1.  
   mamamia from London says:

   Jan 18, 16:18

   Me from here is spot on. You can't blame the lack of physical punishment meted out by parents for the lack of respect and discipline today's children have. That's down to a plethora of factors which are all a result of the gradual change in society. People had more respect "back in the day" because society was different in general - not because smacking was more acceptable. Society was more secular in the past - national and international travel was relatively rare and people knew nearly everybody in their own town/village. These days you can live next door to someone for decades and they can still be a stranger. The internet allows us all anonymity and gives us relatively uncensored access to information and images that in the past people would never have been exposed to. All this generates a multitude of negative behaviour traits from total apathy at one end of the spectrum to aggressive intolerance at the other. A teenager who has nothing to look forward to in a world that is being gradually destroyed on an environmental and economic level is going to think nothing of spending a decade in jail for attacking somebody, and in fact doing so will bring them brief notoriety in a lifetime of misery. A survey on smacking last year found that parents who did smack were much more likely to do so when THEY were feeling highly strung - irrespective of the severity of their child's behaviour. It is possible to discipline a child without smacking them but it's much harder. "They" say being a parent is the hardest job in the world with good reason. Using physical aggression against your child is the lazy parent's cop-out. It's much harder to explain with reason and logic why something is wrong than it is to give a child a swift beating. The former requires intelligence and patience and parents who have little or none of either resort to the latter method. once you have hit your own child you can NEVER tell them not to hit another child - why would they respect a hypocrite? I wouldn't.

   Report this comment

   Is smacking acceptable?

   No
2.  
   me from here says:

   Jan 18, 14:56

   NO you NEVER hit children which is what smaking is. How does hurting a child teach them not to hurt? what kind of example does set to control children with your superior strength. Yes displine and respect, self restraint and manners are lacking in the children of today but look at how the adults of today act and there are your answers as to why. When adults spend beyond thier limits, drink too much smoke too much and eat themselves into an early grave then where are the examples to the children. Where do children get the swear words from? How can children have family values when they are at daycare all day every day? How are children meant to take responsiblity for their own actions when most adults nowdays have no sense of personal accountability. If you want the youth of today to start acting like people rather that yobs then the adults of today need to set positive examples to them. Whats the point in smaking a child for hitting another when they are 2 when when they are 15 at school and hit a teacher there is no retribution? How can you tell a child not to swear when you swear every other word? How are children to have self respect when they have no challenges incase it spoils their selfesteem, self esteem is gained through overcoming challenges not constant praise, that generates arrogance.

   Report this comment

   Is smacking acceptable?

   No
3.  
   Bim from Jim says:

   Jan 18, 10:13

   A sound thrashing never hurt anyone in the long term.

   Report this comment

   Is smacking acceptable?

   Yes
4.  
   Lynsey from Paisley says:

   Jan 15, 13:53

   I think smacking is ok under certain circumstances. For instance, if they are going near a hot fire when you have told them clearly and firmly NO. i don't agree with using smacking as a main discipline, all is does is teach children to hit out when they don't get their own way. I think something is definately going wrong when we have so many t.v programmes telling us how to bring up our children. I like having hints and ideas given to me, but it's getting ridiculous. People are too easy on their children, why else would we have so much trouble from teens and children being little brats to their parents. I realise I've went off the subject a bit, but the point I'm trying to make is that smacking is acceptable now and again, but that there are other ways to discipline a child. Teaching them right from wrong is the answer.

   Report this comment

   Is smacking acceptable?

   Depends on circumstances
5.  
   Faplock from Gloucester says:

   Jan 14, 17:16

   1) It is perfectly legal for a parent to smack a child.
   2) Spare the rod and spoil the child is totally true
   3) Children quickly learn whether or not there is pain involved in wrongdoing.
   4) Where there is no pain, there is always a sinner in the making.
   5} "In Parentis Loco" (the onetime power given to teachers) should still be used to allow teachers to use the cane - just as it did in the 50's and 60's, when, curiously enough, there was a lot less sinning and ASBOs were 40 or 50 years in the future, Children were allowed to be children but carefull trained in what was right and what was wrong.
   6) Hanging was a deterrent, no matter what the "bleeding heart liberals" would have us believe. Also, statistics show that 100% of all dead murderers do not go on to commit more murders.
   So, bring back the birch and bring back hanging. It's amazing how many crimes will not be committed.

   Report this comment

   Is smacking acceptable?

   Yes

Comments page 3 of 1,126