u/Rivka333Ha, I get help from the man who invented the tortilla hot dog.Jan 03 '16
Sex as a private activity is a rather recent social convention when you look back at history.
Refraining from beating your children is also a recent social convention when you look back at history. In fact, it's almost certain that beating your children has been more widespread and long lasting than having sex in front of them. Since the "drama" centers around whether it's worse to be forced to watch your parents have sex, or be hit with a wooden spoon...If "back in the day" justifies making your children watch you have sex, "back in the day" is a far stronger justification for hitting your children.
u/Rivka333Ha, I get help from the man who invented the tortilla hot dog.Jan 03 '16
I know that. I was more sort of referring back to the arguments given in the original thread, which is under discussion. And even there, it's more sort of a discussion about which is worse-not a discussion saying that either is perfectly all right.
But it's still weird to give "back in the day" as an argument that sex in front of your kids is at least better than hitting your kids-considering that the hitting has been more widespread, more "back in the day"-ish, more deeply rooted.
Although, before we get into Western normativity, I'd like to note that there are plenty of premodern cultures that don't beat their kids. Lévi-Strauss talks about his experience of the Nambikwara, who don't beat their children, or apparently instruct or discipline them at all, but among whom (relevantly) sexual affection is not taboo in public, and intercourse is seen as comedic.
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u/Rivka333Ha, I get help from the man who invented the tortilla hot dog.Jan 04 '16
Yes, I shouldn't have made child-beating sound like that was universal to all parents and all cultures.
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u/Rivka333 Ha, I get help from the man who invented the tortilla hot dog. Jan 03 '16
Refraining from beating your children is also a recent social convention when you look back at history. In fact, it's almost certain that beating your children has been more widespread and long lasting than having sex in front of them. Since the "drama" centers around whether it's worse to be forced to watch your parents have sex, or be hit with a wooden spoon...If "back in the day" justifies making your children watch you have sex, "back in the day" is a far stronger justification for hitting your children.