Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site bunker.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!bunker!garys
From: garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: "Spanking (!= hitting)"
Message-ID: <697@bunker.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 30-Jan-85 10:38:56 EST
Article-I.D.: bunker.697
Posted: Wed Jan 30 10:38:56 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 14:31:15 EST
References: <3349@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Bunker Ramo, Trumbull Ct
Lines: 46

> "Spanking" is a marvelous euphemism.  When one adult strikes another,
> it's called "assault," or maybe just "hitting."

When one adult strikes another, it's actually "battery," not
assault, if indeed the striking is found to be criminal in
nature.

> We also call it
> "hitting" if one kid strikes another, and we condemn that, too (often,
> it seems from the responses here, by hitting HIM!).  But an adult 
> hitting his or her kid is just "spanking."

Our daughter, 2 yrs and 1 month, already understands the difference
between spanking and hitting; too bad you don't.  Do you ever slap
someone on the back whom you haven't seen in a long time?  Do you
ever hold out your palm and say, "Give me five!" ?  Are these
actions also "assault"?

> Look, violence is violence.

And spanking is spanking, and never the twain shall meet.
(Aren't word games fun?  Too bad they don't prove anything.)

> You accept not being able to force everyone else in the world to
> submit to your will.  (At least, I hope you do!)  Why is your child
> any less privileged?

I guess I should allow my two year old the right to place her hand
on the range, or stick metal objects in electric outlets (after
removing those safety plugs), and let her play in the turnpike.
After all, she has the right to do all these things, doesn't she?

> "Spanking" -- child beating -- has been around for a long time, it's
> true:  look at the world out there and see if we haven't reaped just
> what's been sown.
> -- 
> Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ; (201) 582-2998

By all means, look; and I wager that the people who have the most respect
for others were spanked (not beaten; I deny that the terms are
synonymous) as children.

Gary Samuelson
ittvax!bunker!garys

P.S.  How old are your children?