Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was arrested for child abuse, and the collective assholes of approximately 250 million people in this country just clinched so tight they'll be shitting diamonds in the coming weeks. Why?
Adrian Peterson used a form of discipline that millions of parents, their parents, and their parents several generations before them used in disciplining their unruly children during their formative years; the switch.
It was used upon me and my siblings many a time over our lives as young unruly children, and it never killed us. In fact, I am fairly certain it was used on all of my cousins as well, with the same frequency, and for the same reasons; on both sides of my family.
I saw pictures purported to be of Peterson's sons legs post switching, and I am here to say that it was a light switching. (IF those are in fact pictures of the boys legs).
So why are there so many assholes clinching today you ask? Well, because every single one of those 250 million people have either had the switch used on them, or have used the switch themselves upon their children. That's why.
Imagine my realization that, had my own parents been alive today and raising me and my siblings, they'd be incarcerated for child abuse. In fact, me, my siblings, all of my cousins, and their own children, would now be wards of the various states we live in had this same application of "the law" been present when we were raised.
I dare say there are several generations of "child abusers" in every family in this nation by that standard. So WTF is up with this?
So many are yelling about parental responsibility surrounding the ramifications of unruly children these days, but now we want to take one of the most traditional of disciplinary tools and call it child abuse when it is used?
I can tell you that for each transgression I committed as a child, that resulted in the administration of the switch, or the belt, there were ZERO repeats of those actions for me and my siblings as children. In fact, the mere mention of a switching was very effective in instilling a better decision making process within me and my siblings growing up. If we even thought that something we were considering doing would result in a switching, we would not do it. What is wrong with this?
Yes, it is a serious form of corporal punishment, however serious corporal punishment is what is required when teaching a child the behaviors necessary to obtain proper decision making skills. Some situations are deadly if you make the wrong decision; crossing the street without an adult, running into the street, climbing high structures, etc., etc., etc.. . . Then there are things like spitting on people, hitting people, breaking things, stealing. . . The list is endless, and how are we supposed to teach a child that there are ramifications for doing the wrong things, and consequences when you do them despite being told not to?
Time outs, grounding, or removal of games? Those methods brought us the theatre killer and other social misfits that bomb schools, etc.! That shit doesn't work and I am betting the majority reading this know it.
I'm sorry as I am sure there will be some here who disagree with my position here, but I won't apologize for using a switch myself upon my children when they screwed up and disobeyed a direct order not to do something. Or broke a rule they absolutely knew about. They had to learn, and people are alive because of it I am sure.
What the media and state of Texas are doing to Peterson is itself wrong. He didn't put the kid in the hospital, he didn't punch or kick the kid; he used a switch, just as was used upon him growing up. Yes, it hurts like hell, and yes it draws blood at times, and raises welts. But when you experience it as a child there dis one thing for sure, whatever you did that caused you to be switched was NOT something you ever did again; or at least with any frequency.
And that is good parenting in my book.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. My grandfather would give me the option of picking out my own switch.
:biggrin:
My mom used the switch too.
Quote from: Bo D on September 15, 2014, 05:19:43 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with you. My grandfather would give me the option of picking out my own switch.
Yup! I remember mom telling me to go out and cut her a switch several times growing up. And don't come back with a twig either, because that results in some extra lashes if she then had to go out and cut her own switch. :spooked: :icon_twisted:
She stopped sending me out for them when I came back with oversized switches she was afraid to use though. . . :icon_twisted:
Heck, I remember the paddle in school too. That sucker had holes drilled through it for extra stinging! (They stopped using those too, and look what has happened in our schools!)
Quote from: Locutus on September 15, 2014, 05:28:23 PM
:biggrin:
My mom used the switch too.
See! Already we have three perfectly normal and productive human beings testifying to the effectiveness of the switch. :biggrin:
Quote from: Palehorse on September 15, 2014, 05:30:47 PM
See! Already we have three perfectly normal and productive human beings testifying to the effectiveness of the switch. :biggrin:
Makes me want to move to Texas just so I could possibly get onto his jury.
Seriously. If I'm on that jury, I take one look at the pictures and everything else becomes noise. The when deliberations roll around I vote "not guilty" and absolutely refuse to budge. (I bet I wouldn't be the only one).
(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/hlovett_2008/adrian-peterson-indicted-child-abuse-the-jasmine-brand_zpsf56e56de.jpg) (http://s475.photobucket.com/user/hlovett_2008/media/adrian-peterson-indicted-child-abuse-the-jasmine-brand_zpsf56e56de.jpg.html)
Here's the pictures I saw. I'm telling you most of my switchings were like this, and some worse. Didn't kill me, didn't send me to the hospital, but it DID teach me not to do that crap again!
