Instigator / Pro
0
1711
rating
33
debates
84.85%
won
Topic
#2008

Parents in America Should Generally Spank their Children Less than they do now

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
0
Better sources
0
0
Better legibility
0
0
Better conduct
0
0

After not so many votes...

It's a tie!
Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Two weeks
Max argument characters
4,000
Voting period
One month
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
0
1500
rating
1
debates
50.0%
won
Description

This is a debate on spanking, I will be arguing that parents should generally spank their children less than they do now. My opponent will argue that parents should generally spank their children more than they do now, or keep the amount of spanking the same. The BoP will be shared for this debate to keep things as simple as possible. Also, this is not a debate about legality, but if spanking is a good way to punish children. Keep in mind we will be talking generally, so just because 1 person benefited from being spanked or not being spanked doesn’t prove either of us correct.

Here are the definitions, they must be agreed on to keep things simple.

Spank-”slap with one's open hand or a flat object, especially on the buttocks as a punishment.”
Generally-”in general terms; without regard to particulars or exceptions.”

RULES.
-No "kritiks" of the topic (challenging assumptions in the resolution)
-Source your claims(I don't mind how, comments, the text of the debate, I just need a link to use).
-No religious arguments, I don't hate any religion, but it isn't the discussion I'm looking for.

This next bit will just be a recommendation because this is ultimately unenforceable, but please try not to play weird semantical games, I want an honest debate.

Two days remain for any voting.

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@fauxlaw

Ok, thanks!

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@Dreadnought

Thanks for the compliment. It actually belongs to Blamonkey, who suggested I develop a format for easier following of my arguments, because I can go down rabbit holes in my arguments. I developed this format on the suggestion. You will find that as you proceed through rounds, it's easer to refer to "round 1, argument II.a" rather than quoting that paragraph, taking character space you may otherwise need.

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@Barney
@User_2006

Thank you both! And by the way, my formatting is based on fauxlaw's.

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@fauxlaw

**************************************************
>Reported Vote: fauxlaw // Mod action: Removed
>Points Awarded: 0:5; 5 points to Con.
>Reason for Decision:
[See Comments]
>Reason for Mod Action: This vote seems to do more debating than judging. The voter has attempted to refute PRO's arguments using arguments that were not presented in-round. Outside content may be commented on, so long as it does not cross into being a determinant factor on the vote. Should the voter weigh things outside of what the debaters themselves presented inside the debate rounds, the vote is eligible for deletion (identified plagiarism is a notable exception).

If the voter wishes to resubmit this vote, they must remove outside content and judge solely based on the arguments presented.

Dreadnought is impressive at his age.

Got to say, even at a glance the formatting of this debate shines.

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@Trent0405

Yes, I know. Sorry, I got a one-week COPPA ban.

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@Dreadnought

Just a reminder, less than 2 days to post.

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@Dreadnought

Happy birthday, and welcome back!

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@Trent0405

I feel awful the occasional time that happens. I've delayed bans, and even decreased their length to avoid that.

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@Barney

That's good. Thanks for sorting this out without a forfeit being forced.

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@Trent0405

You opponent should be back in a few days, with about a week to submit his final round.

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@Barney

It’s next month. And by the way, my parents do allow me to use this site.

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@Dreadnought

How soon is your birthday? As you probably know, 13 is the minimum age to use this kind of site without parental consent.

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@Trent0405

Upon re-reading my argument, there seems to be an implication that spanking is ineffective in heading III. Let me just clarify that:
What I meant to get across was that the dominant problem here is that the parenting quality is deteriorating rapidly, and that bad parenting was the issue, not disciplinary ineffectiveness. So now, what I meant to suggest was that because of this bad parenting, parents are looking, incorrectly, at spanking as the only way to discipline their children. However, what I’m trying to say is that there are other less painful ways to punish children, and which gives them an incentive, as well as parents freedom of choice in disciplining their children. However, this doesn’t mean reducing the severity of each, because that will make them increasingly ineffective, and depriving the children of an incentive. My main point was that parents should leave the amount of spanking as it is, but not use it very violently and regularly, as most parents are now not doing.

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@Barney

No, that was not a rhetorical device. I’m really twelve.

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@Dreadnought

"I should probably tell you that I’m 12 years of age,"

Was that serious, or a just rhetorical device?

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@Trent0405

Ok.

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@VonKlempter

That's fair, I'll alter that.

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@Trent0405

"My opponent will argue that parents should generally spank their children more than they do now." But arguing against less spanking does not equate to arguing for more spanking. The Contender should be able to argue for keeping the amount of spanking constant.

wait nvm i thought i was arguing for the other side lol

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@Trent0405

I might take this.

a Bump for any competitors.

Not sure if this is what you are going for, but it seems the topic of this debate is about the frequency of spanking and not the effectiveness of it. If you are saying it should be done less, you are still saying it should be done. This would be conceding that it is an effective parenting tool. I think it would be hard to measure how effective the overall amount of spanking in general is since each child is different. Some children need more discipline while some need more compassion.

Well, there are scriptures about why we should. But you dont want a religious view in debate.

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@zedvictor4

The "generally" means that lessening spanking nationally will generally yield better results than escalating spanking nationally. The word generally was put their to stop weird critiques, like using anecdotes to prove spanking can work in weird situations to prove me wrong.

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@Trent0405

LOL.

What is a general spank?

And how is it possible to generally spank more or less.

Presumably a general spanking is a good old general spanking.

I would suggest that the use of the word "generally" is somewhat counter-productive to the proposition.

interesting topic, depends on the age mostly

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@User_2006

I'll leave that joke up to interpretation LOL

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@MisterChris

"Spanking is great, I do it all the time! Oh... wait..."

Are you referring to teasing in a relationship or are you referring to abuse? Because the former is OK and the latter is bad.

Spanking is great, I do it all the time! Oh... wait...

I agree with Pro. Kinda expecting something from Con. Wonder why they think spanking is good.

So the parents who spank should increase the frequency or the number of parents who spank should increase?

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@Trent0405

Oof.

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@PressF4Respect

67% admit to spanking their children.
https://theharrispoll.com/the-harris-poll-makes-headlines-with-its-august-2013-poll-about-spanking-results-of-this-study-are-featured-in-nbc-news-time-and-more/

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@Trent0405

How much do parents in America spank their children now?