Smacking Children - As a Parents of Course

[Saskwach]

Not being a parent I really couldn't say what is or isn't needed in parenting. I dearly hope I don't have to or, more likely, choose to in a moment of rage, but if I have a child that point blank refuses to do the right thing - and it's really important in this case that they do - then I can't say I won't. Of course, if everything from parental pleas to firm orders to screamed commands fails then I'll definitely stop to consider whether I may have lost control of my child somewhere down the line.
To sum up: spanking shouldn't come out except as the very last resort and afterwards you should ask yourself why that last resort was even needed - but it should still be there.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

I'm generally against it. There are ways to raise children properly without inflicting physical (which could lead to psychological) harm.

Then again, I'm not a parent. So what do I know.

 

[CanadianWolverine]

As a parent I look at the subject this way: I want my daughter to cry or sweat now and go on living, then to bleed and suffer grievous harm later.

I can do nothing to prevent the future, I can only try to prepare her for it.

I do not want her to fear authority, only respect it when it deserves it, but she needs to understand that truth and consequences do in fact exist and won't care if she does not acknowledge said existence. This is because the law of the jungle is always there, underlying everything, it is only by our own careful decisions to be polite and civil that we keep it at bay. Freedom is not free, it is earned through mutual respect, discipline, and self defense.

Edit: For example, with the advent of her learning standing and walking, things are being pulled down and scattered on the floor, so I am making a point of making her put those things back, first with words, then example, then guided hand. Successful accomplishment is rewarded with hugs, kisses on the cheek, clapping, thumbs up and congratulatory words such as "good" and "yes" spoken and sign language. Failure to comply is met with "No", "Pay attention", and steering, which she counters with tears. She is quickly learning that is more enjoyable to comply with said parameters than trying to ignore them.

 

[Vuljatar]

i got smacked when i was younger, hard, and it fucking hurt. And then i did what i was told, for the better. So in my view smacking your kid is fine. Whats your view?

Then, I'm sorry, but your parents fucked you up.

There aren't many cases in which I would even consider spanking to be a reasonable punishment, and "smacking" is never acceptable. A parent who commonly uses that kind of punishment is a bad parent, and indeed a bad person. Either they are using it when it isn't needed, or they have raised their children poorly enough so far to make it needed. It should be used as a very last resort or not at all.

However, I certainly do not believe any government should get involved except in cases where it would be considered serious abuse. Letting the government regulate or control anything like that is a slippery slope that we should stay the hell away from.

Children should both fear and respect their parents.

Fear is the opposite of respect. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Suffering that the children will pass down to their own children by disciplining them the way they learned how.

I feel nothing but pity for you, your parents, and your future children. The fact that you are "successful" does not mean that you are a good person.