Adrian Peterson has just released the following statement ... asking everyone to "understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child."
Peterson also says he has met with a psychologist and is learning there are other ways to discipline a child other than with a "switch."
The statement reads:
"My attorney has asked me not to discuss the facts of my pending case. I hope you can respect that request and help me honor it. I very much want the public to hear from me but I understand that it is not appropriate to talk about the facts in detail at this time. Nevertheless, I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child.
I never wanted to be a distraction to the Vikings organization, the Minnesota community or to my teammates. I never imagined being in a position where the world is judging my parenting skills or calling me a child abuser because of the discipline I administered to my son.
I voluntarily appeared before the grand jury several weeks ago to answer any and all questions they had. Before my grand jury appearance, I was interviewed by two different police agencies without an attorney. In each of these interviews I have said the same thing, and that is that I never ever intended to harm my son. I will say the same thing once I have my day in court.
I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen. I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.
I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives. I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.
I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that's what I tried to do that day.
I accept the fact that people feel very strongly about this issue and what they think about my conduct. Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person."
Quote from: Locutus on September 15, 2014, 05:47:13 PM
Adrian Peterson has just released the following statement ... asking everyone to "understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child."
Peterson also says he has met with a psychologist and is learning there are other ways to discipline a child other than with a "switch."
The statement reads:
"My attorney has asked me not to discuss the facts of my pending case. I hope you can respect that request and help me honor it. I very much want the public to hear from me but I understand that it is not appropriate to talk about the facts in detail at this time. Nevertheless, I want everyone to understand how sorry I feel about the hurt I have brought to my child.
I never wanted to be a distraction to the Vikings organization, the Minnesota community or to my teammates. I never imagined being in a position where the world is judging my parenting skills or calling me a child abuser because of the discipline I administered to my son.
I voluntarily appeared before the grand jury several weeks ago to answer any and all questions they had. Before my grand jury appearance, I was interviewed by two different police agencies without an attorney. In each of these interviews I have said the same thing, and that is that I never ever intended to harm my son. I will say the same thing once I have my day in court.
I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen. I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I also understand after meeting with a psychologist that there are other alternative ways of disciplining a child that may be more appropriate.
I have learned a lot and have had to reevaluate how I discipline my son going forward. But deep in my heart I have always believed I could have been one of those kids that was lost in the streets without the discipline instilled in me by my parents and other relatives. I have always believed that the way my parents disciplined me has a great deal to do with the success I have enjoyed as a man. I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make.
I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser. I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury. No one can understand the hurt that I feel for my son and for the harm I caused him. My goal is always to teach my son right from wrong and that's what I tried to do that day.
I accept the fact that people feel very strongly about this issue and what they think about my conduct. Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person."
I feel so much better knowing that Peterson grew up receiving the same kind of discipline I did when growing up. . . However, I wonder why I never became a multimillion dollar athlete? :biggrin:
The one and only rule I imposed upon myself and my spouse, when it came to administering corporal punishment was; NEVER punish when angry. EVER.
I would wait until my emotions were under 100% control before breaking out the belt, switch, paddle, or laying my hand to my child. And I do the same with my grandchildren. (Of course, sending them home is the preferred option).
Quote from: Palehorse on September 15, 2014, 06:26:22 PM
I feel so much better knowing that Peterson grew up receiving the same kind of discipline I did when growing up. . . However, I wonder why I never became a multimillion dollar athlete? :biggrin:
:rotfl: :yes:
What this guy did borders on abuse. To spank a 4 year old child on his scrotum is just sick and abusive. Do I believe that you can spank a child and it not be abuse, yes, I do but never have my husband or I spanked our children when upset or angry.
By the way, I was switched also and I think I turned out okay.
I never had a switch used on me but I remember my dad getting his belt out once or twice. My husband used a belt on our son a few times and I swatted our daughters behind with a hair brush once. Usually if we used corporal punishment it was a hand to the posterior. I don't think I was traumatized by it or my children either. I slapped my kids hands when they were little, too, when they were getting into something they shouldn't, like turning the stove knobs. I don't know about this case, it seems to be a matter of degree, how many times did he hit him. A four year old, one or two swats should be enough, IMO.
Quote from: Anne on September 15, 2014, 10:24:29 PM
A four year old, one or two swats should be enough, IMO.
I agree with this statement too, and I think the pictures reveal that there were more than one or two strikes.
I agree with Anne. To do something like that to a 4 yr old is just unreal. Swat them on the rear a couple of times or something but to leave marks like that is just totally ridiculous. I had a razor strap used on me, until I hid it no one ever found it, then it was a belt but I never had marks left on me by either one. I used my bare hand or my flimsy house slipper on my kids and never left marks on them.
