I'm not saying that violence necessarily begets violence, but I believe in some cases it does (which could lead us into a nature vs. nurture argument). Also, as another person who was hit (and other things) as a kid, it didn't roll off my back as easily. I don't plan on hitting my kids. I don't see how physical punishment is helpful (or better yet healthy) in any way, especially if it's done in a way to humiliate or hurt someone. If it's such a great idea, why don't they continue it into adulthood? Except for self-defense, is there really a right reason to hit someone else? In my opinion, NO, there isn't. Call me a "softie" or whatever you'd like, I just do not agree with it. I'm also not going to sit here and claim I've never done it before (laid a hand on someone else ever), and even looking back at it, I realize it was mostly out of frustration or anger that could have been expressed otherwise and the remaining times would be trying to protect myself.

Also, please keep in mind that children under a certain age aren't capable of adequately expressing themselves verbally and that is part of why they may act up. If a kid isn't able to express themselves, is it possible that perhaps they wouldn't be capable of understanding what is totally going on when they got hit?

I wouldn't have yelled at the woman in the movies to go into the bathroom and spank her kid because:

a) it's not my place to do so;
b) I don't think it's the way to handle a child's behavior;
c) the kid was likely under a year old
d) me yelling in the middle of the movie would likely just caused even more of a disruption

What I would have done if it continued was to go out to the lobby or the hall and get an usher, explain the disruption and make it clear that I paid good money to be able to watch a film and that I would like something done about the noise, and if nothing was, I would have complained to the management. If doing what I think a rational adult would do, and that makes me soft, then just call me squishy.

I'll just agree to disagree with everyone else on this one.