http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16158818



It's still quite the legal and ethical issue, but that made me lol...

It's a difficult topic.

I have seen young kids squaring up and mouthing off to adults because they know they can't be touched. If I tried that as a kid, I'd end up with a slap round the ear, and I couldn't go running to tell my dad; unless I wanted another slap when the truth came out.

On the other hand, I'd be appalled to learn that someone else had slapped one of my kids ostensibly to keep them in line; but probably because I don't hit my kids, and I've drilled manners into them from an early age. If I had neglected my role then I shouldn't be surprised, nor should I have a voice, if someone has done my job for me.

All that does is leave me with the default Daily Mail position...

I blame the parents.

This is why electric shock collars were invented. They leave no red marks when properly used.

Can anyone say "Post hoc ergo propter hoc"?

I can now. I've said it in English many times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc

They absolutely can be touched - as long as they start it.

Offering them the first punch satisfies both the law and honour.




Indeed.

I like your style.

It's a problem I do suffer with from time to time.

Picking on a big man seems to be a badge of honour

Around my way, they wouldn't hit you, they'd grab you by the scruff of the neck and march you back to your parents... That was the worst, I'd get a hiding for what I'd done, plus an extra couple of slaps for inconviniencing the person!.

Did I get hit often? No. Did it do me any damage? No. I learnt my lesson, I learnt where the limits in society are and I didn't go over them.

This is the one subject that stands out in my mind as being something that I cannot make up my mind on.

I was smacked as a child, and because I was a naughty little [LIFTED] at times, I got smacked fairly regularly. Other punishments invariably didn't work on me at all (the naughty step was just time to catch my breath before carrying on for example). One of the important things was that in almost all circumstances it was done in a controlled fashion (I don't remember any that weren't but my Dad did mention one instance where he knew he'd lost it) and as a child there was most importantly a making up afterwards. On the flip sides, for one of my brothers, smacking was probably the worst form of punishment that could have been used.

On the flip side of course many people (especially in the past) got it wrong. The level that canings got to in school was just ridiculous in some instances and were clearly being done for the enjoyment of the person administering it rather than the correction of the recipient.

And so I sit on the fence. Except we now have a child, so at some point decisions must be made, and I very expressly do not want it to be a decision made in the heat of a moment; those are invariably badly made.