Comment by kashunstva

> He responded by spanking me, hard. I understood, and never did it again.

About the only thing I learned from corporal punishment at the hands of my parents was that I’d never visit such violence on my children, each of whom today are successful in their diverse fields, law abiding, and in stable relationships, despite keeping my promise to never touch my children in anger. Whatever the causes of intellectual laziness, behavioural disturbances, or disinterest in fully engaging with the world, lack of physical violence directed at children would not appear on my own list of suggested causes. Instead I’d look at the world we adults have created and start fixing that. The opposite of coddling and overprotection isn’t corporal punishment. Likely that’s not your stance either; but when physical harm to children enters the conversation, I think we need to look elsewhere for solutions.