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Parents: Punishing Kids [W:361]

is it ever allowable for a Parent to punish their child with force?

  • Yes

    Votes: 43 68.3%
  • No

    Votes: 12 19.0%
  • Other (explain)

    Votes: 8 12.7%

  • Total voters
    63

iacardsfan

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With the recent news of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson being charged with child abuse in possibly two separate cases, I thought it would be a good time to pose the question of where to draw the line in punishing a child. It was always acceptable for me to get a spanking or slap when I was out of line as a kid, and that wasn't overly long ago. Now all of a sudden, Mr. Peterson is in hot water as a result. Granted, I was never spanked with a stick, but there were always some interesting objects involved. I just wanted to know if you believe it is allowable for an adult to use force that does not cause permanent damage in order to teach/ discipline their children. Please explain you answer.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Only with an open hand.
If you need a weapon, you are a loser and have no control over your children.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Shouting at a child is generally very effective. If it's not working then maybe you have over used it for none problems. Maybe this issue you want to use force is also a none problem.

Just maybe. Or perhaps your child is naughty. It might be best to stand back and have a think about it before you reach for the stick.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

The day I even consider beating my children to the point that they bleed or the day I even considering hitting my sons in their genitals is the day someone should report me to the authorities.

That's the difference I think between me & Adrian.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

With the recent news of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson being charged with child abuse in possibly two separate cases, I thought it would be a good time to pose the question of where to draw the line in punishing a child. It was always acceptable for me to get a spanking or slap when I was out of line as a kid, and that wasn't overly long ago. Now all of a sudden, Mr. Peterson is in hot water as a result. Granted, I was never spanked with a stick, but there were always some interesting objects involved. I just wanted to know if you believe it is allowable for an adult to use force that does not cause permanent damage in order to teach/ discipline their children. Please explain you answer.

I myself was never spanked or slapped as my parents were believers in Summerhill type concepts of education. But I am not at all sure that is the only way to go.

But there is also a real legal question there. Children are citizens and do have rights. Is it acceptable that the state forbid slapping your neighbor or employee but allow doing so to dependents?
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Only with an open hand.
If you need a weapon, you are a loser and have no control over your children.

Is there a reason that open hand is fine but some kind of instrument isn't? Or did you draw that line arbitrarily?
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Why is it that parents have the right to assault their children in the first place? Why does it seem like children are the exception to every single rule when it comes to their rights?
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

I myself was never spanked or slapped as my parents were believers in Summerhill type concepts of education. But I am not at all sure that is the only way to go.

But there is also a real legal question there. Children are citizens and do have rights. Is it acceptable that the state forbid slapping your neighbor or employee but allow doing so to dependents?

Is it acceptable to refuse all further contact with (and support of) your employee or neighbor? How about your dependents? ;)

With special responsibilities come special rights (and vice versa).
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Is it acceptable to refuse all further contact with (and support of) your employee or neighbor? How about your dependents? ;)

With special responsibilities come special rights (and vice versa).

So assaulting someone is ok if they are dependent on you? I'm sensing a logic blackhole. :/
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Is there a reason that open hand is fine but some kind of instrument isn't? Or did you draw that line arbitrarily?

Don't be coy, you know what I mean. You use a belt, switch, branch or whatever beyond the open hand. You should go to jail.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Don't be coy, you know what I mean. You use a belt, switch, branch or whatever beyond the open hand. You should go to jail.

So assault is fine, but only if it is done with the hand? The logic abusers use is some of the weirdest **** ever.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Only with an open hand.
If you need a weapon, you are a loser and have no control over your children.

I would say the same for a parent who uses an "open hand".

In my experience, adults who use physical force against children usually do so for one of two reasons: 1. They are ill equipped to be a parent and have not taken the time to learn proper discipline methods or 2. They become extremely frustrated and act out of rage.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

It's up to the individual parents. If parents want to use spanking as a punishment, then that is their right as parents to do so. That doesn't mean they have the right to inflict injury on their kids as a result.

