Re:To spank or not to spank: Corporal punishment in the US
by MichaelGG on Monday October 20, 2014 @07:12AM
(#8481512)
My brothers and I were also spanked a fair amount as kids (my parents were sorta fundies back then, but they got better). It worked alright to help enforce some discipline. I certainly don't bear them any ill will for it.
But with my kids, I never did that. First it seemed the literature was against it. But I wasn't very confident in that by itself. Punishment data could be too dependent on other factors. Like reports of having a lot of books in the house being a good thing -- it's more an indicator of what kind of family you are in the first place.
The reason I cannot spank my kids is that I cannot find a rationally justifiable reason to, ethically. How can i answer if my kids say "Michael, why are you allowed to hit us?" I'm assaulting because I've physical superiority and legal protection! That does not sound defensible, even if the ends is that it'll make them a better person (which isn't clear).
In general, I've treated them as the autonomous beings they are. I enforce some things against their will (e.g. try to limit shit food and shit TV). But there, the reason is because they lack the understanding to make good decisions. But violating them physically - using direct pain as a response to a non-physical threat - seems to have no logical path allowing it.
But with my kids, I never did that. First it seemed the literature was against it. But I wasn't very confident in that by itself. Punishment data could be too dependent on other factors. Like reports of having a lot of books in the house being a good thing -- it's more an indicator of what kind of family you are in the first place.
The reason I cannot spank my kids is that I cannot find a rationally justifiable reason to, ethically. How can i answer if my kids say "Michael, why are you allowed to hit us?" I'm assaulting because I've physical superiority and legal protection! That does not sound defensible, even if the ends is that it'll make them a better person (which isn't clear).
In general, I've treated them as the autonomous beings they are. I enforce some things against their will (e.g. try to limit shit food and shit TV). But there, the reason is because they lack the understanding to make good decisions. But violating them physically - using direct pain as a response to a non-physical threat - seems to have no logical path allowing it.