Should Smacking Children Be Illegal?

[KeithD]

The undebatable debate.

Most guys like a good mass debate

[stevewool]

Most guys like a good mass debate

always better to have it done for ya

[joebloggs]

What a load of tosh on here You are all failing to distinguish between a beating and a little slap on the legs.

This country is turning into a namby pampy apologistic pile of crap.

I'm sure you will object to conkers without goggles, no snowballs as it's dangerous etc etc.

Totally disagree with the exaggerated comments on this post, beating is a no no agreed, but little slap on legs - blimey!

Where does a slap become a beating you say? Well thats self explanatory.

So by the same theory I'm as dunk after 1 pint as 12 as it's all the same

les have you got kids ?
so we're talking about a little slap on the legs, so that's a deterrent is it

and the next day what do you do, give them a harder slap because they didn't learn from the day b4

You've got a point. We all know what a slap is we all know what a reprimand is. ..We are also all too well aware what a beating. You don't need to waste hours on end trying to define the difference. .Goodness me

gWapito you've said you've never touched your kids, why are you in favour of slapping then

[grahamw48]

I haven't had to touch mine either, but that doesn't mean I'm not in favour of slapping...when needed and used appropriately.

My ex had no qualms about slapping them.

[joebloggs]

so your ex thought they needed a slap and she carried out the slapping and your in favour of it, but never did it yourself

i think once you turn to name calling, using insults and any sort of violence you've lost the argument and you've lost your self respect, but hey that's my opinion and your all entitled to your own

remember you owe your kids everything (except a 'little slap' )

[fred]

I agree with Les. Totally.
I find this topic more annoying than that old banning smokers in pubs debate.

[gWaPito]

What don't you agree ??

Read what I posted........it was from my own frame of reference. Means I shared my experience.
There's nothing to agree or disagree.....

I've read what you've posted, thank you very much.

To say "it never did me any harm" is neither true nor good reason. IMHO '' Which is what most of us are saying here....'It never did me any harm' and it didn't. It's true

This '' I don't agree '' business comes from you, Peter..you've said this many times.

I highlighted what I didnt agree on..I thought that would of given you a clue

[gWaPito]

I haven't had to touch mine either, but that doesn't mean I'm not in favour of slapping...when needed and used appropriately.

My ex had no qualms about slapping them.

Exactly...That was my wife's (1st wife) department. I did the important stuff like bring home the bacon

[grahamw48]

so your ex thought they needed a slap and she carried out the slapping and your in favour of it, but never did it yourself

i think once you turn to name calling, using insults and any sort of violence you've lost the argument and you've lost your self respect, but hey that's my opinion and your all entitled to your own

remember you owe your kids everything (except a 'little slap' )

Joe, the older ones were stepchildren. Not my place to even think about striking them.

I can't really remember her striking our boy, maybe a small slap now and then.
She had a sharp tongue, but generally we were a happy and peaceful lot. Anyway, they've all turned out great.

[les_taxi]

I agree with Les. Totally.
I find this topic more annoying than that old banning smokers in pubs debate.

Thanks for Rep fred

[gWaPito]

so your ex thought they needed a slap and she carried out the slapping and your in favour of it, but never did it yourself

i think once you turn to name calling, using insults and any sort of violence you've lost the argument and you've lost your self respect, but hey that's my opinion and your all entitled to your own

remember you owe your kids everything (except a 'little slap' )

Remember, your kids are still small and manageable...let's give it a few years then see how you feel. Not good to lecture those who've already completed the course while you are just starting out

[joebloggs]

me a newbie
ones 24 already gWapito, 13 and 7 - never needed to 'little slap' them

so your talking about a 'little slap' in their teens or 20's gWapito
i've still got that to come, i doubt it, I'm a bit too old, wiser and bigger to be 'little slapping' kids or anyone and what ever they do, its not the end of the world, i've been thru worse

[gWaPito]

always better to have it done for ya

I agree I've taken to sitting on my hand ..the same effect without the expense and earache

[gWaPito]

me a newbie
ones 24 already gWapito, 13 and 7 - never needed to 'little slap' them

so your talking about a 'little slap' in their teens or 20's gWapito
i've still got that to come, i doubt it, I'm a bit too old, wiser and bigger to be 'little slapping' kids or anyone and what ever they do, its not the end of the world, i've been thru worse

Alright alright..I thought you were just starting out on this parenthood lark

It's true, it's not the end of the world and yes, I've been through worse as well. I know I'm enjoying it more now than when I was in my 20s. You can't buy experience

[London_Manila]

A good thrashing with a birch never did anyone any harm

This softly softly approach to bringing up kids just means we end up with loads of yobs with no respect

Of course i am not advocating any child cruelty here but if a brat steps over the line then he needs to be taught a lesson

These days these experts would advise you to make your child sit on the naughty step !

