live in some foster homes and never hear from us and see how much "better" life will be for you!" That's the only way some kids are gonna find out.

I remember one time a woman was charged with assault because her 16-year-old daughter called her a "fucking bitch" during an argument and her mother slapped her in the mouth. During the trial her lawyer argued that if he called his mother that not only would his mother smack him but his brothers would probably want a crack at him too. The jury refused to convict her and found her not guilty.

[blas87]

FOR.

I was spanked as a child. The belt was a bit excessive, yes, I realize this. But every time I did something and got spanked, I NEVER did it again because I was so terrified of what kind of butt whacking I would get this time.

Did I turn out to be a serial killer? No. I learned to be an upstanding citizen and a decent young adult. I have no patience for these "parents" and their lack of parenting skills. And you wonder why so many little brats get away with everything these days.

[rahmota]

Discipline has definately gotten out of fashion. Thanks in part to a lot of the freaks who call children services at the slightest whim or scream abuse if you punish the child in any fashion. They sit and talk to their child like an adult and say stuff like "Now if you dont do that then we can go do this. Like the child has an option. I'm sorry in my book the adult has the power and the options. The child is a foot soldier in the army with the option of follow orders or be punished. Now those orders have to be reasonable and responsible and that is the duty and requirements of the parents but still.. And as the child gets older and understands right, wrong and gray ideas more then they can have more options and freedoms and power until by the time they are an adult they should be able to stand on their own feet and make their own choices and decisions.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I vote a huge FOR. I think if more children were spanked a lil bit more - society would be a much better and more respectful place. Nowadays if you even raise your voice to a child - they scream abuse and threaten to call local child endangerment agencies.

Every day I see children screaming at their parents. Cursing at them, hitting them. I want, I want, I want. The parents then buy them what they want. I would gotten a good crack across the butt and been punished for daring to raise my voice or my hands to my parents.

I couldn't agree more. People are all about giving children the same rights as adults... well, I say give kids the same rights as adults the day that kids have the same responsibilities as adults. Since they don't, then they don't deserve any more rights than we had as kids. I once saw a little boy call his mum a bitch for not buying him sweets. I would have gotten the whacking of a lifetime had I even uttered that word in passing, let alone directed it at my mum.

[Luna]

I vote a huge FOR. I think if more children were spanked a lil bit more - society would be a much better and more respectful place. Nowadays if you even raise your voice to a child - they scream abuse and threaten to call local child endangerment agencies.

Every day I see children screaming at their parents. Cursing at them, hitting them. I want, I want, I want. The parents then buy them what they want. I would gotten a good crack across the butt and been punished for daring to raise my voice or my hands to my parents.