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Is smacking a child ever acceptable? (1 Viewer)

jb_nc

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my father was actually sadistically abusive, but that's beside the point
 

DJP92

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Refer to the opinions of the psychologists and medical authorities on the wikipedia page linked. Or are you going to say that doesn't represent legitimite psychological reasoning either?

If you want to contest the science, then provide something to make your case.
Just because some "expert" has a degree hanging on their wall doesn't mean we should out-rightly believe them.
According to your argument (assuming you even read what I posted) all children that were smacked on the bum are now psychologically damaged and traumatised.

I don't need evidence to prove that's a load of crap.
 

dieburndie

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Just because some "expert" has a degree hanging on their wall doesn't mean we should out-rightly believe them.
According to your argument (assuming you even read what I posted) all children that were smacked on the bum are now psychologically damaged and traumatised.

I don't need evidence to prove that's a load of crap.
Because that isn't my argument.

It is often detrimental to a child's mental health to be physically punished, and very rarely is it beneficial.
 

alage1

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Because that isn't my argument.

It is often detrimental to a child's mental health to be physically punished, and very rarely is it beneficial.
rarely??? are you serious most of the kids going into hsc/atar would've been smacked they are here today because they were told not to put they're hand in the fire and listened hey i'm not saying it's the perfect system but for a child who is immature and uderstands little it's the best way of saying no
 

sydchick

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No one will ever win this battle.

The people that think nothing is wrong with smacking won't budge.
And the people that think there is something wrong with smacking won't budge.

I say 'yes' to smacking because I think it's acceptable. And for a simple reason.

I was smacked as a kid and there is nothing wrong with me. I'm perfectly fine and don't think that I'll turn out to be a criminal or child abuse. Actually I KNOW I won't. I was only ever smacked over stuff I shouldn't've been doing in the first place. And I knew that. My parents always gave me plenty of warnings and whenever I did get smacked I always knew what was coming.

Besides, imo, a smack is more for the shock value than anything else. I mean you don't want to flog a kid until he's screaming in pain (see my other post) it's just for the shock to say 'cut it out or else' It shouldn't leave any marks or bruising or anything. That's abuse.

So there's my side of the story but pft people are going to warp my words and go on about "studies show..." a phrase that is soo popular on this thread.
 

will-anal

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It's absurd to support the use of violence against the most vulnerable and impressionable humans within society if you oppose it in general.

How can you expect children to take parents seriously in saying that violence against others is unacceptable, if they display it themselves against the very same children as a form of discipline?

As for everyone saying that you cannot or should not explain the ramifications of particular behaviours to children, you disgust me. It's no surprise at all that so many adults lack even the slightest grasp of ethics, when they are taught as children that certain actions are "bad" but they are forbidden from asking why.
hahaah ethics, fuck off.

This coming from the same guy who thinks it's okay to kill a police officer if they think that officer is about to take away their "freedom"
 

chelsea girl

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I don't think people realise how impressionable children are. One's formative years really do have a huge impact on the way one will see the world.

It is not a good enough excuse, in my view, to point out that smacking is the norm and most adults today would've been smacked as children and they are fine blah blah blah. You do remember that it used to be standard practice to severely hurt children with a cane at school, yes? Thankfully we have come to realise that is a barbaric form of punishment and have abolished it as a common form of discipline.

Also, though I do not agree with position that we should be able to kill police officer who encroach upon our freedoms, I do not think it is a valid comparison to physically hurting children. Children are born innocent and vulnerable; they need to be protected and taught about the world while being kept safe, and nobody will dispute that. A police officer's job is to protect adults, some of whom may not want or need protection, and as a result they are sometimes nothing more than people who impose arbitrary rules upon adults who do not require a parental figure.
 

David Spade

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I agree with zoe. very impressionable. because of my upbringing, now

~ALL I DO IS PARTY~
 

will-anal

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The only people saying these things are people who have admitted to having less than ideal parents.

