To spank or not to spank...

[wisedude]

Today in Massachussetts a bill was proposed to BAN all spanking... This would be the first in all 50 states... I for one think this is WAY too much intrusion. Some kids are just unteachable, and need some punishment that everyone can understand.. I'm certainly against "abuse", but I think spanking is a tried and true child rearing method that we've had for hundreds of years, and that banning it is way too much of an intrusion

[geb9696]

Coming from a person that was hit as a kid if I did anything that was considered to be wrong I support this. To have a very angry parent hit you because of nothing that you did it can be a lot to deal with. There are other ways to punish without physical harm.

[Locke]

However archaic and useless spanking is, it's ridiculous to make it illegal, not to mention a waste of time.

[jpd1975]

next thing you know you wont be able to ground them because it violates their liberties.

[Ed Jones]

Regardless of your views on spanking, there are some kids that you just wanna kick the sh*t out of.

Remember the baby who cries on the plane for 7 straight hours? Or the fat kid in the supermarket because he doesn't get chocolate? Or my personal favourite, the pigtailed blonde that can manipulate her parents any way she wants?

*boot*

[Locke]

Regardless of your views on spanking, there are some kids that you just wanna kick the sh*t out of.

Remember the baby who cries on the plane for 7 straight hours? Or the fat kid in the supermarket because he doesn't get chocolate? Or my personal favourite, the pigtailed blonde that can manipulate her parents any way she wants?

*boot*

Yeah, though sometimes you have got to differentiate parenthood from justified homicide.

[Fishoutofwater]

Discipline is about teaching a child the appropriate way to behave. It's not necessarily about punishment. Spanking can be a last resort tool, but should be just that. A very young child who doesn't understand reason in a dangerous situation, for example, might need a little (gentle) swat on the buttocks with a bare hand in order for the behavior to be modified. The problem is that there has been abuse, and spanking has been a tool of power and control.

[Locke]

Discipline is about teaching a child the appropriate way to behave. It's not necessarily about punishment. Spanking can be a last resort tool, but should be just that. A very young child who doesn't understand reason in a dangerous situation, for example, might need a little (gentle) swat on the buttocks with a bare hand in order for the behavior to be modified. The problem is that there has been abuse, and spanking has been a tool of power and control.
It all hinges on how loosely you define "spanking".

[Gwendl]

I think there should be a law about how severe that spanking can be. There is a big difference between a couple hits on the rear end and a beating where bruising is involved. My father spanked me a couple of times when I got out of line, taught me real quick not to do that and I think I have pretty good sense of right and wrong. He never beat me though and there lies the difference.

[Prometheus]

Abuse is physically harming a child when the child has done nothing to deserve it. I am not saying that spanking can't be abuse. Used as discipline is fine, used for no reason is abuse. I was spanked, and it sure as hell taught me what was right and wrong in a hurry.

I for one hate parents who act like their child can do no wrong. In my point of view that's almost as bad as abuse, the child will not learn to respect authority or learn to behave. Thus would have a very rough adulthood.

[bigdoglj52]

I think it is horrible that people actually want this to pass. Kids need some force to keep them undercontrol. As long as they are not abused, being spanked is not all that bad.

[hideip]

This bill is so ridiculous. Of course there is a fine line with it. Discipline is needed however abuse is not. I dont really understand how this can be enforced.