Should spanking be considered child abuse?

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

I don't really care WHAT you do to keep your kids in line, I want THEM to be kept in line and not terrorizing everyone aroudn them while the mother wrings her hands and says "He's usually a lot better than this!" and bribes them with a chocolate bar!

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

OH yes, I hate it when I'm out somewhere and the kids are bad. Not my kids but other kids. I just want to tell the parents to do something to keep their kids in line. I hear 5 years at the store cussing at their mom. How can you let a 5 year kid cuss you out?

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

but you don't want to put DOWN their fragile self-esteem, yatta yatta yatta...

I swear, one more fat kid starts horking at me and smacktalking and I'm going to freak!

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

When I was younger and hung around on street corners, it was considered only polite to let your neighbours whack you on the head if you had been mouthing off.

If I had run home 'tittle-tattling,' my mum would have given me another one.

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

It isn't that different then, Nogard.

I clearly remember getting the cane, twice, when I was in school!

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

Dolly · Mayor Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 247

I was just a tad earlier!

But now, teachers are allowed to even put a finger on the kids. Any touching can apparently be misinterpreted as abuse.

I guess it goes back to one of my original questions, that abuse should be clearly and reasonably defined.

Thumperfive · Mayor Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 222

it's always the "freethinkers" who don't have kids who rant on about how you don't ever have to touch the kids and everyone's just an abuser, yatta yatta yatta...

notice the self-esteem problems don't seem to be going away?

Nogard · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 130

classyred · Mayor's Aide Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 68

I know everyone has there opinion on this topic but my personal opinion is that time out or pulling a favorite toy for a limited length of time is much more effective, I have two daughters of my own and I have never spanked them and they are very well mannered little girls, I think that there are other ways to discipline a child and teach them right and wrong other than spankings, I know when I grew up that was the thing to do but it is not the answer.

Freakin · Mayor's Aide Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 64

If we're going to label spanking a child child abuse, then we should also go and find every bully between the ages of 6 and 16 and arrest them for assault. Three strikes, you're out, right?

It's part of being a kid... if I screwed up at home I knew I was going to get swatted. I think it is entirely different if it's not your kids though. I don't have any children yet, but I would be furious if a sitter or teacher attempted to touch my kids in any way.