Why would anyone think spanking a child to the point of leaving bruises was discipline?

Question

I've read a couple stories of how some spankings was done on kids back in the 60's or 70's. It was generally hard to the point of leaving some bruises and welts on the bottom. That's what they would call a ''sore bottom''. Apparently the stupid so called parents of that time thought that was discipline.

To me that was straight forward child abuse and it's good more people turned against that upbringing. A couple swapping with the hands is different from several blows with a belt or paddle to the point of bruises.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

While genuine abuse did occur, it was the exception rather than the rule. Most spankings were enough to get the kid's attention but not enough to injure in any way, and most kids got the message quickly and didn't need repeated reminders.

There were (and still are) a few kids who ONLY respond to some violence, and even then, spankings rarely escalated to injuries beyond some red skin.

Genuine abuse was most often associated with drunks (often men suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, either from war or a dangerous job such as mining or industrial construction) and with religious schools, who often enforced discipline with severe corporal punishment. It was the exception, not the rule.

jshm2 · Accepted Answer

You're not the brightest then, kiddo!

Firstly it was not a "done thing" back then, few kids were actually beaten to such an extent. You're also forgetting that kids, women and Blacks had little to no rights under the system back then anyway.

Secondly what you think of the matter is irrelevant. You're not even aware that the LAW allowed such things, and it was not "abuse" back then. But letting little mouthy girls like you talk on without a smack across the mouth was "abuse".

dustybiker · Accepted Answer

The marks were intended to extend the memory of the punishment with the goal of deterring future misbehavior.

summiter · Answer

Leaving bruises is way overboard

oddwaffle · Answer

It works or you can watch the kids die because of stupid shit. Fun actually. 8 girls stabbed a guy. Now those girls are done.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Pain is a universal teaching tool. You want to softly pat your kid’s bottom and expect their behavior to change? You’ll wish you left a mark on their butt when you find them dead in the street because you didn’t properly teach the dangers of moving vehicles, or come home to find your kids burned to death in your home because you failed to teach them the dangers of playing with fire. I encourage parents to not discipline their kids. If i can’t stop morons from breeding, i don’t have to protect their progeny from destroying themselves! Ell oh ell!

Mansearching · Answer

Yes. There is a difference between spanking with hand or belt and abuse. I was spanked at very young age. I turned out fine. Did my parents leave cuts or bruses? Probably. I didn't look at my but after. I was to busy crying. If they put me in time out to think, all i thought about was getting out to play or figure out how not to get caught. Not about what i just did. I deserved most of mine... lol

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

It is child abuse, and the only thing it teaches them, is to be violent when you don't get your way (Which long term, is much worse than the bruises.)

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Because it is part of their belief system. They are called fundamentalists. They think they're doing the right thing, as twisted as it is. They have been brainwashed into believing that that is the appropriate way to raise a child.