Sould we be able to hit our children in public?

NO

“Be able to”? Yes. Should it be done? That’s another question entirely.

We don’t need the government telling people how to discipline their children. (If it’s obviously abuse, that’s an entirely different matter. That shouldn’t be done anywhere.)

I’ve probably hit your kid in public.

In my freshman year of high school, my friends and I used to play tag on the play structure in the park. sometimes parents would get mad that older kids were on the play structure while their kids were there. On multiple occasions, with no prior warning or requests, the cops would show up and confront us with allegations from angry parents claiming we were hitting their kids. It was ludicrous, the cops were usually peeved with the parents and ended up scolding them for exaggerating.

She indicated twice she just wanted yes or no answers.

While I respect aidje’s libertarian lean, I still would have to say no. I don’t even like children all that much, and I’m not one to condone hitting a child either.

National Kick a Freshman Day is another matter entirely.

Are you serious?!?! I hope you never have children! i believe in discipline, but hitting your child, come on! it sounds like you have some anger issues that you need to work out!

I think smacking your child should be mandatory…
You know they deserve it and maybe if you hit them they won’t reproduce and continue a chain of shitty kids that no one wants…

@erincollins: Who the heck are you talking to?! You gotta specify or people (I) get confused!

@madcrapper: I’m giving you a GA on the assumption that you are half-serious. But I’m not telling which half merited the GA! haha

I just caught my typo, but I’m laughing too hard to change it! Hope you can understand madcap. ;)

@ shockvalue haha nice… I’ll assume it’s the cool part about beating children though

@shockvalue, i’m talking to the poster.

@crapper, I gave you a GA too because I have been fighting for people to be able to speak their mind on this forum. But what got deleted was against the rules, plain and simple, and it was juvenile and in poor taste. I will continue to fight for your rights though.

@steve alright I will respect that opinion and thankyou. Most of the time I am just joking on theses forums, although fluther has been very good for garnering inforamtion, and I like to have fun and get reactions from people and you were very cool about it so kudos to you steve! you get a GA

Thank you!

Uhhh… digression much?

Hey guys, lets take it to the chatroom. Thanks!

[mod says:] Please read the guidelines before further participation. Try to stay on-topic in the future.

My kid: No

Your kid: Maybe ~

I dont see any difference apart from embarassment to the child and the family. But i think i wouldn’t do that.

No. Or yes, but you can’t complain one bit when another parent accuses you (rightfully IMO) of bad parenting.

Nope. These things should be done in private.

I mean, I turned out fine…

if you use hitting as a form of discipline when the children are young and small, and scared of your hitting, how will you discipline them when they are big, like when they’re 14, 15, 16 and they match you, physically? you’ve then set up that hitting is how they respect you, and what will you do now?

I don’t believe in hitting, period. Is it not educating your child about anything, other than how to hit someone when they get angry. Or it just teaches them how to hit you back, once they can, to which I say, “Ha! Guess who taught them how to do that?”. Hitting takes no brainpower. It’s Neanderthal-like. “I not smart to teach. I hit instead.”

And while it’s not illegal, if a parent ventures to hit their child in public, they better be ready to deal with all of the responses they may get from pissed off people.

I’m curious as to how most people would discipline their child without actually physically beating them. I was beat with a paddle growing up, and believe I grew up fine.

The only reason I won’t beat my own future children will be because I’ve seen Super Nanny and know of different methods!

@overgrown: You just answered your own question. They do it on Super Nanny through actually teaching the children. That’s why hitting is wrong and stupid. It isn’t necessary. Parents that hit typically don’t have the actual brainpower to teach their kids anything or they’re just extremely lazy and don’t give a crap to begin with.

@DrasticDreamer: Your have a valid point, but I’m not sure. I mean, if my kid was anything like me, I’m not sure I would have an alternative. It’s hard to decipher what would be an appropriate response if the child is totally out of control. I believe I would’ve ended up completely psychotic if not for my mum’s physically discipline.

There is always an alternative. The last thing you want to teach an out of control child is that things can be made stable through violence. That perpetuates the violence cycle and may likely end with the kid hitting the parent back.

If I had a kid who was completely out of control I would probably look into one of those rehabilitation boot camps of sorts. But not one that abuses the kids they take in. I know a kid who was a real handful, once he got into the military he thrived under the rules and became a much better person. Sometimes kids just need a purpose.

Please realize that crystal did not ask, “Should we hit our children in public?” S/he asked “Should we be able to hit our children in public?” It seems to me that everyone is discussing the first question, while the second, actual question is entirely different. It’s not a matter of whether hitting one’s children in public is a good or valid method of discipline. It’s a question of whether the government should intervene when such methods are observed. Think fines, jail, kids taken away—does that sound like a good idea? In extreme cases I can see the validity of such an argument, but I can’t see how it makes sense all the time.

the rule in new york state is that you can hit your children, not hard enough to cause a bruise or other mark and not with any other object other than open hand (not closed fist, not hanger, belt, electrical cord, etc).

I AM NOT ADVOCATING HITTING YOUR CHILDREN. I am just explaining the law in new york state.

Hit? NO.

Yes, with extreme prejudice, would depend on why you had to smack them and where.

NO