MrPresident
Anglo-Saxon Liberal
Should parents be allowed to smack their children as a form of punishment? Or should the government make it illegal (as I believe Scotland has done recently)?
Can You Smack Your Child?
- Thread starter MrPresident
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Pillager
League of Empire Loyalist
Yes, parents should definitely be allowed to.
Isn't there some sort of age limit in Scotland?
Isn't there some sort of age limit in Scotland?
Simon Darkshade
Mysterious City of Gold
Most definitely yes. Parents, teachers and police should be able to smack/beat recalcitrant children.
Eklektikos
Eponymous
I never thought I'd see the day, but I agree with Pillager and (at least to some extent) Simon.
Young children will by their very nature want to do highly inadvisable things out of curiousity, as well as test the boundaries of what constitutes acceptable behaviour. They are also as a rule not particularly susceptible to reasoned argument or gentle remonstrance, and most tend to just do as they will unless they fear it will result in a tangible punishment other than that of having to listen to a load of waffle from an adult. A smack, if administered only when absolutely necessary, can simulteneously deter via fear and be a strong indicator to the child that what they were doing was wrong.
Young children will by their very nature want to do highly inadvisable things out of curiousity, as well as test the boundaries of what constitutes acceptable behaviour. They are also as a rule not particularly susceptible to reasoned argument or gentle remonstrance, and most tend to just do as they will unless they fear it will result in a tangible punishment other than that of having to listen to a load of waffle from an adult. A smack, if administered only when absolutely necessary, can simulteneously deter via fear and be a strong indicator to the child that what they were doing was wrong.
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This is another example where a knee-jerk law has been passed that penalises 99.99% of people for the sake of a 0.01% minority, where that minority will not be disuaded by the law anyway.
The law is designed to prevent / reduce child abuse, where children are severely beaten by their parents, in some very sad cases, to death.
However, this law will not prevent this happening - I don't think parents who act like this will be easily convinced not to smack their children based on this law. What will happen is that a lot of "average" parents will be victimised for minor and trivial attempts to discipline their children.
Absolutely ridiculous.
The law is designed to prevent / reduce child abuse, where children are severely beaten by their parents, in some very sad cases, to death.
However, this law will not prevent this happening - I don't think parents who act like this will be easily convinced not to smack their children based on this law. What will happen is that a lot of "average" parents will be victimised for minor and trivial attempts to discipline their children.
Absolutely ridiculous.
Pillager
League of Empire Loyalist
Although I would concur that the right to corporal punishment should be (re)extended to teachers and policemen. Still, (partial) agreement with Eklektikos doesn't happen every day.
Simon Darkshade
Mysterious City of Gold
Of course you agree, Eklektikos, and you shall do so in the future. 
This is not a situation where interfering bleeding hearts and social(ist) workers need to bring in a blanket ban on smacking; this is a situation that needs a big dose of plain bloody common sense, as do many other situations.
This is not a situation where interfering bleeding hearts and social(ist) workers need to bring in a blanket ban on smacking; this is a situation that needs a big dose of plain bloody common sense, as do many other situations.
Pillager
League of Empire Loyalist
Who remembers the Frenchman who was taken to court because he smacked his child in a restaurant in Scotland on a family holiday?
I was in France with my g/f's family at the time. Talk about being the laughing stock. My pleas for them to recognise that this was Scotland only and not the rest of the kingdom were unheeded...
In my mind, this is probably the most ludicrous and absurd piece of legislation on the books. Ainwood sums it up well.
I was in France with my g/f's family at the time. Talk about being the laughing stock. My pleas for them to recognise that this was Scotland only and not the rest of the kingdom were unheeded...
In my mind, this is probably the most ludicrous and absurd piece of legislation on the books. Ainwood sums it up well.
Rodgers
Following YOUR child home
At the risk of inviting a series of predictable insults -
I was beaten a LOT as a child by an aggressive mother who suffered SEVERE PMS/PMT - and it didn't do me any harm. Seriously.
