Thread: When is it ok to beat children into pulp and paste?

So, my friend comes to visit with her younger daughter and her wretched 14 year old.
I walk into the kitchen to find the teenager has taken my genuine scrimshaw razor off the work bench and is casually flicking it open/closed/open/closed

I calmly tell her "If you must play with one of my razors, can you please not play with that one?"
And she promptly drops it on the floor, snapping a chunk off the pivot end of the flawless scales.

and I quote... "whats the big deal, it was already broken, I didnt do it"

Isnt this kind of child prohibited by law? I really wanted to remove her arm, or a leg, and use the bone to carve out a new scale.
Can we PLEASE bring corporal punishment back now?

Well, as someone who researches the abuse of children, I would have to answer your question with "never".

But as a fellow lover of razors, I can well imagine the strong desire to do just that. Very sorry to hear about this.

Originally Posted by Magpie

So, my friend comes to visit with her younger daughter and her wretched 14 year old.
I walk into the kitchen to find the teenager has taken my genuine scrimshaw razor off the work bench and is casually flicking it open/closed/open/closed

I calmly tell her "If you must play with one of my razors, can you please not play with that one?"
And she promptly drops it on the floor, snapping a chunk off the pivot end of the flawless scales.

and I quote... "whats the big deal, it was already broken, I didnt do it"

Isnt this kind of child prohibited by law? I really wanted to remove her arm, or a leg, and use the bone to carve out a new scale.
Can we PLEASE bring corporal punishment back now?

Have you ever asked your friend how does she like the upbringing of her daughter? Looks like little respect for other people's personal belongings.

Seriously cant blame the mom here.

It's a bummer, probably at this point the best is to take a more philosophical viewpoint because there isn't much you can do. People do stupid things all the time and confused teenagers a bit more than their fair share.

If you can't impart to her with words how much she's hurt you, beating her wouldn't do much. But if she doesn't change that attitude the life ahead of her is not going to be very pleasant.

Few years ago I found the edge of my perfect turtle heljestrand mk32 chipped and that correlated with a friend visiting. Luckily the damage was minimal, probably 1/32", but since then none of my razors of that caliber is freely accessible whenever I have people over. In the early days I've done bad stuff myself too - the worst probably was knocking down from my desk a wonderful ivory Mappin&Webb also in perfect condition - the blade cracked in the middle.

14 huh? Well beating a child is never a good decision. Positive reinforcement is the best route, that is --if-- you are trying to modify behavior.

But if it is revenge you want, drop her phone in the toilet. When she asks why it was in there just tell her it was already broken...

Well, that is a terrible thing for sure and I can sympathise with your frustration. And I know you are not serious, but I would just point out that beating someone to a pulp rarely, if ever, does anything to make a situation better.

If you had any faith that the mother/parents would enforce it, you could do the old fashion thing and insist she "work it off" so to speak around your house or wherever - cleaning, yard work, something constructive. Might even be good for her. However, that kind of thing doesn't seem to be in fashion with parents nowadays for some reason.

At least learn from it and never again leave any razors out that you don't want ruined when visitors are around.

James.

Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

14 huh? Well beating a child is never a good decision. Positive reinforcement is the best route, that is --if-- you are trying to modify behavior.

But if it is revenge you want, drop her phone in the toilet. When she asks why it was in there just tell her it was already broken...

I love the phone option.

....though I can positively admit that I've modified a lot of behavior over the years, without saying a word during the reinforcement process.

Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

14 huh? Well beating a child is never a good decision. Positive reinforcement is the best route, that is --if-- you are trying to modify behavior.

But if it is revenge you want, drop her phone in the toilet. When she asks why it was in there just tell her it was already broken...

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!!!

I think I would talk to the Mom about it. Let her handle the 14 yr old. as tempting as trashing her phone is I doubt you would get any real satisfaction from it.
Thanks for posting, this is making me re-think my choice of display for my razors. I have mine in a large wooden framed box with sections in it hanging on the wall across from the bath, the whole thing is exposed.