'Twas mentioned a week or so ago
There is a difference between ineffectually cooing "Jocasta, don't" and screaming "Tyson you facking Cahnt" while beating the crap out of them.

I was smacked when I was a child, rarely. We had corporal punishment in schools, and believe me we were incredibly well behaved compared to sprogs today (my Mrs is a teacher, so it's not a Daily Mail inspired POV).

My 4 year old will get a smack on the bum when he does something incredibly fucking dangerous, like the first time he managed to get out of the front door and attempted to play with the traffic. Or when he's intentionally naughty, after several warnings, exclusion, removal of toys etc. And believe me, 4 year old boys do not respond to sweet reason, no matter what the right-on choose to believe, when they are chucking a major wobbly tantrum.

Incidentally, he doesn't get lots of sweeties, chocolate, e-numbers or chips.
(osok Rebel without a clue, Fri 2 May 2008, 10:59, Reply)