I'm not a parent- but I do remember being slapped in the face by my parents. I remember the sting after 20 years. Am I allowed to have an opinion on this?

Let's not lose sight of the fact that the writer assaulted her son over the matter of a deflated tire.

Let's not lose sight of the fact that a 16 yr old kid simply cannot give his consent to being written about in this irresponsible manner. He is not a consenting adult.

I don't see any bravery in Lamott's essay. I mostly see an attention-seeking coward, who'd rather talk to Jesus and the readers of Salon, than to discuss the matter with her son.

Yes, us non-parents should really refrain from judging your parenting skills. It's not our business if you choose to assault your children- I'm sure you know best.

But- in return....

Could you at least acknowledge that us non-parents understood the instructions on the back of the contraception packet?

Thanks, and be sure to have a nice day.

Be sure to catch my upcoming essay in 'Guys who think'. I lovingly recount the sentimental story of how I striked some little girl in the face for smart-mouthing me. Readers will be filled with tears and laughter as I recount how I first asked Jesus, and then my pastor for forgiveness.

I'm not saying it was right- but the girl is probably going to grow up to be a real bitch - which is so unlike when she was younger and all pretty and smiles.

Oh and if you criticize the essay- then I'm afraid you're probably a right-wing troll or someone who's impotent. Remember, it takes real bravery to write about this stuff.

That's a novel defense even for this message-board. By writing about Lamott's assault on her son I'm actually detracting from the anti-war movement and I'm very possibly a racist.

Wow.

Sorry I haven't got it yet.

I thought domestic violence was wrong. I didn't realise that it's only wrong when the victims are adult women. Rock on sistahs!

Yup- being against domestic violence sure makes me a war-mongering racist. Your logic is infallible.

Of course, I better watch out. It's exactly these sort of smart-alecky comments that got Lamott's son slapped. By the way- I thought the son's response about the car-washing was actually quite funny! It showed something his mother seems to lack... wit.

You wrote:

"It's all of you sickening, "I would never hit MY child" crackpots"

Slapping a child is domestic abuse. How do I know this? Is slapping your wife domestic abuse? Yes or No? Good. Thanks.

My stance is 'sickening' according to you.

Idiot.

OK then- it's not that serious to slap one's wife around a bit is it? I mean, it's not like it's real abuse. Just to be clear- because we lefties don't want double standards do we?

Glad that's settled.

I'm doing this Dusty because I want to force you and AsianChick into admitting-

Slapping a wife is domestic violence (even once)....

Slapping someone else's kid is criminal (even once)...

Slapping a colleague at work would get you fired (even once).

And yet... slapping your own kid and writing a column about it is perceived to be an act of a courageous mother and completely understandable.

I'm not the one who wrote the article about how I had to have a chat with Jesus in order to sort out my little violence problem. I didn't write that my child is a little 'shit'.

I'm taking the side of the kid here- you know- the one who doesn't have a paid column for Salon. You know- the one who was slapped in the face. The one who you're conspicuously not defending. The one who AsianChick is conspicuously not defending.

You wrote:

"we all must recognize that what one person may call "abusive" is what someone else calls "inspirational.""

So true, so true. Have you caught my inspirational video on how to slap a wife around? It's a doozy.

Here's a tip for free. Turn up the AC real loud so the neighbors don't hear the screaming.

Oh, and you're right- I haven't written to my congressman recently to complain about the war. Gee- I guess this whole against-slapping pro-war hypothesis of yours really could be true. And, you know- that other thing- about how people who disagree with you or Lamott are racists- yeah- come to think of it- I did commit genocide last night.

See- don't give up completely on kids like Lamott's. They can grow up to be sarcastic embittered internet posters like me. All it takes is a few more slaps.

I'd be horrified if Mum read my letters here! She's more than made up her mistakes with a billion good things. But, I do remember the few slaps I've had in my life quite clearly- two decades later. It's not the sort of thing that's forgotten easily and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Of course- my mother didn't write a column about it, for pay- so that's another reason that I'm a little more reluctant to criticize her (very few) faults in public than Lamott's.

Oh- and as for the wife-beating. I've never been married. That was all for satirical effect, I swear! to show how it sounds horrifying to modern ears to hear about hitting your wife- but somehow we still give passes to parents 'disciplining' their son.

But, I don't feel the need to respond to most of your comments- including your latest one.