9 ms·

> Ancient people almost universally suffered from severe childhood trauma and abuse. I certainly think it was exactly opposite. In todays world we don't even k

> Ancient people almost universally suffered from severe childhood trauma and abuse. I certainly think it was exactly opposite. In todays world we don't even know our neighbors names, not to mention what's happening in their children's bedrooms. And if anyone gets in trouble, its after long court battles with Child Protection Services, etc. I have a hard time believing that back in the ancient times of tribes, clans and communities gathering together forming micro-societies, I doubt you would go on for too long without punishment of some sort, had other tribe members knew you are abusing your child(ren).

rukittenme 9y ago
The problem with your reasoning is that "abuse" was either defined very loosely or not at all. It wouldn't have been uncommon to beat your children. It wouldn't have been uncommon to rape children. What happens when everyone in your society thinks rape and wife beating and alcoholism is just a normal evening?
- joering2 9y ago
  Can you give example of any ancient culture or tribe that we know such behavior was normal, obvious, or greatly tolerated?
  - rukittenme 9y ago
    The Greeks and Makedonians were renowned for their membership in NAMBLA. Women in the Middle East are "honor killed" after they are raped. The god of the Israelites explicitly permits the Israelites to kill their own children if they are disobedient.
notfromhere 9y ago
i doubt there was a stigma against abusing your kids. plenty of people still think beating your kids is fine.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  There were probably always stigmas against abusing your kids, but cultural standards of "abuse" varied. That still is, in fact, the case: there's considerable conflict in today's society -- not just globally but even within, say, the US -- over what constitutes child abuse, where what one subculture calls "abuse" another will say is not only not abuse, but that its absence is "abuse".

rukittenme 9y ago

The problem with your reasoning is that "abuse" was either defined very loosely or not at all. It wouldn't have been uncommon to beat your children. It wouldn't have been uncommon to rape children. What happens when everyone in your society thinks rape and wife beating and alcoholism is just a normal evening?

joering2 9y ago
Can you give example of any ancient culture or tribe that we know such behavior was normal, obvious, or greatly tolerated?
- rukittenme 9y ago
  The Greeks and Makedonians were renowned for their membership in NAMBLA. Women in the Middle East are "honor killed" after they are raped. The god of the Israelites explicitly permits the Israelites to kill their own children if they are disobedient.

notfromhere 9y ago

i doubt there was a stigma against abusing your kids. plenty of people still think beating your kids is fine.

dragonwriter 9y ago
There were probably always stigmas against abusing your kids, but cultural standards of "abuse" varied. That still is, in fact, the case: there's considerable conflict in today's society -- not just globally but even within, say, the US -- over what constitutes child abuse, where what one subculture calls "abuse" another will say is not only not abuse, but that its absence is "abuse".