Father’s unique punishment for son’s inappropriate gesture sparks online debate

A widely debated parenting case has surfaced on social media platforms, revolving around a Chinese father’s severe punishment of his 10 year old son. The young boy had developed the habit of frequently showing the middle finger and drawing obnoxious figures on paper, which he would then submit to his teacher.

The father was unaware of the offensive implications of raising the middle finger in non-Asian cultures, perhaps assuming it to be a cool gesture that his son had adopted from somewhere. It was only until the boy’s teacher called for a meeting to discuss the symbol he often drew, that the severity of the issue was realised. The father, upon understanding the situation, decided not to reprimand the boy.

“If you like it, just keep doing it without putting your hand down.”

After about 15 to 20 minutes, the boy’s arm started to ache. However, his father remained indifferent and let him continue. It was only after an hour that the boy, crying, admitted his error.

“You didn’t do your homework, yet you had time to make this gesture. Today, I want you to do it as much as you like.”

The boy was tearful, acknowledging his mistake and vowed never to repeat the gesture. The father believed the punishment was effective and predicted that his son would not dare repeat the action in the future.

Parenting method

This parenting method ignited heated debates among netizens from various professions. Some supported the father’s approach, arguing that children need to be taught to respect others and this method would help them deeply realise their mistakes to avoid repeating them, reported Sanook.

“I think this punishment is great. I’ve heard kids say words that I’m too embarrassed to type out. Real vulgarities.”

“I remember once when I was walking on the street, a kid on a bus flipped me off through the window. I chased that bus for two blocks on my bike. He was too scared to even look up.”

“Teach your children from a young age. If a child’s words and actions are inappropriate, you should intervene immediately. I think he didn’t understand what the middle finger really meant.”

However, others disagreed, believing this form of punishment was too harsh and could harm the child’s physical and mental health. They suggested a gentler approach to teaching children, allowing them to acknowledge their mistakes and correct them willingly.

These critics were concerned that the father’s punishment, without explaining the meaning behind the gesture, could scare, stress, or make the child more rebellious. This would not only pose a danger to their growth and development but could also harm their physical and mental health.