I totally agree with Anne. I use my hand or a shoe but nothing beyond that and I have found taking things away from my kids hurts them a lot worse!
I have no problem with a parent using a switch or a paddle or even just a firm hand on the ass...most of us learned a great deal about life and respect for authority with this form of teaching. My only problem with this is the fact it was ONLY A FOUR YEAR OLD! If those pictures are indeed the results for a FOUR YEAR OLD.....then, in my opinion, he crossed the line, in my book.....but, I think everybody has probably come close to crossing the line in some form or fashion, without harmful intentions. I hate to see a persons career thrown in the toilet, if this was indeed just a case of going a little too far with honest regret.
I think like PH that as a parent you have to wait until you calm down before you inflict a punishment on a child. If not, I think THIS is what happens.
Quote from: Palehorse on September 15, 2014, 05:30:47 PM
See! Already we have three perfectly normal and productive human beings testifying to the effectiveness of the switch. :biggrin:
Maybe 'normal' is going a bit too far.
Quote from: Bo D on September 16, 2014, 08:42:55 AM
Maybe 'normal' is going a bit too far.
I wasn't going to say anything, BUT.....
Quote from: Bo D on September 15, 2014, 05:19:43 PM
I wholeheartedly agree with you. My grandfather would give me the option of picking out my own switch.
Your grandfather was a wise man. My old friend Charlie, a lawyer, told me once that his father did basically the same with him, and once, when he did something he knew was bad, his father asked him what he thought his punishment should be, and he told his dad he should get a switching. So his dad told him to choose the switch. He said he was so ashamed of what he'd done that he chose a big one.
When I first heard that a "switch" was used on the boy, I thought, "me, too." But on a 4-year-old? No. And never while angry.
My father, who was of German descent, grew up being switched. He was very protective and strict with my four sisters and me; kept us in line with threats of, or actual switching. I only remember one specific whipping (but not why), and that is because of what happened afterwards: I was taking a shower after gym class when one girl said, in a shocked voice: "Libby! What happened to you?" What happened was that daddy had whipped me and apparently left "stripes" down my back and buttocks and the backs of my legs. I was so humiliated I wanted to die; instead, I said I got caught in some briars. I told my mother about it, and she, usually a very quiet person, said some very specific things to my father. I really hated him for a while after that, but in his defense, he changed. Stopped drinking and got religion. And died young: age 48, of lung cancer. He would've been very proud of his girls.
Libby, my late father-in-law was the same way according to my husband when he was growing up. He said one time his father used a belt or switch on him so hard that he had marks on his legs. He said his father regretted doing that.
Wow. . . you guys have led some sheltered lives, and I bet you likely had to deal with some hellions along the way. Either that or you are in denial. . .
Quote from: Palehorse on September 16, 2014, 07:39:40 PM
Wow. . . you guys have led some sheltered lives, and I bet you likely had to deal with some hellions along the way. Either that or you are in denial. . .
Nope, I got spanked with a switch, a razor belt, a regular belt or a horse whip depending on what my grand-father or mom could grab!!
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 16, 2014, 08:42:53 PM
Nope, I got spanked with a switch, a razor belt, a regular belt or a horse whip depending on what my grand-father or mom could grab!!
I don't thinik he should lose his job, how is he going to take care of his boys if he is broke. :yes:
Quote from: The Troll on September 21, 2014, 03:02:09 PM
I don't thinik he should lose his job, how is he going to take care of his boys if he is broke. :yes:
He should have thought about that before he tried to inflict the discipline that he was attempting to use on a 4 year old child. I meant lets get real, no child deserves that, I don't care what they have done to piss a parent off, that was just cruel and abusive.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 21, 2014, 05:37:20 PM
He should have thought about that before he tried to inflict the discipline that he was attempting to use on a 4 year old child. I meant lets get real, no child deserves that, I don't care what they have done to piss a parent off, that was just cruel and abusive.
Again, I disagree and if this is indeed found to be a "legally actionable" case, then there are 10's of millions of parents that should be in jail; and even more children that should be wards of the respective states within which they live.
In fact, I'd say they should all be sent to the conservative states; since they're already on the government tit and these millions of kids can get some benefits there.
Quote from: Palehorse on September 21, 2014, 05:59:31 PM
Again, I disagree and if this is indeed found to be a "legally actionable" case, then there are 10's of millions of parents that should be in jail; and even more children that should be wards of the respective states within which they live.
In fact, I'd say they should all be sent to the conservative states; since they're already on the government tit and these millions of kids can get some benefits there.
