Parental discipline or abuse? Where's the line?

[ReginaGeorge]

You know when you were little you probably used either "I'll call child services on you", "you can't hit kids, that's child abuse" against your parents, or know someone who did, when your or their parents were doing something they didn't like.

And it got me thinking, I'm not just talking in terms of physical force, but verbal force to, how much it too much? What do you classify as good old fashion discipline and abuse? Where is the line?

I know two people, one in my family, who scream bloody murder over everything and claim abuse all the time, I also have a friend who was pelted with a belt and hit by her parents all through childhood (that even contributed to mental illness) but doesn't think that was abuse.

Don't just say something like 'repetitive hitting for no reason is abuse', we know that is, that is clearly defined, this argument is what you think is the most mild form of abuse you count as, well, abuse? Where does the line of abuse start?

[xmojox]

It reaches the point of being abuse when it is traumatic for the child, or withholds human necessities from the child. I don't mean only physically traumatic, because words can cause more harm than even broken bones. Anything that would be illegal to do to an adult should not be allowed to be done to a child.

[ProudConservative]

I believe that a quick swat on the butt is tolerable. There should also be punishment for wrongdoing, like no tv or video games for a week-month/s. There is also a line to punishment, like hitting with the force of a full-grown man. I think that making a child stand at a busy intersection with a sign saying what he did wrong is a really suitable punishment.

[Horatio Nelson]

I believe that a quick swat on the butt is tolerable. There should also be punishment for wrongdoing, like no tv or video games for a week-month/s. There is also a line to punishment, like hitting with the force of a full-grown man. I think that making a child stand at a busy intersection with a sign saying what he did wrong is a really suitable punishment.

You stole the words out of my mouth, I have been dealt all of the above disciplines, excepting the last one. lol

[Human]

Discipline should be things like being grounded and not being allowed to see your friends, or games etc. But full on smacking a child and making them fear you is not discipline, it's abuse.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

In frequency.
Once or twice is fine but hundreds is abuse.

[JoeHillsTSD]

I dealt with children protective services before, I know the draw the line between what kind of force is used. Closed fist = abuse, open hand = discipline. Belts = Discipline, Cords = Abuse (or anything excessive for that matter like shoes, heavy objects, etc).

Verbal abuse goes as well! Harsh name calling (calling your child a bitch, asshole, gag, derogatory terms alike) is considered abuse.

[Cicero]

Spanking should be used as a very last resort! Spanking should never be fueled by rage and anger, but actual discipline. Because when you spank with discipline you know how much to spank, how hard, etc.
I think that spanking should only be used with your hand, not an object.

By definition, my mom abuses me both emotionally and physically, but I don't care about the emotional part lol

[DarkWingedAngel]

I think this is a very touchy subject for all, but I will try in the best I can. Open hand= discipline (unless when slapping the face) belts= abuse. any sort of wooden, metal or plastic object is abuse. Fist= abuse. kicking/kneeing=abuse. name calling(ie; bitch, fag, worthless and so on) is abuse. rope=abuse. locking doors to keep children in a concealed room is abuse. and that's all I can think of. I just know that all this did make me fucked up and now I have mental problems because of it.

[workingatperfect]

My dad spanked my brother and I and we turned out just fine. He even used a paddle, not just his hand. But it was only when we did something really bad. I wouldn't count it as abuse, although I'd never use a paddle on my own kids. My mom has slapped me a few times in the last few years for my attitude/cussing towards her, and I find that fairly reasonable because 1) I told her to go fuck herself, and 2) I'm nearly an adult, I can handle it. I think if you wouldn't do it or mention doing it in front of friends or other parents, it's probably crossing the line.

[Sir Suomi]

It stops, like others have said, it becomes too traumatic and/or leaving marks(Bruises, cuts, etc.). But I definitely support punishing children by a quick wallop over the butt/head. It kept me in line, that's for damn sure. Too many kids these days(Even my own friends) have absolutely no regard for their elders. It sickens me.