When you see someone hitting their kids in public, should you say anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The responses on this thread are horrifying. Really??? MYOB? That's just the way the dad chooses to discipline? Maybe his smacked around triplets will be better behaved than kids of parents who don't smack their kids? You all have lost your minds.

Horrifying? Calm down. A dad disciplined his daughter by popping her. IT DOES NOT MATTER if someone who sees think this teaches nothing, starts a cycle, blah blah. It is HIS kid. People DO spank and that's their choice. There's a huge difference between beating a 2 year old and popping a misbehaving 2 year old. I see kids zombied out on iPads at the dinner table which I don't agree with- do I get to call the cops and cry abuse? No! It's not my kid. There are times when it's appropriate to intervene and times when someone needs to mind their own business. This was a MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this... If one of you sanctimonious parents EVER comes up to me if I smack my kid and even think about confronting me or, God forbid, intervening, I would take pleasure in giving you a piece of my mind using choice words and perhaps a physical threat.

Beat it with your holier-than-thou attitude toward disciplining children. There is no one size fits all type of discipline out there. The responsive classroom method at our school works on about 1/4 of the kids in any given class. Most of them need a smack in the back of the head every now and then; not time to think about actions and consequences.

Are you a Catholic nun?

You sound like you could use a hug. It would probably do more good than your violent fantasies about smacking your students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The responses on this thread are horrifying. Really??? MYOB? That's just the way the dad chooses to discipline? Maybe his smacked around triplets will be better behaved than kids of parents who don't smack their kids? You all have lost your minds.

Horrifying? Calm down. A dad disciplined his daughter by popping her. IT DOES NOT MATTER if someone who sees think this teaches nothing, starts a cycle, blah blah. It is HIS kid. People DO spank and that's their choice. There's a huge difference between beating a 2 year old and popping a misbehaving 2 year old. I see kids zombied out on iPads at the dinner table which I don't agree with- do I get to call the cops and cry abuse? No! It's not my kid. There are times when it's appropriate to intervene and times when someone needs to mind their own business. This was a MYOB.

Wow. I was being sarcastic with the justifying of physical abuse because "it's my kid," but I didn't think someone would actually say that. Holy shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have glared at the parents before which usually gets an outburst from them in my direction, but I think it's important for them to realize that other people judge them for slapping their kids around.

That is probably the worst thing you could do. Passive aggressive bullshit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have glared at the parents before which usually gets an outburst from them in my direction, but I think it's important for them to realize that other people judge them for slapping their kids around.

That is probably the worst thing you could do. Passive aggressive bullshit.

Yup. Just be straight up aggressive and smack the dad to discipline him. Hey, it works for the kids! Or probably not... hmmm...

[Anonymous]

OP, where did the father hit the child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, where did the father hit the child?

I'm not sure, as I was walking past him and going in the opposite direction (though I was right next to the stroller), at the exact time he hit child. I began to see his arm come down right before I heard the loud smack and walked past - it was either on the face or shoulder, I believe. From the sound alone, it was a very hard and firm hit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

It is physical abuse. No excuses for smacking your children around.

Are spankings illegal?

Good thing I just do those at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

It is physical abuse. No excuses for smacking your children around.

Are spankings illegal?

Good thing I just do those at home.

It sounds like he smacked the kid in the face pretty hard.

Where do you draw the line? Is anything with your hand OK? Is any hitting ok as long as it's on the butt? Can you use a belt or a stick?

What if you spank a teenager? Is that physical abuse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

This is not discipline, however - it teaches the child nothing. If anything, it teaches the child to do as daddy does. If daddy can hit, why can't little joe or jane? It doesn't give a consistent line or reasoning to a child - and yes, a 2 year old or toddler can pick up on those cues. I don't believe in coddling your children, but I believe in setting and leading by example. Hitting a child that hits accomplishes nothing - it will just confuse the child, and lead to an ongoing cycle.

Why can daddy have a beer but not little joe or Jane? Why does mommy get to drive a car but not little Joe or Jane? Why doesn't big sister lizzy go to bed at 7pm like little joe or Jane? Because life is not fair. The sooner kids learn that, the better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

It is physical abuse. No excuses for smacking your children around.

