Abuse or Adornment?

[Thorne]

About what I expected on these responses. Most people seem to accept the idea of piercing an infant to some degree or another. And to be honest, I don't really consider it abusive as such, just unnecessary.

But my real question, I suppose, is: Why is it acceptable (at least to many) to inflict pain on a child for no reason than to satisfy the parent's need for attention, while it is considered unacceptable to inflict pain on a child for disciplinary reasons, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of parents being charged with abuse for spanking their children?

And don't try to tell me that corporal punishment doesn't work. Up to a certain age it's almost the only thing that DOES work, and sometimes it is the best way to convince a child that they were wrong. If you burn your hand on a hot stove you learn real quick not to place your hand on the stove, don't you? And if a child learns that certain actions will bring him pain he will avoid those actions, won't he?

So the next time you see a hassled young mother swat her child in the store, look at your own child's pierced ear and ask yourself, Who's the bad mother?

[mkemse]

About what I expected on these responses. Most people seem to accept the idea of piercing an infant to some degree or another. And to be honest, I don't really consider it abusive as such, just unnecessary.

But my real question, I suppose, is: Why is it acceptable (at least to many) to inflict pain on a child for no reason than to satisfy the parent's need for attention, while it is considered unacceptable to inflict pain on a child for disciplinary reasons, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of parents being charged with abuse for spanking their children?

And don't try to tell me that corporal punishment doesn't work. Up to a certain age it's almost the only thing that DOES work, and sometimes it is the best way to convince a child that they were wrong. If you burn your hand on a hot stove you learn real quick not to place your hand on the stove, don't you? And if a child learns that certain actions will bring him pain he will avoid those actions, won't he?

So the next time you see a hassled young mother swat her child in the store, look at your own child's pierced ear and ask yourself, Who's the bad mother?

Good Point Thorne, Good Point