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[Android18a]

Spanking is fair punishment for a child. You're not doing it to hurt them, it's to teach them actions have consequences. Don't do it in anger, and don't cause any real harm.

I was spanked as a kid, and it kept us in line. "Grounding" kids or taking away privileges doesn't work. Kids don't care, they can have fun in their bedrooms with a piece of string if they damn well want to.

Besides, you only have to do it a couple of times before the threat of a spank is enough to cause good behaviour.

 

[Arrogant Bastard]

The quote says "smacking, but not in the face."

That doesn't automatically equal spanking to me.

So where else are you going to 'smack' them if not in the face? It's spanking, you know it, I know it, lets not be silly.

 

[moggio]

Children aren't adults bro.

Yeah, that's makes some people's insistence that they need to be physically assaulted even more strange.

Still, they can't fight back I guess so fill your boots.

 

[Kinitari]

Spanking is abuse in the sense that, it's not productive and is linked to a whole host of issues, and there are tons of non-physical, non-violent alternatives to achieve the same results actual, consistent results. It maybe unnecessarily confrontational to call it that though, but for those who actually don't understand why people call it abuse - that's probably why.

 

[Siegcram]

It falls under the category of positive punishment actually.

And accomplishes nothing. it is stupid,archaic and completely unnecessary.

 

[djplaeskool]

Sometimes, kids need some kind of alignment mechanism.
I've no problem with a light rap.
No so much full on spanking, but a physical reminder, that should be accompanied with other techniques, that actions have consequences.

My mom had perfected the technique of delivering the feather-touch-back-of-the-head smack with the speed and precision of a trained ninja.

 

[User 73706]

Yeah, I don't know if that statement was particularly beautiful pope. I know you're one of those, beauty-in-plastic-bag-flying-around sorts of fellas, but this is... maybe too far.

"It's just some garbage blowing around in the wind! Do you have any idea how complicated your circulatory system is?!"

 

[daniels]

and here i thought child abuse destroys a childs dignity ohhh silly me who am i to argue with a crazy person that thinks a invisible dude in the sky is the answer to everything.

 

[SgtCobra]

Officially the worst pope ever.

Not even close lol

 

[PhantomHound]

And accomplishes nothing. it is stupid,archaic and completely unnecessary.

Do you have kids?

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

So where else are you going to 'smack' them if not in the face? It's spanking, you know it, I know it, lets not be silly.

I don't know that. Kids are only hit on the face and butt now?

Do you have kids?

Not this argument.

 

[Kurdel]

"How beautiful"

sick fuck

 

[loaf of bread]

The quote says "smacking, but not in the face."

That doesn't automatically equal spanking to me.

keyword "smack" You're not really going hurt someone really with a smack or slap that isn't on the face. I mean I don't believe in physical reprimanding at all but I'm not going to come in here and call the pope scum and the fucking devil like some of people here just because he approves of spanking.

 

[17 Seconds]

Yes, you must appeal to your 5 year-old's fully-developed sense of logic and reason in order to teach them to change their ways.

Yeah, it's must better to teach her impressionable mind that violence is a reasonable method for solving things.

 

[Kinitari]

Do you have kids?

If someone with kids, has kids and has raised them without ever lifting a hand to them - and they are great, upstanding members of society - what then?

 

[Sevarus]

The amount of people in here who think a small spanking on the butt is child abuse is astounding.

I know I'm going to regret going into a spanking thread, but... How does it work to prevent an unwanted behavior from occurring again? It would have to hurt, wouldn't it? It would have to hurt enough to leave an impression the next time the child wants to do that behavior. I don't think that's an okay thing to do to a kid. Hell, I don't have to use physical punishment on my dog to teach him, and my kid is probably more intelligent than my dog. Wouldn't eat cat poop or drink from the toilet, maybe... Hopefully.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

Yet if you did the same to an adult you'd be charged with assault.

But, hey, I'm glad you want to physically assault your children when you think they deserve it.

If you forced an adult to eat, or to go to certain places or to do a number of things parents typically make kids do you would be charged too. Children arent adults. This argument was always dumb and always will be

 

[Typhares]

Spanking is fair punishment for a child. You're not doing it to hurt them, it's to teach them actions have consequences. Don't do it in anger, and don't cause any real harm.

I was spanked as a kid, and it kept us in line. "Grounding" kids or taking away privileges doesn't work. Kids don't care, they can have fun in their bedrooms with a piece of string if they damn well want to.

Besides, you only have to do it a couple of times before the threat of a spank is enough to cause good behaviour.

That's how I feel, I mean I got spanked two or three times as a kid. I remember because it was rare but effective and I knew that if the threat was around then I was close to crossing a line and stopped.

 

[KarmaCow]

Children aren't adults bro.

You're right, it makes it even worse.

 

[Arrogant Bastard]

and here i thought child abuse destroys a childs dignity ohhh silly me who am i to argue with a crazy person that thinks a invisible dude in the sky is the answer to everything.

Yep, spanking is so so child abuse. Whats next, I cannot ground my children or take away their electronics because it is emotional/psychological abuse during their years of self discovery.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Yeah, that's makes some people's insistence that they need to be physically assaulted even more strange.

Still, they can't fight back I guess so fill your boots.

If you are "fighting" your kid then it is child abuse. If you are just spanking them for discipline then that is discipline.

 

[Lego Boss]

Wow, the ignorance of some people on here is astounding. Smacking is not abuse.

In the UK, we know what abuse is (see e.g. Jimmy Saville Gary Glitter etc etc ad infinitum).

