The Spank Poll

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I see the red states are bringing up the rear again

Liberal parenting skills involve allowing your children to do whatever the hell they want because we must remember they are just "small adults". Or some such nonsense.

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Wow I was really surprised that such a strong opposition to a little soap in a kids mouth.  I expected the questions to result in a pro-spanking decision though.  Most parents agree that spanking is acceptable but should be done infrequently and only for the most important behavior corrections.  I knew about the teachers in the south thing.

I have no problem with a parent using traditional spanking techniques for very serious offenses.

My girl and I have decided not to hit our kids outside of when the kid uses violence first and only with open hand on ass.  We have no problem with soap in the mouth for using vulgarity in a regular and inappropriate way. Any teacher that touches my kid better hope to god that the law deals with them very strongly.

Spanking isn't a Republican or a Democratic idea, nini.  Progress actually has a very well developed handle on this, and has gone much further than most people bother to do -- actually talking about measures of punishment and when such actions are appropriate.  I applaud him for it.

I was spanked (around 5 times my entire childhood); I hated it when I got spanked; I will spank my children, when and if necessary.  The reason is having worked and been around lots of children myself, I understand that "reasoning" with them or some slap-on-the-wrist punishment doesn't have the same effect as a swat on the behind.

As Progress said, there are degrees of offenses and should be degrees of punishment.  Making a mess might need a verbal reprimand; hurting another child (thus, in the wider sense, violating that child's sovereignty) may require a more startling punishment, such as spanking.

Spanking never really hurt me, that I can recall.  It was just so startling that and terrifying that I never repeat the offenses that led to it.

Slapping, on the other hand, is totally unacceptable.  I was slapped a few times, and that is a horrible way to punish a child.

I'll slap my girls on the hand from time to time if they are reaching for something they shouldn't or are being bad. On occassion a swift swat on the butt doesnt hurt either.

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Still, you seem to have turned out OK in spite of a few smacks across the face.  There was a woman in my neighborhood when I was growing up who used smacks across the face as her primary means of discipline.  It was invariably accompanied, of course, by extremely loud, high-pitched screaming of an extended duration.  She also grabbed her son by the hair and jerked his head back and forth, sometimes smashing it into the car window, or something like that.  Truthfully, her son deserved it; his behavior was monstrous, but it probably wasn't the most effective means of discipline, judging by his behavior.

Hehe, thanks -- I think I turned out alright too, despite the occassional slap in the face!

Oh really? Does that explain the avatar?

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I don't get washing out someone's mouth with soap. Surely there are things in soap that shouldn't be in the mouth, and potentially swallowed? It seems like a huge safety hazard to me, as well as just plain stupid. I know it's symbolic thing, but there is something about forcing soap into a child's mouth that just makes me think "that's wrong."

Ivory soap is non-toxic. But it does burn like hell. Believe me I had it done once or twice.

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I don't get washing out someone's mouth with soap. Surely there are things in soap that shouldn't be in the mouth, and potentially swallowed? It seems like a huge safety hazard to me, as well as just plain stupid. I know it's symbolic thing, but there is something about forcing soap into a child's mouth that just makes me think "that's wrong."

Ivory soap is non-toxic. But it does burn like hell. Believe me I had it done once or twice.

I doubt many families make a point of having the perfect mouth washing soap available, many may just use whatever they find, which scares me.

The majority of bar soaps are non toxic as far as I know.

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I guess that's how some conservatives think, but the whole attitude that "a child needs a good bout of discipline" seems like such a negative attitude.  It's like they're focusing on the negative aspects of being a kid,  not the positive.  I don't understand that way of thinking.

A switch in time saves crime.