A Usenet persona calling itself BCITORGB wrote:

Scott thinks:
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teaching a child that authority has teeth, and that defiance
may have painful consequences is absolutely necessary if the child is
to grow up into a responsible adult.
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Why am I thinking of Stanley Milgram right now?

Could it be.... teaching people the importance of obeying authority....
naaahhh!

Funny thing is, my children are very well-mannered and well-behaved
(almost to a fault) but I've always asked them to question authority
(not necessarily verbally, but at least intellectually). In fact, I
*never* want them to "accept" authority without question!

Lucky you. Not everybody is so lucky. However, I'd wager that even you have
given your children a swat from time to time, not to mention the odd verbal
dressing-down or other punishment.

You see, young children aren't particularly logical creatures. They tend to
react on a very visceral basis to their needs, wants and desires, and become
upset when they do not receive instant gratification. Sometimes they become
very upset, to the point of hysteria. Other times, they become deliberately
disobedient IN ORDER to test your limits as a parent and to determine just
what they can get away with without suffering unpleasant consequences.

And they tend to do this starting at an age where "reasoning" with them can
be only marginally to entirely ineffective.

If you fail to teach them when they are young that obedience is not a matter
of personal choice or preference, they will be a detriment to society when
they grow up.

--
Regards,
Scott Weiser

"I love the Internet, I no longer have to depend on
friends, family and co-workers, I can annoy people WORLDWIDE!" TM

© 2005 Scott Weiser