Are spankings illegal?

Good thing I just do those at home.

Echoing the pp - please indicate where you draw the line between a spanking, and abuse. What exactly are your personal criteria for where and how you hit your child? Reasons for using corporeal punishment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

This is not discipline, however - it teaches the child nothing. If anything, it teaches the child to do as daddy does. If daddy can hit, why can't little joe or jane? It doesn't give a consistent line or reasoning to a child - and yes, a 2 year old or toddler can pick up on those cues. I don't believe in coddling your children, but I believe in setting and leading by example. Hitting a child that hits accomplishes nothing - it will just confuse the child, and lead to an ongoing cycle.

Why can daddy have a beer but not little joe or Jane? Why does mommy get to drive a car but not little Joe or Jane? Why doesn't big sister lizzy go to bed at 7pm like little joe or Jane? Because life is not fair. The sooner kids learn that, the better.

You think the reasons you have to be 21 to drink alcohol, and 16+ to drive a car, and bedtimes exist for children, are because "it's not fair?" That's really what you think the purpose of those things are? Because "fairness." Wow.

Times like these I really wish we required licensing for parenthood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

This is not discipline, however - it teaches the child nothing. If anything, it teaches the child to do as daddy does. If daddy can hit, why can't little joe or jane? It doesn't give a consistent line or reasoning to a child - and yes, a 2 year old or toddler can pick up on those cues. I don't believe in coddling your children, but I believe in setting and leading by example. Hitting a child that hits accomplishes nothing - it will just confuse the child, and lead to an ongoing cycle.

Why can daddy have a beer but not little joe or Jane? Why does mommy get to drive a car but not little Joe or Jane? Why doesn't big sister lizzy go to bed at 7pm like little joe or Jane? Because life is not fair. The sooner kids learn that, the better.

Uh, I really hope you're teaching your kids more than "it's not fair" when it comes those things and more. But you're probably someone who abuses your kids because "it's not fair". You sound like someone who's more interested in control than actively teaching and setting examples for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I saw someone beating a child or slapping an infant, I would possibly do something. But a parent smacking a 2 year old is how they apparently choose to discipline, whether you agree or not. So no I would not do anything in this situation.

So who gets to discipline the dad by hitting him for hitting? It just seems so ironic, and completely futile in terms of discipline - to do the same thing to a child, that they're apparently being "disciplined" for.

Look, I get that you don't agree with hitting to punish hitting. But that doesn't matter because some parents do and unless it really crosses the line, it's not physical abuse. The little girl wasn't hit for no reason; her dad was disciplining her. You don't have to like it or agree with it but it doesn't give you the right to speak up. I don't condone abuse at all and would absolutely intervene if I saw it, but you can't go around bitching out everyone who parents differently than you. He has triplets, maybe it's been a long, tough day. You don't know. But as OP described it it was not worthy of her intervention.

This is not discipline, however - it teaches the child nothing. If anything, it teaches the child to do as daddy does. If daddy can hit, why can't little joe or jane? It doesn't give a consistent line or reasoning to a child - and yes, a 2 year old or toddler can pick up on those cues. I don't believe in coddling your children, but I believe in setting and leading by example. Hitting a child that hits accomplishes nothing - it will just confuse the child, and lead to an ongoing cycle.

Why can daddy have a beer but not little joe or Jane? Why does mommy get to drive a car but not little Joe or Jane? Why doesn't big sister lizzy go to bed at 7pm like little joe or Jane? Because life is not fair. The sooner kids learn that, the better.

yeah, the reason people beat the kids is to teach them "life is not fair." that'll learn 'em!

stay classy, DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why can daddy have a beer but not little joe or Jane? Why does mommy get to drive a car but not little Joe or Jane? Why doesn't big sister lizzy go to bed at 7pm like little joe or Jane? Because life is not fair. The sooner kids learn that, the better.

So hitting children who hit others, is so you can teach them that "life is not fair?!" What the demented batshit fucking fuck?