• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Adrian Peterson indicted in child injury case in Texas

Well how far down this rabbit hole do we go? Outlaw spanking all together? NSA parents so we know when they are abusing their kids? Do we extend this to psychological abuse as well? And if so, what becomes illegal and how do we police it?

They could draw the line at whipping your child so hard that you inflict wounds and draw blood.

Yes, it would be a good thing to know when parents are beating their children, wouldn't it?
 
They could draw the line at whipping your child so hard that you inflict wounds and draw blood.

Yes, it would be a good thing to know when parents are beating their children, wouldn't it?

So would welts be out of the question? Would siblings fighting count as abuse or assault?

Maybe this case is clear cut, but what happens when it's not?
 
So would welts be out of the question? Would siblings fighting count as abuse or assault?

Maybe this case is clear cut, but what happens when it's not?

I have no idea about siblings fighting, I was talking about parental abuse. That isn't for me to decide anyway. I'm keeping in the context of this thread.
 
Not only did he do it repeatedly, this was a 4 year old. Not an older kid that knows he's just getting a beating. A kid this age is terrorized by this because he doesnt understand that the adult will (probably) stop before he kills him.

This, from a man that supposedly loves him?

It's disgusting that you try to excuse this with getting a single branch in the face hiking.

No, light swats to NOT cause bleeding and welts....I also hike and ride in the woods...I have never had a SINGLE wound like that and I was a park ranger doing trail maintenance.

I'm not excusing it! I have repeatedly said it was severe. I am only making a distinction between bad parenting (which this appears to be) and criminal abuse (of which I'm not certain). The fact that the child is four does admittedly adds to your side of the debate.

BTW I don't believe you have ever walked through thick woods or you are disingenuous if you don't believe a thin switch can easily draw blood and leave whelps.
 
Last edited:
I'm not excusing it! I have repeatedly said it was severe. I am only making a distinction between bad parenting (which this appears to be) and criminal abuse (of which I'm not certain). The fact that the child is four does admittedly adds to your side of the debate.

BTW I don't believe you have ever walked through thick woods or you are disingenuous if you don't believe a thin switch can easily draw blood and leave whelps.

I'm in general agreement; I haven't read a police or physician report but from the photos I've seen it doesn't appear to be criminal abuse; and of course a thin switch can raise welts and draw blood without exceptional force.

I'll wait for the trial but at this point it could easily be intrusive court action.. we'll see

Thom Paine
 
I'm not excusing it! I have repeatedly said it was severe. I am only making a distinction between bad parenting (which this appears to be) and criminal abuse (of which I'm not certain). The fact that the child is four does admittedly adds to your side of the debate.

BTW I don't believe you have ever walked through thick woods or you are disingenuous if you don't believe a thin switch can easily draw blood and leave whelps.

I think I wrote that I used to be a park ranger and do trail maintenance. And I still ride and hike in the mts and lowlands here. On bare skin yes, ok. But not thru clothes. Perhaps the boy was beaten on his bare skin, I may have missed that.

Edit: they are 'welts,' not 'whelps.' Those are dogs.
 
Last edited:
Well how far down this rabbit hole do we go? Outlaw spanking all together? NSA parents so we know when they are abusing their kids? Do we extend this to psychological abuse as well? And if so, what becomes illegal and how do we police it?

I think it is in some countries.

It may even be in some US states....anyone know?
 
Well how far down this rabbit hole do we go? Outlaw spanking all together? NSA parents so we know when they are abusing their kids? Do we extend this to psychological abuse as well? And if so, what becomes illegal and how do we police it?

We should draw the line when a 4 year old looks like they have been horsewhipped. This is just common sense. I have 3 kids. I spanked them when they were younger. I never left any marks on them. If there is any role at all for government in terms of families, it is to ensure that kids are not being abused or neglected.
 
I think I wrote that I used to be a park ranger and do trail maintenance. And I still ride and hike in the mts and lowlands here. On bare skin yes, ok. But not thru clothes. Perhaps the boy was beaten on his bare skin, I may have missed that.

Edit: they are 'welts,' not 'whelps.' Those are dogs.

Dang, I've been saying that wrong all my life! Thanks for the vocabulary lesson.
 
Somebody explain to me why it's OK to beat the living hell out of a 4 year old kid but it's the crime of the century to hit a woman? Frankly, although both are reprehensible, beating the child is worse.

And please will people stop with this asinine 'I got whipped and I turned out fine' crap! I didn't get whipped and I turned out fine. My kids didn't get whipped and they turned out fine. So what?
 
Somebody explain to me why it's OK to beat the living hell out of a 4 year old kid but it's the crime of the century to hit a woman? Frankly, although both are reprehensible, beating the child is worse.

And please will people stop with this asinine 'I got whipped and I turned out fine' crap! I didn't get whipped and I turned out fine. My kids didn't get whipped and they turned out fine. So what?

I can't explain it and have been wondering the same thing. What Ray Rice did was terrible. What Adrian Peterson did was worse.
 
What a friggin dirtbag. I spank my child. This isn't spanking. That is beating/torture. If a person "spanks" their child hard enough to leave welts and scabs, it's beyond spanking at that point. As big as Peterson is, he could probably spank his child one time with his hand on the behind and that would be plenty. Whenever a foreign object is brought into spanking, it isn't spanking anymore IMO. Yes, that includes a belt. Spanking isn't something that should be done daily or even every other day. Spanking is a last resort thing that should be done when a child disobeys an order given by their parent that could result in them being seriously hurt. Example, I have spanked (one hit, with my hand, on the butt) my son for running out from between two cars in a parking lot.


I spank my kid with a belt. However here is the difference. I wait to cool down before I spank him because I am a big guy like Peterson and I never want to spank him on pure emotion. A lot of guys like Peterson jump on their kid at the peak of frustration. Nothing good ever comes out of that.
 
Somebody explain to me why it's OK to beat the living hell out of a 4 year old kid but it's the crime of the century to hit a woman? Frankly, although both are reprehensible, beating the child is worse.

And please will people stop with this asinine 'I got whipped and I turned out fine' crap! I didn't get whipped and I turned out fine. My kids didn't get whipped and they turned out fine. So what?

The people who said it's ok to hit the woman are largely the same people saying it's ok to beat the crap out of your children.
 
Well how far down this rabbit hole do we go? Outlaw spanking all together? NSA parents so we know when they are abusing their kids? Do we extend this to psychological abuse as well? And if so, what becomes illegal and how do we police it?

I am comfortable with arresting people who beat their children so bad there are scars a week later.

Peterson is a superstar which is the only reason anyone has hesitated here. The Vikings should just cut him. They already have the highest number of criminal records in the league.
 
I am comfortable with arresting people who beat their children so bad there are scars a week later.

Yep. There's a difference between spanking for discipline and a beating. The NFL should be following the standard that every other business and organization follows in this country and I'm not sure why they feel they are exempt from that.
 
Back
Top Bottom