Ban smacking?

[Ozzie]

A lead story on tonight's national news bulletin is to do with banning smacking. The pitch is: "fresh move to ban smacking as doctors link it to child homicide".

Is it reasonable to ban smacking?

 

[whereismynotecard]

What do you mean?? Like smacking your child's hand if they do something wrong??

Man... It would be nice if people were just nice to each other, but making all of these laws is going to end up being a bad thing when you can be arrested for something stupid like accidentally bumping into someone or something.

 

[dawny0826]

Yeah, please define "smacking".

Smacking as in "upside your child's head"...yeah...let's ban this.

Smacking as in "on the hand" or a "swift smack to the rear"...no. I believe it's a parent's right to decide whether physical discipline is necessary and sometimes and in certain circumstances, physical discipline may be the best option.

 

[Charity]

Yeah, please define "smacking".

Smacking as in "upside your child's head"...yeah...let's ban this.

Smacking as in "on the hand" or a "swift smack to the rear"...no. I believe it's a parent's right to decide whether physical discipline is necessary and sometimes and in certain circumstances, physical discipline may be the best option.

Then at first glance my eyes saw this thread as "bun smacking" Guess I wasn't too far off.....

 

[Ringer]

I wish there was banned smacking when I was a kid. I was always getting spanked or smacked for bothering my brother and sisters.

 

[frg001]

Here in Sweden it has been banned for quite a while. They seem to be one of the calmest races on earth.

For me the law that prevents you from hitting another person, should never have excluded children.
A child learns by example, all a smack does is reinforce that violence is an acceptable punishment, a quick and easy solution.
The more violence you are subjected to as a child, the more violent you are likely to become...

 

[Storm]

LOL, when I saw the thread title, I thought it meant chewing with your mouth open. Regional dialects are fun.

Anyway, I don't know how I'd feel about such a ban. Some parents go to far. However, I can't help but think of people getting accused of child abuse for slapping a toddler's hand when they try to touch the hot stove.

 

[Zephyr]

Spanking never caused me or my sister any problems. It was a rare punishment and we only got it when we really screwed up bad, but sure taught me right. I think people definitely do go too far with punishments often though.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

A child learns by example, all a smack does is reinforce that violence is an acceptable punishment, a quick and easy solution.

Do you have children?

 

[frg001]

Do you have children?

Yes, and he is a terror. I would never dream of hitting him though.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Yes, and he is a terror. I would never dream of hitting him though.

More power to you. I believe spanking can be used properly and in some cases can be the only way to get through to a child. However, it isn't my first choice and it is only used when all other forms of discipline have failed. My daughter is 6 now and pretty well behaved. She's had her butt smacked a few times but never a true spanking. Normally taking away privileges works best.

 

[frg001]

More power to you. I believe spanking can be used properly and in some cases can be the only way to get through to a child. However, it isn't my first choice and it is only used when all other forms of discipline have failed. My daughter is 6 now and pretty well behaved. She's had her butt smacked a few times but never a true spanking. Normally taking away privileges works best.

To a child under 6 all a spanking does is tell them that it is okay to hit IMO. You wouldnt lash out at an adult and if you did it you would rightly end up in court. I believe the same protection should be afforded to children.

I was spanked as a child and while I believe, as you that my parents acted out of love, and I am pretty close to them now, I still have flashbacks of it. It will never leave my memory, and is something I have never been able to tell them for fear of the hurt it may cause. There are ALWAYS (albeit more hard work) alternatives to smacking a child as punishment..

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

To a child under 6 all a spanking does is tell them that it is okay to hit IMO. You wouldnt lash out at an adult and if you did it you would rightly end up in court. I believe the same protection should be afforded to children.

I was spanked as a child and while I believe, as you that my parents acted out of love, and I am pretty close to them now, I still have flashbacks of it. It will never leave my memory, and is something I have never been able to tell them for fear of the hurt it may cause. There are ALWAYS (albeit more hard work) alternatives to smacking a child as punishment..

I disagree, especially with your using your own experience as the deciding factor. I was spanked as a child and have no trauma related to it at all. What does that tell you? Absolutely nothing, just like your experience tells us nothing.

 

[frg001]

I disagree, especially with your using your own experience as the deciding factor. I was spanked as a child and have no trauma related to it at all. What does that tell you? Absolutely nothing, just like your experience tells us nothing.

My experience is not in any way meant to be a deciding factor. The fact is it is wrong to hit people, especially kids. It is a weak willed act of agression against those you love most. I see it as absolutely no difference to hitting your wife, and probably worse, as it helps shape the childs attitudes in later life.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

My experience is not in any way meant to be a deciding factor. The fact is it is wrong to hit people, especially kids. It is a weak willed act of agression against those you love most. I see it as absolutely no difference to hitting your wife, and probably worse, as it helps shape the childs attitudes in later life.

You see it, but you label it as fact. This is your mistake. If it is a fact then there must be some supporting evidence beyond your personal experiences and flights of fancy. I have no problem with you stating your opinion but you continually phrase it in a manner that leads people to believe you have some knowledge of the subject and evidence to back up your statements. Do you? If not then please state your opinions as opinions instead of facts.

 

[frg001]

You see it, but you label it as fact. This is your mistake. If it is a fact then there must be some supporting evidence beyond your personal experiences and flights of fancy. I have no problem with you stating your opinion but you continually phrase it in a manner that leads people to believe you have some knowledge of the subject and evidence to back up your statements. Do you? If not then please state your opinions as opinions instead of facts.

It is a fact in the country I live in.

 

[Storm]

Facts aren't dependent upon location. They're dependent on evidence.

 

[frg001]

...and I don't know as I haven't looked it up, but should we look at statistical assualt and murder rates per head of capita for the US and Sweden?

 

[Storm]

Not unless you can show a connection between spanking and violent crime.

 

[frg001]

Facts aren't dependent upon location. They're dependent on evidence.

It is wrong as far as the law is concerned.