h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Years ago,when I was working in a mental institution(I did have a key!)I was told ,at a lecture ,by a child psychologist that there was only one kind of child psychology and that was hard enough and low enough!
I am not advocating belting children ,but a smack on the bum is going to get the point across much quicker than a long lecture about why they shouldn't run across the road in front of a car!
All mammals discipline their young in some way or another ,when they over step the boundaries and that is the key. Setting boundaries.

That and showing them that violence is a reasonable alternative to explanation.

I am not advocating thrashing a child to within an inch of its life but a quick smack on the bum never hurt anyone(before they run into the road under a car)
Kids these days have no respect for anyone or anything. I know not all but far too many.
Just tonight (it's 12,30 pm here)I asked,nicely ,for a group of yelling kids from a very noisy party up the road,to please be a bit quieter as my granddaughter was trying to sleep.The response amazed me,one said he couldn't,asked how? I told him to just lower the tone of his voice and his response was to spit in my direction!!!
Were I a burly man and not a 76yr old woman I'd have given him a thick ear.
The police have been called and will attend ,for the second time tonight,what is it with these kids?

You'd have given him a thick ear and probably been knifed.

Violence escalates - a quick smack on the bum does hurt - it lowers self-esteem and damages trust - I agree there are people you can't talk to - so call the police - but that's not an option with your own children, or children in a school class. There the answer is mutual respect and communication.

Well here I am again!Still say a smack on the bum never hurt anyone,done in the right way.The child must understand why the smack was given, after suitable warning.
Have you never seen an animal with young?How a dog will snap or growl at a pup that oversteps the mark?Or a cat will clip a kitten round the ear?
When a horse we bred got cheeky,reared up and struck out,we put him back with his mother and she gave him a good hard kick,when he tried it with her!He never did it again!
So I guess we will have to agree to disagree,the few smacks I got did not damage my psyche,only my pride for a short time!

I'd like to think that my behaviour is superior to that of an animal, and that we would use our intelllect to guide our actions, not ape the domestic creatures around us.

Here I am again!Been busy with Granddaughter,just had her tonsils out and Christmas shopping etc;.
Yes,I like to think I have slightly more intelligence than an animal,tho' looking at some of the species I sometimes wonder!
Still say,a quick smack on the bum never hurt anyone,just reinforces what the parent is saying ,in the event of a dangerous situation.
Sometimes you can tell a child something ,till you are blue in the face and they take no notice,whereas,a smack gets the message across very fast!