Reply #18: In a perfect world, no. [View All]

[Shandris]

In the real world, there are -rare- occasions when it can be useful. But not for pain, not 'beating', not anything like that. The 'swat' is how I've heard parents call it.

'Talking' to your children is wonderful in theory; reasoning with them even moreso. But there is every bit as much cruelty (if not more) in the manner in which some children are 'spoken' and 'reasoned' to as any quick, non-painful swat, and I'm talking about mental cruelty.

I've found it useful in life to notice that any time someone -categorically- denounces a common behavior, there is usually a circumstance where that behavior is still useful. It's why a theory of 'never violence' is one I can't ascribe to -- sometimes violence is needed. By the same token, always violence is JUST as dumb. There are (a lot of) times when peace is the preferred option. There are times for talking and reasoning, and there are times when a sudden attention is needed. The swat accomplishes that without being abusive.

So it depends on what you call 'corporal'. If you mean beatings and all that, well duh...no. If you mean a swat to the butt...yes. On rare occasions, not as common practice.