Quote:
Originally Posted by JustJulia
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Interesting claim. And since you bring up fallacy lets actually use a little logic.
The above claim actually has two parts that must be proven true in order to be "correct".
1. THAT THERE EXISTS A SUB-POPULATION OF CHILDREN THAT WILL RESPOND TO NO OTHER DISCIPLINE METHOD THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE HITTING THEM.
Ok lets look at that claim.
Something on the order of 70-80 of American parents spank. That is a very large sub population. So if that sub-population exists then they would not be able to function in an environment that provides only NON-corporal punishment based discipline. Places like school. So why are schools able to effectively discipline the vast majority of young children in elementary school?
Additionally, you would expect equally large numbers of these children who must be hit in order to be functional adults to be born into families who practice strong, consistent discipline without corporal punishment. Where are they?
Finally, where is the proof that this subpopulation even exists? I have supported my claim, that children can be successfully raised in a system of discipline that need not include hitting. Where is the proof that some kids have to be hit? Given the sheer numbers of people who are hitting their children, then there should be some sort of evidence for the existence of this sub-population.
2. AND THAT PARENTS WHO ARE HITTING THEIR CHILDREN ARE DETERMINING THAT NO OTHER METHOD OF DISCIPLINE WILL WORK FOR THAT CHILD.
This part is damn near bordering on the ridiculous but okay lets look at it anyway.
What characteristics show a parent that a child has to be hit in order to be properly disciplined?
The vast majority of parents who hit their children, will at some point hit all of their children. If this is truly a sub-population issue wouldn't it logically follow that parents are evaluating each child and finding that some don't need to be hit?
How come parents, who were not hit as children, grow up to not hit their own children? Why aren't an equal proportion of these parents also identifying their children as being unable to respond to any other discipline?
Additionally, the same vast majority of parents who hit their children are those people who were hit. The whole "it worked for me" thing. But that idea, put forth by many in this very thread, contradicts the idea that parents have evaluated their child, tried every other method, and determined that only hitting will work.
Sorry but the idea that some kids have to be hit is jsut not supported logically or by evidence.
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Perhaps you could consult Paine, as well? 
