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People who were spanked as kids, what was that like for you? Would you call your “spankings” abuse?

· 6 min read

Picture a 1950s kitchen: the kettle hissing, the radio playing a slow dance tune, and a belt hanging ominously on the wall. If that’s not the scene of the great family drama, you’re in the wrong decade. One brave soul decided to open the floodgate and share the behind‑the‑belt saga of their childhood. Spoiler: it involves a broken blood vessel, a police call, and a future generation that survived the “spank‑tastic” legacy.

Original Post (rewritten for humor)
“I absolutely hate it as a child and I couldn't stand my parents because of how harsh they were physically and verbally with us. My mother used to do most of the spanking but one time the spanking was so hard that I was trying to put my feet up in front of my tail and she broke a blood vessel in her hand from hitting me. So my dad took over the spankings and he would do that after he got home from work which was hours after we done anything wrong so it was horrible. But he would leave belt marks and I hated them for this. When I was 16 he sent me to the bathroom and told me he was going to to give me a spanking and I told him that I was done having to not dress out at school and I was ready to talk to someone about it and that if he ever touched me again I would call the police. He was furious and he pulled his hand back like he was going to hit me but my mother stopped him but he never touched me again. After I saw him kick my little sister in the shin so that she had a divot in her shin bone for the rest of her life is when I told him that that ended or that I would report him. But you have to remember that this was extremely common in the fifties to get spanked. Probably not as much as my parents did are as harsh but it was totally acceptable. My parents were horribly opposed to me not spanking my children and it was a serious issue between us until my children got to be preteens and my father finally realized that my children were incredibly well behaved and loving children and that's when we started having dialogue about using violence against children. He came to see the error of his ways and I really had a great relationship with him for the last part of his life.”

So, what’s the verdict? Was it abuse? Were belts just “family bonding tools”? Let’s see what the Reddit crowd had to say.

The Comment Section (rewritten for laughs)​

  1. The “I didn’t even know what I did” story
    “I don’t remember a single thing that I was spanked for. I honestly have no recollection of what I did to deserve those spankings other than piss off Mom somehow.”
    Commentary: That’s the classic “I was a genius at staying out of trouble” angle. The only thing you’re missing is the “I was a genius at staying out of trouble” plot twist.

  2. The “belt‑breakers” saga
    “I absolutely hate it as a child… the belt marks and I hated them for this.”
    Commentary: Belt marks are the original Instagram filters—if your mom had a good sense of humor, you’d be called “the one with the vintage fashion statement.”

  3. The “Dad’s revenge” episode
    “When I was 16 he sent me to the bathroom and told me he was going to give me a spanking and I told him that I was done… if he ever touched me again I would call the police.”
    Commentary: Classic teenage rebellion meets law‑enforcement. Who needs a superhero when you have a 16‑year‑old with a phone?

  4. The “sibling shin‑injury” twist
    “After I saw him kick my little sister in the shin so that she had a divot in her shin bone for the rest of her life is when I told him that that ended or that I would report him.”
    Commentary: When the family’s “spanking” routine turns into a one‑shot, life‑long scar‑tacular performance art.

  5. The “spanking was normal” defense
    “Probably not as much as my parents did are as harsh but it was totally acceptable.”
    Commentary: The “in my day” meme, but with a belt.

  6. The “we’re all victims” group chat
    “My parents were horribly opposed to me not spanking my children… until my father finally realized that my children were incredibly well‑behaved and loving children.”
    Commentary: The plot thickens—now you’re the parent who’s suddenly the victim too.

  7. The “no recollection” sequel
    “I didn’t remember a single thing that I was spanked for.”
    Commentary: The “I didn’t do anything wrong” angle is a classic. Either you’re an undercover agent or you’re just super good at hiding your mischief.

  8. The “Dad’s beating of the ass” climax
    “Man, I remember a time when my dad beatttttttt my ass so hard that my ass was purple and I couldn’t sit down.”
    Commentary: Purple ass is the new black. If you’re a fashion blogger, you’re in the right place.

  9. The “I was told who I disappointed” mystery
    “While he was spanking me, he kept asking who I disappointed.”
    Commentary: A psychological thriller with a belt: “Who disappointed me? The universe? The cat? Your own reflection?”

  10. The “high‑father” confession
    “He never fucking told me the answer, and I'm pretty damn sure he was just super high.”
    Commentary: Dad’s on a trip to the clouds while trying to discipline. Who needs a GPS when you have a high‑father?

TL;DR​

Spankings in the 1950s were basically a family sport: belt marks for fashion, police calls for drama, and a whole generation learning that “discipline” could be a literal spanking of the soul. Some survived, some turned the experience into memes, and everyone agreed: if it’s a belt, it’s not just a belt.