Todays kids just laugh at you and give you their middle finger

[joebloggs]

A good thrashing with a birch never did anyone any harm

This softly softly approach to bringing up kids just means we end up with loads of yobs with no respect

Of course i am not advocating any child cruelty here but if a brat steps over the line then he needs to be taught a lesson

These days these experts would advise you to make your child sit on the naughty step !

Todays kids just laugh at you and give you their middle finger

maybe the parents should be birched too

[SimonH]

maybe the parents should be birched too

There's a few that could do with it

[andy222]

Discipline at home! I look at it this way. Under my roof they abide to my rules. End of. Like I said my kids have bought no trouble they both have jobs and pay taxes and Im proud of them. Each to his own I guess.

[KeithD]

maybe the parents should be birched too

Especially if they are Mancs

[andy222]

Especially if they are Mancs

No just the ones who follow united.. Oh sorry they are not really mancs.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Man Utd fans are well behaved. They have to be - living in Singapore.

[joebloggs]

There's a few that could do with it

your right there, you wonder if kids pick the bad language and attitude from their parents

Breaking news.......... scum queue for free food so they have more to spend on booze, fags and little Billy's xbox game

[Iani]

Interesting debate

Not so long ago, this was on a tv show - This Morning I think, and they had a pro smacking guy being interviewed. He came out with the most ridiculous, desperate and (to me) sickening load of rubbish phrase I've possibly ever heard....... giving the children a "loving smack".

WTF!
Just be a man and say it - I hit my children because I think it's the best sort of discipline available, because their minds aren't developed enough to understand reasoning and explanation to the undesirability of their current actions, and therefore painful shock treatment is what I believe in. I don't like doing it, I love them to bits obviously, but they are kids and it's the only way I think works.
Loving smack? I've never heard anything so stupid!

Now this isn't my personal opinion necessarily - it's just my opinion of this man who was on the tv.

This however is where such a debate can split. I imagine too many parents hit their children out of their own frustrations and temper, rather than a discipline thing.
It also must always be remembered - children don't have anywhere as near a matured social and moral reasoning as adults.
If children ruled the country, we would be at war every day.

Would smacking children though still happen if adults were small and helpless, and children were big strapping blokes?

[Iani]

By the way, imagine if adults were treated like children.

If I made a mistake at work, instead of telling me off, the manager would take me into an office and she'd spank my bottom.

Now this is giving quite a disturbing image, not to mention making me wish she was more of a looker

[joebloggs]

Would smacking children though still happen if adults were small and helpless, and children were big strapping blokes?

true, your just bullying your own kids and they are living in fear of the next 'little slap' when they do something wrong.

being 6ft2" and 16stone, i don't want 4ft, 4 stone little joe ever to fear his dad

[sentinent]

So the age-old saying "Spare the rod and spoil the child" is useless verbiage? I think not. I also think another old saying "Give me the child and I will give you the man" has great meaning. If a child does something wrong as a child then that child should be aware that there will be consequences. And I do not mean a spell on the "naughty step" or being asked to draw a picture to show how they are feeling. If you do not introduce children to the notion of consequences when they are young they may well grow up thinking that there will be no consequences to their actions when they are adults. Many an adult in our penal system were not made aware by their parents or guardians that actions import consequences.

[Ako Si Jamie]

true, your just bullying your own kids and they are living in fear of the next 'little slap' when they do something wrong.

being 6ft2" and 16stone, i don't want 4ft, 4 stone little joe ever to fear his dad

It seems like you anti-smackers think that refraining from smacking will produce the perfect child, Joe.

I was smacked regularly but was never ever in fear, although I did learn my lesson.

[joebloggs]

It seems like you anti-smackers think that refraining from smacking will produce the perfect child, Joe.

I was smacked regularly but was never ever in fear, although I did learn my lesson.

and a 'little smack' creates the perfect child , as you was smacked more than once, it probably wasn't a deterrent then

also violence is never the answer, time will tell, but up to now I've never thought of, never mind actually smacking my kids, the misses, or even kicked the dog

[Ako Si Jamie]

and a 'little smack' creates the perfect child

Not saying that at all. So long as the child is treated fairly, gets plenty of love and attention and doesn't get spoilt and have it's own way all the time, I reckon you're well on the way to having a decent kid in the making, whether or not they get smacked.

[KeithD]

Is their a connection between the lack of respect and responsibility these days in society with the lack of being able to give kids a slap?