From: nowhere@nowhere.com   
      
   David V. wrote:   
      
      
   >   
   > Five years would be about right. Prison is a good place for   
   > people that hit defenseless children.   
      
   Excuse me? There are times when a slap on the wrist gets the wandering   
   attention of a child. I am now of the opinion that it is unnecessary to   
   use physical pain to get a childs attention, but I do not equate the   
   mild slap on the wrist or swat on the butt with damage, brutality or   
   mistreatment. Even a harsh word from the parent inflicts a degree of   
   psychological pain on the child. Shall we start jailing parents who use   
   harsh language on a child too?   
      
   This "zero-tolerance" nonsense is ... well... nonsense. Small amounts of   
   pain delivered under appropriate circumstances can do more good than   
   harm, particularly if it disuades a child from doing things that can   
   have fatal or very damaging consequences.   
      
   Keep in mind that children are ignorant barbarians and have to be shown   
   the path to right and reason. That is where discipline comes in.   
   Personally, I think physical punishment can be avoided, but I do not   
   equate mild physical punishment with brutality.   
      
   Bob Kolker   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)