Your dad was a sadist, as you say Zoe. Do you not think this has warped your perception of "smacking" and what consitutes a suitable form of physical punishment?
 

*TRUE*

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This is my experience with being punished physically and the mental affects of this form of discipline:

I have always known the consequence of "bad behaviour" to be physical pain. Both my parents used smacking often (my father was actually sadistically abusive, but that's beside the point) without any explanation of why I was being "bad". It did not teach me anything about morals or ethics or how to be a good human being, it just fucked me up so that I came to associate pain with love and punishment with affection. When your parent hurts you physically and then tells you it's because they love you and care for you and your safety, it is inevitably going to result in some warped masochistic ideas of love.

It sends entirely mixed messages to a child when, no matter what their bad behaviour, the consequence is the same: a smack. How could anyone possibly conclude that it is a productive method of discipline and parenting?
It is quite clearly the FURTHEST THING FROM BESIDE THE POINT.
You have obviously not received loving parental guidance and discipline. Abuse is not discipline. A smack is not violence. Smacking should not be used on children capable of understanding.

I'm sure you will say you love and are satisfied with your life - and that is your prerogative.
As a quiet reader of your posts though I have often observed that if only your parents had not abandoned thier responsibility towards you and protected you from harmful influences you might have lived a more stable life, earlier.
I see (even in this virtual world) the effects of the influences that have shaped you and I blame your parents above all else for allowing them access to you.
It just doesn't follow that all parents are the same as yours.
I realise Im about to be flamed-but whatever.
 

dieburndie

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The only people saying these things are people who have admitted to having less than ideal parents.
Generalisation and ad hominem!

But of course it's the other side that doesn't have an argument.

hahaah ethics, fuck off.

This coming from the same guy who thinks it's okay to kill a police officer if they think that officer is about to take away their "freedom"
Good troll! You do humour well!
Feel free to make some actual points whenever hey.
 
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*TRUE*

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Seriously.
Yes. Seriously.
I'm busy, but just quickly; Violence :
1.swift and intense force: the violence of a storm. 2.rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment: to die by violence. 3.an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws: to take over a government by violence. 4.a violent act or proceeding.5.rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language: the violence of his hatred. 6.damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration: to do editorial violence to a text.

An appropriate 'smack' is not violent. If its intense, injurious, unwarranted, or of rough or immoderate vehemence then I don't consider it a smack, I consider it abuse.
Perhaps we misunderstood one another.
 

chelsea girl

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No, my father's personality type really is beside the point. My mother smacked me and was what would be considered an average, not abusive, parent. She also was the primary caregiver and raised us almost alone.
 

chelsea girl

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Also, would anyone like to please address my point re: the cane having been an accepted form of discipline historically, but it being widely accepted now that it is a punishment more harmful than helpful?

Isn't it a sign of a civilised society to become less and less dependent on physical punishment and more reliant on talking, teaching and explaining to get points across?
 

U.S.A

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Also, would anyone like to please address my point re: the cane having been an accepted form of discipline historically, but it being widely accepted now that it is a punishment more harmful than helpful?

Isn't it a sign of a civilised society to become less and less dependent on physical punishment and more reliant on talking, teaching and explaining to get points across?
how the fuck are you going to get your point across to a toddler. the smack on the ass is sometimes the best way to get a kid to stfu and get in line. wait until you pop out a few kids, you will know what the fuck im talking about.
 

chelsea girl

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how the fuck are you going to get your point across to a toddler. the smack on the ass is sometimes the best way to get a kid to stfu and get in line. wait until you pop out a few kids, you will know what the fuck im talking about.

Children are not as stupid as you think. They do have the capacity to feel empathy and compassion. Why wouldn't they, if they have the capacity to feel shame, fear and sadness (which are ultimately the emotions that smacking is tapping into to make them "behave")?
 

Daipire

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Kids have the greatest learning potential, why do you think there are so freakin many child prodigies?

I hate child prodigies....
 

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