In all seriousness, the simple fact is is that we live in a world today where corporal punishment just doesn't fly, whether or not you are for or against it. This is just the way it is. That being said, I also would agree that the demise of corporal punishment as a viable way to punish children doesn't mean that we should swing to the other side of the spectrum and let the kiddies run amok without stricture and discipline. There has to be a meeting point somewhere between beating the kids and foregoing all strong discipline for the sake of political correctness. You could make the argument, for example, that "Girls Gone Wild" would not be so popular if we ingrained in our children a certain self-respect and esteem that is based in respect for others and the natural fact that you must negotiate restriction and limitation in order to grow and thrive in any culture and society. How we do that exactly, of course, is the big question, and I don't have the complete answer, but it certainly requires parents to be much more active in their kids' lives, as opposed to dumping them in front of the TV or, the big one, being afraid to constantly communicate in a more open and honest manner what is expected, what is acceptable, what is not, and what the consequences will be for certain actions. Perhaps this is easy for me to say since I don't have the responsibility of a child and I understand that. But there is a middle ground here somewhere, it seems to me....