Mm. I talked once about smacking in my LJ and was backlashesd so hard I still have welts.

But I've still never had to smack Linnea, and though Rob did once, he didn't *need* to and he didn't think it was justified. It was just instinctive to him, because, well, his parents did it.

I can't imagine "having to" smack her now, since she's capable of understanding "No! Not safe!" and so on. I can see times when it would, briefly, be easier.

But seeing Rob instinctively swipe at her has really brought home how insidious smacking is. (She was biting him very hard. Reaction to smack? Bite much, much harder. Hah! Come and see the cycle of violence inherent in the system).