[Woogie Man]

I probably should just keep my mouth shut, but I mostly agree with My Lil Friend about this. It's hard to put into just a few words, but yes, I believe that spanking can be done in an appropriate way.

We raised 2 boys that have grown to be men I am proud of. They have generous loving hearts, were never bullies, were good students, etc.. They did both get a few spankings, from me, in their younger years, though.

I was brought up in a different time and got more spankings than I felt I should have. My Mom was the disciplinarian and she was pretty tough with it. I won't say abuse...it wasn't that, but I knew I would do things differently. Honestly, though, in that time, what she did was pretty typical.

What I did differently was: first....I never used anything but an open hand applied to the behind. Also, neither of mine EVER got a spanking without several warnings first. When I did actually spank them, it was without anger and was never excessive. And, really, spankings were few and far between.

Spanking, to me, should not be the first thing a parent looks to. Time spent nurturing and teaching kids is by far the what should be most used. I wouldn't rule out spanking entirely, though. To each his own but I don't like inferences that equate spanking with abuse. It CAN be abusive, but so can neglect and failing to properly teach life's lessons to our children. We are not their parents to JUST love them, but to raise them to be responsible adults. Children, unlike our pets, grow up and move on to make their place in the world. We have to get them ready for that.

I don't agree that spanking should be used to 'startle' a kid. That's punishment coming out of the blue. I wouldn't want to live wondering when the next one was coming. The whole idea of corporal punishment is that 'certain' things may have that consequence, but it should not be a surprise to the child.

I see here on YT what some wish for those that abuse animals and such. Pretty nasty sometimes. Did you ever think that that person might have done differently had they received a better upbringing? Though some of those folks may have been abused as a child, many likely had no discipline or guidance. Too little discipline can have the same effect as too much, IMO. I believe it's reflected in our society today, too. Not spanking is a recent phenomena in our society and so is the breakdown of respect, lack of a work ethic among many and general moral relativism. Hmm...might there be a connection?

OK, that's my thoughts. I respect others opinions, but I'd like to have mine respected, too.