[Slynky]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
Spanking children????
Do you spank your grown up friends? Why not? Becourse they can fight back??
I've never been hit by my parents, I've never hit my kids and never will.
As it is Banned to physicly harm your kids (spanking) here in Sweden, spanking isn't very common, the rate of violent injuries and deaths among children has also decreased since that law was made in 1979. And compared to countries where spanking is allowed the violence against kids (death by violence) is far lower in countries where it is Banned.
Hitting your child means you've failed as an adult, you propably feel powerless and can't find any other way, it can't possibly be for the best of the child, saying that is really sick!

Well, it's not particularly allowed in the US. I say particularly because I'm not really sure what's allowed. I'm pretty sure you can slap a hand when a toddler reaches for candy at the store. And slap it again (and say NO") when the child reaches for it again. I also think one can swat a child on the butt/fanny. But, I'm pretty sure the belt and paddle and such or "out the door". So, for the most part, it's not really allowed here.

Now, from a guy without credentials in all this sort of stuff, all I can say is that even with these types of laws and rules, the US still has a shameful amount of infant deaths due to physical abuse. My opinion is that, regardless of the laws, idiots and *******s will physically harm their children. And, if spanking were allowed, responsible parents would deal that type of punishment out in an organized manner without any harm to the child other than some stinging.

Now, we don't spank our kids any more. We stopped when they were able to understand enough english to know that what they did was wrong and "this" is what their punishment is/was (around 2-3 years old). But, considering what I see around me, read in the papers, see on TV, hear on the radio, our youth, which receives much less corporal punishment than it did 40 years ago, is much more violent, much more likely to kill parents, schoolmates, and complete strangers. (of course, this Last statement, I feel, isn't just due to lack of any painful and corrective spankings while growing up, it's due to MANY other factors, worthy of its own thread).

I was spanked when I was very bad growing up. I think I deserved it. I didn't leave my parents with much choice. So, am I "screwed up" because of it? I doubt it.