2007-04-18 08:38:10 · 40 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wouldn't. =0)
2007-04-18 08:41:45 · update #1
It isn't spear it is spare . it means if you don't have discipline and order you will spoil your children
2007-04-18 08:41:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"Spare the rod, spoil the child" is a Jewish (also Biblical) phrase taken out of context by >99% of folks who hear it. The rod was the round stick or rod that the Torah was wrapped around... it was designed to keep the Torah (much like the cardboard where toilet paper is wrapped- and no this is not a pun or negative comment on the Torah, this was just the best example I could come up with) intact and from unraveling through its many readings.
Given this history, the phrase actually means that to "spare the rod," was to neglect to unravel the Torah and teach your child the ways of Jehovah through it's readings and study; consequently, your child would not grow up in the discipline of reading, studying and following the teachings. We see this in many cultures, as the children leave the basic teachings, there is significant loss of knowledge of the essential beliefs of that group. As this knowledge disintegrates, the children waver and behave in ways not condoned by society, and eventually, the child is seen as spoiled.
Today, the idea is simple-- one must teach their children self discipline, self responsibility, and how to self manage. To fail to do this is to set the child up for failure in society.
Of course... if your intent was to write this in a deliberately provocative way by phrasing it as it is meant-- well, you've certainly caused a stir and may need to be speared first and spoiled with a rod!
2007-04-18 09:53:22 · answer #2 · answered by Wisdom??? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It should say "Spare the rod and spoil the child" which in the most general of terms means that if you don't discipline your children, you will ruin them. The rod is descriptive of the sceptor held by a king which demonstrated his power and authority, which was not questioned (not, as some people falsely believe, a stick to beat your child with). In the same way, your children should respect your authority without question. However, it's important to remember that a good ruler uses his power and authority for the best interest of the people he rules over and likewise, a good parent uses their position of authority in the best interest of their child, with LOVE!
2007-04-18 08:48:15 · answer #3 · answered by chickenfeed 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In order to have a successful barbecue, you first spear what you will eat. The spear is usually found on a rod. So, if you miss your target, you 'spoil the rod'. Be accurate the first time, and spear that child.
2007-04-18 08:43:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think that the origional term was 'Spare the rod and spoil the child'
in the old days (Middle ages to mid 1800's) parents thought that children were born in sin, since sex was a sin to them. They thought that if a child exhibited any sort of weakness at all; bad manners, not knowing their lessons well, lying, all that that it was a sign of that sin or something. They thought that they had to beat it out of the children, to correct the mistake before they grew up or else the sin would be on the parent's head and the child would be a hopeless case, and would summarily be sent to hell at the end of life.
2007-04-18 09:24:25 · answer #5 · answered by equilibriumdisrupter 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spare the rod and spoil the child means we should beat our kids with a stick or they will grow up to be spoiled adults.
It's a very bad saying, left over from a couple generations ago.
2007-04-18 08:44:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you mean Spare the rod, and spoil the child. And what that means, is if you don't discipline your kids, and allow them to do exactly what you want them to do, they will never learn to obey their bosses. They will try to walk all over everyone, including you. When you discipline your children at an early age and in a loving way, they will learn to respect you, and all those who they come into contact with. Their teachers, their co-workers and their bosses, and if they become bosses themselves, they will also be able to respect their employees.
2007-04-18 15:07:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
WOW! That's SO funny. Did you think of that one all on your own?
Spare the rod and spoil the child means that if you do not dicipline your children you are not acting in their best interest. The "rod" of correction does not have to be a physical rod that you hit a child with. Dicipline can be a time-out or any other parenting method that teaches a child right from wrong, and is done out of love for the child, not anger or perversion.
2007-04-18 08:51:28 · answer #8 · answered by Jennifer 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Heh hee Bettie, you are so funny. Have you seen too many drinking questions for the short period of time?? ; )
Edit: But if this is about Lokasenna's evil clone, anyone would definitely spoil the rod if one speared that child.
2007-04-18 10:16:44 · answer #9 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Didn't you already ask this? Its SPARE the child and spoil the rod. Who goes around spearing children? That kinda defeats the purpose of this saying.
2007-04-18 08:42:19 · answer #10 · answered by *Cara* 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's spare the rod and spoil the child. It means that if you don't discipline kids then they are going to end up spoiled.
2007-04-18 08:43:19 · answer #11 · answered by Rena 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