I understand PH but I just feel that his form of discipline was extreme and to hit a 4 yr. old in a scrotum, what point was he making with that? I am sorry but that was not necessary on that part. I do agree that there are tons of kids who need to be taken away from their abusive parents but you have a court system to blame for that and social workers who often don't want to do the job.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 21, 2014, 05:37:20 PM
He should have thought about that before he tried to inflict the discipline that he was attempting to use on a 4 year old child. I meant lets get real, no child deserves that, I don't care what they have done to piss a parent off, that was just cruel and abusive.
I don't know how you were raised and I don't care. If we had the bleeding hearts back when I was a child my mother and all the kids I knew mothers would have been put in jail. For she carried a big stick. But I know she love us and that was the only way she knew how to raise kids. For she was treated in worse ways than us.
You bleeding hearts think that when as person makes a mistake that person should lose everything especially his or her livelyhood. I can't believe that you are a perfect mother in every way. Give us a break. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 21, 2014, 06:53:05 PM
I understand PH but I just feel that his form of discipline was extreme and to hit a 4 yr. old in a scrotum, what point was he making with that? I am sorry but that was not necessary on that part. I do agree that there are tons of kids who need to be taken away from their abusive parents but you have a court system to blame for that and social workers who often don't want to do the job.
You entitled to your opinions, but I don't want to hear you stating parents need to discipline their children to keep them from becoming social misfits.
Time outs, grounding, and privilege removal does absolutely nothing to correct acts of misbehavior deserving of corporal punishment. Nothing. . .
And in ten years after this case is decided, when there are millions of children that are wards of the states, and their parents incarcerated, and funding to care for them is bleeding the revenue stream of these states dry, what will you say then?
The fact is, I am not alone in feeling that Peterson was within his parental rights to discipline his child. I've been switched a lot worse than that child was, and I never repeated the behaviors that led to those acts of punishment. And yes, I was right around the same age as his child was when I began receiving those punishments.
Quote from: Palehorse on September 21, 2014, 08:05:46 PM
You entitled to your opinions, but I don't want to hear you stating parents need to discipline their children to keep them from becoming social misfits.
Time outs, grounding, and privilege removal does absolutely nothing to correct acts of misbehavior deserving of corporal punishment. Nothing. . .
And in ten years after this case is decided, when there are millions of children that are wards of the states, and their parents incarcerated, and funding to care for them is bleeding the revenue stream of these states dry, what will you say then?
The fact is, I am not alone in feeling that Peterson was within his parental rights to discipline his child. I've been switched a lot worse than that child was, and I never repeated the behaviors that led to those acts of punishment. And yes, I was right around the same age as his child was when I began receiving those punishments.
I agree that discipline should be done. I just don't agree with him hitting his child on a scrotum. I got my share of spankings and I give my share of spankings to my children but I don't spank them when I am angry or mad. I don't do the time out's or the groundings or taking away things because I know they don't work. PH, I would hope that your parents never hit you in your scrotum out of anger and mad at you.
Quote from: The Troll on September 21, 2014, 07:00:51 PM
I don't know how you were raised and I don't care. If we had the bleeding hearts back when I was a child my mother and all the kids I knew mothers would have been put in jail. For she carried a big stick. But I know she love us and that was the only way she knew how to raise kids. For she was treated in worse ways than us.
You bleeding hearts think that when as person makes a mistake that person should lose everything especially his or her livelyhood. I can't believe that you are a perfect mother in every way. Give us a break. :rolleyes:
I never said I was a perfect mother but I am betting your mother never hit you in the scrotum when she was disciplining you. I do spank my kids but not when I am mad or in anger at them. By the way, considering that he should have made millions, he should have had plenty of money saved up and if he didn't that is his own fault.
By the way, instead of us arguing over the way he chose to discipline his child. Maybe we should talk about the fact that he has had (7) children by so many different women. One child died in 2013 by a boyfriend that he was not aware of the existence of the child until it was in the hospital and on life support. Now some of that is the woman's fault but you wonder how much support he even pays to those kids that he claims but is not a factor in their life at all.
Quote from: Purplelady1040 on September 21, 2014, 08:10:57 PM
I never said I was a perfect mother but I am betting your mother never hit you in the scrotum when she was disciplining you.
I was just lucky she didn't, when she was using anything she had in her hand it was just plain luck she didn't. :biggrin: :yes:
Quote from: The Troll on September 22, 2014, 06:24:24 AM
I was just lucky she didn't, when she was using anything she had in her hand it was just plain luck she didn't. :biggrin: :yes:
Like I said, I have spanked my kids but never when mad, upset or angry at them and never have I hit our kids in the private parts. That was inflicting pain due to him being angry and mad and was not necessary. Discipline is necessary but not to that extent.