Myself, I agree that all of those things were the norm in the 50's, 60's. I also want to say not everyone did them and that some people's parents got excitement, stimulation, reward from it. I believe that when one holds that power over another it can be rather titalating which was my experience with the female parent. I recently spoke with an eighty year old who was abused in many of the same ways. It was not the only way her mother knew how to discipline, it was about control and anger. Not every eighty year old had that happen to them. Thank goodness.

It is just a very sensitive place for me. In my opinion even-though the straps, belts etc were readily available it was not the norm to use them. Doing those things to a child reflects on someone's mental health or lack thereof. Some people are just bullies.