the slap

nbc has a new show that sounds really interesting, tho i've not watched it. after watching the trailer, what do you think? should he have slapped the kid? did he deserve it?

i'm going to answer in a really round about way, in the way that i usually do:

1. in general, i'm okay with corporal punishment. but to a point. i don't think slapping someone in face is acceptable. a swat on the bottom is generally cool. hitting someone in the face is really crossing the line. you're not just disciplining someone, you're insulting them too. that's how i see it, anyhow.

2. can you hit someone else's kid? this is a really though question. i really don't think you should. even if their parent is being negligent, i don't think you have the right to touch their kid like that. the commercial is interesting tho. this kid is being dangerous. he's swinging around a baseball bat! then he kicks the adult! but, if you'll notice, the adult holding the kid's arms down by his side. i mean, i would feel threatened if someone tried restraining me that way. i might kick them too. in a way, the man provoked the kick. adults are supposed to remain level headed and kids... well, they don't have to.

3. so, specifically, should he have slapped the kid? no. did he deserve it? no. the kid had something coming towards him, but it wasn't a slap across the face. he should've been swatted on the butt. and i think that in this case, it would've been okay for a non-parent to do it because the kid was behaving dangerously towards everyone in his vicinity.