fcarmody@udenva.UUCP (Prince Caspian) (02/26/86)
Ok, I apologize. Apparently I made a ridiculous mistake. It's so *obvious*
that anybody who knew other ways to discipline or was in better control of
themselves would not have to spank their kids that it is just not worth
discussing anymore. Reasoning-age children are just little adults, after
all. We can send them to their rooms to think about it for a bit. That's
*so* much more reasonable. No trauma, no tears, and they can settle the
issue themselves. That way, we don't teach them to hit. No striking back.
That way, we can keep reinforcing the lesson as long as necessary and not
worry about losing control. No screaming, no crying, no frazzled nerves.
We'll find a way to pay the psychiatrist's bill eventually. Some day
we'll find a way to make them stop hating us for all the times they "needed"
to cry and were told it was unreasonable (who needs tears?), for all the
times we talked rings around them logically and explained everything
oh-so-lovingly and "forgave" even the things we couldn't stand.
It was either that, or show anger to them. Isn't that a horrid, hateful
thought? Isn't it better to try reasoning with them so they remember for
a long time, instead of smacking them and then having to do the same thing
again next day because they forgot? We all have such *wonderfully* persuasive tongues, and we can be so *creative* when we scold them...
So isn't it just *obvious* that any serious discussion of spanking should
be limited to new ways to avoid it?
Isn't it just the strangest thing that people, especially children, keep
insisting that it *works*? That children who are otherwise very much loved
see this bizzare necessity to pretend to be *grateful* for it? Don't
little ones have the oddest way of trying to convince us that the
spankings they get are a *relief*, sometimes? Isn't it presumptous and
ignorant of them to suggest that it makes them feel *cared for*?
I think you get the point.
--
- Prince Caspian of Narnia, AKA Francis X. Carmody
Electronic Adress (UUcp only:{hplabs,seismo}!hao!udenva!fcarmody}
OR: {boulder,cires,denelcor,cisden}!udenva!fcarmody
The above opinions are my own, noone else in the known galaxy should be held responsable, except in the rare cases where they coincide with the opinions of Almighty God... In the above case, any disagreement with said opinions should be refferred directly to Him....
:w