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Maybe We Need to Smack Judges

There I was having a quiet pre-dinner glass of champers when all of a sudden I felt the need for something stronger.

There, in front of my eyes, came the ludicrous suggestion on a TV news show that parents should be banned from smacking their kids.

It should be made illegal and parents who smack their kids should be prosecuted.

And who was the extremely clever, but utterly misguided, wretch coming out with such an idea? A social worker? No. A teacher? No. Some loony intent on social engineering? No.

It was a judge, of all things.

Now according to those in the know - you know one of that vocal minority of self-important do-gooders who seem to think they know how to handle kids better than their parents - smacking is assault.

Yup, try to discipline your child with a whack on the bum and you'll be up on charges.

Well, Judge Do-Gooder, let's be subtle. Stick it up your clacker you wally. Society today is in such an appalling state because children no longer have any idea of where the boundaries lie.

"Please stop strangling your sister Johnny or else we'll have to tell you off."

Or: "Johnny, please don't set fire to the couch or you'll be in our bad books."

Or: "Johnny, no TV for a week if you do that again. I'll turn it off. No, don't turn it on again. Okay Johnny, that's two weeks ... three weeks ...."

You get the picture don't you.

Kids need to realise that there is a certain line that will not be crossed and if they push their parents over it - and Lord don't they try - they'll get a smack. We are not talking about beating the little ones to death (although sometimes ....) just a good hard slap on the backside.

They need boundaries to make sense of our world and be semi-law abiding citizens when they grow up. If children don't learn the rules while young, then society will find itself facing a generation of undisciplined little oiks who will create mayhem.

Aha, maybe that's what Judge Do-Gooder wants, it means more little scumbags appearing in his court and guaranteed employment for himself.

If there is something that has really got up your nose, let Grumpy Old Coot know at grumpy@webwombat.com