In which I am late to the party

[mattmatt]

The thing I hate about school holidays is that suddenly there are children everywhere. How can they possibly have finished learning everything? And how come Playstation is only fun when they have homework to do, and the rest of the time their preferred pastime is "going to town to scuff my jeans up"?

Anyway, today, many of the children (and I use

Comments

Not hiding from the inquisitors...

[saffrongraphics]

I've noticed that the major opponents to the bill seem to either be religious or have an ideology that stems from religious thought: power = keeping people firmly fixed within a hierarchy via their fear; might is right; don't question traditions, especially if people believe they come from a more harmonious and wise past.

If people think it's their "God-given right" to do something, they will fight for that despite the obvious logical arguments which indicate the opposite is far wiser. Do not question that which has been divinely handed down to us? Bleh. Bollocks to that one. All that's been handed down to us from the past is a social ideology which centres around control and fear.

[mattmatt]

I think you're right in the overwhelming majority of cases, although I have heard from people who will steadfastly deny any religious motivations. Again, lovely people, but I think they are coming from the other end of the political spectrum: like "obviously I want to do what's best for my kids, but the government should let me decide what that is."

The "don't tell me how to raise my kids" instinct runs pretty deep.

[saffrongraphics]

I'm very much against the nanny state, but this is one change that doesn't really bring forth images of white padded cells and stern-faced guards saying "It's for your own safety that we're removing your freedom." The freedom to hit children vs the freedom from being hit. Lose one freedom, gain another

Prodigy

[mpj17]

I went past the same anti-smacking stand.
My thought was to set up a competing stand:
something whose offensiveness would reflect
on the anti-smacking party.
My mind tried to think of something that
kphoebe would hate, something
like
Sign our petition for using reasonable
force if your woman gets lippy.

[mattmatt]

Well, yes, I'll own that that was poorly worded on my part.

Just so you know, "playing devil's advocate" is my all-time most hated phrase.

[edgar]

I just avoided them as I am a surly argumentative bitch at the moment but couldn't be arsed arguing with people who had no interest in hearing out my point of view.

And I miss being able to smoke inside, but only for very selfish reasons ;) It all seems to have turned out for the best anyway. A similar law is about to be enacted in England, and it's interesting comparing the arguments there to those that did the rounds here. I was also interested to see that Scotland (I think? I am easily confused) allows smoking on stage during performances if it is for sound artistic reasons - that was probably my biggest issue with the law change here, not even herbal / fake cigarettes allowed.

[ajkiwi]

I concur with you.

Strongly.

This is the only political argument that has been held in my office this year, and I was aghast - yes, fucking AGHAST - that any reasonable person could argue that physical force is acceptable against children.