Oh boy - Government to fill in for Parents! - Political Forum

emptypepsi · 01-19-2007, 02:35 PM

MercuryNews.com | 01/18/2007 | No-spank bill on way

Title virtually says it all. This is utterly stupid. I had spankings as a kid (to proponents of this legislation, note that it does not say "I was beaten plenty of times as a kid"). With many people I've encountered, I'm inclined to believe that a few more would have gone a long way.

Is the government going to be able to dictate WHY we did something, or what we were thinking when we did it? Cheer it on, if you're for the road to Orwellian mind-policing.

I love the blatant obfuscation going on in this article by the way with "hitting" and "spanking". If one doesn't know the difference, most likely he/she is inept in this regard, and many parents I've heard from are in agreement. In all honesty, the person probably needs to get back to growing up first and has no place raising a kid. (Oh wait, can I then ask the government to deem fit who should raise kids? I mean, gee, if we're going to tell them how to parent, why not just decide who will parent? Might save a lot of work, eh?)

Ridiculous.

Izzibeth · 01-19-2007, 02:57 PM

(from the article)Experts in child psychology disagree over whether spanking is a legitimate or effective way for parents to discipline their children. Professor Robert Larzelere, who has studied child discipline for 30 years, said his research shows spanking is fine, as long as it's used sparingly and doesn't escalate to abuse.

``If it's used in a limited way,'' the Oklahoma State University professor said, ``it can be more effective than almost any other type of punishment.'' He added that children 18 months old or younger shouldn't be spanked at all, because they can't understand why it's happening.

We always ignore the experts. Although I agree that a child under a certain age should not be hit (18 months sounds just about right) due to the fact that you are really, at that point, hitting just to vent your own frustrations.. not because the child will understand... I do believe that spanking, when used in moderation, can be just fine. Personally, I was never spanked as a child and I grew up just fine (^_^). At the other extreme, I know someone personally who was beaten frequently by his step father. He grew up just fine, however there is a lingering of hatred/disconnection with his step father. Not everyone who deals with such violence grows up okay, though. I think people tend to forget, when they are hitting their children, that they will not remain children forever and what you do to them at age 10 can stay with them until the day they die.
Moderate spanking is okay, in my opinion. I do not believe there should be a law passed because if a mother is punching her 4 year old in the back of the head, it's abuse, plain and simple. If a mother bends her kid over her knee and slaps his behind 4 or 5 times, it's a spanking.. it's the kid's bum and he won't even feel it later. Spankings are more for a shock/embarassment effect than a pain effect. Others will know when it has crossed the line and when it is time to report. I.... hope.

emptypepsi · 01-19-2007, 03:04 PM

Fair enough, I agree with most of what you just said.

Child abuse and spanking for punishment are two easily distinguishable things if you know all of the facts and see what happens. However, I fail to see how that difference is the business of the government in really any case. If it is 'beating' that is going on frequently, then I'm sure that it will make it's way to finding light to be reported (to be prosecuted under laws for abuse - which we already have.)

Spanking is fine IMO. Rarely is a kid spanked without proper explanation of why it was done in regards to his actions. That way, the child knows what he/she did wrong. Now, whether the adolescent doesn't like the explanation or wants to throw a fit is another subject altogether.

Just another excuse for more laws, more laws, more laws in my opinion.

Izzibeth · 01-19-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emptypepsi

Just another excuse for more laws, more laws, more laws in my opinion.

Yes, I agree. We need to be careful... we are passing laws left and right without thinking about the consequences. The more laws we pass on simple, little, insignificant things... the less freedoms we have and the more doors we open to have even more laws passed and even less freedoms.

GreatScott · 01-29-2007, 12:48 AM

They had a guy from San Francisco on O'Reilly and he said the law making spanking illegal was only for extreme cases of abuse, but that's just what they say to get it passed; then it's a free for all. I think it sets a bad precedent.