Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyMarsh
I don't have kids but I have a feeling NOBODY who is against the physical discipline on this forum has kids either. And I think they'll get a shock when they do have them just how hard it is to keep them under control.
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Well, very few people here have kids, regardless of whether they're pro or against physical discipline. I didn't want to get involved in this discussion at first, because I had it many times with other parents, my friends, whether spanking is really necessary and effective. We always end up spinning in circles and at a certain point you can only resort to your own experience. For this reason I don't like to be judgmental towards parents who use spanking rarely when nothing else works, or in extreme and dangerous situations. I can maybe understand the frustration that leads to it, but at the same time I don't justify the act. I know every child and every situation is different, but so is every parent and how they react to it. However, it is my firm belief that spanking (even the light one, and I'm not even going to mention beating) is not effective in the long run.
Like I said I can only offer my own experience with my own child. Never once in his 8 years of life have I had to resort to any kind of physical discipline and that includes the light spanking. There were always other means working to get my point across. The most important thing, no matter how cliche it sounds, is communication. And that starts with day one. You don't wait till your kid is at a certain age to be able to understand that doing something is wrong. They always understand 'no' and even a two year old can understand why is something 'no'. It takes a lot of patience, persistence, to always be observing and flexible in communicating. But, it's worth it in the long run.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tore
Alright, imagine you alone had the power decide whether or not to prohibit corporal punishment, but you could not change it to partial prohibition or anything like that. You had to say "yes" or "no", no maybes. You could not walk away from it. Prohibit or not? Yes or no?
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Before I answer this, I'd like to say that this poll and its result doesn't surprise me much. In Serbia the result would probably be 80/20 in favor of physical discipline. It would have to pass a lot of time before the law against it can be implemented here. And even then I'm not sure if it'd be enforced.
But to answer: I would say 'Yes', prohibit physical discipline. Maybe it would be too harsh for occasional light spankers, but if it's gonna reduce the real beatings and abuse, then 'yes'.