Come on people, get some perspective.Describing smacking as child abuse is demeaning to those who have really experienced abuse.

Recently GAF OT is like some kind of right on moral crusade. It's like a forum full of Guardian readers: well-meaning, non-judgmental, but ultimately ineffective.

 

[PhantomHound]

If someone with kids, has kids and has raised them without ever lifting a hand to them - and they are great, upstanding members of society - what then?

That's how I was raised.

It's fine honestly, but most parents know that kids aren't born equal. Some kids are little assholes that don't respond to talks.

Sorry, you may not agree with spanking... but to call it child abuse is ridiculous.

 

[Masquerader]

Eh. It was annoying to me when my da did it, rather than painful. Effective as well. Stopped me from doing stupid shit. Just grounding kids doesn't really work. All the other kids who were merely grounded keep doing stupid shit to this day, only without the groundings, 'cause they're too old for that. Let's not pretend that every country's got the same mindset as America, guys. Also let's not pretend that discipline is bad.

That said, actually hurting your kid's pretty outdated, and just plain wrong. If there's anything lasting (red marks or bruises), that's abuse.

 

[Gnome Scat]

And that's strike three.

 

[moggio]

If you are "fighting" your kid then it is child abuse. If you are just spanking them for discipline then that is discipline.

Well it's great that that's how you justify physical abuse of children to yourself.

 

[Maintenance]

Curious... What countries?

Mine, for an example.

 

[Mighty Chin]

Sounds good to me.

 

[Arrogant Bastard]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

 

[Skellig Gra]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Ban them from GAF

 

[teruterubozu]

Ah, reminds me of good ol' Catholic school days. Nuns with yard sticks shouting "show me your knuckles!"
It wasn't in the face so I guess it was fine. Very dignified.

 

[John Kowalski]

I can only say that i am eternally grateful to be living in a society where any kind of corporeal punishment is unlawful.

 

[djplaeskool]

Ban them from GAF

You monster.

 

[sikkinixx]

He's an old man. Old people likely smacked their kids or were smacked as kids (the latter being more likely in his case since... I doubt he has any kids). Hardly shocking.

 

[moggio]

That said, actually hurting your kid's pretty outdated, and just plain wrong. If there's anything lasting (red marks or bruises), that's abuse.

Great advice. The best abusers do so without leaving a mark.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Well it's great that that's how you justify physical abuse of children to yourself.

Ok will do!

 

[rooflapimp]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

If you feel that you have to hit your child when he or she misbehaves in order to 'discipline', you probably shouldn't have children in the first place.

 

[CharminUltra]

Ah, reminds me of good ol' Catholic school days. Nuns with yard sticks shouting "show me your knuckles!"
It wasn't in the face so I guess it was fine. Very dignified.

How beautiful.

 

[PhantomHound]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Wash their mouth out with soap? Or is that abuse too?

 

[Otakumegane]

I got hit with kitchen spatulas before.

Those things hurt. Turned out ok, but I don't think i'll resort to that.

 

[striferser]

Could be referring to smacking the hand.

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Pinch them on the cheek or ear.
On related note, I know a parent who pinch their children nipple....not sure what to think.

 

[Mighty Chin]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Take away their iPhone, Gaming Consoles, Tablets...yknow make them really hate you.

 

[Siegcram]

Do you have kids?

No. And I didn't even have my biological parents. But I got spanked and worse and it taught me fuck all. What is the next pointless question on your script?

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Our son likes to drop food on the floor. So we take it away. He cries like mad for 5 minutes and then it's over. He's doing it less and less.

I have more non-spanking parenting tips if you'd like.

 

[The Lamp]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/06/pope-francis-parents-ok-smack-children-dignity



Oh, Frankie. You were having such a good run, too.

The bible commands people to physically discipline their children.

Then again, this pope says and does whatever he wants so it's not like he cares what the bible says about things.

 

[Arrogant Bastard]

If you feel that you have to hit your child when he or she misbehaves in order to 'discipline', you probably shouldn't have children in the first place.

Thanks for the condescension, now can you please answer the question.

Pinch them on the cheek or ear.
On related note, I know a parent who pinch their children nipple....not sure what to think.

So why is a pinch on the cheek/ear/nipple not considered abuse but a slight spanking is? I mean if we are following the logic displayed here the pinch would need to be hard enough for it to matter.

 

[Frog-fu]

Some really sheltered people in this thread from the looks of it. Or people who had their parents go to town on them. There is a middleground.

Either way, spanking your kids is not abuse if it's done right. A tap on the bum or the hand is not abuse. It's a parenting tool to teach your kid where positive reinforcement fails.

That's not to say parents that rely soley on it aren't shit parents.

 

[rxdco07]

Spanking is fair punishment for a child. You're not doing it to hurt them, it's to teach them actions have consequences. Don't do it in anger, and don't cause any real harm.

I was spanked as a kid, and it kept us in line. "Grounding" kids or taking away privileges doesn't work. Kids don't care, they can have fun in their bedrooms with a piece of string if they damn well want to.

Besides, you only have to do it a couple of times before the threat of a spank is enough to cause good behaviour.

Agreed

I remember first hearing about kids getting grounded and how ridiculous the concept was, i guess its vice versa, but pretty sure the norm is to spank your kids whenever they're acting up.

 

[Glass Rebel]

 

[braves01]

So how are you supposed to discipline children when they are misbehaving now?

Self-criticism. Have them write essays about how their deviant behavior hurts society.