So this may get rambly and be unfocused, but here goes.

Following up on my no spanking children philosophy: it goes much deeper than not hitting children.  It’s about respecting individuals, no matter their age.

The whole philosophy behind striking a child is based on the notion that people are supposed to act a certain way.  And I just can’t abide that, even if the person in question is an inexperienced person learning how to be in the world.

Striking a child really comes down to control: you as an adult believe you should have it over someone, even if that person is little, inexperienced, and incapable.

So what’s the point of teaching at all, then?  Just be thoroughly horrible, come up with an arbitrary set of rules, then beat all the curiosity, inquisitiveness, and joy out of kids so you can feel powerful at someone else’s expense.

If you can’t abide crying, separate yourself in another room for awhile so you don’t have to hear it, then come back when you’re ready to deal.

Why can’t kids cry?  There’s a lot we should cry about.  At least kids are honest about that, until they learn not to be (which is one of the most fucked up things we do to them, by the way).

“Be seen and not heard” is really saying “your existence is not acceptable to me unless it meets a certain set of conditions.”  As long as those conditions are only about behavior [(1) you respect others, (2) you let people know when something isn’t working for you, and (3) you’re honest], then fine.  Anything outside of that is someone getting off on being a control freak.

I may come back to this, but that’s all I have for now.