Child Abuse Poll

[TheNoob]

Have you or has anyone that you know been abused as a child?

This is for a project for my class, and I wanted to take a sample from a group of people who have likely gotten out of the childhood stage.

Physical abuse in this poll categorizes any kind of abuse to a child that is not verbal.

If there isn't a poll up at the posting of the thread, then I have not yet figured out how to do that; this is my first.

If you have any stories to share about your experience with child abuse, you are welcome to share.

 

[Cheetah]

I think you might have to define 'abuse' a bit more. Laws and customs wary between locations. E.g. I believe it is still legal to spank a child in the UK, while it's seen as child abuse in Norway.

 

[TheNoob]

I wouldn't categorize what is seen as discipline as abuse. Like spanking, time-out, etc. If a child's life is affected (violent beatings or constant belittling) then that is abuse.

 

[daft]

All convicted pedophiles should have their junk cut off, no excuses.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

I'm very close with someone who was raped as a child multiple times and who was raised in a cult-like situation vis a vis Jehovah's Witness. It's... not good. What she has to deal with. It alters everything. Worldview, mood, personality... yeah.

 

[Senethro]

All convicted pedophiles should have their junk cut off, no excuses.

And what if this leads to juries being unwilling to convict because they're only 80% sure of guilt?

 

[Bootstoots]

Juries are otherwise supposed to be willing to convict if they're 80% certain?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Juries are otherwise supposed to be willing to convict if they're 80% certain?

They aren't, but they do.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

And what if this leads to juries being unwilling to convict because they're only 80% sure of guilt?

Or... you know... what if that's actually rather barbaric and maybe we just shouldn't do it on principle?

 

[GoodSarmatian]

My dad is/was an alcoholic who coincidentally stopped drinking around the time I became stronger than him and I'm pretty sure my mom has an undiagnosed mental disorder that I think I can narrow down to either borderline or bipolar.
So, yes on both counts.

 

[plarq]

Where is the sexual abuse option?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Or... you know... what if that's actually rather barbaric and maybe we just shouldn't do it on principle?

All of the most heinous crimes are barbaric and shouldn't be done on principal. Convictions on false accusations (and resulting harsh punishments) are thus also terrible, because the punishment is typically life-changing. There is a good reason for the burden of proof used in the US and many other countries.

Unfortunately I can't contribute much to OP request though I do know some that were. It should be noted that verbal abuse can be pretty crushing too though, and leave permanent damage.

 

[TheNoob]

Where is the sexual abuse option?

I categorized that under physical.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

All of the most heinous crimes are barbaric and shouldn't be done on principal.

I meant that the proposed junk-cutting punishment was barbaric, not the crime (not that a crime was actually specified, but I inferred child-abuse). But then maybe you knew that and I'm just not getting your response.

 

[plarq]

I categorized that under physical.

Showing pornographic stuff to kids?

 

[bhavv]

I thought being caned constantly and belittled for not getting an A and being blamed for everything was normal.

Oh right, it is for Asians.

 

[TheNoob]

I guess that'd go under emotional

 

[Borachio]

How do you cane someone emotionally, though?

 

[TheNoob]

Telling them how worthless they are, they'll never amount to anything, etc... The kind of serious insults to a child that makes them feel like a mistake, and consider suicide. Obviously if you're voting that you've experienced emotional, then you wouldn't have committed suicide.

A better definition is a quote I found. One definition of emotional abuse is: "any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth."

 

[Senethro]

Or... you know... what if that's actually rather barbaric and maybe we just shouldn't do it on principle?

I agree, but daft wouldn't. My post was intended to create dilemma in his mind over whether it is better to lock up a whole load of paedos, or to mutilate some and accept that others will go free. I was intending to follow with questions about justice vs vengeance and if he wanted 10 years of appeals and hearings similar to death row.