I think there should be a law allowing you to smack OTHER PEOPLES children! Nothing more annoying than a parent who wont discipline a child that is clearly annoying you to death!
I was beaten a LOT as a child by an aggressive mother who suffered SEVERE PMS/PMT - and it didn't do me any harm. Seriously.
I think there should be a law allowing you to smack OTHER PEOPLES children! Nothing more annoying than a parent who wont discipline a child that is clearly annoying you to death!
TheStinger
Warlord
My wife gives birth in a few weeks and we plan not to smack him/her, however if he is about to put his hand in a fire i would probbaly smack him and i don't think this is a criminal offence.
I do not however want other people hitting my child, they can't do it to adults(who would understand the reason better) so why can they do it to my child
I do not however want other people hitting my child, they can't do it to adults(who would understand the reason better) so why can they do it to my child
Pillager
League of Empire Loyalist
Originally posted by Rodgers
I think there should be a law allowing you to smack OTHER PEOPLES children! Nothing more annoying than a parent who wont discipline a child that is clearly annoying you to death!
That's a very good idea. God only knows how many noisy and whiny brats one sees in the supermarkets and town centres on a Saturday morning, especially with Christmas approaching.
MrPresident
Anglo-Saxon Liberal
If smacking a child is okay why is smacking an adult not? For example the prison service is not allowed to hit a criminal when he/she does wrong, why?
Rodgers
Following YOUR child home
"That's a very good idea. God only knows how many noisy and whiny brats one sees in the supermarkets and town centres on a Saturday morning, especially with Christmas approaching"
I truly believe that the supermarket that dares to have a "no children day/evening" will absolutely clean up - especially if done in the xmas period. They'd never dare though
I truly believe that the supermarket that dares to have a "no children day/evening" will absolutely clean up - especially if done in the xmas period. They'd never dare though
Dralix
Killer of threads
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While I don't agree with this law, I also don't completely agree with your sentiments. I think that there is a third group in between the parents who spank their children responsibly and the child abusers. These are the parents who don't realize that they are harming the child. Spanking, when done properly, isn't physically damaging. A little smack in the a big fleshy bum will shock and embarrass the child into crying more than cause any pain. But I think that some parents may go too far without even realizing it. This law could help parents of such children.
Again, I'm not saying I support this law, because I don't. I'm just suggesting that it might not be as completely innefective in protecting children as you think.
I think it's ok.
Talking to kids doesn't always work.
I was smacked as a kid. And I turned out well. If you don't punish your child, they will do whatever they want.
Talking to kids doesn't always work.
I was smacked as a kid. And I turned out well. If you don't punish your child, they will do whatever they want.
Panda
Metal head
Common sense is an even more endangered and scarce species than the panda.
i think spanking is ok if done without anger and used in restraint.
i used it as a last resort after trying every other method .
most of the time i got the results i wanted with the standing in the corner method. a child always seems to see the light with their nose pressed firmly in a corner
i used it as a last resort after trying every other method .
most of the time i got the results i wanted with the standing in the corner method. a child always seems to see the light with their nose pressed firmly in a corner
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I take Dralix's point. It is actually about "shocking" the child (no - Simon, not like that!) rather than actually hurting them.
What I would like to see is written responses by those who voted "no". Its about 50:50 yes/no at the moment, yet the dialog so far is virtually solely on the "yes" side.
What I would like to see is written responses by those who voted "no". Its about 50:50 yes/no at the moment, yet the dialog so far is virtually solely on the "yes" side.
gr8ful wes
Deity
Originally posted by Rodgers
At the risk of inviting a series of predictable insults -
I was beaten a LOT as a child by an aggressive mother who suffered SEVERE PMS/PMT - and it didn't do me any harm. Seriously.
I think there should be a law allowing you to smack OTHER PEOPLES children! Nothing more annoying than a parent who wont discipline a child that is clearly annoying you to death!
Predictable insult alert:
I KNEW IT!!!!!!
Yes, if a restoration of proper respect and morale is needed, smacking children would be fine - you don't have to physically impair the child, just slap them when severe disrespect is displayed, and if the other options fail.
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