UESP Forums

Spanking + Common Sense = Solution.

Sadly there is never enough common sense.

Technically, I voted no but that was based on my own experiences which went a beyond the occassion smack for misbehaving as I would get a clout on the basis that if I hadn't doen something wrong I was bound to do so that day or it just hadn't been discovered at that time. As I got older the open handed slap became the slipper, the belt, the cane an aluminuium rod and finally the closed fist in to the shoulder of a hammerlocked arm (fortunately, my father left the house not long after that). I'm a good deal older than most members here so all I can say is it was a different time and I anecdotely got it easier than my parents did back in the 40/50s. Was it harmful, possibly I'm a bit jumpy around sudden movements and it has certainly come up with the shrinks I have spoken to but I have lots of issues and it's not easy to to pick one particular cause for them. I don't consider what I went through as abuse, it was my parents trying to teach me the difference between right and wrong and it worked.

However, I agree with Dean in that the whole anti-smacking thing has gone too far. As long as no lasting harm is done then parents should be free to discipline their children how they see fit and it is their business. Governments and do-gooders should shut the hell up and concentrate on more important issues.

i think the most damaging thing isn't spanking, it's actually the adult losing their temper with the child - that's the damage done right there - loss of control, a grown up focussing rage on a small child

violence isnt necessarily physical

Stormy, your case is def an example of how not to go about disciplining kids. Spanking should be a lesson, not a beating.

Thought this thread was about something completely different...

ya'll are [&@%!] pervs.

Spheal with it.

i agree with this , as long as the reason for the smacking is given and it was justly deserved , i support it completely
i was smacked as a child because i used to break certain things , i learned my lesson

Government Law:
You just murdered a man. Here's your execution date.

Same same? It is not a matter of the action being wrong, actions cant be wrong, it is physically impossible, but rather a matter of the INTENT of the action. Why did the child hit his sibling? Odds are out of hostile intent (took my toy, annoys me, stink,s etc.) so the parent must therefore show "violence" of equal action to show that such actions are wrong. The child had the intent of hostility, the parent the intent of justice and education.

Also, you dont just spank a kid and kick him out of your sight. If you explain to them that it hurts them, the parent, more than the child, as well as show a great dislike for said actions, spanking is a very useful and immediate way of teaching a child right from wrong. Sure, at the time the child may not understand the whole "This hurts me more than it does you" (i know, I was given the same speech and was just as bewildered) but they will understand one day. Especially when they have their own kids.
Furthermore, child at a young age learn best from physical pain. Touch a hot stove. Child gets burned. Child doesnt touch hot stove again! Its a miracle! The same goes for spanking. Plus, part of disciplining your child isnt just causing them pain, that is abusive torture, but also showing deep dissatisfaction with the child's actions.

This is posted without having read all posts in this thread. I just saw Sparky's comment and had to include my two cents. I very well might have more to say in the matter later.

QFT, but I don't think children should be near stoves, especially hot ones.