Why are cruel parenting sites legal?

[Blu]

I have heard of Gary Ezzo before, and today discovered the horrific Michael Pearl. Pearl and his wife actually advocate beating children under the age of one with 'switches' from a tree, and describe horrendous incidences where they have beaten other peopel's children. He instructs parents to beat children relentlessly.

Since incitement to other kinds of violence is banned, and the beahviour this man admits to is presumably legally child abuse, why is it permissable that he openly encourages people to beat children. To beat babies? (he proudly describes beating an 11 month old on his bare leg with a stick).

I really, really want him arrested.

Thank you for this Blu. I too will contact Amazon and once again will be gretaeful that I don't live in the USA.

How shocking & awful.

Is it worth us emailing the American version of the NSPCC, even if just to register our disgust and our support for any American women who have tried to campaign against this?

Well Done Mumsnet!! :)
Love ya !

Omg that was one of the worst things I have ever read(and I used to read horror storys) I know what I would like to happen to that *

Brilliant Justine, thank you.

I got excited that I had a reply from Amazon, but it is just a bog standard 'your comment will be forwarded' type.

Yes well done Blu and Mumsnet HQ

well done mumsnet!

Fantastic!

Yes, well done Blu & Mumsnet!

Also given bad review and emailed Amazon to complain. Will hold off on a boycott until I see their response, they sell thousands of books, I doubt their buyers have read every one. They'll be on notice if enough people complain. If nothing happens, we should start emailing every mother we know to petition Amazon to get it removed from their site and alert the media. Always a good story - lowly mothers against nasty big corporation!

If you want to campaign, we should campaign to make smacking illegal.

This is exactly the sort of ignorance that is why we need to make laws to prevent this sort of behaviour being considered acceptable (and believe me, lots of people DO this it is acceptable).

OMG. I only read the first few posts on here - up to Blu's quote fromt he site of his "switching" some one else's 11mo baby. I feel sick :(

I'm sure there are lots of vile books on Amazon TBH

whats the difference between this and smacking your child? Is it the switch thats the issue?

Enid -- I think it's also the fact that it's targeted at very young children, the persistence (if it's not working, you need to hit them harder and for longer) and the range of stuff it's advocated for (e.g. if your toddler puts her shoes on the wrong feet start hitting her and keep hitting her until she gets them on the right feet).

I'd be just as horrified if this book told you to smack your child and keep smacking him/her until they did what you wanted. The use of an implement does make it seem even more cold and premeditated though. I mean can you imagine going to a shop and thinking "Oh, I'll buy that, it'd be perfect for hitting my child with!" Absolutely beggars belief, it really does.

I don't agree with hitting babies in any form Enid, with or without a switch. But yes, using a switch does make it much worse too IMO. Babies do not understand this form of punishment. They are too young. They do not know right from wrong, therefore it is a pointless exercise. Discipline yes, abuse a child/baby NO!

only read the beginning of this thread
sick sick stuff

omg the poor poor children :( This man should be locked up

Well done mn taking a stand

I feel so sick that he's doing this to babies/children.

He should be jailed.

Well do0ne Mumsnet xx

words fail me. OMG how sad. I am very

emailed amazon too, dh orders a lot from them so i've told him until the book is removed then he doesn't order!

and big hooray to MN

Well done, MNHQ. This material is truly horrifying,

I used to smack my children (but never babies or toddlers) I find this absolutely appalling. What on earth was that woman doing 'business on the phone—talking to a missionary, long distance' when she was supposed to be watching an 11 month old baby?! What could he have done to himself during her long conversation?

As for the business about getting out of bed... that's just chilling. We had one child who wouldn't stay in bed and we spent several weeks sitting at the top of the stairs outside his room- it worked. Why would you beat a child with a stick? Horrible.

Read this with complete disbelief. But thank you MNHQ for your actions.
This is IMO, promoting child abuse. Shocked and pseechless (and going downstairs to hug my children within an inch of their lives)