Star-Telegram's Mac Engel Says Adrian Peterson Just Got a Little Carried Away

Guesty

Stephen,

This is more difficult that you give it credit. Peterson definitely crossed a line, but defining that line and how far it was crossed is far more difficult.

To begin, in the 80s, I grew up under circumstances you definitely would describe as abusive, not really much different from what is reported about Peterson. I know the harm that can come from that type of treatment, and agree fully that it does have negative consequences on the child for years to come. I would never hit my child with a switch/stick/etc.

But the question is whether that makes everyone who does a child abuser. I don't think you can go that far, because society hasn't reached a consensus on that yet. The law and society at large have always allowed parents great latitude in how they discipline their children. I think you can name someone a child abuser only for making choices society has collectively decided is out of bounds. And the various opinions on this make it clear that society is still wrestling with this issue. Many people still believe that if you "spare the rod, spoil the child."

My personal view is that Peterson is not much different from many of the people who I grew up with in a rural part of the country. He is doing what he was raised to believe was the best for his children. It is an ignorant view, and a harmful view, but I do not think he acted with malice. And so the question is whether doing something that is harmful to your child is "child abuse" even if you mistakenly believe it to be beneficial, were raised to believe it was beneficial, and which a large percentage of society still believes is beneficial?

But he did indeed go too far by any objective understanding, probably because he is so overexposed to violence and pain that he has developed an unhealthy tolerance for it. He crossed a line that even most supporters of corporal punishment would recognize. I just don't know that it is clear how far past that line he went because the line itself is more fuzzy that you would like it to be.

John1073

Do you get to pick out your own switch when you're 4 years old?

scottindallas topcommenter

Steven, how many kids you have? I have three. I spank them occasionally. My oldest, about 10 times, my second, twice, and my youngest, my daughter, 3 or 4 times. I don't care what the APA says, they can't even develop a good citation format, nor are they honest about the "science" behind many of their positions. Anyway, you shouldn't judge whether a parent should or shouldn't spank a child, it's not your position. A parent shouldn't dominate, harass and intimidate a child. But, spankings fall far short of that. And, I suspect you have never raised any boys, or they were timid pussies such as yourself

bvckvs topcommenter

This isn't about just one player or even just about some players. It's about the culture of violence throughout the (mostly Republican) stadium sports community.

whocareswhatithink

Are people not exhausted being the moral police for every relationship that makes the news?

ColonelAngus

"Star-Telegram's Mac Engel Says Adrian Peterson Just Got a Little Carried Away"

Just admit it Mac. You're a huge fan of AP.

Mycar2976

There is never an excuse for a 217 pound man beating a four year old. Period. End of discussion. If anyone should know that it is someone who has been the victim of that type of abuse before. The fact that a newspaper columnist would try to justify this is beyond disgusting. Peterson should be jail right now. I only hope his son turns out better than he does.

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

Yet at public schools, you have to opt out of corporal punishment, where the principal can administer whuppins with a wooden paddle that leave welt marks and possible breaking skin. Uh huh, that why my parents always opted out of that. The thought being, if I did something to warrant being beaten by the principal, my parents would rather handle it. Just because it used to be ok, doesnt mean it is today

J_A_

There's a fine line between discipline and child abuse

TheRuddSki topcommenter

Whupping on kids is a southern black tradition, so stfu whitey.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

Disgusting. He should be hired by the Petrolia CISD, this rotten bully.

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

@scottindallas When you're old and feeble those kids just might turn the tables on you.

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

@scottindallas do children learn from spanking, or only try to hide the bad behavior even more? Or do they mimic the spanking behavior of the parent and then think its ok to hit someone to solve a dispute

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

@bvckvs Our great leader, big O, is a huge sports fan, and if I remember correctly, he is a Democrat

ScottsMerkin topcommenter

@bvckvs That's quite a tantrum, dumbass

durkamcdurk

@bvckvs Let's just rope in the GOP while we're at it.

This is not a political problem..

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@bvckvs Nice tantrum. got any legitimate stats that show the stadium sports community is mostly republican, or is that just more of your fevered fantasies?

fred.garvin.mp.713

Not tired of being the actual police that prosecute a real crime like child abuse.

bvckvs topcommenter

@whocareswhatithink

In the conservative community, yes - definitely. But when decent, rational people hear about a child getting beaten and bloodied by his own father, they don't just sit there complaining about the noise.

RTGolden1 topcommenter

@ScottsMerkin my parents were going to handle it whether the principal whupped me or not. The perks of small town life! Getting in trouble at school just meant two beat downs, one at school and one at home.

JustSaying

@ScottsMerkin When I was a kid, I would have happily taken an ass whoopin over getting grounded. The whoopin would be over in minutes. Getting grounded could last anywhere from days to weeks. Not being able to leave your front yard when all the neighborhood guys are across the street playing football was a hell of a lot more painful than anything I ever got from a belt.