4 ms·
I realize the author learned from the situation and I hope they're a better person now, but I would certainly consider their behavior abusive. It's fortunate t
by csixty4 8y ago
I realize the author learned from the situation and I hope they're a better person now, but I would certainly consider their behavior abusive.
It's fortunate the kid was just dealing with dry skin. Imagine if it was something like OCD where they were dealing with an irresistible compulsion and had no way to express what they were experiencing. Is spanking an acceptable response? How about one or both parents telling them to just stop? Rubbing spices all over their hands so an already terrible experience becomes worse?
Perhaps I'm too invested in this because I grew up with an undiagnosed neurological disorder and was punished similarly. The punishment and derision from my parents took a serious mental toll on me that I'm still unpacking.
- benj111 8y agoIsn't the line for abuse subjective? Doesn't it partially rely on the motivations of the 'abuser'? If you circumcise your male child for religious reasons, is that abuse? What about forcing them to eat their vegetables? Maybe we're just arguing semantics here? For me abuse is a strong word and something that social services should be getting involved with.
- DanBC 8y agoPhysical violence towards a child is always unambiguously abusive. The only exception is if that child is eg running at you with a knife seeking to harm you. In this country I would have made a referral about the school's poor response, and I know that would have been investigated. And I would have made a referral about the response of both parents and I know that would have been investigated.
- benj111 8y agoWhich part would you say is physical violence? One of my examples or the original post?