tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267597063062817567.post7167682644118245767..comments2023-12-24T00:14:00.742-06:00Comments on Cup O' Joel: Spanking, revisitedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267597063062817567.post-91829780730250351062011-11-07T11:43:45.589-06:002011-11-07T11:43:45.589-06:00I think there's a difference between a light s...I think there's a difference between a light swat on the rear and a beating with a switch or a belt. I'm not sure why. But I do know that drawing the line between discipline and abuse is impossible, because it's so subjective.<br /><br />You hit the nail on the head, though, when you mention the importance of anger (or lack thereof) driving the punishment. I think. Hell, I don't know. Really, the difference for me comes from whether a parent is bringing their child up in a climate of fear. That, in my opinion, is what really causes long-term damage.Notorious Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08700875559325201086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267597063062817567.post-10164426869848914852011-11-07T09:48:42.946-06:002011-11-07T09:48:42.946-06:00(Clarification: I don't mean to imply that yo...(Clarification: I don't mean to imply that you, personally, are "blaming" the Pearls, Joel. But a lot of those engaging in the linked discussions are.)Monkey RobbLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12414603112612772905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3267597063062817567.post-83522792355676373612011-11-07T09:47:48.104-06:002011-11-07T09:47:48.104-06:00Ugh. As you point out, this is a risky subject to...Ugh. As you point out, this is a risky subject to engage in, but I have to say this: The Pearls, while (quite a bit) more extreme than I feel comfortable with, are not beating advocates, and their books are not "how to make weapons to hit your child."<br /><br />One problem with discussing spanking is that it's very difficult to have a practical dialogue on what implements to use without sounding like you're choosing "weapons." When I was a kid, my parents used a ping-pong paddle. My wife's parents used a wooden spoon. I'd rather have been swatted by a length of thin, flexible plastic tubing than either one.<br /><br />I have no intention of advocating the Pearl's positions, but I also don't think they're necessarily getting a fair shake here. Three people, who were clearly going WAY beyond the teaching advocated in the books, tragically killed their children. It's not the book's fault, it's the unstable parents' fault. But these are clearly "edge cases" - if, as the New York Times article says, they take in $1.7M per year in revenue from their writings, then these are far from typical outcomes. Blaming the Pearls for these deaths is like blaming Ozzy Osbourne for those kids that committed suicide after listening to his tapes.Monkey RobbLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12414603112612772905noreply@blogger.com