this post was submitted on 01 May 2026
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A Boring Dystopia
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75% of Americans think hitting children is chill???
A ton of cultures do, unfortunately. That said, it's also just bad parenting because (1) kids model behavior, so they will "punish" other kids physically and (2) punishment is one of the least effective forms of power, often producing public compliance but not private acceptance.
Just an fyi in case you need that in you back pocket when someone tries to argue in favor of hitting kids.
I think we should start hitting these people if they misbehave. After all they think it's the right thing to do.
NB: This is not meant seriously, I don't condone hitting anyone.
The vast majority of people still believe in archaic and draconic bullshit because it is "tradition", even to the point of ignoring all scientific evidence supporting the contrary perspective.
I was visiting the head office of a California-based company that I worked for, and my colleagues (mostly left-leaning) were moaning about a proposal to make it illegal to hit children. After 15 minutes I couldn't keep my mouth shut and said, "I think a society should protect those least able to protect themselves." There was a lot of backpedaling, but also a few people explaining how it was totally necessary that they hit their children for reasons.
I didn't have children at the time, but my step-daughter (now 20) and son (now 17) were never punished with violence, so it is possible for sure.
I can sort of understand the logic, even if I disagree with it:
If a child does something that could potentially have lethal consequences, a verbal warning might not be enough for them to understand the severity of what they did.
That is, of course, the only reasonable situation I can think of in which spanking is acceptable.
Verbal warnings are not less efficient than violent punishment. It's the contrary. If the child understands why they should not do something, they respects the rule more than if they just fears the punishment. And children understand a lot of things, if explained clearly.
Also: if a child only refrains from doing something because they fear possible consequences they'll happily do it in situations where they don't have to be afraid of being found out. So if the only thing preventing your child from chewing on high voltage cables is the threat of violence your child will get themselves electrocuted once they're out of your eyesight. (Yes that's hyperbole, but you get the point.)
I dont think thats hyperbole. kids are maximally curious, and telling them not to do something without helping them understand why is basically telling them to do it. threatening violence as punishment is just saying do it when I'm not around. once the idea is in their head they will want to know why not, what would happen, and the only recourse you've given them to resolve their curiosity is to do exactly the thing you told them not to do. honestly I think just not mentioning it would be better than telling them dont without any justification.
I've never spanked my children but if you've never thought that spanking a child might be a good idea then you don't have kids. Those little shits don't understand empathy or anything else that you're appealing to when you say violence is never the answer. Being desperate to find a solution to their behavioral problems is totally understandable.
I have children and I'd lie if I said that occasionally they make me angry, and sometimes very angry. But I'm the adult, they're not, hitting them will teach them absolutely nothing. You won't teach them empathy showing that you have none for them when you're angry.
You've successfully described why I don't spank them and articulated that you understand the impulse so... Thanks for agreeing with me in the weirdest way possible I guess
If you recognise the urge and haven't followed through, I assume you wouldn't call it "morally acceptable", but it really sounded like you were agreeing with that position originally.
I think it's understandable that people feel that spanking is fine and it isn't surprising to me at all. I don't feel the same but it's not a shock to see that like the original comment I replied to
If that’s what you meant to say, you’re extremely bad at expressing it. After all, you wrote this:
That’s exactly the opposite of the comment you were replying to. You’re not saying that parents sometimes get angry, but that they consider violence to be a solution. That’s not the same thing!
A “good idea” is not a bad impulse, it's a good idea.
You mean children can make you mad? Yes, of course. But never ever ever have I thought this, and I would treat anyone with suspicion who does (even if they don't act on it). Lousy parents. Poor children!
For the safety of your children, please fucking educate yourself away from this draconic perspective.
Being desperate is no excuse to abuse children.
Edit: who is the dumbass that downvoted me for saying not to abuse children? Fix yourself.
dude what???? can we ban this dude from parenthood and all fertility clinics