There is a difference and they’ve gone over the line. Spanking isn’t done for physical abuse. If someone wants to abuse a child there are many other ways to do it and by limiting punishment we are limiting the society we live in. Hell, when kids know of this law they will be the ones calling Child Services and getting their parents arrested for doing something to help them in the long run. Now granted not everyone does it for the betterment but those who do it for the betterment out weighs the criminal side.

I was spanked when I was a child and I turned out just fine. Also, spanking is a mild form of punishment when done in moderation and in only extreme conditions. And it’s not like you would be beating the crap out of the child, you would only make it clear, it is wrong - Don’t do it again. I believe your statistics were based on excessive ’hittings’ and more than a slap on the bottom.

Also, as personal experience, taking something away from me takes no effect. It doesn’t bother me one bit and frankly I’m more afraid of a ’spanking’ from my mother than I am of my TV getting taken away. I know how to read, write, and listen. There are many many other things I can do with my time but prefer the TV over those things. It wouldn’t really motivate me to rise above because frankly I’m a stubborn person and I’m not a very material person. But I suppose this can’t be said for everyone, but I’m not against spanking and Colleen is right.

Taylor, you are 16 years old! You don’t need punishments.. you would be able to vote in two years.. I’m talking about young children being punished corporally.. Many a times these ’spankings’ have resulted in spinal injuries.. I wonder how a spank on the bottom would move 3/4 inches above.. It just might, when the adult flies into a rage.. It is a step in the right direction..

I never was spanked once in my life and my parents took the matter to the cops when a teacher physically hurt me.. Well of course I was 7 or 8 then.. And I think I have turned out fine :P

Well duh...I’m not being spanked now...lol

I don’t approve, though, of being spanked in school by some teacher or something. It is something to be used in extreme conditions and sure there are cases of ’over slapping’ or injuries, but how many parents actually spank their kids and hurt them. If used right, like anything in the world, it can be helpful. That goes with drugs, games, wine, you name about anything it is good in moderation. Now granted spanking, rather ’beating’, a child can hurt them that is why it is classified as spanking not beating. Beating is when you cross the line and actually hurt the child. So really, this bill is doing much more harm then actual good. Because once you hurt a child it isn’t considered ’over spanking’ and not a crime, it’s considered assault and intention to do harm to a child (minor)....and that’s still a criminal offense.

I’m glad you don’t approve the idea of teachers or care takers who are not parents or legal guardians spanking a child. In spite of the law, most spanking and even beating will go unnoticed, so having a law might at least make the parent think twice before hurting a child. (Spanking/Beating.. hurts a child)

What amuses me is that you compare spanking to drugs, wine, games which have to be enjoyed in moderation. So, do you mean to say spanking is something that has to be enjoyed in moderation? Just a thought.. Don’t worry.. There are always better ways to punish a child. The law by itself won’t stop spanking, if it did, laws against stealing would have stopped thieves from continuing their profession a long time ago. What the law might do is, bring in a fear, that it is wrong and criminal to hurt a child. That must help parents to decide which punishment is right and which, wrong.

I never said it was to be ”enjoyed”. I had said it could be good, not to be confused with actually hurting the child. Which I also condemned. But all I am saying is that a child who is spanked..which isn’t supposed to impose any harm to the child. I don’t agree with violence to children but this isn’t really violence. This is spanking we are talking about. If you used an object on the child, or if you did it very hard, which is abuse, that would be wrong.

Also, I understand there are other ways to punish a child. But saying that this, used in the right ways and conditions, can be something good for a child.

What the law might do is, bring in a fear, that it is wrong and criminal to hurt a child. That must help parents to decide which punishment is right and which, wrong.

Bringing fear..well that fear should already be there for beating a child. If you have any doubts that what you are doing is bring undue harm to the child then you shouldn’t do it anyway! There are laws already established that say you cannot harm a child, but spanking isn’t usually done in an attempt to put bodily harm towards a child. It is used to teach a lesson whereas they won’t do again because they know not to. Now don’t take this next statement wrong but..

Telling a dog to sit is one thing and it would have to be done thousands of times for it to work, but telling a dog to sit and expressing to them doing it is what they need to do will get it done faster.

All I’m saying is telling a child not to do something is not always the best route and at that age you lead by example. If spanking them a couple times during their childhood (humanely) will have better results. That is if it is done right and in moderation. So linking spanking with beatings isn’t even right because 90% of the time they are done right and with good intentions.

Well, you are right in saying spanking comes with good intentions.. I won’t dispute your *intentions* in supporting spanking as a desirable form of punishments. However, good intentions does not imply good results.

Spanking causes not only physical harm but a great amount of psychological harm. The American Academy of Paediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi, and many other health organizations speak strictly against spanking. And they do so with a reason. In fact, many reasons. Spanking is adopted as a punishment by less educated families, who do not have much information about child rearing and effective parenting. Accidents on the part of any parent might happen, the parent might fly into a rage and spank, that is excusable (with a frown).. What is not excusable is flying into a rage every other time and using spanking as an acceptable form of punishment which basically is a milder form of corporal punishment.

Spanking indirectly teaches the child that violence is ’ok’. Its emotionally stressful for the parent and the child as well.The child is bound to develop feelings of inferiority and low self esteem, as spanking renders the child powerless, at least during that period. It invades the child’s personal space and lets him/her down. Once you spank, the child might get used to it, and you will need to use something stronger (Beating) to elicit the same behaviour response.. Spanking also leads to very bad behavior. In fact, most hyperactive children were spanked as younger children. There is a high correlation between spanking and childhood depression, anxiety and maladaptive behaviours.Borderline personality disorder is closely related to children who were spanked/suffered corporal punishments.....

I won’t argue more.. It is getting lengthy and might diss you... Lol :)

Yes, but again, you are speaking of cases where parents do it all the time. We are on two different pages me being for spanking if it is done in small amounts and not over done and you are against it when it is done in excess. In a way, we both agree that done in excess anything is bad. Children getting spanked a lot can be considered child abuse and can lead to said disorders. But again, that is if it is done repeatably.

My end stance is that if spanking is done a couple times in a childs life isn’t going to do harm but teach a lesson which is what life is..full of them. But if it is done over and over and over with wrongful intentions or if a parent flies into a rage over their own child’s mishaps then it is bad and the authorities should be notified. Fun debate Jaiyant, we should have these over at the Tech Section, *sigh*, lol.

Well we do agree on a few points and we don’t on a couple. And it is ok not to agree. I believe that it just shouldn’t happen unless it happens ’accidentally’ meaning it has to be treated as something unlawful except for rare cases. Respect the child and his/her body and mind.

I agree, iPhones and AMD processors are easier to talk about!!!

Yes, Tech is so much easier to talk about. I’m so much more fluent in geek speak and everything gaming. But this is seeming to become a hot button issue that has some good and bad things in it. We shall see how this turns out.

Well that’s a different story. That really isn’t considered spanking and is just what I explained above. I’m sorry you had to go through that and I hope no one else does, but I wouldn’t really call that spanking. Jester, can I speak with your mommy?