Slapping Children. Acceptable or not?

[Anglo Celt]

Browsing around Youtube I came across a video interview with Mel Gibson from the time of the release of Lethal Weapon. Don't know what country it was from, but in it, he mentions something about giving his children a slap on the behind if they step out of line to snap them out of the behaviour or so they won't do it again. The interviewer was stunned that he'd mention slapping his children so flippantly and said it was illegal "here" (I don't know where "here" was, but some Euro country).

I'm sure the vast majority of us grew up getting a slap or two from time to time so I was wondering what do modern parents think of slapping? We had this discussion in our work canteen today and it was funny how it was the "British" (including or and the Irish, Kiwis and Auzzies) that all were fine with it but the Euros were 100% against it.

Sorry, I can't find the Youtube clip again despite vigorous searches for it.

[toughbutfair]

There was a thread about this a while back that went for ages. You can find that. I think "should slapping your children be illegal" or something like that was the heading.

[dizillusioned]

Whack the arse off em. None of this nambypamby naughty step crap,,, a good dose of the wooden spoon never did me any harm...

[seanad voter]

a good dose of the wooden spoon never did me any harm...

Nor me. Nothing wrong with a bit of violence.

Is mise, le meas,

P. O'Neill

[ellie08]

It's not acceptable but sh$t happens.

[statsman]

I wish I could double-like that post, seanad voter.

[seanad voter]

Is it cos I's black ?

[dizillusioned]

Did I mention that spanking fetish that I was left with permanently???

[Gimpanzee]

It's only the most obvious form of poor parenting. Unacceptable IMO, but so are a load of other things that parents do to their kids that never get attention.

[statsman]

Is it cos I's black ?

Don't let Irish Tom hear you saying that.