We spanked our kids when they were younger. To be honest, if I had it to do over again I probably wouldn't have spanked my kids. In retrospect, I don't know that it accomplished anything that other forms of discipline / punishment would have.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

The day I even consider beating my children to the point that they bleed or the day I even considering hitting my sons in their genitals is the day someone should report me to the authorities.

That's the difference I think between me & Adrian.

Exactly. Spanking's fine, as is the occasional slap, if they deserve it.

If you're doing either to the point where the child bleeds, however, something is seriously wrong.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Exactly. Spanking's fine, as is the occasional slap, if they deserve it.

If you're either until the child bleeds, however, something is seriously wrong.

That is like the logic behind women slapping men. The man deserved it, so it's fine. :/ Assault is assault regardless if someone apparently deserved it. Not sure how you can deserve to be assaulted though. Seems a bit twisted to me.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

That is like the logic behind women slapping men. The man deserved it, so it's fine. :/ Assault is assault regardless if someone apparently deserved it. Not sure how you can deserve to be assaulted though. Seems a bit twisted to me.

It is corrective behavioral training.

Besides which, it is actually quite common in nature. Mammalian species commonly "cuff" their offspring when they act up.

It is what it is. :shrug:
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

So assaulting someone is ok if they are dependent on you? I'm sensing a logic blackhole. :/

Not at all what I said. I simply asked if it was OK to withhold support, e.g. evict them, instead of simply putting up with bad behavior. Is it OK to imprison, ground or otherwise attempt to control someone who is not your dependent? You would be hard pressed to secure an assault conviction if spanked (slapped on the bottom) by your parent (or other adult guardian) for misbehaving.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Don't be coy, you know what I mean. You use a belt, switch, branch or whatever beyond the open hand. You should go to jail.

Not being coy. Why is going beyond the open hand an issue? Why is there an arbitrary differentiation between assault with a hand and assault with a stick? Why is using a stick bad enough to go to jail but open hand is not, regardless of the intensity of the punishment?

I was (open handedly) spanked as a child, I 'turned out fine' and don't blame my parents in the slightest (it's what they thought was best), I think that discipline by force is an outdated practice. It promotes fear rather than respect and we now know there are other effective means of raising a child.
 
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Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

It is corrective behavioral training.

Besides which, it is actually quite common in nature. Mammalian species commonly "cuff" their offspring when they act up.

It is what it is. :shrug:

I don't believe assault corrects behavior in the way you think it does.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

I was (open handedly) spanked as a child, I 'turned out fine' and don't blame my parents in the slightest (it's what they thought was best), I think that discipline by force is an outdated practice. It promotes fear rather than respect and we now know there are other effective means of raising a child.

Sadly, fear is a timeless tactic to get other people to obey your command. Why earn their respect, when you can just beat their ass and make them scared? Hell, most people think they are getting respect when they spank a kid, but sorry, that is not true.

An interesting thing about this discussion is that politics and parenting style have a strong correlation.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

I don't believe assault corrects behavior in the way you think it does.

Have you seen the way bears treat their offspring, by any chance?

What A Mama Bear Can Teach Humans About Disciplining Children | Spare The Kids

bear1-300x217.jpg

bear2-300x193.jpg


bear4-261x300.jpg

Again, I would be inclined to say that human parents possess many of the same instincts for a reason.

It is harmless if done properly.
 
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Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

Sadly, fear is a timeless tactic to get other people to obey your command. Why earn their respect, when you can just beat their ass and make them scared? Hell, most people think they are getting respect when they spank a kid, but sorry, that is not true.

An interesting thing about this discussion is that politics and parenting style have a strong correlation.
I feared and respected my father. Yet, he never laid a hand on me. Ever.
 
Re: Parents: Punishing Kids

I would say the same for a parent who uses an "open hand".

In my experience, adults who use physical force against children usually do so for one of two reasons: 1. They are ill equipped to be a parent and have not taken the time to learn proper discipline methods or 2. They become extremely frustrated and act out of rage.
An open handed pop on the butt to get ones attention is one thing, but the conversation is stemming form Adrian Peterson beating the crap out of his kid with a switch.
He needs help if he thinks its OK.
 
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