Childcare in the 25th Century by BYTEMITE

FIREFLY EPISODE DISCUSSIONS

Childcare in the 25th Century

POSTED BY: BYTEMITE
UPDATED: Friday, October 11, 2013 13:04
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Saturday, August 10, 2013 8:25 AM

I had a thought as I was looking at fanfiction.net.

I don't know if you've noticed, but for some reason there are always firefly fanfics posted that involve young stowaways, and "spanking" warnings. Sometimes they're kids, sometimes they're teenagers, but always spanking warnings.

I was spanked as a kid, and I'm still not really sure about the whole good/bad parenting technique questions.

But I don't think anyone on Serenity actually WOULD spank. It just seems like something human civilization might "grow out of" in the 25th century to me. I mean these stories always make a big deal about Inara arguing with Mal, because it's always Mal who believes in spanking and physical reprimand in these stories. But even though Mal does kinda push his crew around if they're refusing to follow orders, I'm not sure that's actually a thing with him, or that he and Inara would have such fundamentally different perspectives on child care.

I think Mal became violent with the war, I don't think being hit was any part of his upbringing. And so I don't see why people would think that Mal would bring that into his own actions as a parental figure.

What do you all think?

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Saturday, August 10, 2013 10:07 AM

WISHIMAY

There's a BIG BIG difference between what you and I probably went through, and today's version of spanking...

I am of the belief that a firm swat or two does no real harm. It mainly gets their short attentions focused for a second. What I went through was ridiculous, especially when I look back at the supposed "grievances." I can't really ever imagine doing that to a kid for anything short of murder.
My parents really believed the literal "spare the rod" B.S. It was more like an old style sea flogging, really. I had some rough patches when I was a teen because of it, but I rarely think of it now, and I don't let it get in the way of disciplining my kid (which is really rare, she's pretty well mannered) It was a lifetime ago...

Some kids DO seem to need that ultimate threat of discipline really to have any kind of control. It's rare, but I do think oppositional defiance is a real thing and can spiral out of control.

I doubt Mal could ever hit a kid. Pretty sure he'd act tough but would be a real softie underneath. I could sooooo see any kid of Zoe's being a real challenge later ;)

I would suggest just not looking at those kinds of crap. Someone obviously has an unhealthy fetish with spanking kids if they feel the need to post that shit. You and I probably wouldn't ever think that is funny, but maybe to someone else...I dunno... I have a pretty healthy sense of humor but there is a LOT I don't get and am appalled that others find funny...
People scare me. Every day in every way, for sure...

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Saturday, August 10, 2013 5:29 PM

BYTEMITE

I'm not sure it's fetish or for comedy, although that concerns me, I think most of these writers who do the spanking of young OCs are mothers themselves. They write lots of "cute kid" fics, and the spanking comes up if they get into trouble... So... They write it because they think it's cute because it's associated with childhood?

That's my best guess. But yeah, I don't read that.

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Friday, October 11, 2013 1:04 PM

BYTEMITE

...

Ouch.

I suppose there's no reason to think that human civilization wouldn't backslide in some ways in the future. I was assuming that some aspects might get better, but that's not really a well-supported position.

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