Poll: Abortion for minors.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

@Meatball

I was thinking of an answer very similar yours, but you beat me to it.

The word which immediately springs to mind when I hear the word 'teenager' is 'gormless' (I have a long memory)

BUT, a prominent Australian child psychiatrist recently said "About 20& of parents have the parenting skills of an avocado"

MY observation is you can often recognise such people quite easily: they send their misbehaving children to brat camps and allow them to be victims on appalling TV shows such as "The World's Toughest Parents".

Of course,I'm what is known in the trade as 'a childless eggspurt' and have been infuriating my friends for decades because my views on child rearing,which include:

The word 'discipline' means 'to teach' NOT 'to punish'

Small children are lot like puppies,they respond well to rewards and being patted and to simple rules they understand and which remain constant.

Adults only hit children because they can. It's not OK to hit a child,ever-------.

[dry land fish]

Padraic I agree that children respond well to rewards and pats on the back. I even believe in teaching them discipline. I'll have to say that there are just some times that a child is being a brat and no amount of time out or talking to them will help. Sometimes they need a good whack or two.

When I was childless I thought every child should be beat on a daily basis. I was the poster child of what a future parent should not be. I hated kids. Now that I have one I've softened up a bit and it doesn't annoy me as much as it used to when I see kids who are out of control. Teens....with their smart ass mouths...yeah they deserve a good smack or two now and then to keep them in line. I don't think I could handle a kid telling me to shut up.

[Violet]

Have you ever thought about the damage that does to the child's ego (thereby making them more prone to depression and other negative emotions)? Sure, it is bad to be absorbed in ones ego... but there are much better methods to make people see sense than being physically violent to them. That is more likely to inspire fear of doing wrong, than a distaste for it. And that, together with a few other reasons, is why psychologists and counselors will always tell you to NEVER hit a child.

There is nothing but your impatience stopping you from achieving this. And every good teacher MUST be patient.

[Edwardo Piet]

I've gotta say totally awesome post, the post kudos isn't enough (although I've gave you that too ); I think it completely sums up my views on that matter. Very well said indeed.

EvF

[Samson]

I "Skimmed" all 6 pages of this, so sorry if I am saying something that has already been said...

As far as the bill is concerned, I do not believe it should pass.

I have 3 daughters and I believe to be raising them to be free thinkers with an honest and open out look on life.
However, I am not naive enough to believe that they will always be good girls and follow the rules all the time etc. In saying that, I would hope they would feel comfortable enough to come to me or my wife, but parenting is not a utopia in which the world revolves around us and to think in that way is what the 70% that voted for this bill to pass are believing in the first place.

This law should not be passed and is being used as yet another bill of legislation that is ultimately taking the rights away from parents, not giving it to them. It's just sad that so many naive parents that would agree on such a bill.

[Violet]

I should post that on a Christian forum... but I learned the last time i posted something on a christian forum: it was so heavily moderated, that moderators read the post before it even got posted. IN other words: i click post reply, and i get an email saying that my post was okay enough to be entered into the site.

Makes me think those forums are owned by Christians with lots and lots of money

[Samson]

I only post on one forum that titles itself "Religion".. Now the forums is based in my city here in Louisiana, but it does not specify a certain religion. However, through common knowledge of being in the Bible belt it's pretty obvious "Which" religion the owners speak of, but I always get a kick out of pissing them off when the "Christians" start pouting about how it's their forum and how the other few Atheist and Neo-Pagans should find our own etc.

I guess the "Truth" really does hurt sometimes..

[Retorth]

Samson,

We've discussed that this legislation has good and bad consequences. You cannot really fully support nor fully despise it. Think about the good side of it being that children, through this rule, are encouraged to speak to their parents about it. Some get terrified but don't realize their parents love them and would only want to help. With such a rule, they have to talk to their parents and get the help they require.

This is, of course, the ideal situation which is not always the case. But my point is, why don't you try not to take such a dim view of it and see the possibility. Anyway, we also decided in the discussion above that it would actually be better to have a rule that requires compulsory counseling instead of compulsory parent involvement. That way if a child doesn't wish to tell her parents, she just has to speak to a counselor. This would certain be a lot better don't you think.

[Violet]

Why take the dim view? Because that would be realistic

[Retorth]

But its pessimistic...there is SOME good in it. However, the suggestion above would still be hell loads better then this current rule in question